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Our Guide to Chumphon: Here’s why you deserve to experience the gateway to the South!
- Things to Know
- Welcome to Chumphon
- Best Time to Visit Chumphon
- How to Get to Chumphon
- Where to Stay in Chumphon
- Sleep Tight at Chumphon
- Seaza Hotel
- Loft Mania Boutique Hotel
- Where to Eat in Chumphon
- Mae Mai Seafood
- Green Kitchen
- Le Betole
- What to See and Do in Chumphon
- Learn about Chumphon's history at the National Museum
- See the breathtaking sceneries at the Khao Matsee Viewpoint
- Admire Thung Yang Beach's coastline from Khao Thung Yang Viewpoint
- Enjoy the panoramic view at Khao Dinsor Viewpoint
- Hang around deers at the Deer Suspension Bridge
- Explore Mu Ko Chumphon National Park
- Stroll around Wat Phra Borommathat Sawi
- Satisfy your food craving at the Chumphon Night Market
- Laze around the white sands of Thung Wua Laen Beach
- FAQs about Chumphon
Have you set aside something only to find out that it’s priceless? Well, that’s Chumphon in a nutshell! At first, we thought it was a waste of time—but not anymore, as we found it’s filled with awesome things to do!
Chumphon may not look like much: just a popular port town gateway to paradise islands like Ko Tao, Ko Phangan or Koh Samui. But don’t be fooled as unspoiled beaches, lush nature trails, and scenic viewpoints await you here.
Starting to get curious? Here’s our detailed guide about what the province has in store for you!
Things to Know
Language: Thai (Central Thai)
Nearest Airport: Chumphon Airport
Welcome to Chumphon
Chumphon is a southern Thailand province dubbed the “door to the South”. It sits on the isthmus of Kra, the narrow land bridge connecting the Malay Peninsula to mainland Thailand, and provides passage to the country’s southern provinces.
Chumphon’s east is the Gulf of Thailand while on its west are the hills of Phuket It shares a border with Burma and boasts a coastline that’s 222 km long, not to mention two national parks, rivers, forests, and dozens of islands.
The province has a total forest area of 1,288 km2 (497 sq mi). That’s about 21.5 percent of the whole province, which spells tons of adventure waiting for brave tourists.
Best Time to Visit Chumphon
Chumphon is best to visit in December, January, and February. During these months, you’ll experience cool and dry weather with the least chance of encountering rainfall.
This time is ideal for hiking, sightseeing, and water activities throughout the day.
How to Get to Chumphon
Plane: Chumphon has a domestic airport so it’s easy to access from other provinces in Thailand. Booking a flight, in particular, is the fastest option if you’re traveling from faraway places.
Rental Car: Chumphon is approximately 6 hours from Bangkok and Phuket. If you have a driver’s license and an International Driving Permit, you can also rent a car to get to Chumphon.
Driving a rental car is convenient since you can travel slowly and enjoy the sights on the road.
Private Taxi: If you don’t want to drive a car, you can hire a private taxi instead. Just know that while it’s more convenient, it’s also pricier.
Bus: The most affordable option to get to Chumphon is to ride the public buses running from Phuket, Bangkok, Krabi, or Surat Thani among other places. The bust ticket prices will vary depending on your starting location.
Where to Stay in Chumphon
Sleep Tight at Chumphon
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Address: 224/41 หมู่ 11 ซอย Poraminmanka 10, Bang Mak, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 82 395 6953
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SLEEPTIGHTatChumphon
Prices: ฿
Sleep Tight at Chumphon is a budget-friendly hotel in the heart of Chumphon’s town center. It’s top-rated for three primary reasons: clean rooms, friendly service staff, and affordable prices.
It’s also pet-friendly, so it’s ideal for tourists traveling with their fur babies. In fact, the hotel also takes care of rescue cats, which is why it’s popular among animal lovers.
This hotel has a charming garden area where you can play with cats all day.
Seaza Hotel
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Address: 220 Moo 10, Tayang, Muang, Chumphon
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 77 580 220
Prices: ฿
Seaza Hotel is a favorite among diving fanatics because it’s cozy and affordable. In fact, it’s difficult to find another place in Chumphon that offers clean, air-conditioned rooms at a lower price than this hotel.
Plus, it also has Sensui Dive Resort. In case you don’t know, Sensui Dive Resort is a top-rated diving center in Chumphon that offers daily diving trips to the province’s best diving spots.
That means staying in the Seaza Hotel gives you quick access to this diving center’s superb services.
Loft Mania Boutique Hotel
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Address: 89, 9 ถนนพิศิษฐ์พยาบาล Tha Taphao, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 77 501 789
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039861587905
Prices: ฿฿
This chic hotel in Chumphon is a solid pick if you want industrial-style rooms and essential amenities like flat-screen TVs, complimentary WiFi, and outdoor pools. That makes it ideal if you value modern comforts when choosing a hotel.
Moreover, Loft Mania Boutique Hotel sits in an excellent location. After all, it’s close to attractions like Chumphon Night Market, Chumphon National Museum, and Krom Luang Chumphon Monument & Park.
Where to Eat in Chumphon
Mae Mai Seafood
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Address: Provincial Highway 4098, Pak Nam, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 77 521 603
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063549851667
Prices: ฿฿
Our team’s seafood fanatics say this is a great place that serves fresh seafood in a relaxing seaside location. It even has a country-style rustic interior, so expect a refreshing local vibe and atmosphere.
Mae Mai Seafood’s notable dishes include grilled tiger prawns, blue crabs, fresh oysters, deep-fried fish, and tom yum goong. This restaurant is a local favorite, so you know they serve authentic Thai food at reasonable prices.
Green Kitchen
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Address: 110, 32 Suksamur 9 Alley, Tha Taphao, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours:
- 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Weekdays)
- 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Weekends)
Contact Number: +66 77 571 731
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063583883671
Prices: ฿ – ฿฿
This vegetarian and Vietnamese restaurant in Chumphon is perfect for health-conscious travelers. They serve Vietnamese dishes like grilled pork noodles, crispy omelets, pork noodle soup, vegetable rolls, fried shrimp toast, and many more.
Aside from that, Green Kitchen serves Japanese, European, and Thai food. In fact, our favorite was the grilled salmon rice bowl and seaweed salad from their Japanese menu.
But if you’re into a more healthy lifestyle. There’s also a dedicated vegan menu if you like to ditch meat options completely.
Le Betole
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Address: 10, 1, Saphli, Pathio District
Operating Hours: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Wednesday – Monday)
Contact Number: +66 85 783 8011
Website: http://lebetole.com/
Prices: ฿฿
Le Betole is a Thai and Italian Restaurant along Thung Wua Laen Beach, so it’s worth checking out after you spend the day lazing around the beach. Here, you can enjoy the pleasant seaside view while dining on classic Italian pasta and pizza.
The 4-flavor pizza was particularly a hit with our team. They top it with salami, ham, pepperoni, and mushrooms.
Le Betole’s Thai menu is also noteworthy. They have the staple Thai curries: red curry, green curry, panang curry, and massaman curry.
What to See and Do in Chumphon
Learn about Chumphon’s history at the National Museum
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Address: ศูนย์ราชการ Na Cha-ang, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Wednesday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 77 630 758
Website: http://www.virtualmuseum.finearts.go.th/chumphon/index.php/th/
Admission Cost: 100 baht
One of the first things every tourist in Chumphon should visit is the National Museum. Going here is the best way to learn about the history of the province’s ancient city.
If you like to keep historical photos, you’ll love the museum’s numerous displays featuring artifacts, local culture, and key eras in Thailand’s history. They also have a large diorama depicting how Typhoon Gay ravaged the province on November 4, 1989.
See the breathtaking sceneries at the Khao Matsee Viewpoint
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Address: Pak Nam, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
Khao Matsee Viewpoint is a well-known hilltop in Chumphon for its breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view. That makes it the ideal spot to admire the province’s lush greeneries, local villages, and stunning coastlines.
This viewpoint is like a public park, so expect to find cafes, benches, cottages, statues, bathroom facilities, a car park, and a viewing deck. That’s why it’s a popular hangout spot among local families, especially during weekends.
The most notable sight from this viewpoint is the nearby Pak Nak Chumphon Town. It’s a charming fishing town along the Tha Taphao River, so it gives you a good look at Chumphon’s local culture and lifestyle.
Admire Thung Yang Beach’s coastline from Khao Thung Yang Viewpoint
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Address: Pak Khlong, Pathio District
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
If you love the beach as much as hiking, this is the viewpoint to visit. The nature trail to Khao Thung Yang Viewpoint is steep, so it’s perfect if you enjoy challenging hiking adventures (about 45 minutes on foot).
Expect to find steep slopes, forest trails, and rocky cliffs. At the viewpoint’s peak, you’ll see the breathtaking view of Thung Yang Beach’s sandy coastline and turquoise waters from this vantage point.
This is one of the most picturesque spots in Chumphon, so we think it’s definitely worth the hike, especially if you enjoy capturing stunning beach photos. Khao Tung Yang Viewpoint’s trailhead is at the slope marked with a red rope behind the Happy Bar.
Enjoy the panoramic view at Khao Dinsor Viewpoint
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Address: Saphli, Pathio District
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 90 174 1171
Admission Cost: Free
Khao Dinsor Viewpoint is the place to be if you love nature walks. This park-like viewpoint is packed with greenery and flowers, so it’s perfect if you like to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere away from the town center.
Aside from that, Khao Dinsor Viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Chumphon’s lush jungles and vast coastlines. The 900-meter hike makes it ideal for sightseeing and bird-watching activities.
In fact, many people come here just to spot hawks flying over the surrounding jungles to hunt for prey. There are no food stalls around so it’s not ideal for full-day visits, but you can buy ice cream and water at the viewpoint’s information center.
Hang around deers at the Deer Suspension Bridge
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Address: Bang Luek, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Cost: Free
The Deer Suspension Bridge is a well-known attraction to those who frequent Chumphon. It’s an incredible wooden bridge along a reservoir where you can observe and feed numerous Thai reindeer.
When you arrive, you’ll notice local vendors selling bananas that tourists can feed the animals. These reindeer are already used to human visitors, so they’ll walk closer once they see you carrying a banana.
Even if you don’t like feeding wild animals, you can enjoy walking around the bridge while watching the reindeer run and play near and in the water.
Explore Mu Ko Chumphon National Park
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Address: Hat Sai Ri, Mueang Chumphon District
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 77 558 144
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Mukochumphonnationalpark
Admission Cost: 200 baht
This national park is a must-visit if you want to spend the day in nature’s company. Here, you can stroll around a dense mangrove forest via a looped wooden walkway.
Exploring the mangrove forest gives you a chance to spot the local animals residing within the park’s border. Think: macaques, crabs, mudskippers, egrets, herons, and more.
Aside from that, snorkeling or diving trips are available at the park’s visitor’s center, though they must be arranged the day before. The park’s diving and snorkeling spots are home to hard corals and numerous schools of fish.
Stroll around Wat Phra Borommathat Sawi
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Address: หมู่ที่ 1, 5 Sawi, Sawi District
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 81 087 6539
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064844102382
Admission Cost: Free
Wat Phra Borommathat Sawi is an ancient temple believed to enshrine relics of the Lord Buddha. The temple is said to have been constructed during the Ayutthaya Period, so it’s definitely one of Chumphon’s oldest and most important temples.
It already had numerous reconstructions, so expect to find clean-looking structures and shrines within its temple complex. The most notable structure in Wat Phra Borommathat Sawi is its golden bell-shaped stupa.
The temple also has a museum where you can look at artifacts and relics from the Ayutthaya Period.
Satisfy your food craving at the Chumphon Night Market
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Address: Tha Taphao Mueang Chumphon
Operating Hours: 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
If you’re an avid foodie, you can’t visit Chumphon without going to its night market. It’s dotted with local food stalls, so there are plenty of food items to try.
This includes classic Thai street food like pad Thai, khanom krok, mango sticky rice, meatball skewer, fried oysters, and more. Given the food variety in this night market, you’ll most likely find a dish that can satisfy your food craving.
Laze around the white sands of Thung Wua Laen Beach
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Address: Saphli, Pathio District, Chumphon 86230, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Daily)
Admission Cost: Free
If you’re looking for a beach where you can escape crowds and enjoy a peaceful retreat, there’s Thung Wua Laen Beach. The local government wants to keep it unspoiled, so expect to see a vast white sandy coastline without benches, sun beds, and beach bars.
Thung Wua Laen Beach is ideal if you like a casual experience that only involves swimming and lazing around the beach. But that’s not all—since jet skis aren’t permitted on this beach, it’s also safe for families who plan to swim with their kids.
