Located just south of the newly popular Krabi province, Trang shares its northern neighbor's spectacular limestone cliffs and white sandy beaches. Development is starting to creep south from Krabi, and with the opening of its own airport, Trang appears to be the next big destination.

Trang Sights

Trang Town

The city of Trang itself has apparently been settled for more than 2,000 years. It was known as an important trading center beginning as far back as the first century. Trade is still more important to the town than tourism. The modern town has a strong Chinese flavor to it, due to a large influx of Chinese immigrants to work in the rubber industry in the nineteenth century.

Islands

There are many small islands off Trang's coastline. Some have tourist facilities while others are still largely wild. The easiest islands to get to are Hai and Mook. Both have modest places to stay, white sandy beaches, and great coral formations. On Mook island, a short distance from Hai Island, is a place called the Emerald Cave. It's a long tunnel through a limestone cliff that eventually opens out to a sort of 'beach' in the middle of the island.

Had Chao Mai National Park

This large national park covers the coast and several offshore islands in Trang province. The park encompasses wetlands, mangrove swamps and the karst islands in the sea. This is one of the few places where you stand a chance of seeing the highly endangered Dugong, a manatee-like sea mammal.

Getting to Trang

The best way to get to Trang is to fly there. The only other realistic option is by bus, which takes in excess of 12 hours from Bangkok. The train completely by-passes the Andaman coast, so it is not really an option.

Domestic Airlines Serving Trang

If trying to get to Trang from Bangkok, or elsewhere in Thailand, there are only a small number of domestic airlines serving the province. Among the budget carriers, we'd recommend Nok Air.

Thai Airways

The national flag carrier flies to almost all major tourist destinations. Their web site allows you to view schedules and seat availability. You can book and pay online for paperless travel.

Nok Air

Budget carrier with Thai Airways as one of its major investors. Like most other budget lines, serves mostly the major tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Phuket.

Trang Hotels & Accommodations

There are as yet very few hotels and resorts to choose from in Trang province. Here is a list of all of them that can be booked through our partners. When looking at hotels, be sure to pay attention to location. Some are in the city of Trang itself, 30 minutes or more from the beach, while some are on the mainland coast and others are spread around the small islands.

Koh Hai (Ngai) in Trang Province

More or less at the center of the clusters of islands off Trang's coast is the island known either as Koh Hai or Koh Ngai. Technically, the island is in Krabi Province, but it's more commonly reached through Trang, so it's included here.

Koh Ngai is just 5 kilometers square, and mostly covered by jungle surrounded by a fringe of white sand beaches. A coral reef runs down the eastern side of the island, which is where most of the resorts are located.

The island is just 16 kilometers from the mainland pier at Pakmeng in Trang, as well as just 18 kilometers from Koh Lanta Yai. It's also just 8 kilometers from island of Koh Mook with it's fantastic Emerald Cave.

Koh Hai Hotels & Resorts

Koh Hai/Ngai is where most of the island resorts are located in Trang.

Koh Mook in Trang Province

Koh Mook lies between Koh Ngai and the mainland. Although slightly larger than Koh Ngai, Koh Mook is less developed. This is probably due to the craggy nature of the island. Many of the island's white sand beaches are backed by high cliffs.

The island's main claim to fame is the so-called "Emerald Cave". The cave is an opening at sea level in one of the cliffs on the west side of the island. It can only be entered by boat at low tide. Once past the narrow opening, the cave opens up to reveal a small cove open to the sky, with white sand beaches, and completely surrounded by limestone cliffs. Tours to the cave are available from most of the islands and resorts around the area. Keep in mind that you can only get in and out of the cove at low tide, so if you stay too long, you'll have to wait for the next low tide to get out.

Koh Mook Hotels & Resorts

Although the island is larger than Koh Ngai, Koh Mook has little in the way of accommodations.