We took a couple of days to explore Trang over the New Year holiday. I have lived in the South, on-and-off for about 15 years now but never really explored the province, rather travelled through on my way to Krabi.
Accommodation
We struck lucky and found the Wassana guesthouse on the web ( N 7.526700°, E 99.587303°), on the ring road - 4 minutes from the 403 ( If you are returning from Krabi or Phuket ). Reasonably priced, nice design, quiet location with lots of safe parking for bikes - Excellent clean rooms with perfect air-con.
Its a way out of town, I think there is a food service available at the guesthouse, but we found a menu in the lobby, for a local restaurant who deliver to your room if you are too lazy.
Food
There's plenty to eat in Trang - Famous for it's roast & belly pork ( Moo Krawb ). Theres a big Chinese influence to the city, so expect to find plenty of Chinese noodle / rice shops to the ride into the centre of town.
In the evening we found a lot of Issan restaurants, we stumbled upon 'Dam La Lao' ( N 7.541500° E 99.594002° ) which served nice somtam, fried duck heads, spicy duck salad and BBQ beef (4 dishes + sticky rice + soft drinks ) for less than 350B.
Trang is also famous for its cake - You will see huge stacks of yellow / orange / green boxes - I have lost count of the number of boxes that have been bestowed upon me as people travel through trang ( bus station ).
Nightlife
We saw some nice looking bars with live music surrounding a small park ( N 7.564300°, E 99.622299° ) close to Robinsons.
There seems to be a night market in the carpark of the railway station, although we didn't stop to check it out.
Parks
We visited Kraphing Surin park to stretch our legs only to find a road running around the outside of a lake, with the local 3-up fino racing society getting in some practice laps around it. ( N 7.573700°, E 99.624397° )
Things to see
Fall into several categories temples / waterfalls / caves / beaches.
Wat Kao Pina ( N 7.748600°, E 99.527100° ) About 20 km from Huai Yot on Route 4.
A temple built into the side of a limestone stack. Worthwhile exploring.
Around 5 km before Khao Pina temple, you will find Khao Kop Cave ( N 7.793900°, E 99.572098° ) ..
Next we were ushered into the boat and told to lay down flat. The oarsmen then proceeded to drag us through a low lying cave for 500m with the roof of the cave just centimetres away from my face, at times with the height of the water and the headroom, the boat grounded to a halt. Not an adventure for the claustrophobic.
Here is a recycled image from the web, the proximity to the cave ceiling all depends on the height of the water ( some times in the rainy season this part of the cave cannot be visited ) and the number of passengers in the boat. The staff decicided as a westerner we would want the whole boat to ourselves at the end of the rainy season. The guys really had to work to drag us through, stalactites were touching our feet and bodies and we ground out more than a few times. Im not too sure how they got us through but I'm thankful they did.
Well worth a trip if you are coming past on Route 4 from Phuket or Krabi. Prices are 60B per person / 300B per boat ( max. 5 persons ). Best to go early to avoid the coach parties.
We called into Pak Meng beach for a drink, but it was very busy over the holiday period. Quite strange to see westerners taking their holiday amongst the hoards of day tripping locals. There seemed quite a few bungalow resorts and restaurants.
Further down the coast is Hat Chao Mai national park ( N 7.424300°, E 99.348900° ) - Again, very busy over the holiday period. Not the nicest looking national park I have visited, but OK for a stroll. Prices 200B for foreigner / 40B for Thai national or show your work permit / driving licence. Lots of people camping, there are some Bungalows there - not too sure about food.
After visiting a few national parks in Thailand, I'm always pretty impressed of how well kept they are and the quality of the accommodation, staff, etc .. This park fell way short of expectations, little organisation and infrastructure, the only staff we saw were at the ticket booth, too much rubbish on the ground.
The waterfalls signposted near Huai Yod weren't too impressive ( Ton Khlan & Ban Boon ) more of a muddy paddling pool for the local under 13's scooter chapter ( N 7.771000° E 99.666000° )
We managed to find Pak Jaem waterfall ( N 7.737100°, E 99.686501° ) After riding some nice roads but it was more of a set of rapids than a waterfall.
Ang Thong Waterfall ( N 7.553000°, E 99.413002° )
I'm sure anyone who's been on the 403 from Trang to route 4 has noticed this little pool by the side of the road.
We hope to return to the area to take a further look around, until then, heres a link to a google map of the area with the waterfalls / temples / beaches we visited.
Further reading
http://www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Trang
http://thailand.trangzone.com/index.php
http://www.trangonline.com
Accommodation
We struck lucky and found the Wassana guesthouse on the web ( N 7.526700°, E 99.587303°), on the ring road - 4 minutes from the 403 ( If you are returning from Krabi or Phuket ). Reasonably priced, nice design, quiet location with lots of safe parking for bikes - Excellent clean rooms with perfect air-con.
Its a way out of town, I think there is a food service available at the guesthouse, but we found a menu in the lobby, for a local restaurant who deliver to your room if you are too lazy.
Food
There's plenty to eat in Trang - Famous for it's roast & belly pork ( Moo Krawb ). Theres a big Chinese influence to the city, so expect to find plenty of Chinese noodle / rice shops to the ride into the centre of town.
In the evening we found a lot of Issan restaurants, we stumbled upon 'Dam La Lao' ( N 7.541500° E 99.594002° ) which served nice somtam, fried duck heads, spicy duck salad and BBQ beef (4 dishes + sticky rice + soft drinks ) for less than 350B.
Trang is also famous for its cake - You will see huge stacks of yellow / orange / green boxes - I have lost count of the number of boxes that have been bestowed upon me as people travel through trang ( bus station ).
Nightlife
We saw some nice looking bars with live music surrounding a small park ( N 7.564300°, E 99.622299° ) close to Robinsons.
There seems to be a night market in the carpark of the railway station, although we didn't stop to check it out.
Parks
We visited Kraphing Surin park to stretch our legs only to find a road running around the outside of a lake, with the local 3-up fino racing society getting in some practice laps around it. ( N 7.573700°, E 99.624397° )
Things to see
Fall into several categories temples / waterfalls / caves / beaches.
Wat Kao Pina ( N 7.748600°, E 99.527100° ) About 20 km from Huai Yot on Route 4.
A temple built into the side of a limestone stack. Worthwhile exploring.
Around 5 km before Khao Pina temple, you will find Khao Kop Cave ( N 7.793900°, E 99.572098° ) ..
The trip started on the boat with two oarsmen, a visit to a couple of caves with the usual elephant stalagtites and the phalus shaped stalagmite. After a walk around a couple of caverns I was unimpressed, having visited so many caves in Asia."An amazing natural wonder it is. When a canal that flows from Banthat Mountain meets the mountainous lanscape of Khao Kop (Kop hill) it separates into three small canals, two of which flows into both sides of the hill while the center of which flows into a tunnel right underneath Khao Kop, creating an interesting landscape like no other. The Khao Kop Tambon Administration Organization provides rowboats to facilitate visitors to enjoy this natural beauty while eco-tourism and adventurous activities are also provided by locals."
Next we were ushered into the boat and told to lay down flat. The oarsmen then proceeded to drag us through a low lying cave for 500m with the roof of the cave just centimetres away from my face, at times with the height of the water and the headroom, the boat grounded to a halt. Not an adventure for the claustrophobic.
Here is a recycled image from the web, the proximity to the cave ceiling all depends on the height of the water ( some times in the rainy season this part of the cave cannot be visited ) and the number of passengers in the boat. The staff decicided as a westerner we would want the whole boat to ourselves at the end of the rainy season. The guys really had to work to drag us through, stalactites were touching our feet and bodies and we ground out more than a few times. Im not too sure how they got us through but I'm thankful they did.
Well worth a trip if you are coming past on Route 4 from Phuket or Krabi. Prices are 60B per person / 300B per boat ( max. 5 persons ). Best to go early to avoid the coach parties.
We called into Pak Meng beach for a drink, but it was very busy over the holiday period. Quite strange to see westerners taking their holiday amongst the hoards of day tripping locals. There seemed quite a few bungalow resorts and restaurants.
Further down the coast is Hat Chao Mai national park ( N 7.424300°, E 99.348900° ) - Again, very busy over the holiday period. Not the nicest looking national park I have visited, but OK for a stroll. Prices 200B for foreigner / 40B for Thai national or show your work permit / driving licence. Lots of people camping, there are some Bungalows there - not too sure about food.
After visiting a few national parks in Thailand, I'm always pretty impressed of how well kept they are and the quality of the accommodation, staff, etc .. This park fell way short of expectations, little organisation and infrastructure, the only staff we saw were at the ticket booth, too much rubbish on the ground.
The waterfalls signposted near Huai Yod weren't too impressive ( Ton Khlan & Ban Boon ) more of a muddy paddling pool for the local under 13's scooter chapter ( N 7.771000° E 99.666000° )
We managed to find Pak Jaem waterfall ( N 7.737100°, E 99.686501° ) After riding some nice roads but it was more of a set of rapids than a waterfall.
Ang Thong Waterfall ( N 7.553000°, E 99.413002° )
I'm sure anyone who's been on the 403 from Trang to route 4 has noticed this little pool by the side of the road.
We hope to return to the area to take a further look around, until then, heres a link to a google map of the area with the waterfalls / temples / beaches we visited.
Further reading
http://www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Trang
http://thailand.trangzone.com/index.php
http://www.trangonline.com