Khao Sok National Park has got to be a favorite place in Thailand. The stunning Cheow Lan Lake (also known as Khao Sok Lake), as well as a number of fantastic hiking trails, are found deep within the Surat Thani forest. The whole area is filled with many incredible things to do like taking a long-tail boat out into Cheoew Lan Lake and spending a night in a floating bungalow, hiking up to Kri Sorn Viewpoint for an incredible view over the lake, and spending hours hiking around the tropical forest, tracking down tapirs and the largest flowers in the world.

You can also go on a safari around Cheow Lan in the early morning and spot a variety of wild animals, including wild boars, monkeys, and birds. Not to mention all the caves and hiking routes that are waiting for you to discover in these enormous limestone mountains that dot the lake. You can only spend a day at Khao Sok before moving on to the next location. To truly do this place credit, you should stay at least three nights because it requires your complete attention.

One of the main highlights of visiting Khao Sok is taking a long-tail boat into Cheow Lan Lake (Khao Sok Lake) and spending a night in one of the many floating bungalows where you will be able to disconnect from the world and be among nature for a few nights. Due to its location being isolated from the world and surrounded by nothing but nature, the sunrise and sunset experiences at these floating bungalows are going to be some of the best moments you will ever have in your life.

It simply doesn't get any better than that to be kayaking along the peaceful waters of Cheow Lan Lake while listening to the sounds of the forest awakening, monkeys wailing, and birds tweeting. Since there isn't much to do at these raft houses, you may spend the remainder of the day kayaking around, swimming, or just taking in the vistas. The majority of the floating bungalows in this area are made out of bamboo, adding an additional sense of immersion and bringing them closer to nature.

Another cool national park you should definitely check out while you are in Khao Sok is Khlong Phanom National Park, a small national park located not too far from Khao Sok Village and it is known for its large trees. In fact, the largest tree in the region is located inside this park and there is a nature trail you can hike that will take you through thick forests to see this tree all the while enjoying several viewpoints showing how beautiful the landscape around Khao Sok is, along the way.

You will travel in a loop over a series of extremely steep routes on the nature trail, and you will need to use ropes to climb and descend them. Since it tends to rain more in the evenings here, it is strongly advised that you begin the hike as early as possible to prevent severe weather. Wear strong shoes, since the entire route should take you around two hours to complete in a loop, and use insect repellent on your entire body to keep mosquitoes away because there are a lot of them there.

Suan Ta San is a hidden gem in Surat Thani. This hidden little spot is a natural-occurring pool, home to the famous foot-nibbling fish you often see in foot spas. These fish, also called Garra Rufa or doctor fish live in the river nearby and people have decided to build a beautiful recreational area, equipped with several seating sections where you can dip your foot in and let the fish nibble away all the dead skin.

These are not the same as the artificial fish spas you often see in places like Khaosan Road. They actually do live in the river and they do look way healthier than those you see in fish tanks in night markets. Some of them are massive! The area is well-shaded with lots of trees. You can even come here for a picnic as there are tables and restaurants ready to serve visitors. The best part is that the entrance fee to Suan Ta San is only 20 THB per person which is actually cheaper than getting a fish foot spa on Khaosan Road. If you have your own vehicle and are looking to do something unique in Surat Thani, be sure to drop by Suan Ta San.

Koh Samui is a feast of natural beauty, with restaurants that serve the freshest ceviche and juiciest island fruits, and where locals treat you like family. It is one of the most popular islands to visit in Thailand and it is home to many beautiful beaches like Choengmon Beach, Lipa Noi Beach, and more making it a great spot if you are looking for a proper beach vacation in Surat Thani. Samui is not just beaches. There are a ton of other cool things to do as well like visiting the beautiful Ang Thong National Park, riding an ATV across mountains, and going jungle trekking.

Other attractions in Koh Samui worth visiting are Wat Phra Yai, a giant golden Buddha image with a panoramic view of the island, Wat Khunaram, home to the mummified monk, and some of the most magnificent waterfalls out there like Na Muang and Tan Rua Waterfalls. Koh Samui is a destination in and of itself and in order to do the place justice, you are going to have to spend at least 3 nights or more on the island so be sure to spare some time when visiting Surat Thani.

The Ang Thong National Marine Park is a pristine archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. It features towering limestone mountains, thick jungle, white-sand beaches, waterfalls, and hidden coves and lakes to explore. The protected area of more than 100 sq km of land and sea has a rich biodiversity.

A snorkeling Trip in Angthong Marine Park is the highlight of visiting Ko Samui. There are a ton of snorkeling spots here where you will be able to see some incredible marine life as well as swim in the turquoise water, relax at the beach, and more. To visit Ang Thong Marine Park, you are going to have to go on an organized tour that will take you on a long-tail boat from Ko Samui to the park and sail around the area, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking, all in one day. Ang Thong Marine Park is an incredible place to visit and if you are planning to visit the area, be sure to make it all the way to the top of Pha Chan Charat Viewpoint for an unforgettable view of the Ang Thong Marine Park and all its beautiful islands.

Koh Phangan (also spelled Ko Pha-Ngan) is Thailand’s 5th biggest island and one of the most beautiful and wild. The island is renowned for its lush tropical jungle interior, many idyllic, long, white-sand beaches, and over 20 nearby dive sites. The main disembarkation points are Thongsala and Haad Rin, where you'll find plenty of ATM machines and banks. Koh Phangan’s main claim to fame is its legendary Full Moon Party, Black Moon Party with the Full Moon celebrations attracting between 10,000 and 30,000 revelers during New Year’s Eve.

Koh Phangan is a great place to be while you are in Surat Thani especially if you are interested in attending the full moon party once in your life. Just make sure to book your accommodation in advance as all the accommodation on the entire island is often fully booked a week before the full moon party. If you are looking to avoid the party crowds on Koh Phangan, the best way to do that is to actually travel a day after the big party has already taken place and you will have the whole island to yourself. All the accommodation is much cheaper and the beaches are less crowded and calm, the way it is supposed to be.

Located not too far from Khao Sok, tucked away in between the tropical trees in the remote region of Surat Thani, you will find this incredible natural pool - Ban Nam Rad Headwater Forest waiting for you to jump in. The bright emerald-colored pool and the crystal clear water fed by the river nearby is the perfect place to escape the heat and humidity of Thailand and get soaked in refreshing water while being surrounded by a tropical forest.

In the other section of the area, you can also rent a kayak and paddle along the river that fed the pool and explore the beautiful tropical forest that surrounds the area and spot some wildlife along the way. The entrance fee to Ban Nam Rad Headwater Forest is 30 THB per person, and 20 THB for a parking spot, and if you wish to rent a kayak to explore the river, it's another 100 THB. The place opens from 9 AM to 5 PM every day.

Not many people know this but Chaiya, a small town in the northern part of Surat Thani is said to have played an important role as the main coastal trading post during the Srivijaya's reign. Some even go as far as to say that Chaiya was the capital city of the maritime empire that controlled much of modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia between the 7th and 13th Centuries, way before any Thai kingdom was established.

Unfortunately, most of the larger structures have disappeared over time since the fall of the Srivijaya Empire and much of the information was lost in time but you can still see some of the remnants of the once-thriving maritime city. Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya is one of the Srivijaya remnants left standing that you can still see today. The Buddhist temple was said to have been constructed in the 13th Century and it is the last example of a Srivijaya architectural style that still remains in Thailand. The main highlight of the temple is the Buddha Relic Pagoda, all painted white and adorn with Srivijaya-style decoration on its spire. People from around the country often come to this temple and pay respect to the relic every day.