Welcome to the third stop of our Thailand 20 day itinerary! If you are just joining us, make sure to check out our first day in Bangkok to run through all the stops. For this leg, we flew from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani, where we hired a private driver to take us to The Magical Mountain View Resort for our first night, followed by the pier the next morning. Splurging on private transport was well worth it—the door-to-door convenience was seamless, and our driver even made a pit stop at a local 7-Eleven so we could stock up on snacks and drinks.
While public options like trains and regional minivans are popular on a standard Lonely Planet route, splurging on a private transfer is highly recommended if you want to skip the crowds and seamlessly reach a remote resort stay.
The Magical Mountain View Resort lived up to its name. The misty mountain vistas overlooking the pool were nothing short of jaw-dropping; our only regret was booking just a single night.
The following morning, our driver delivered us to the Ratchaprapha Dam Pier, where our anticipation grew as we saw the water for the first time. There, we boarded a traditional long-tail boat for a incredibly scenic 45-minute ride across the emerald-green water to our floating resort, Panvaree the Greenery. The towering limestone cliffs jutting straight out of the lake made the ride spectacular. Even the boat ride to the resort felt like a magical tour in itself, giving us endless opportunities for photos along the way.
We booked the 2-night all-inclusive package at Panvaree the Greenery, which perfectly covered all of our delicious local meals and two guided excursions: an adventurous bamboo raft and cave tour, plus a tranquil morning boat safari to spot local wildlife. During our downtime at the resort, we spent hours swimming in the warm water, paddling around in kayaks, and relaxing in the comfortable hammocks suspended directly above the water right outside our room. It was the absolute perfect way to unwind in paradise.
The Next Stop on Our Thailand 20 Day Itinerary: KOH SAMUI
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