Southern Soul Gastronomy Routes
9 Routes, 9 Flavors + 5 Curated Train Trips to Taste the South Like Never Before
Embark on a journey where each stop is a new flavor, each route a story, crafted with care for food lovers, explorers, and cultural seekers.
Design your own 9 flavorful routes, access 50 + exclusive digital perks, and be part of 3 Campaign Activities with Prizes Worth Over 300,000 THB.
Story : Suthima Sueangam
Photos : Kidsadakon Sukmool
“When travel isn’t just about reaching the destination, but about the flavorful stories along the way stories you get to season yourself.”
Open all your senses and you’ll realize that the experience of train travel is unlike any other form of travel.
“Train Journey to the Southern Soul” is our campaign that invites you to explore flavors through the Southern railway line, each journey likened to a flavor on a Thai culinary palette: Did you know that we have 9 tastes? Sour Sweet Oily Salt Spicy Bitter Astringent Fragrant Well balanced.
You create your own flavor journey using ingredients you’ll discover along the way—local food, community storytellers, artisans, living heritage, dialects, culture, and lifestyle. Woven together into your own narrative, this becomes your very own Gastronomy Journey. No two taste journeys are the same—it all depends on your perspective and experience.
Get ready. Book your train ticket. And join us on a flavorful journey through a variety of curated activities from July to September 2025.
9 Train Routes to Explore Flavors of the South
The Southern railway spans over 1,144 kilometers from Bangkok’s Thonburi Station to the final stop at Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat. The route passes through 12 provinces: Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat—each offering a gateway to a unique flavor.
Nine routes have been chosen as pilots, with Chumphon Station and Hat Yai Junction as key hubs, connecting trains to boats, cars, and flights. Each route highlights food, transportation, and local charms to suit various travel styles:
Chumphon
Southern Adventure – Salty Flavor
For thrill-seekers, photographers, and foodies: paddleboarding, beach running, long-distance cycling, sailing with local fishermen, off-road mountain rides chasing misty views—Chumphon’s essence is salty and adventurous.
Ranong
Bathe, Nourish, Relax – Bitter Flavor
A wellness retreat for mind and body: hot springs, forest bathing, healthy local food, and peaceful escapes into nature for those seeking stillness.
Chumphon – Ranong
Two-Wheel Route – Sour Flavor
Designed for long-distance bikers: scenic cycling or motorbiking from Chumphon to Ranong, with relaxing stops along the way.
Phatthalung
Family Fun – Sweet Flavor
Perfect for day trips with friends or family: shadow puppet shows, making spicy chili dips, softening the spice with sweet sago treats, scenic boat rides through Talay Noi to see birds, lotus flowers, buffalo, and traditional fisheries.
Hat Yai
All-Day All-Night City Feast – Spicy & Nutty Flavors
A bustling city tour with the Songkhla Gastronomy Network—morning markets to midnight snacks, coffee, pubs, and street eats all day long.
Songkhla
The Three Ages of Songkhla
The Three Ages of Songkhla – Well-Balanced Flavor
Explore Songkhla’s layered history from Khao Kao Daeng to the old city—classic architecture, Chinese heritage, old-school eateries, café hopping, and romantic lake cruises.
Songkhla Hidden Gems
Hat Yai – Bang Klam – Na Mom – Sadao
Discover stingless bee honey at Uncle Rom’s garden in Bang Klam, enjoy local dishes in Khlong Ngae, visit Padang Besar, or catch seasonal misty mountain views at Kuan Khan Lao.
Chumphon – Koh Tao
Rail / Boat / Fly – Fragrant Flavor
A fully connected route from train to boat to plane: discover the underwater beauty of Koh Tao, craft culture of Koh Phangan, island food heritage of Koh Samui, then fly home from Samui Airport.
Taste + Rail: Food Routes to Southern Happiness
Experience the flavorful cultural journey of Southern Thailand along key stations. Search for your perfect flavor, invite your friends and family to travel with you, and share your story using the hashtag
#TrainJourneytotheSouthernSoul
5 Trips with the Gastro Club
In addition to the 9 DIY routes, Gastro Club by the Thailand Gastronomy Network offers 5 special curated trips:
Photo Journey Chumphon
Join Tom Travelogue on a 3-day/2-night train trip to explore and photograph local food in Chumphon.
Food Explorers Ranong
Train to Chumphon, continue to Ranong: forage ingredients in Klaung La-un, soak in hot springs, forest bathe, and taste local cuisine.
Light & Easy Phatthalung
A 1-day trip from Hat Yai to Phatthalung: shadow puppets, chili dip workshop, coffee + art in Dong Bon café, fresh sago in the swamp, and souvenir shopping.
Sweet Buzz of Bang Glam
Train from Hat Yai to Bang Klam: explore stingless bee honey, coffee in the garden, and honey tasting at Uncle Rom’s bee farm.
The Three Ages of Songkhla
A one-day history trip with local storytellers through three Songkhla eras: Khao Daeng – Laem Son – Bo Yang, uncovering archaeology, heritage, and culinary culture.
50 + Vendors Offering Flavorful Perks via Digital Collectible Art Vouchers
This travel article is your inspiration to hit the rails, and the vouchers are your golden tickets to taste the region. Over 50 vendors across Chumphon, Ranong, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, and Songkhla offer discounts, freebies, and creative workshops. Discover cafés, fusion eateries, Japanese cuisine, Thai street food, and more.
How to Join
Add the official LINE: @thailandgastronomy
Snap a photo of your Southern train ticket and type “รถไฟใต้” (Southern Train) to access digital coupons from 60+ businesses in the 5 pilot cities.
Follow updates at:
https://www.facebook.com/Thailandgastronomynetwork
