Chumporn Airport

1999 saw the closure of Chumporn Airport and for nine years this airport in the south of the country stayed closed, and then in 2008, much to the surprise of the locals the airport was reopened.

Chumporn airport now serves as the gateway to the sublime islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Nok Air, operating out of Don Meuang Airport Bangkok, offers 2 flights per day to and from Chumporn Airport, this is a fantastic flight (if your budget stretches) and takes less than 1 hour – by comparison the bus down to Chumporn, takes twelve hours.

The Department of Civil Aviation, in 2015, agreed the expansion of the Chumphon Airport. The first phase is a 2500 million baht runway development, which includes a new hanger, a flight training school and the terminal expansion will be able to accommodate wider bodied aircraft than previously.

There will be, after completion, a second stage of development with an additional 2500 million baht budget to build a 200 bed hotel, marina and seaplane terminal.

There is 1 main terminal which has a coffee shop, gift shop and transfer services. It is not a large airport, quite the opposite in fact, so you won’t be left hanging around waiting for your luggage -everything moves quickly here.

Nok Air and Air Aisa are currently the only two airlines flying into Chumporn, they service a couple of flights to and from Chumphon Airport from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) a day.

It is very easy to secure onward travel from the airport – if you have not done so already – there are several travel agent booths, you can see them as you leave the baggage reclaim area and they will help you organize your next adventure.

The transfer services here will help organize a taxi or even a limousine to transfer you and your companions from Chumphon Airport to the downtown area. The airport is only 35 km north of Chumphon.

They will also provide a similar service which will whisk you off to the Koh Tao pier, it is here where you can catch the high speed catamarans to get out to the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and these ferries run in conjunction with the arrival of flights from Bangkok.

It only takes about one hour to travel from Chumphon Airport to the Koh Tao pier, and one hour and a half to downtown Chumporn.

Chumphon Airport is located in the Pathio District, and has remained largely untouched by tourists therefore making it an attraction to those that wish to see the real Thailand.

Chumphon has over 220 km of coastline offering unspoiled beautiful fine-sand beaches, specifically along Pathiu’s stunning Gold Coast, with Beaches like Thung Wua Laen, Bang Son and Ao Bo Mao Beach all being ideal for the explorer.

Chumporn has several National Parks and gorgeous tropical islands where the adventurous can explore caves, waterfalls and coral reefs. There are superb opportunities to go sightseeing, walking tours, sunbathing, swimming, canoeing, fishing, yachting, paragliding, diving and snorkeling.

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