Surat Thani

Surat Thani is the southern gateway province — most travelers pass through en route to the Samui archipelago, but the province itself has more to offer than a ferry pier. Koh Samui is the headline: a coconut-palm island with luxury resorts, Chaweng's party beach, the quirky grandparent rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai), and Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai. Koh Pha Ngan next door is famous for the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin, but the island's quieter north coast has yoga retreats, jungle waterfalls, and snorkeling. Koh Tao, the smallest of the three, is Thailand's diving factory — the cheapest place in the world to get PADI certified.

On the mainland, Khao Sok National Park is one of Southeast Asia's most spectacular rainforests — the Cheow Lan Lake section, with floating bungalows ringed by 300-meter limestone cliffs, is like a freshwater Ha Long Bay. Night safaris reveal elephants, gibbons, and the enormous Rafflesia flower (seasonal). Surat Thani city itself is a functional transit hub, but the Tai Rom Yen National Park and the oyster farms along the coast are worth exploring if you have time before your ferry.