Songkhla Map and Travel Guide
Songkhla Travel Guide
Songkhla at a glance
Songkhla, one of Thailand's important ports and coastal provinces,
is located 950 kilometers from Bangkok. Occupying an area of 7,393
square kilometers on the eastern side of the Malaysian Peninsula,
the province is bordered by the States of Kedah (Sai Buri) and Perlis
of Malaysia to the south and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. In
addition, Songkhla borders on Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung
Provinces to the north, Yala and Pattani Provinces to the south,
and Satun and Phatthalung Provinces to the west.
An undeniably historic town endowed with ancient ruins, arts, and
places of cultural importance, Songkhla, a melting pot of Thais,
Chinese and Malays, charms visitors with its unique traditions,
dialect, and folk entertainment. These characteristics are reflections
of the provinces rich cultural heritage, which has been preserved
and passed down from generations to generations.
Hat Yai, a district of Songkhla, is perhaps better known than the
provincial capital itself. Hat Yai serves as a southern hub of communication,
trading and transportation as well as a gateway to Malaysia and
Singapore. In light of this, Hat Yai has gained importance as the
driving force of economic growth in the southern region.
History of Songkhla
Songkhla, a medieval pirate stronghold, is a historic, albeit sleepy
town with a thriving fishing community. Another Srivijaya outpost
in Thailands southern region, Songkhla was initially named Sa-thing".
Previously a port and a coastal trading post where Indian, Persian
and Arabian merchants came to exchange their products, the place
was named "Sing Lha" after the 2 lion-shape islands at
the mouth of the city's lake. At present, these 2 islands are Koh
Nu (Rat Island) and Koh Maeo (Cat Island). The old part of Songkhla
is located at the present-day Amphoe Sathing Phra.
Todays Songkhla
Over the last few decades, Songkhla has been rapidly developed
and is currently a unique attraction worth visiting. Blessed with
natural resources such as fine beaches, enchanting waterfalls, and
a tranquil lake, the province has an abundance of tourist attractions
and an amazing range of seaside resort towns. Moreover, the old
section of Songkhla still maintains its unique identity of ancient
and historical flavors through local architecture and cuisine.
While Songkhla is noted as a fishing community set in a peaceful
atmosphere, Hat Yai, on the other hand, serves as a transportation
and communications hub of the south with links to various destinations
in the neighboring provinces and Malaysia.
Despite being only 30 kilometers apart, Songkhla and Hat Yai have
uniquely contrasting characteristics and are ideal places to visit.
Songkhla is administratively
divided into 16 districts: Muang Songkhla, Ranot, Krasae Sin, Sathing
Phra, Singhanakhon, Khuan Niang, Rattaphum, Bang Klam, Hat Yai,
Na Mom, Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Sadao, and Khlong Hoi
Khong.
How to get there
By Car
From Bangkok: take Highway 4 passing Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon,
Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat,Trang and Phatthalung Provinces
in order to reach Songkhla Province. The total distance is 950 kilometers.
By Bus
From Bangkok: There are daily buses from Bangkok to Songkhla and
Hat Yai. The journey takes about 13 hours. For the current schedule
and further information contact the Southern Bus Terminal at tel:
02 435 1199-200 or visit www.transport.co.th. For Hat Yai, call
the Transport Co., Ltd. (Bo Kho So) at tel: 074 23 2789, 0 7423
2404, Piya Tour 0 7442 8972, Thai Doen Rot 0 7442 9525.
From Hat Yai
From Hat Yai Bus Terminal, there are buses to Bangkok and other
provinces in the south. Buses depart from a small bus station located
across the ferry station in the city. They include daily 2nd class
buses that depart for Bangkok 4 times a day (437 baht). There is
also one VIP bus that runs directly to Bangkok departing at 4.45
p.m. with a fare of 870 baht. In addition, first-class buses leave
for Bangkok twice daily (562 baht) in late afternoon and in the
evening. In addition, there are also buses depart from the same
terminal to Chumphon (245 baht), Nakhon Si Thammarat (100 baht)
and Surat Thani (150 baht).
Pho Thong Transportation Co., Ltd. (tel. 0 7431 1126) provides bus
services from Songkhla to Hat Yai.
Minivans and share taxis normally leave from Ramwithi Road for
Hat Yai at the rate of approximately 20-30 baht/person.
Minivans depart from the southern part of Sisuda Road to Pattani
and Yala at the rate of 70 baht.
Ranot Transportation Co., Ltd. (tel. 0 7431 1523) operates buses
from Songkhla to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
By Train
The State Railway of Thailand provides daily rapid and express
train services from Bangkok to Hat Yai. The trains depart from Bangkok's
Hualamphong Railway Station at 12.25 p.m., 2.20 p.m., 2.45 p.m.,
3.50 p.m. and 10.50 p.m. Travel time is about 17 hours. For further
information call 1690, 0 2223 7020, 0 2223 7030 or Hat Yai Railway
Station at 0 7424 3705, 0 7423 8005 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th.
By Air
Thai Airways International has several daily flights connecting
Bangkok and Phuket with Hat Yai. For more information, contact their
Bangkok office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000, their Hat
Yai office at tel. 0 7424 5851-2, or view their website at www.thaiairways.com.
Air Asia operates several daily flights on route Bangkok Hat Yai.
The flight time is 1.20 hours. Visit www.airasia.com to reserve
your seat online, or simply call 02 5159999 for more information.
Orient Thai provides three daily flights connecting Bangkok and
Hat Yai. The flight time is 1.25 hours. Call 1126 to make reservations
or visit www.onetwo-go.com to make online reservations.
Nok Air operates three daily flights between Bangkok and Hat Yai.
The flight time is 1.30 hours. Call 1318 for reservations or visit
www.nokair.com to purchase an e-ticket.
Phuket Air offers a daily flight connecting Hat Yai and Phuket.
The flight time is 1.25 hours. Call 02 679 8999 for reservations
or visit www.phuketairlines.com for more information.
Getting around the city
Songthaews around the city would cost 10 baht / trip. Motorcycle
taxis around town cost between 10 baht and 20 baht (daytime). There
are several guesthouses in town that provide bicycle and motorcycle
rental services at the rate of approximately 100 baht / day and
200 baht / day respectively.
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