Satun is the southernmost province on Thailand's west coast. In the south, the border with Malaysia runs. The population is dominated by almost 70% Muslim majority. The remaining 30% are mostly Buddhists. Satun is located on the Andaman Sea and is about 970 km from Bangkok. The landscape is varied: Inland there are larger mountain ranges, which are interspersed with caves and rivers and lowland which is used for agriculture (agriculture, rubber & coconut plantations). The coast offers partly abandoned natural beaches and beautiful, offshore islands. Especially Koh Lipe and the Turatao National Park are popular diving areas. The national park includes about 50 islands. Along the coast and especially on Koh Lipe some Chao Leh (Sea Gypsies) have settled. They live mainly from fishing and boat trips.

Along the coastline there are many beautiful resorts. In the village of Pak Nam in the district of La Ngu, along the Pakbara Beach, there is a wider choice of bungalows and resorts. We especially liked the Bara Resort. The complex consists of a large main house in the Thai style and some stone and wood bungalows, which are furnished in the typical country. The complex is located in a beautiful tropical garden and the rooms are clean.

Satun does not have its own airport. The nearest Thai airport is located in Hat Yai (100 km from Satun). Hat Yai is an international airport, but you can only travel from Germany via the metropolitan airport in Bangkok. Another nearby airport is Trang (142 km from Satun). By car (minivan / own car / rental car) you can drive to Satun (Bangkok - Satun approx. 980 km). From Trang airport there are also very good transfer options: Here it goes on by minibus or rental car. There is also a train service from Bangkok to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai to Satun, there are about 100 km, which can either be driven by bus or taxi.

Arrival from Bangkok:

• Arriving from Bangkok by plane is possible to Krabi, Phuket, Trang or Hat Yai. The companies Bangkok Airways and other local airlines (PB Air, Thai AirAsia, NokAir, Thai Airways and others) serve these routes. From the airport you can take the taxi or mini bus to Satun.
• From Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok there are daily buses going to Satun. The fare is between 760 and 900 baht. Depending on traffic, the journey takes between 12 and 14 hours to Satun. Due to the air conditioning it gets pretty cold in the buses. It is best to take a warm sweater or jacket with you for the ride. There are 2 different buses at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok:
  

1. Aircon buses (blue, No. 988 - 3 / express bus) with approx. 40 seats (760 THB = approx. 19.- EUR)
2. VIP buses (inscription "VIP Bus 998" / Sri Suthep Tour) with approx. 60 seats (900 THB = approx. 25.- EUR)

• Arriving by train is only possible via Hat Yai. From here, taxis and buses run to Satun
• Travel by car from Bangkok via Highway 4 via Chumphon and then on Highway 41 via Nakhon Si Thammarat towards Phatthalung. From here it continues on Highway 4 and later on Highway 406 to Satun.

From Trang to Satun:
From Trang you can either take a minibus, taxi or own car. The distance is approximately 150 km via Route 404, 413 and 416 and passes the Mu Koh Phetra National Park.

Transfer from Krabi (Airport / Krabi Town / Ao Nang) to Satun:

• Landing from Ao Nang with the Ao Nang Jolly Travel Office Minibus to Satun at Pak Bara Pier. Travel time by minibus daily from 6:00 to 9:30. The fare is about 500 THB. From the pier you can either search for accommodation along the beach or take a taxi to the city.
• Landing from Krabi Town on the Ao Nang Jolly Travel Office Minibus to Satun at Pak Bara Pier. Travel time by minibus daily from 6.30am to 10am. The fare is about 500 THB.
• The fare is about 500 THB. From the pier you can either search for accommodation along the beach or take a taxi to the city.
• By land, take the public bus from Krabi Bus Terminal (Tambon Pak Nam, Krabi) towards Hat Yai (hourly between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm) Price per person about 220 THB. The journey takes about 5 hours.

Transfer from Phuket to Satun:
From Phuket Airport it goes directly by minibus or private taxi in the direction of Satun. The price is around 6,800 THB per person. From Phuket Bus Terminal (Thepkassatri Road - near Mission Hospital) there are 2 daily buses to Satun at Pak Bara Pier. The journey takes about 6-7 hours. The ticket costs about 300-500 THB per person. From Phuket Airport you can also take the airport bus to the bus terminal (100 THB per ticket). From there, take the public bus (No. 734) to Satun (500 THB per person)

At the airports (Krabi or Phuket) you can also rent a car. Here are several lenders to choose from. In addition to the common lenders AVIS and Europcar, Thailand's largest lender is Thai Rent a Car. Depending on the season, the prices vary greatly and often smaller vehicles are fully booked in the main season. The best way is to book the car already in your homecountry.

Arrival from Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Koh Tao:
Here it is advisable to book a ticket in one of the small travel agencies that are found everywhere in the tourist centers. The travel price includes a pick-up service directly from the hotel. The mini bus continues to the pier and from there by boat / ferry to Surat Thani. From Surat Thani we continue by bus to Satun. The journey takes between 11 and 12 hours.

Arrival from mainland Tailand (for example Khao Lak, Takua Pa, Ranong):
Again, you can book the pick-up service directly from the hotel again. With the mini bus it goes on to the respective bus station and from there with a larger bus up to the "bus station" in Phuket Town or Phuket Airport or Krabi and from there further in the direction of Satun. The journey takes between 10 and 13 hours.

Arrival from mainland Tailand (for example Pattaya, Hua Hin):
From here it is best to book a plane ticket to Hat Yai or Trang (via Bangkok).

Again, you can book a pick-up service directly from the hotel. With the mini bus it goes on to the respective bus station and from there with a larger bus up to the "bus station" in Don Muang Airport in Bangkok and from there further in the direction of Satun. The bus ride from Bangkok to Satun takes about 13 hours!

Transfer to the islands of Satun / Pak Bara Pier:
At Pak Bara Pier there are many different speedboat operators. Parking is available in front of the pier, parker from 10 THB for a short time, long term parker guards from 100 THB per day!

Speedboat from Bundhaya Travel (about 600 - 650 THB per person). At 11:30 am there are 2 boats all year round, only during the high season (around November to May) there are additional boats at 13.30, 14.30, 15.00 and 15.30

Speedboat from Adang Sea Tours (about 600 - 650 THB per person). Boats only during the high season (around November to May) at 11.30, 12.30 and 14.30. Adang Sea Tours makes a stopover on either Koh Tarutao or Koh Bulone.

Speedboat from Forra Speedboats (about 600 - 650 THB per person). Boats only during the high season (around November to May) at 11.30am and 1.30pm with a stopover on Koh Tarutao.

The bus routes between Phuket - Krabi - Hat Yai are served by public buses. Here the fare is much cheaper, but is stopped at many stops.

Tham Le Stegadon Cave is one of the longest caves in Thailand with a length of almost 4 km. It is thwarted by 3 different cave systems. The cave can be accessed by canoes and has an exit at Ban Tha Oil Pier. From the ceiling of the cave grow huge stalactites.

Ban Tha Oil Pier is a small fishing port on the riverbank that is about 300 meters long and 50 meters wide. The pier was also developed as a recreational area with viewing pavilions and a children's playground. Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the mangrove forest and its ecosystems. Through this pier, the tourist boats from Tham Le Stegadon Cave get into the river landscape.

Khao Thanan is an isolated limestone mountain that towers into the sky as a steep cliff tower. There are ponds in the north and west. On the south side is a wide road. The area covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. Khao Thanan is a karst topography and is surrounded by sea caves and sea scraps, indicating that it was a small island off the coast. After the sea level has receded, this island has remained as a small isolated mountain. The limestone is massive, light gray and fossil. The fossils include shells, corals and gastropods. The rock is partially covered with mosses.

Tham Phu Pha Petch is a huge cave with about 20,000 square meters, which contains spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Many of these rock formations are arranged in columns or terraces. Sunbeams enter the cave through a karst window. Among other things, here are some archaeological artifacts (shells and old pottery).

The Khao Bunthad Wildlife Sanctuary covers approximately 1.5 square kilometers. It is a protected rainforest area through which a small stream (Khlong Lam Lon) flows. The stream provides water with some rapids and sand deposits for recreation. The area is densely overgrown with shrubs and tall and tall trees. The tropical rainforest in Khao Banthad, with its original nature, is considered one of Thailand's most biodiverse forests. The climate is tropical and humid and warm. This area was used as a military base by the Communist Party of Thailand. Some traces are still visible.

Wang Tainan Waterfall is also located in the Khao Bunthad Wildlife Sanctuary. The waterfall has nine floors and is located at Khao Banthad Mountain, Palm Pattana Subdistrict, Manang District. The waterfall can only be reached on foot via an approximately 8 km long trek. In the park can be camped. A permit may be obtained through the Park Authority or the Palm Pattana Sub-district Administration Organization.

Especially on the offshore islands of the Turatao National Park and the Phetra National Park are beautiful beaches.
But along the mainland coast there are beautiful beaches:

in Lan Ngu area in Mu Koh Phetra National Park (Pak Nam, Pak Ba Ra, Ban Bo Chet Luk, Ban Thung Sa Bo, Laem Tanyong Po)

in the Thung Wa area in Mu Koh Phetra National Park (Rawai Beach, Thung Bu Lan)