With traditional culture, beautiful beaches and amazing seafood, this well kept secret destination of Surat Thani town provides a very unique volunteer experience. The town of Surat Thani is a small, quaint southern Thai city, with very little western influence – making it a great place to volunteer, learn and experience Thai culture and society.
Why volunteer in Surat Thani
Far away from the noise, hustle and bustle of Thailand’s larger cities and tourist destinations, Surat Thani offers a more relaxed atmosphere and a great perspective as to how southern Thais really live. A very friendly and manageable city, volunteers quickly and easily become acquainted with Surat Thani’s layout, seafood restaurants and historical sites.
Travelers and Thais alike enjoy indulging in the beautiful beach getaways of Koh Samui and Koh Pa Ngan in easy striking distance of the town and our volunteer and intern project sites.
Volunteer in Surat Thani Video
Volunteer in Chiang Mai and Bangkok
The Friends for Asia Foundation no longer provides placement for volunteers in Surat Thani. We now offer a variety of exciting volunteer and intern placements in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand. These programs include working elephants, teaching children, and shadowing doctors.
Surat Thani, Thailand
Surat Thani is a small city of around 120,000 in Southern Thailand. Surat Thani is not itself a tourist destination and as such remains a typical Thai city. It is the largest city near the westernmost islands in the Gulf of Thailand. An hour bus ride and another hour on a ferry is the most direct route to the island of Samui.
Transportation to and From Surat Thani
Surat Thani has a train station with connections north to Bangkok as well as points south. The Surat Thani International Airport is serviced by various airlines and serves as a link to the city of Surat Thani and the islands.
Islands in the Gulf of Thailand
- Koh Samui, the third largest island in Thailand and home to about 40,000 full time residents. Well known for beaches and a variety of levels of accommodation from high-end resorts to bungalows on the beach.
- Koh Pha Ngan famous for full moon parties.
- Koh Tao a great diving destination.
- Ang Thong National Marine Park for diving and wildlife.
Other Attractions near Surat Thani
The beaches between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat to the south are surprisingly untouristed. In addition, there is the Khao Sok National Park, a jungle reserve in southern Surat Thani province.
