Surat Thani Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Most visitors see Surat Thani only from a ferry pier on the way to Ko Samui. But the province is one of Thailand's largest, with the rainforest of Khao Sok, the remains of the Srivijaya world at Chaiya and the country's biggest oyster farms.
This guide covers what makes Surat Thani different from the rest of the south: the key dates of its history, its main districts, the festivals worth planning around and the local products its makers sell.
Surat Thani
The City of Good People
Thailand's sixth-largest province: Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao offshore, the rainforest of Khao Sok inland and an ancient kingdom at Chaiya.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Surat Thani
Specialities of Surat Thani. Makers from the province are setting up shop.
"Known for" cards are editorial, not listings. Live products from Surat Thani replace them automatically.
Why Surat Thani is more than a ferry stop
Surat Thani means 'city of good people', a name given by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915 when the old town of Bandon was renamed. It covers 13,079 km² on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, making it the sixth-largest province in the country.
Its islands, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, bring in most of its fame, and tourism earned the province 64 billion baht in 2018. Inland, coconut and rubber farms, oyster beds and Khao Sok's 739 km² of protected forest tell another story.
Three famous islands
Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao all belong to Surat Thani province.
Khao Sok rainforest
At 739 km², Khao Sok National Park is the province's largest protected area.
Srivijaya heritage
Chaiya holds remains from the Srivijaya period, one of the region's oldest cultures.
Thailand's oyster capital
The province is the largest oyster-farming area in the country.
Surat Thani: a timeline
Surat Thani's history begins with the maritime world of Srivijaya and runs through a royal renaming to the island boom of the late 20th century.
- 700s–1200sChaiya flourishes as part of the Srivijaya cultural world, trading across the Malay peninsula.
- 1915King Vajiravudh renames the town of Bandon 'Surat Thani', the city of good people.
- 1932Buddhadasa Bhikkhu founds Suan Mokkh, a forest monastery near Chaiya that becomes famous worldwide.
- 1987Ratchaprapha dam creates Cheow Lan lake in the heart of Khao Sok.
- Late 1980sAn airport on Ko Samui and the full moon parties of Ko Pha Ngan start to put the islands on the world map.
The districts worth knowing
Surat Thani has 19 districts and about 1.08 million residents (2024). The table covers the ones people visit most.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Surat Thani | The provincial capital on the Tapi river, its markets and night food stalls. |
| Ko Samui | The province's biggest island, with its own airport, beaches and coconut plantations. |
| Ko Pha Ngan | Haad Rin and its full moon parties, and quieter bays in the north. |
| Ko Tao | A small island known worldwide for diving courses. |
| Chaiya | Srivijaya-era temples, Suan Mokkh and the famous salted eggs. |
| Phanom | The gateway to Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan lake. |
When to go: festivals and seasons
Surat Thani's calendar mixes Buddhist traditions, island seasons and the monsoon. Mark these in your diary.
What Surat Thani makes: local products and OTOP
Thailand's OTOP programme, One Tambon One Product, pins each product to its home sub-district, and Surat Thani's list follows its coast and orchards. Chaiya salted eggs, cured in a mix of clay and salt, are a classic souvenir, and the province's rambutans, especially the Rong Rian variety, are famous across Thailand.
Oysters from the largest farming area in the country, coconuts and coconut oil from Ko Samui, and rubber and palm products from inland farms complete the list.
Real products from Surat Thani makers appear in the carousel at the top of this page as soon as they are listed. Sellers pay no commission on SnapSellGo, only a yearly shop fee.
Short on time? A day on Cheow Lan lake. Into history? Chaiya's old temples and Suan Mokkh. Visiting in October? Chak Phra on the Tapi river. Buying local? Chaiya salted eggs and fresh rambutans.
Good to know before you go
Is Ko Samui in Surat Thani province?
Yes. Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao are all districts of Surat Thani province, in the Gulf of Thailand.
What does Surat Thani mean?
Surat Thani means 'city of good people'. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) gave the name in 1915, when the town of Bandon was renamed.
How big is Khao Sok National Park?
Khao Sok National Park covers 739 km², the largest protected area in Surat Thani province. Cheow Lan lake lies at its heart.
What is Chaiya famous for?
Chaiya is known for its Srivijaya-era remains, the Suan Mokkh forest monastery founded by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and its salted eggs.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Surat Thani province, Khao Sok National Park, Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park and Buddhadasa. Population: 2024 registration data. Lunar festivals move from year to year, so check dates before travelling. Cover photo: Cheow Lan Lake by The Cosmonaut, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA.