Nakhon Si Thammarat, Lower Gulf

Hat Son Onn

Tha Sala

PLACE
The beaches near Nakhon Si Thammarat are still empty and are a good place to visit if you don’t want to be bothered by other tourists. The beaches are long and along the coast you will find small villages. This is a perfect place to walk or drive around and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. You can plan day trips to waterfalls or visit one of the fruit farms, and at night you can join a fishing boat.

North of Nakhon Si Thammarat we found 2 good beaches with some facilities that are 30-50 kilometers from the airport. South of Nakhon Si Thammarat we explored the coast between Pak Phanang and Ranot. This coast is 70 kilometers long and the beaches are very basic. There are many windmills and there are often stone breakwaters offshore.

WHAT TO DO
Nakhon Si Thammarat, the second largest city in the south, is a blind spot for most tourists focused on Ko Samui and Ko Phangan, a hundred kilometers to the north. That’s a shame, because it is truly a fascinating city. Nakhon Si Thammarat is known for its excellent cuisine and traditional crafts, and this is the best place to view Thai shadow puppets.

TRANSPORT
There are direct flights from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat, operated by AirAsia and Nok Air. There is a good bus and minibus connection to Trang, Phuket and Songkhla. Heading north, minibuses run between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani that drop you off on the highway near Plian. From here it’s another 6 kilometers to Hat Son Onn.

If you are going to Tha Sala, the minibus will stop there. In town, you can rent scooters to reach the beach or take a taxi. Our suggestion is to rent a car at the airport.