Trang: Andaman Coast, Islands and History

Trang combines a long Andaman coastline with island destinations, rainforest, historic sites and a local craft heritage. The coastal province has 199 kilometres of coastline along the Andaman Sea. When planning your trip, a good first question is what you want to focus on: beaches and boat trips, nature trails or cultural discoveries. These different themes can also help you choose the right holiday rental for your trip.

Coast and Nature in Trang

The Hat Chao Mai National Park extends across the Kantang and Sikao districts of Trang. Its landscapes include limestone areas, mangroves, seagrass and islands, as well as about 20 kilometres of coastline. Pak Meng Beach is a crescent-shaped beach about 5 kilometres long, bordered by natural pine groves. If you think first of coastal scenery when you think of Trang, these are two distinctive sides of the region: the shape of Pak Meng Beach and the diverse landscapes of the national park.

There are nature trails away from the coast, too: the Southern Thailand Botanical Garden (Thung Khai) has several educational trails through lowland rainforest and peat swamp. In Trang Municipality, Sa Kaphang Surin is a natural basin of about 80,000 square metres surrounded by a public park. Nature experiences therefore range from trails through different habitats to a basin in the urban area.

Islands, Beaches and Boat Trips

Ko Kradan has fine white sand, clear water, and coral and sea fan reefs along its coast. Ko Muk is known for its sandy beaches. Tham Morakot, also called Morakot Cave, is on Ko Muk; the cave’s name refers to the emerald-green water inside. Ko Chueak and Ko Waen offer scuba diving and snorkelling over colourful corals in shallow and deeper water. Dugongs are more frequently spotted around Ko Libong.

Pak Meng Pier offers day boat trips to Trang’s island destinations. These include Ko Muk and Morakot Cave, Ko Kradan, Ko Chueak and Ko Ngai; packages can be booked with operators at the pier or in Trang. Hat Yao Pier is a ferry port for trips to Trang’s islands. A community-based tourism programme in Ban Nam Rap includes a raft ride. If your travel group has varied interests, you can consider whether to focus on the islands and beaches or on nature and cultural experiences when choosing your holiday rental.

Discover History and Crafts

Kantang Railway Station is over 100 years old, the last railway station on the Andaman coast, and registered as an ancient monument. Khuan Tamnak Chan Park in Kantang Municipality preserves a royal residence on a hill and Second World War remains, including a cannon, a trench, a bunker and a tunnel. Both places offer tangible points of reference for Trang’s history, but with different focuses: railway and monument on the one hand, residence and wartime remains on the other.

The Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi Museum is housed in the former two-storey wooden home of Trang’s former provincial governor. It contains a wax figure and the governor’s personal belongings. The Na Muen Sri Weaving Museum focuses on the history and tools of local weaving. Those interested in material culture can include both historical figures and local crafts as distinct themes in their trip.

Another historical trace leads to the First Rubber Tree in Thailand. The name refers to the group of trees planted by Phraya Ratsadanupradit in 1899 to promote Thailand’s rubber plantation industry. The region’s food culture is also part of its history: the Trang Roast Pork Festival was first held in 1990. The event programme included stalls selling Trang roast pork and a parade; it took place on the first Sunday in September.

For further regional orientation: Bo Hin, Amphoe Kantang, Ko Sukon, Ko Libong, Trang, Bo Nam Ron, Bang Sak, Mai Fat, Wang Won and Yan Ta Khao.

For the broader travel overview: Thailand.