🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Most people know Pak Nam Chumphon as a stop on the way to Koh Tao — you get off the train or coach in Chumphon, then transfer down to catch the ferry. But there's more reason to stick around here than you'd expect. This side of the Tha Tapao river mouth is a fishing community that has lived with the sea for generations, with a fish pier, brightly painted boats, seafood restaurants lined up along the water, and Hat Sai Ri beach a short way on. If you arrive before your ferry, or you've just come back from the islands, this is the place to stop for a good meal before moving on.
The key spots in Pak Nam Chumphon are clustered close together — the Lomprayah pier, the fish market, the riverside seafood restaurants, and the path up to Hat Sai Ri beach are all just a few minutes apart on foot or by car. We'll go through them one at a time, starting with the pier, which is the main reason people come here.
Ferry to Koh Tao — where to board, times and fares
Ferries to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui from Chumphon all leave from this Pak Nam–Hat Sai Ri area. The main pier people use is the Lomprayah pier in Hat Sai Ri sub-district. Nearby there are other operators such as Seatran and Songserm (Sri Trang), but on the Chumphon–Koh Tao route Lomprayah is currently the main operator running the most consistent schedule. The boats are high-speed catamarans, and the ride to Koh Tao takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Route — Chumphon → Koh Tao → Koh Phangan → Koh Samui (you can get off at any island)
- Departures — generally 2 per day, around 07:00 and 13:00–13:30 (always check the latest times with the operator; departures may shift by season)
- Fare — Chumphon to Koh Tao is around 750–800 THB per person one-way; buying a combined bus-and-boat ticket from Bangkok or Surat Thani comes as a package
- Travel time — Koh Tao ~1 hr 45 min, Koh Phangan ~2 hr 45 min, Koh Samui ~3 hr
- Car parking — the Lomprayah pier offers car storage for around 50 THB per car per day, handy if you drive in and cross over to the islands
Always check ferry times first
Ferry schedules and fares change with the season and the weather. During the monsoon (roughly October to December) the sea on this side gets rough, and some days the boats are cancelled. Before you plan, call the ferry operator to confirm times or book ahead through a ticketing app, and allow time to reach the pier at least 30–45 minutes before departure.
Want more out of Chumphon? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Riverside seafood restaurants in Pak Nam Chumphon
This is the reason to stay a bit longer. The seafood here comes straight off the fishing boats in the area. Most restaurants sit along the Chumphon–Pak Nam road and beside the Tha Tapao river. Prices are mid-range — not cheap, but worth it for the freshness. Below are the places that locals and travellers mention most often.
Mae Mai Seafood
The place a lot of people think of first when seafood in Pak Nam Chumphon comes up. It runs along the Chumphon–Pak Nam road, right by the sea, with a cool breeze and an easy atmosphere — fresh catch at fair prices. Popular orders include sea bass fried with fish sauce, oysters with the works, horseshoe-crab egg salad, steamed crab claw, and stir-fried liang leaves with egg.
Krua Janjira (Janjira Resort)
A restaurant inside a resort on the Pak Nam Chumphon riverside, with a shaded, natural setting. It's the first stop for many people the moment they reach the area. Fresh seafood comes in daily, which makes it a good pick for families or anyone waiting for a ferry. There are rooms on site if you want to stay the night before crossing to the islands.
Baan Boran Seafood
A seafood spot in the Pak Nam area set in an old wooden house with a warm, homey feel, focused on simple home-style seafood dishes. It suits people who want somewhere quieter than the big restaurants along the road. It's only become known fairly recently, but locals are starting to talk about it.
Sai Ri Beach Resort Restaurant
A seafood restaurant right on the water at Hat Sai Ri beach, where you sit with the sea in front of you. It's open all day from morning to evening, good for a lunch after walking Hat Sai Ri, or dinner watching the sunset. The setting feels more private than the pier area.
Chai Hat Seafood
A tucked-away seafood spot by the sea in this area that draws people who like a calm setting. The seafood is fresh and nicely plated — a good option for anyone wanting to escape the busier restaurants. The sea breeze is great and it photographs well.
Rim Talay Pak Hat (Tha Yang)
A seafood restaurant over on the Tha Yang side, on the way from town to Pak Nam, and a regular stop for people around here. The seafood is fresh off the Tha Yang fishing boats and prices are friendly — worth a stop if you're coming via Tha Yang before reaching the pier area.
Order seafood the smart way
Most riverside restaurants price by weight — fish, crab and prawns are charged per kilo. Before you order, ask clearly about the weight and the price per kilo. Picking your own from the live tanks gets you the freshest catch. Dishes that are good value and hard to get wrong include lime-steamed sea bass, fresh oysters, and steamed blue crab. Large grilled prawns, on the other hand, climb in price fast — order in moderation.
Markets and the fish pier — life in a fishing community
Pak Nam Chumphon is a coastal community recognised by Thailand's Ministry of Culture as a model community, and the fishing way of life is still a real part of daily routine here — not a scene staged for tourists. In the early morning and when the boats come in, the fish pier by the river mouth comes alive with hauling, sorting and weighing the catch. Anyone who's up early can stop by to watch the seafood come off the boats fresh and buy it back at source prices.
- Fish pier / Pak Nam fish market — busy in the early morning and when the fishing boats arrive; watch the sorting, weighing and selling, and buy fresh squid, prawns and crab at good prices
- Dried seafood and souvenirs — dried squid, dried shrimp, shrimp paste and fish sauce are popular take-home buys from this area, cheaper than buying in town
- Brightly painted fishing boats — wooden boats lined up along the water make a good photo corner that tells the fishing story well; morning and evening light is the prettiest
- Respect the working space — this is where people actually make their living, so ask before photographing anyone at work, and don't block the paths used for hauling the catch
More to do around Pak Nam
Hat Sai Ri beach
A long stretch of white sand just past the pier area — clear water, quiet and calm, good for a stroll in the breeze and watching the sunset. There are restaurants and beachfront places to stay.
Krom Luang Chumphon Shrine (Hat Sai Ri)
The shrine and monument to Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, deeply revered by Chumphon locals. It sits on a rise by the beach, with a replica naval vessel and a wide sea view.
DivingChumphon Islands
The islands off the river mouth, where you can take a boat out to snorkel over the coral. The water is clear and the islands are far less crowded than the Andaman side — good for anyone who wants to dive without travelling far.
How to get to Pak Nam Chumphon
- From Chumphon town — Pak Nam–Hat Sai Ri is about 13 km away, a ~20-minute drive; there are songthaews from town out to the Tha Yang–Pak Nam area during the day
- From Chumphon train station / bus terminal — if you arrive by train or coach, the ferry operators usually run a shuttle to the pier as part of a package, which is convenient if you're set on crossing to the islands
- Private car / rental — the easiest option if you also want to stop for seafood and walk the fishing district; park at the restaurant, or leave the car at the pier if you're crossing to the islands
- From Bangkok — there are combined bus-and-boat services running direct from the Khaosan area down to the Chumphon pier, taking around 6 hours, ideal if you're heading straight on to Koh Tao
A 2-day, 1-night Pak Nam Chumphon plan
Arrive at Pak Nam, eat seafood, walk the fishing district
Pick your path — cross to the islands, or keep exploring Chumphon
Getting ready and good to know
- Avoid the monsoon — the sea on this side gets rough around October to December, with boats cancelled on some days; if you're crossing to the islands, the dry season is the safer bet
- Allow time for the ferry — reach the pier at least 30–45 minutes before departure, especially for the busy morning sailing
- Carry cash — some riverside restaurants and fish-market stalls are mainly cash-only, so bring enough
- Sun and wind protection — the sun is strong and the sea breeze can be fierce, so pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Ask the price before ordering — seafood is charged by weight, so confirm the price per kilo clearly before you agree, and there'll be no surprises at the bill
Keep planning your Chumphon trip — beaches, islands, cafes and food
See the Chumphon travel guide →