Trang Beaches And Islands

[NewGuy]

We'll be going to Trang later in January (after short visits to Chaiya, Surat Thani and Nakon Si Thamarat) and hope to see beautiful beaches and islands there. I don't know that area at all and have heard that while the beaches are ok, the islands are much nicer and very chill. My ancient guide book does not even mention the islands. Any tips? They'd sure be appreciated.

I don't know much about N S T either, except it's the place where the latest amulet craze started. If you have any info on places to stay, great eats, day trips, must see wats, etc., I'll follow them to the letter. Ha ha.

Thanks.

[LaoPo]

We'll be going to Trang later in January (after short visits to Chaiya, Surat Thani and Nakon Si Thamarat) and hope to see beautiful beaches and islands there. I don't know that area at all and have heard that while the beaches are ok, the islands are much nicer and very chill. My ancient guide book does not even mention the islands. Any tips? They'd sure be appreciated.

I don't know much about N S T either, except it's the place where the latest amulet craze started. If you have any info on places to stay, great eats, day trips, must see wats, etc., I'll follow them to the letter. Ha ha.

Thanks.

If I don't know an area at all, where ever in the world, I use Google Earth* and search for high resolution parts in that particular area.

Most of the time people have posted photos or links; after that I search on Google and Google images and Wikipedia also; or I copy a name/city/area or otherwise and paste it into Google.

Within hours I learn a lot about that area...

* If you didn't install GE yet...here:

http://earth.google.com/intl/en/

LaoPo

[billp]

See: Andaman Island Hopping

Koh Jum Online

Tezza's Beaches and Islands

[jackr]

Koh Muk's nice. The Emerald Cave is on the north of the island where some of the best beaches are. Ferries go regularly from the main ferry port just to the south of Trang.

[donna]

i agree. ko muk (mook) is great. a very lovely little island. you simply MUST go to the emerald cave on low tide.

there are a few places to stay. i used to stay at rubber tree bungalows. nice owner, good food and great cocktails.

wish i was there!

[Moonhunteruk]

Hi

I live in Trang and most of the Islands are very nice with some good beaches. Koh Mook, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan but to name a few are very beautiful and have some great coral reefs for snorkelling and diving. Easiest way to get there is come to Trang Train station and opposite the station there are many tour shops that will help with what ever you are looking for. I would recommend SEA BREEZE very friendly they will not rip you off and give you honest ifrormation.

Hope this helps

Mike

[NewGuy]

Wow - great links, great recommendations. Now that I've looked at on-line maps, read a few blogs, etc., I'm hoping we'll be able to find simple bungalows for a few hundred baht, terrific aharn tallay, cold beer and lots of photo ops. My previous experience with Krabi and Phangna destinations is that the pace is a lot calmer than Chonburi and people take time to be helpful, friendly and accommodating. It looks like lazing for a week or more will be real easy to do.

After Trang, we'll go up to Krabi town, which I know pretty well. They've got the best coffee shop in Thailand, a terrific market and frequent festivals Any recommendations for in-land day trips, accessible by bus or songtaew? After a few days we'll take the ferry to Ko Lanta. I usually stay on Khlong Dao beach (at Lanta Garden Resort). Someone told me about staying on a southern beach, either Bi Kantiang Bay, Nui Bay, Khlong Jaak Bay or Mai Phai Bay, none of which I know. He said lovely sand, inexpensive and a delight, but I can't remember where. Anybody know?

Thanks,

NewGuy

[billp]

Koh Ngai Paradise Resort is a beautiful place, inexpensive but no web presence. On Koh Kradan, do NOT go to Koh Kradan Paradise, but rather Paradise Lost up on the hill. On Koh Jum, where our island hopping stopped because we loved it so much we decided not to move on, stay at New Bungalows, run by the same lovely family who have the Chan Cha Lay Guest House in Krabi, in my opinion one of the best guest houses in Thailand. On the islands, bungalows average 500-600 baht, but you often can have a simple old one for 150 baht.

[seonai]

Chan Cha Lay Guest House in Krabi is fabulous and I love it Only one thing is the direct entrance from the street - I met two travellers there who said someone had come into their room at night so I blocked my door with a chair

[torrenova]

Koh Muk's nice. The Emerald Cave is on the north of the island where some of the best beaches are. Ferries go regularly from the main ferry port just to the south of Trang.

Are you saying that they really have ferries now to Koh Muk ? I know Charlie screwed up the place a bit but didn't know about the ferry (went long tail boat from Kradan and then small ferry from island some 30 mins from Muk).

Do Chai and Ang still have the place to the left pf Charlies concrete huts on Koh Muk or have they relocated to their family's land in the other bay ?

[jackr]

Koh Muk's nice. The Emerald Cave is on the north of the island where some of the best beaches are. Ferries go regularly from the main ferry port just to the south of Trang.

Are you saying that they really have ferries now to Koh Muk ? I know Charlie screwed up the place a bit but didn't know about the ferry (went long tail boat from Kradan and then small ferry from island some 30 mins from Muk).

Went four years ago now but would be surprised if they have stopped that service as it was the main transport for the locals. The ferry I'm talking about goes from Kuan Thung Ku pier to the south of Trang, I think it is. It goes direct to Koh Muk a couple times a day and was a fairly large vessel, able to carry around 15/20 people as well as motorbikes and the obvious luggage. About a 30-minute journey. I believe long tails also go direct from Pak Meng beach.

/additional. I believe buses and songthaews run to this pier direct from Trang//

Edited January 3, 2008 by jackr

[torrenova]

Sorry, I understand you now. It is the ferry that comes into the other side of the island of Koh Mook at the pier. I used to get a longtail boat from Trang direct to the beach or from a real ferry which went to some island about 30 minutes away.

thanks.

[cclub75]

Just returned from Trang...

I think something must be said : the coastline is... nothing but a large toilet, a sewer.

I stayed in Amari hotel, in front of Koh Kradan. The water is highly poluted. It's a shame. Anyway, it's the same in many other places in Thailand.

Better to go to the islands, where -at least- the water is clearer...

But forget the coastline.

[billp]

#13 I was on Koh Kradan last winter and it was very clean. Water nice and clear, not even silty, lots of healthy sealife, just the usual amount of trash washed up on beaches after heavy weather. The other islands nearby were also clean. So just how are you making this judgement/evaluation that these waters are so polluted? Did you make scientific measurements? Did you see human feces floating in the shallows? Or did you just see some sea flotsam and jetsam on the beach and jump to conclusions?

[cclub75]

#13 I was on Koh Kradan last winter and it was very clean. Water nice and clear, not even silty, lots of healthy sealife, just the usual amount of trash washed up on beaches after heavy weather. The other islands nearby were also clean. So just how are you making this judgement/evaluation that these waters are so polluted? Did you make scientific measurements? Did you see human feces floating in the shallows? Or did you just see some sea flotsam and jetsam on the beach and jump to conclusions?

I appreciate your concerns about feces (you seem to be an expert for that... matter if I may say)... but, you should learn to read before jumping onto your keyboard.

COASTLINE.

I repeat COASTLINE.

Okay ? And yes, I confirm, full of good old human shit.

And I would dare to quote me : "Better to go to the islands, where -at least- the water is clearer..."

Koh Kradan is an island.

Edited January 11, 2008 by cclub75

[billp]

I appreciate your concerns about feces (you seem to be an expert for that... matter if I may say)

Charming. Obviously someone who enjoys civilized discourse. Sorry, your posting was so incoherent I didn't understand you were referring to the coast of the mainland opposite Koh Kradan, and not to the coast of Koh Kradan.