Chumphon is the gateway to the South, with more than two hundred kilometres of Gulf coast. Ten of the 13 grounds listed here are on the sea, and because the coast faces east, almost half offer sunrise over the water. Several sit on red-earth cliffs above the bay, looking out at the green lights of fishing boats after dark.
Prices are friendly: Mu Ko Chumphon National Park charges about ฿30 per person and most private camps ฿100–150 per person per night. Nearly every ground has toilets, but only about half have showers; seven in ten have electricity and almost half a restaurant.
Counted across the 13 campsites shown on this page, ordered by how many list each one.
In the north, Pathio district is a run of quiet beaches: the Royal Development Project ground, a camp at Hat Saphli near Thung Wua Laen, and pitches on Thung Yang beach. Near Pak Nam Chumphon a cluster of camps sits on Pha Daeng, red cliffs looking down on the Gulf. Next comes Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, with a mangrove trail, a suspension bridge and Ko Kula for a night on an island. Inland are Doi Tapang in Sawi, an all-round viewpoint over mist and limestone hills, and streamside camps in the Phato forest.
February to May is when Chumphon's sea is calmest and its skies clearest — the time for beach grounds and island trips. Mid-year brings periodic rain, though this coast stays calmer than the Andaman side. October to December is the Gulf monsoon: heavy rain, rough seas, and the cliff-top camps take the full wind, so avoid them. The sea of mist at Doi Tapang is most likely on cool, damp mornings after rain.
The Pha Daeng cliff camps and the beach grounds are exposed — windy, and hot by day — so bring a tarp and solid pegs. Fewer than a quarter of grounds provide drinking water: carry your own. Thung Yang beach has almost no phone signal. Doi Tapang can only be reached in the community's four-wheel-drive trucks, as the track is steep and rough. Only about a third of grounds rent gear, so bring your own tent.
About ฿30 per person in the national park and ฿100–150 per person per night at most private camps; the highest we list is around ฿200.
Mostly not. Nearly all the seaside grounds are on the mainland and reachable by car; only Ko Kula in Mu Ko Chumphon National Park needs a boat.
At some — about a quarter of grounds accept pets. Ask the owner before you set out.
