Things to do in Chumphon
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Chumphon
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
The reliable window, with February driest and April hottest. Songkran is 13 to 15 April and fills transport.
Greener and warmer with more rain, fruit season from May, Lang Suan fruit events historically centred in August.
Gulf monsoon peak, wettest months, boats cancel. October brings peak raptor migration and Lang Suan boat racing.
Snorkel listings state a November to February monsoon pause for join in park trips, so reconfirm exact dates.
What's on
- Raptor Watch Festival 1 September to 30 November, peak in October
Migrating raptors over Khao Dinsor in Pathio, with the strongest movement from late September to early November.
- Chumphon Long Boat Racing, Lang Suan River October, around the end of Buddhist Lent
Decorated longboats race on the Lang Suan River. Confirm the year's dates with the TAT Chumphon Office.
- Lang Suan Fruit Festival Historically in August, confirm for the year
Lang Suan fruit season event for durian, mangosteen, rambutan and sala in the province's fruit district.
- Songkran 13 to 15 April
Thai New Year water festival in Chumphon town, in the hot dry season, with transport fully booked.
Best things to do in Chumphon
Thung Wua Laen Beach
A 2 km pale sand bay 16 km north of town, the real beach base, social but rarely crowded, best for swimming at the south end.
Hat Sai Ri
The local shrine beach south of town, better for a walk, a picnic and grilled seafood than for a full swim day.
Phra Tamnak Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak
The Prince of Chumphon shrine at Hat Sai Ri, honouring the father of the Royal Thai Navy, with HTMS Chumphon below.
Khao Matsee Viewpoint
The hill viewpoint over Pak Nam port, Thung Makham bay and the park islands, best in late afternoon light.
Pak Nam Chumphon
The working fishing port and morning market at the river mouth, best early for the catch and breakfast stalls.
Street Night Market
The town night market near the station, grilled seafood and southern dishes at local prices, busiest early evening.
Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi
A calm hill temple on the edge of town, a short merit making and viewpoint stop for a second day in town.
Where to stay in Chumphon
Chumphon Town
trains, night market and early pier transfers
Walk to the station, the night market, Farida and Hor Chia, with the widest food choice in the province.
Thung Wua Laen
the beach itself and a second night
Sleep by the 2 km bay 16 km north of town, for swimming, beach road seafood and an early night.
Pak Nam and Hat Sai Ri
resort facilities, the shrine and park boats
Base by the fishing port and the shrine beach, accepting a drive to both town and Thung Wua Laen.
Think twice about
- The wrong pier at dawn
Lomprayah at Thung Makham Noi, Songserm at Tha Yang and the night boats at Pak Nam are kilometres apart. Check the pier on your ticket.
Best restaurants in Chumphon
Mae Mai Seafood
A beach facing Pak Nam seafood restaurant, fresh southern cooking at reasonable prices, strong on crab dishes.
Krua Khun Jak
A well used town Thai kitchen for southern and central dishes at sit down tables, good for groups sharing.
Farida Cha Roti
The town halal roti institution, roti and mataba with curries, massaman and chicken biryani at street prices.
Hor Chia Dim Sum Restaurant
One of the town's most visited restaurants, a southern dim sum breakfast shop busy with locals in the morning.
Best coffee in Chumphon
Thamsing Cafe
Fresh Chumphon robusta at the source, from the province's best known local coffee name, strong and dark.
Outdoor things to do in Chumphon
Mu Ko Chumphon National Park
A join in catamaran snorkel day among park islands, with alternating routes, lunch on board and uncrowded reefs.
Koh Ngam Yai
A bird nest limestone island dived by boat only, known for clownfish, anemones and steep reef walls.
Koh Ngam Noi
The twin of Koh Ngam Yai, a restricted landing dive island with soft coral and schooling fish around its reefs.
Khao Dinsor
A sunrise hill and famous raptor migration watchpoint, with huge autumn flights from late September to early November.
Malin Phato Rafting Service
A gentle community raft drift in Phato with swimming and orchard stops, ending in a large home cooked local meal.
Namtok Kapo Forest Park
A waterfall and stream in forest shade inland from Tha Sae, used by Thai families for picnics and paddling.
Siam Catamaran Tours
The private speedboat version of the park snorkel day, your own timing and island order at charter prices.
Best hotels in Chumphon
Novotel Chumphon Beach Resort and Golf
The local top end at Pak Nam, a branded beach resort with two pools near Hat Sai Ri and the shrine.
Loft Mania Boutique Hotel
The town boutique pick, with a pool, restaurant and coffee shop within reach of the station and night market.
Chumphon Cabana Resort
The one stay directly on Thung Wua Laen sand, bungalows with the beach as the facility.
Nana Beach Hotel
The established Thung Wua Laen resort, with a pool, beachfront restaurant and a tour desk at mid range prices.
Armonia Village Resort and Spa
Garden bungalows around pools about 1 km from Thung Wua Laen Beach, quieter and more spacious than the beach road.
Hop Inn Chumphon
A clean, no frills chain hotel in town, the reliable cheap night for a late train and an early boat.
Albatross Guesthouse @ Thungwualaen Beach
A simple guesthouse a short walk from Thung Wua Laen Beach, for beach nights on a guesthouse budget.
Is Chumphon expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | THB 1,100 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | THB 2,400 a person |
| Splurge | THB 5,500 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Mu Ko Chumphon National Park: a few days ahead
- Koh Ngam Yai: a few days ahead
- Koh Ngam Noi: a few days ahead
- Malin Phato Rafting Service: a few days ahead
- Siam Catamaran Tours: a few days ahead
- Novotel Chumphon Beach Resort and Golf: weeks ahead
- Book island ferries ahead in high season, around Songkran and on festival weekends, and take a morning sailing for calmer seas.
- Reconfirm the Mu Ko Chumphon snorkel season for your exact date, as one listing states no departures November to February.
- Book Malin Phato rafting at least a day ahead so the community can prepare rowers and food.
Is Chumphon safe?
- Swim and snorkel only in the conditions of the day, wear the boat life jacket, and do not touch coral in the national park.
- Use repellent at dawn and dusk near mangrove, forest park and river stops, as dengue exists in southern Thailand.
Chumphon travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not assume dry weather means park boats run: the snorkel listing states a November to February monsoon pause.
- Do not pay dive boat prices as a non diver for the Ngam islands: take the snorkel catamaran instead.
- Do not expect Phuket luxury or a party strip: Chumphon has neither, and its value is local and quiet.
Getting around Chumphon: public transport and more
- Walk in Chumphon town. Town to Thung Wua Laen is about 16 km, to Pak Nam about 12 km, and to the Lomprayah pier about 25 to 30 km.
- Chumphon Airport is roughly 30 to 40 km north of town and up to an hour from the piers, so keep flight to boat connections loose.
- Use operator shuttles included in your ticket, hotel transfers and arranged songthaews, and rent a car for the Phato loop.
Who Chumphon suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Chumphon your trip
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