"Trang: Exploring the Unspoiled Island World and Hidden Gems of Southern Thailand"
Western holidaymakers are often still admired attractions in the Trang region. For many, the city serves more as a stopover for overnight stays on round trips. But if you are looking for a city and its surroundings that should not be touristy, you are warmly welcome.
Most visitors are drawn to the beaches, which are about 20-35 kilometers from the city. These are not as spectacular as the ones in Krabi . But they offer great views of the limestone cliffs in the Andaman Sea .
In the vicinity there are not only beaches and islands but also nature parks that are worth seeing. These have a lush, tropical tree population and impressive waterfalls. The visitors are almost everywhere on new tourist territory.
Boats run from Pak Meng Pier to the 50 islands and islets off Trang Bay. Much of it belongs to the national park. Some of them are absolutely gorgeous, have fantastic beaches and, above all, offer a lot of peace and quiet.
Koh Hai, Trang
Koh Mook, Trang
Ko Muk, Trang
Koh Kradan, Trang
Koh Sukorn, Trang
History and background
The city can look back on almost 2,000 years of history. In ancient times, the place was an important trading hub for ships from Malaysia and India. The first rubber trees in Thailand were planted in the vicinity of Trang around 1900. These were then imported from Malaysia. Even today, rubber extraction is one of the most important industries in all of southern Thailand. The city has about 60,000 inhabitants. The main sources of income for the province are from rubber and palm oil extraction as well as from fishing. Tourism only plays a very associate role.
The province stretches along the Andaman coast. Many, still mostly unknown islands lie in these crystal clear waters. The eastern part of the province is defined by hilly terrain. High waterfalls and kilometer-long cave systems are hidden in the almost unexplored forests. Endless rubber plantations can be found between the coast and the mountains. Some of these have existed for more than 100 years. The Trang River, which has its source in Khao Luang, flows through the province and through the city into the Andaman Sea.
The beaches
The beaches on the Trang coast are less suitable for swimming. However, the resorts near the beach are ideal for exploring the hinterland. If you are looking for beautiful beaches, you should go to one of the offshore islands.
Pak Meng
The Pak Meng beach is about 35 kilometers southwest of Trang. It extends over several kilometers. It is good for swimming during the winter months. The Ngan Djab Hoi Festival takes place here at the end of November. Hundreds of Thais come to this festival to catch and eat mussels. There are a few accommodation options, from first-class hotels to simple bungalow resorts.
Activities and sights
An excursion to the island world off the coast of Trang will remain unforgettable. The 50 or so islands have hardly been developed for tourism so far. At the moment, its sandy beaches, corals and diverse wildlife are still an insider tip among those looking for relaxation.
The most beautiful islands in the region are Koh Hai, Koh Kradan, Koh Mook and Koh Sukorn.
Snorkeling is available at Koh Chueak and near Koh Hai. The underwater world with sultry fish and corals is fascinating. With a bit of luck you will also see dugongs (giant manatees) and dolphins, which in Thailand are only found in the Trang region.
Tham Lay Cave
Tham Lay Cave on the mainland near Trang offers a fantastic cave system. With a boat rowed by two Thais, it goes along the rubber plantations to the cave entrance. The widely ramified cave is well lit. The journey is interrupted twice and three caves are explored more closely on foot. Until now, this attraction is almost unknown to foreign tourists and is an absolute insider tip.
Roi Chan Pan Wang waterfall
Translated, the name of the waterfall means a hundred steps, a thousand places. It is located at Khao Nor Jujee, which is on the provincial border with Krabi. The area can be reached promptly and easily by car. From the parking lot it goes over rubber plantations to the waterfall surrounded by the forest. There are steps leading up to the small but seemingly endless cascades. These have deformed the rock strangely. The place is also suitable for ornithologists, as there are some rare bird species here.
Khao Chong National Park
The Khao Chong National Park is about 20 kilometers from the city of Trang. The tropical forest is ideal for nature lovers. There are a large number of animals and plants to discover. In addition, spectacular waterfalls such as the Kra Chong, Ton Yai and Ton Noi can be admired. Marked paths lead through lush jungle with huge trees to the various sights.
Wat Tham Sumano
The temple cave Wat Tham Sumano is well worth seeing in the mountains near Trang. It is 40 kilometers from the city and is well developed and illuminated. Corridors lead to various cave compartments in which there are Buddha statues. The caves were only expanded as a temple in 1988. It is often visited by locals who have chosen to live the life of a monk for a while. The temple complex is surrounded by dense forest, which makes it adventurous and mysterious.
Arrival & transport on site
A flight from Bangkok to Trang is the fastest way to get here. At the same time, this is also the most expensive variant. If you have little time, you should definitely use the plane.
Since Trang has a rail link with Bangkok, this is an inexpensive alternative. The journey takes about 12 hours.
A VIP direct bus also runs daily from Bangkok and also takes around 12 hours.
Anyone who is already in southern Thailand can reach Trang quickly and easily by transfer. It is about 5 hours from Phuket , 4 hours from Khao Lak and only 2 hours from Krabi.
The city of Trang is so small that visitors can easily explore it on foot. Alternatively, there are tuk tuk's and motorcycle taxis. Motorcycles can be rented for a few hundred THB per day.
Climate & travel time
The best time to visit Trang is from December to May. There is almost no rain and the temperatures are not too hot. The weather is often stable from May to June and the sun shines frequently. In the afternoon it can rain briefly and heavily. Heavy rains are to be expected, especially in September and October. In November, however, the weather is getting better again.
The low season for Trang runs from May to October and it has very few tourists. Not much can be done on the islands when it rains. If you are not looking for a lot of peace and quiet, you might be better off in the region around Krabi or Phuket
