The Fascinating Route Around Trang

| March 8, 2016

As a traditional trade center, Trang is wealthy, with good and welt – maintained road system, comfortably toured by two or four-wheel drive cars. Roads in the town are broad, while those outside the town are two-lane asphalt roads, with light traffic. Trang, however, is influenced by The Southwest monsoon from April to December, and can be quite wet. Checking the lower body, tires, and brake fluid would make you more confident at the wheel.
The excursion route around Trang is in 2 parts, Trang Lae – Trang by the Sea, and Trang Bok – Trang by Land. Trang Lae takes you through delightful beaches and piers with island transfer services, while Trang Bok skirts the Banthat Mountain Range, through lush green forests and wondrous waterfalls.
In the morning, make a city tour and enjoy delicious Trang breakfast comprising dim sum, hot drinks and braised pork Numerous shops serve such a breakfast from dawn to before noon. They are such as Ko Lan’s on Huai Yot Road, Ko La’s at the entrance to Soi Ratchada 9, Ton Nun, Sin Jiew and Asia Ocha on Kantang Road, for instance. Those keen on Trang braised pork must stop at the shop on Huai Yot Road. The dessert has to be the fresh Chinese cake, Khuk Ming Cake, distinctive with the hole in the middle of the round cake.
Starting with Trang Lae route, from the city to the west by Highway 4046 (Trang-Sikao), a distance of 29 kilometers and turn left onto Highway 4162. Continue for 1 0 kilometers to an intersection, and turn right to Pak Meng Pier. To the left is Pak Meng Beach, a crescent – shaped beach first known as a beach resort in Trang. It is a perfect lookout for sunset. Seaside restaurants line the beach, such as Pak Meng Seafood, Yok Yo, Khru Kid, and Maek Mai. Pak Meng is also one of the three most important piers in Trang (others are Ban Chao Mai and Khuan Tungku Piers). Boat services to Ko Muk, Tham Morakot, Ko Kradan, Ko Chueak, Ko Ma and Ko Waen are available, including boats run by resorts on islands.

Pak Meng Beach Trang Thailand

From Pak Meng, follow the beachfront Yothathikan Road towards Ban Tha Sam for 7 kilometers. Crossing the bridge over Chang Lang Canal, the road runs along Chang Lang Beach, stretching 4 kilometers. The entrance to Hat Chao Mai National Park is on the right at the bend. The Hat Chao Mai National Park covers a vast area, from Pak Meng, Chang lang, Chao Mai, to San and Yao Beaches on land, and Ko Muk, Ko Kradan, Ko Chueak and Ko Waen in the sea. About 1.5 kilometers south of the park office is a small hill, Khao Baena, where surveys were conducted on the manatee or dugong, a rare sea mammal mistaken as mermaid or a large fish. II grows to 2 -3.5 meters in the length and weighs 200-300 kilogram each. The area around Hat Chao Mai National Park is the habitat of the last herd of dugong in Thailand.
Take the beachfront Yothathikan Road and continue for about 50 kilometers further. Then turn right towards Ban Chao Mai, about 5 kilometers away, the entrance to Yang Ling Beach is found. The beach is inviting and pleasant. Next to it is San Beach, off-limit to visitors. Traveling further on Yothathikan Road, Yao Beach and Chao Mai Beach can be reached. Yao Beach is lined with pine trees. The entrance to the beach is located next to a major limestone hill. From Chao Mai Beach, boats can be hired to tour islands in the area. Canoes are also available for the tour of the mangrove forest, or, further along, Charakhae Khao Canal to Tham Chao Khun, a huge cave with beautiful stalagmite and stalactite. For island tour, boats take tourists out every morning for diving at Ko Kradan, Ko Chueak, Ko Ma, Ko Waen, and Tham Morakot at Ko Muk. An island tour should take at least 3 days and 2 nights. Accommodations are available on islands, with boat services and diving facilities.
From Chao Mai Beach, the first island to reach is Ko Libong, the largest island off the coast of Trang. The island is inhabited by friendly Islamic communities, and rich in mangrove areas and birds. A part of the island is conserved as Ko Libong No-Hunting Area, next to Ko Nok – the bird colony. There are small tourist resorts such as Libong and Dugong Resorts, offering boat tour around the island, especially Sila Laeng- Laterite Beach, with a huge orange-red cliff over a peaceful beach. From here, a diving tour can be undertaken, with Tham Morakot – the Emerald Cave, at Ko Muk as the highlight. It is listed as an Unseen Thailand site, featuring a deep hole in the hill, linked to cave chamber opening out to the sea. Tourists float in at low tide to emerge on a white sand beach inside the cave, surrounded on all sides by cliffs. The sky can be seen above, with the sunlight shining through at its best during 11.00-11.30 hours. Ko Chueak, Ko Ma, and Ko Waen are famous dive sites. Ko Kradan is known around the world as the site of the mass underwater wedding.

Besides, there are Ko Ngai and Ko Rok, which are in fact in Krabi area, but can reach more comfortably from the coast of Trang. On Ko Ngai, you can find an Unseen Paradise site at Ko Ngai Fantasy Resort and Spa, in modified Balinese architecture. Two other luxurious accommodations are Ko Ngai Resort and Ko Ngai Villa. Turning back to the mainland for a tour on land, head for the town on Highway 403, a distance of about 30 kilometers, and go further north on Highway No.4 (Trang – Phatthalung) for 20 kilometers, passing Ban Lamphura, take the side road to your right (Khlong Khui-Lamphura) and turn right into Wat Phu Khao Thong, Nam Phut SubDistrict, the site of the “Manohra Reclining Buddha” the only reclining Buddha that wears a head-dress like the Manohra or Nohra performers.
On the way back, take the side way on the right into Highway 4123 which runs into Highway No.4 at Huai Yot District. Driving past Huai Yot District, continue for 8 kilometers, Wat Khao Kop can be seen on the right. About 500 meters from the intersection, take the left turn and get 700 meters further. To the left is the major attraction known as Tham Lae Khao Kop, a large limestone cave accessible by a small boat through a low opening to view complex chambers with wondrous stalagmite and stalactite, as well as sparkling crystals at some stretches. The high-tide period from September to October is too hazardous to visit the place.

Returning to the town on the same route, take the two-lane Highway 404 (Trang-Yan Ta Khao-Palian) southwards for about 11 kilometers. To the left is Thung Khai Botanical Garden, on an area of about 1,040 acres, with over 400 species of local plants, including some rare palms. It is known as the best botanical garden in the South and the only one with the Canopy Walk in Thailand. From here, continue southwards to Yan Ta Khao District, to start the route along Banthad Mountain Range, resplendent with vegetation, wildlife and the largest number of waterfalls. Within Palian District, two major waterfalls are Ton Te and Ton Tok. The best time to see them is from November to May. Up north, you can find Phrai Sawan, Sai Rung, and Kachong or Khao Chong Group of waterfalls, comprising Ton Plieo, Ton Yai, and Ton Noi Waterfalls. They are within the Southern Botanical Garden and Khao Chong Wildlife Conservation Development and Promotion Station, another major depository of the flora of the South, with a nature study trail through the fertile evergreen tropical forest.
The path leads back to Highway No.4 at Ban Thanon Khot intersection, with a market and a small community. From there take the left turn into the town area again, completing the tour of Trang by the sea and on land.

Trang Map Thailand

Category: Trang