Travel
PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AFTER DARK (approximately 18.30)
Wat Suan Mokkh (the main monastery) is about 640km south of Bangkok and just west of the Asian Highway (Hwy. 41 or AH2). Surat Thani, 53km southeast, is the nearest city. Chaiya, the nearest village and train station, is about 6km northeast of Wat Suan Mokkh.
The International Dhamma Hermitage (the retreat center) is situated about 1.5km away from the Suan
Mokkh monastery on the east side of the highway in a quiet location behind a hill.
From Bangkok, take any southbound Rapid or Express train (a few in the evening, one around 8 o'clock
in the morning) and get off at Chaiya, then take a blue songtaew (a pick-up truck) to Suan Mokkh. The price
for the train (2nd class sleeper, fan) is about 500 baht, for the songtaew from Chaiya to Suan Mokkh
about 20 baht*.
Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal is on the Buddha-Monthon Road in Thonburi; both air-conditioned and
non-AC buses depart here for southern Thailand. Take a bus bound for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat
or Hat Yai and ask to be let off at Suan Mokkh; buses will either let you off directly in front (km post 135)
or at the nearby petrol station.
If you book your journey in advance, and it is worth it during peak season
and Thai holiday periods, you must go to the bus station to purchase your ticket. If you buy from a travel
shop, you will probably end up on a tourist bus and may not get the usual high standard of the national
buses. Be especially careful with private buses departing from the Khao San Road area as theft has been
reported repeatedly on these buses.
The journey from Bangkok takes about 8 to 10 hours, so a good bus is worth the effort of going to the bus
station in advance to book.
From the south, take trains that stop in Surat Thani (Phun Phin) or Chaiya. At Phun Phin station, ask at
the bus stop in front for a Chumpon (no. 474) or Ranong (no. 469) bound bus going by Suan Mokkh.
(Phun Phin, Surat Thani's train station, is 14km west of the city).
Blue songtaews bound for Chaiya
(when you leave the train station go about 200m to the left) will depart Phun Phin about every 30minutes
until about 3pm.
Chumpon or Ranong bound buses from Surat Thani bus station depart about hourly until about 3pm.
(The price for the bus from Surat Thani or Phun Phin or the songtaew from Phun Pin is about
50 baht*; the ride will take app. 1.5 hours from Surat Thani and app. 1 hour from Phun Phin).
Some government air-conditioned buses from Phuket to Bangkok will pass Suan Mokkh and let you off in front of the monastery. Please enquire at the government bus terminal in Phuket.
Surat Thani airport is about 27km south of Suan Mokkh and 2km west of the highway. It is possible to catch a taxi at the airport (approx. 500 baht*) or public transport at the airport gate at the highway (approx. 35 baht*) directly to Suan Mokkh without having to go into Surat Thani. It may take up to 1 hour to cover this distance by public transport. Public transport will cease around 3.30pm.
* Prices are given as a guide and may not be accurate, changing without warning. It is your responsibility to check prices before you travel to be sure you are willing to pay prices being charged.