Chumphon (Matapon Pier) Guide

Chumphon (Matapon Pier) Ferry Port

Located on the isthmus of Thailand, sandwiched between the peaks of the Phuket mountains in the west and the Gulf of Thailand in the east, is the district of Chumphon. This warm region of unspoiled natural beauty has largely escaped the hustle and bustle of modern industry with much of the economy supported by farms selling tropical fruit such as Papayas and Durians. The hills that undulate across the mainland are carpeted by lush woodland, broken only by the twisting network of narrow lanes that lead to clearings containing towns and villages. Chumphon’s eastern edge is shaped by the rugged shoreline of the gulf. This long stretch of coast is dotted by sandy beaches with the Mu Ko Chumphon National Park at its heart; a park dominated by mangrove trees and creeks that line the curve of the bay. The port of Chumphon can be found just a few miles east of Chumphon town on the banks of the long Tha Taphap river. The ferry terminal here is nothing more than a sheltered pier that juts into the mouth of the river, beyond which are two sea walls that form a man-made inlet of the Gulf of Thailand. Currently one ferry company operates from the port. Songserm lines offer three different routes throughout the week, including short trips south to the islands of Koh Tao and Kho Phangan as well as the longer voyage to Koh Samui found in the country's Surat Thani Province.