'''Narathiwat''' (????????) is the provincial capital of Narathiwat Province.

Understand

Get in

By plane

Thai Airways and Air Asia serve Narathiwat Airport, located about 15 km north of the City near the Chulabhorn Military Installation from Bangkok.

By train

Su-Ngai Kolok in the Province of Narathiwat near the Malaysian Border with the State of Kelantan (Kota Bharu) is the southern Terminal station for the Bangkok - Su-Ngai Kolok route. Several trains run daily. Visitors to Narathiwat City may disembark prior to this station but lack of public transport may make travel from the smaller stations to the Province's capital awkward. Plans to connect the missing link (21 km of track) between Su-Ngai Kolok and Pasir Mas in Malaysia are on the tables but executing construction hasn't begun yet. Pasir Mas lies on the northern leg of the socalled "Jungletrain", connecting the northern Malaysian Gulfregion with the rest of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

Recent Terrorist activities in the Province lead quite frequently to a cancellation of trains proceeding further south than Hat Yai. Derailments of passenger trains by means of sabotaged tracks and the recent killings of Railway staff within the train have again lead to temporary halts of all services. Trains full of passengers have also be prone to wildly fired bullets by insurgents. Presently the services have resumed, please inquire before departure on current situations there.

By bus

'''To/from Bangkok:''' Air-con buses by [http://www.transport.co.th The Transport Co. Ltd] (?????? ????? ????? (???.), ''bor-kor-sor'') run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (??????, ''sai-tai'') and Narathiwat bus terminal daily. The distance is ~1161km and normally takes 14 hours. 24 seats VIP bus (?????, ''piset'') costs 1295 baht, departs from Bangkok at 17:15. On the reverse, the departure is at 12:30. 47 seats Class 2 bus (?2) costs 669 baht, departs from Bangkok at 15:30 and Narathiwat at 12:45.

By Minivan

Scheduled minivan services ply the routes between Su-Ngai-Kolok / Hat Yai / Yala / Pattani and the new Narathiwat bus terminal on the outskirts of town, roughly 500m past the Provincial Hospital on the left hand side of the road to Ranggae. Ticket prices are 80 baht for Su-Ngai-Kolok and 170 baht to Hat Yai.

Get around

Take motorcycle taxi around the city area at about 10-20 baht. Alternatively, a bicycle can be rented at a rate of 50 baht/day to explore the city area. Motorcycle rentals are not available in town. Songtheauws ply the scenic route to Taba (Tak Bai) and take passengers from the Monument square to either Ratchanivet Palace or near Ao Manao National Park. A new airconditioned busline connects the bus terminal with the beach at Hat Narathat, fare is a flat 9 baht.

See

  • '''Hat Narathat ???????????''' [[Image:narathat beach- narathiwat, thailan.jpg|thumb|narathat beach]
  • '''Ao Manao/Khao Tanyong National Park''' - beautiful natural beach with a few large rocks, ideal for beachpiknicking, bathing and beachcombing, few visitors only - a true 4 star beach!
  • thumb|Ao Manao southern segment

  • '''Matsayit Klang ??????????''' - known as the central mosque, located at the southern end of Thanon Pichitbamrung
  • '''Wat Khao Kong ????????'''
  • '''Matsayit Jangwat ?????????????''' - known as the provincial mosque, located at the northern end of Thanon Pichitbamrung
  • '''Matsayit Wadi Al Husen (Talo Mano) ?????????????????''' - known locally as 'Matsayit Song Roi Pi' (???????????????) or 200-year-old mosque
  • Do

  • '''Bang Nara Riverside Festival''' - local atmosphere with lots of teens and twens, live music and lots of foodstalls right along the riverside promenade. Every Saturday, begins at around 18:00 hrs.
  • '''Narathiwat Fair''' - held around the middle of September every year
  • Buy

    Miniature Korlae boats, colorful headcaps and headscarves

    Eat

    Restaurants are plenty but be aware that these serve local muslim oriented dishes only!

    Drink

    No bars like in most other Thai towns due to the predominantly muslim population. Alcohol / beer can however be bought at most grocery stores and at the 7-elevens in town.

    Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Ocean Blue Mansion''' A fairly new budgethotel with well appointed rooms (lift, cable TV, refrigerator, queen bed, hot shower, aircon) for 350 baht/night. Bang Nara View rooms are slightly higher. phone 073 511109 / 511047. Hotel is situated on the banks of Bang Nara River quite close to it meeting the gulf of Thailand. Great views of the river and it's activities and also of Khao Tanyong in the distance. Free covered Parking, boatdock available on request.
  • '''Narathiwat Hotel''' Older wooden structure with basic rooms
  • Mid-range

  • '''Baan Burong Guest House'''
  • '''Rex Hotel'''
  • '''Pacific Hotel''','''41/1-2 Worakakhampipith Rd. Ampure Muang, Narathiwat, 96000 Thailand ; Tel: (073) 511 076,Fax: (073) 511 259.''' The hotel is located between the two main roads of downtown, a block south/east of the Tower Clock. The rooms are clean and simple (w. hot water showers & TV). The staff is friendly and helpful. It has also a small restaurant. Comfort wise it is far less than the Royal Princess and just below the Tanyong Hotel but much less expensive. Prices range from 300 THB (Fan) to 400 THB (Air Cond.).Image:Pacific Hotel.jpg
  • '''Tanyong Hotel''','''16/1 Sopapisai Rd. Ampure Muang, Narathiwat, 96000 Thailand ; Tel: (073) 511 477-9,Fax: (073) 511''' '''834'''.The Tanyong is located towards the beach end of town and has comfortable well kitted out rooms at reasonable prices.The Tanyong Hotel offers the additional amenities of a 24-hour restaurant, a snooker club, the Ladybird Ancient Massage and the Perdana Disco. And situated on Walakam Pipid Road, close to the recently completed promenade along the Bang Nara River, the Pacific Hotel provides excellent mid-range value with 23 standard AC rooms.Prices range from $21-$43. (The actual beach is still about a 45 minute walk away!)
  • Splurge

  • '''Royal Princess Narathiwat'''
  • Get out