If you have a day to fill, the most worthwhile excursion from Surat Thani is north to Chaiya — one of the oldest towns in Thailand and a significant site from the Srivijaya maritime empire that dominated the region from roughly the 7th to the 13th century. Wat Phra Boromthat Chaiya, just outside the town, houses an extraordinary restored Srivijaya-era chedi whose form clearly shows the influence of Javanese Buddhist architecture — it is one of the finest examples of Srivijaya art surviving in Thailand. The National Museum in Chaiya displays sculptures and artefacts from the period. Chaiya is about 40 km north of Surat Thani and easily reached by local bus or train.