Trang is the Andaman coast without the crowds. Its islands, spread across Hat Chao Mai National Park and the Libong area, include the famous Emerald Cave on Koh Mook, the white sand of Koh Kradan and the seagrass meadows where wild dugongs still feed. On the mainland, Trang town is one of the great food towns of the south, known for roast pork, dim sum breakfasts and old coffee shops. It suits island hoppers, snorkellers, food lovers and travellers who want a local, unhurried feel.
- Best for: quiet islands, snorkelling, local food culture
- From Bangkok: about 830 km; flights to Trang Airport take around 1.5 hours; overnight trains run to Trang station
- Island piers: Pak Meng, Kuan Tung Ku and Hat Yao, depending on the island
- Best season: roughly November to April
- Heads-up: some islands and caves in Hat Chao Mai National Park close or limit visits during the monsoon; check park announcements
- Food guide: What to eat in Trang
Getting there and getting around
Trang Airport has daily flights from Bangkok, and the overnight train from Bangkok ends at Trang station in the town centre, a pleasant option if you have time. Long-distance buses also run from Bangkok and from Hat Yai, Krabi and Phuket.
From town, minivans and taxis reach the piers in about 45–60 minutes. Island-hopping day tours, often covering Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Chueak and Koh Waen, can be booked in town or at the piers. To stay on an island, take a scheduled boat or a long-tail; some operators run seasonal speedboats linking Trang’s islands with Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe and Phi Phi. In town, tuk-tuks with their distinctive frog-faced fronts are a fun way to get around.
Top things to do in Trang
Koh Mook and the Emerald Cave
Koh Mook is a lived-in island with a Muslim fishing village, simple resorts and Charlie Beach (Farang Beach) on its western side. Its star is Tham Morakot, the Emerald Cave: you swim or float in a life jacket through a dark sea tunnel of about 80 metres to a hidden lagoon and beach ringed by cliffs. Access depends on the tide and is managed by the national park, and it can close in rough weather. Map
Koh Kradan
Kradan has some of the finest sand in the province and clear shallow water with coral close to shore. There is little development, so it feels peaceful once the day boats leave. Map
Koh Ngai
Sitting on the Trang–Krabi border and usually reached by boat from Pak Meng, Koh Ngai has a long sandy east coast, calm water for families and a handful of resorts. Map
Koh Chueak and Koh Waen
Two small limestone islets popular on snorkelling tours for their soft corals and reef fish. Koh Waen is also the setting for the underwater wedding ceremony held each February. Map
Koh Libong and the dugongs
Trang’s largest island is surrounded by seagrass beds that support one of Thailand’s most important dugong populations. Local boats offer viewing trips; choose operators that keep their distance and switch engines off near the animals. The island also has fishing villages and mangroves to explore. Map
Hat Pak Meng and Hat Chao Mai
The mainland beaches face limestone islands offshore. Pak Meng is the hub for boats and seafood restaurants; Hat Chao Mai, inside the national park, is long, quiet and lined with casuarina trees. Map
Tham Le Khao Kop
In Huai Yot district, small boats glide through a low limestone cave with a stream running through it. Some passages are so low you have to lie flat in the boat, which makes it a memorable short adventure. Map
Kantang
The old port town on the Trang River has a well-preserved wooden railway station at the end of the line, and memorials to Phraya Ratsadanupradit, the governor credited with bringing the first rubber trees to Thailand. Nearby, Kantang Hot Spring Forest Park has warm pools under the trees. Map
Trang town
Walk the old shophouse streets near the station, relax in Sa Kaphang Surin Park with its lake and gardens, and look out for the dugong statue at the roundabout. Mornings are for dim sum and coffee; evenings for the night market. Map
Suggested 2-day itinerary
Day 1: Dim sum and roast pork breakfast in Trang town, then a full-day island-hopping trip from Pak Meng to the Emerald Cave, Koh Kradan, Koh Chueak and Koh Waen. Back in town for the night market.
Day 2: Morning at Tham Le Khao Kop, lunch in town, then Kantang’s railway station and the hot spring park. Or swap Day 2 for a night on Koh Mook or Koh Libong to see the islands after the day boats leave.
Festivals and events
Trang’s best-known event is the Trang Love Festival around Valentine’s Day, with the underwater wedding at Koh Waen and the Emerald Cave, a couples’ parade in town and legal marriage registration on the beach; in 2026 it ran from 13 to 15 February. Chinese New Year brings lion dances and a food fair in town, and the Vegetarian Festival, usually in September or October, is one of the biggest in the south, with processions from the Chinese shrines. Trang also celebrates its famous cake and roast pork with an annual food festival. At Songkran, expect water play in town and merit-making at temples; read our Songkran etiquette guide and our guide to Songkran in Phuket if you are travelling the Andaman coast. Dates change every year, so check with TAT.
Practical tips
- For the Emerald Cave, follow the guide, wear a life jacket and avoid going in big waves.
- National park fees apply to Hat Chao Mai islands; carry cash.
- Dress modestly in the island villages, many of which are Muslim.
- Do not chase or touch dugongs or turtles; ask boatmen to keep a distance.
- Book island accommodation early for February, when the Love Festival and high season overlap.
FAQ
Is the Emerald Cave open all year?
It depends on the weather and the national park. Visits can be suspended in the monsoon or in rough seas, and tide times affect access. Check the latest park notice before you book.
Which Trang island is best for a first visit?
Koh Kradan for beaches and snorkelling, Koh Mook for village life and the Emerald Cave, and Koh Ngai for families who want calm water and comfortable resorts.
Can I see dugongs in Trang?
Sightings are possible around Koh Libong, especially at low tide over the seagrass beds, but they are wild animals and never guaranteed.
How many days should I spend in Trang?
Two days covers a classic island tour and the town. Four days lets you stay on an island and add Libong or Kantang.
Keep exploring
Cover photo: 2016 Prowincja Trang, Ko Kradan (01).jpg · Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
