463km (287 miles) S of Bangkok; 193km (120 miles) N of Surat Thani
Chumphon was once known for simply being a stop on the way south; plans are now under way to transform this little town into a tourist hub. Today it's got a new pier, completed in 2007, and is a busy transit point for boats to Koh Tao and other islands. It's also got Ang Thong Marine National Park due south, virtually on its doorstep, an interesting (and still largely unexplored) diving area. Surrounded by its famous fruit orchards inland, and a couple of great beaches -- like Sairi Beach, 22km (13 miles) east of town, and Thung Wua Laen Beach, 12km (7 1/2 miles) northeast, it's a good place to slow down and take time out.
