Trang, a small town in the south of Thailand. A small town that boasts personality, spirit, and culture.
A town that shows you everything that Thailand has to offer without the massive mob of tourists.
An untouched paradise for those willing to explore it!
It’s definitely not for those hunting the ultimate party scene or an extreme luxury getaway with western comforts, but perfectly suited for the
It’s also our second home!
We were blessed to have lived in Trang for just under two years, so if you’re looking for anyone to show you the hot spots in Trang… You found the right couple!
Need-to-know Travel Tips Before You Leave
Where:
Trang is in the South of Thailand, the province below Krabi (near Phuket).
Currency:
The currency is the Thai baht. With a (very rough) rate of around:
1 ZAR = 2 THB
1 USD = 30 THB
Visa:
South Africans (as with many our countries’ nationals) do not need a visa to enter the country if you are staying for less than 30 days. We get free entry. However, if you want to stay longer you can apply for a 3-month visa before you leave SA.
Find out more.
Transport:
You can fly into Trang’s small airport from Bangkok. You could also fly into Phuket International Airport or Hat Yai International Airport and take a bus or van to Trang (recommended option). Check out 12GoAsia to book your transport ahead of time.
The Top 10 Things To Do In Trang, Thailand (In Town)
1. Khao Chang Hai Cave (ถ้ำเขาช้างหาย)
This relatively small cave is still very impressive and well worth visiting. You will know when you have arrived, seeing the large rocky entrance, filled with elephant statues prancing about.
Ironically, one of the nicest things about this cave is that you have to option to explore it without a guide. It’ll probably take you less than 30 minutes; but you can do it at your pace. We are usually ones for the history and details, but this time it was nice to just admire.
The Khao Chang Hai Cave does have some artificial lighting in it, so you can take some great photos. Be warned, if you’re claustrophobic, you might not like to explore the entire cave as it gets small at times; but you can always go back the way you came in!
Cost: 20 baht per person, which comes with a headlamp
Times: Monday to Friday, tours at: 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm Weekends and Public holidays, tours at: 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30pm and 3:30 pm
Location: Khao Chang Hai Cave
2. Na Muen Si Paddy Trail (ทุ่งปอเทืองนาหมื่นศรี)
The rice field trail was one of our favourite things to do in Trang! It’s just five minutes out of town (one minute from the Khao Chang Hai Caves) and yet it transports you into a whole different world and a different time. It does, however, look a lot more impressive in the rainy season. In December, they also have some beautiful yellow flowers that make the sight even more magical. Great for a quick photoshoot!
The Na Muen Si Paddy Trail is a raised boardwalk that takes you a little out in the rice paddy. There are benches and some interesting, traditional wooden decorations. What you’d want to do though, is grab a seat inside the restaurant right there and order some divine local food! Pad See Ew (Thai stir-fried noodles) would be the recommendation for here.
Cost: The trail itself is free to explore, but it's expected to patronise the restaurant during your visit. A meal and drink will cost between 40 to 100 baht.
Times: The restaurant opens at 7 am, but we could never quite figure out when they closed! It's definitely after 4 pm.
Location: Na Muen Si Paddy Trail
3. The Reclining Buddha In Trang – Wat Hua Khao (วัดหัวเขา)
This is a very ‘small’ thing to do in Trang, hardly known, but very cool!
While we are still in the rice fields and Khao Chaing Hai cave area, we might as well explore this small temple. Every time we came through here, we always drove around the area for a solid half an hour. It’s so beautiful! One of our mandatory stops was Wat Hua Khao.
Tucked away under the mountain is the golden Buddha and not much else. It felt isolated and we were always fascinated with the effort that must have gone into something that feels almost forgotten.
P.S. There are rumours of a way to the top of this mountain for a spectacular viewpoint. We never took the plunge and looked for it – so if you know of it or plan to find it, let us know!
Cost: Free. Yay!
Times: The temple is always open.
Location: Wat Hua Khao
4. Trang’s Famous Wall Murals
Trang has some impressive graffiti. Take a walk around the city’s ‘old town’ to really get to know the local culture.
If you’d like some guidance, you should start by parking at the Painting of Sri Trang Wall Mural, it’s in an alley, so there’ll be plenty of safe space to stop.
Obviously you’ll need to admire and snap away at this mural first, but then walk through the alleys discovering a few more for yourself. This will also give you a chance to get in touch with the culture and lifestyle of the locals in the area.
The trail of impressive recreations of some of Trang’s most admired features include: The Entrance to the Emerald Cave, Rubber Tree Plantations, Dugongs, Tuk-Tuks and a whole bunch more. While you’re walking about, why not go and see the Trang Christian Church, it’s also quite pretty.
The town is still dynamic and things change, you don’t know if you don’t try. So walk through that market you’re going to pass, enter the random shops you pass along the way, browse the 20-baht stores and of course, smile and greet everybody along the way!
Cost: Not a cent!
Times: Try start exploring closer to dusk, as it is too hot to just take a walk willy nilly! But the murals are obviously always open. Look here for the Church times.
Location: Painting of Sri Trang Wall Mural
5. The Abandoned Temple
Thailand is filled with gorgeous temples! There are so many, that you’ve got to think there must be a few that are left abandoned? Well, there are.
There is an old abandoned temple in Trang where you can catch the most amazing sunset. It’s one of the things that’s best to do with a group of friends if you can, but there’s also nothing wrong with some solitude in the presence of a stunning sunset.
Cost: Completely free. Woohoo!
Times: You can visit whenever you'd like, but your two best options are sunrise and sunset.
Location: The Abandoned Temple
6. Trang’s Morning Market (ตลาดสดเทศบาลตรัง)
The market opens at 4:00 in the morning and is located near the train station. You don’t necessarily need to buy anything, the cultural experience alone is worth it.
It is a local market so they might be a little confused to see “farang” (foreigners) walking about, but you’ll be greeted with kindness! We passed this market every morning on our way to school, but only visited it for the rare spices and fresh produce we needed during our local cooking spells.
Apparently they have the best fried pork there in the mornings, but you’ve got to get there before they run out! Friend pork for breakfast though? We don’t judge!
Cost: It's free to enter the market, from there, what you spend is up to your shopping list and haggling skills! (ลดหน่อยได้ไหม)
Times: They're getting ready by 4 am and start packing up around 9 am.
Location: Trang's Fresh Market Another Morning Market
7. Dugong Circle (วงเวียนพะยูน) & The Clock Tower (หอนาฬิกา)
These are two important landmarks in Trang that you can check out. You’re likely to have seen them already if you’re there.
Trang is notorious for its population of Dugongs, even hosting special trips to try your luck at spotting them, as well as large conservation movements. The Payoon Roundabout is also a fountain and lights up at night! It is well looked after and you’ll often see people zipping across to snap a picture with it or students getting some proof-of-visit for their school projects.
The clock tower is the symbol of Trang and can be found on many artworks, t-shirts, publications, book covers and even municipal attire! The clock tower has very cool lights that decorate it and turn on each night. Moreover, during Chinese New Year, Loy Krathong and other festivals, it’s truly spectacular with even more decorative lighting. The whole town comes out in droves to admire it and socialise.
Cost: Nothing at all.
Times: They're always open, but midday (because it's quiet) or after 10 pm (because it's quiet and lit up) would be your best bets.
Location: The Payoon Roundabout Trang Clock Tower
8. Wander Around The Many Parks
It’s off to the park for you!
Uh, which park? Kapang Surin, Princess Mother, Mueang Trang Park, Phraya Ratsadanu Pradit Mahisorn Phakdi Monument Park?
Uhm…
We’ll split them up.
8.1 Phraya Ratsadanu Pradit Mahisorn Phakdi Monument Park (อนุสาวรีย์พระยารัษฎานุประดิษฐ์มหิศรภักดี)
This is the park and monument dedicated to the former governor of Trang who introduced the Rubber Tree to Thailand. The Rubber Tree is actually still a major export from Thailand and prominent in Trang specifically.
This park is always abuzz in the mornings and evenings, filled with people exercising in the free outdoor gym, children playing in the park and others merely enjoying the nature, walking around or relaxing on the benches. It’s like a little oasis in the middle of town. Surrounded by traffic, but peaceful inside.
8.2 The Princess Mother’s 95 Park (สวนสาธารณะสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทร์)
This is one of our absolute favourite parks. There are a few sections to explore and lots of areas to picnic and/or exercise. A definite winner is buying a bucket of fish food near the main bridge and then heading over the water and feeding the fish – they’ll know you’re coming.
If that’s not your speed, just find one of the many benches facing the lake and enjoy the serenity around you.
Cost: Free to enter, 20 baht for fish food.
Times: 6 am to 8 pm
Location: The Princess Mother’s 95 Park
8.3 Kapangsurin Park (กระพังสุรินทร์)
This park is beautifully kept and has lots of paths to walk around and explore. We’d suggest circumnavigating the lake and venturing down every enticing path you find. Along your way you might pass somebody selling fresh smoothies, which would be a welcome refresher, taken on a bench underneath a big, shady tree.
Kapangsurin Park is also where we celebrated Loy Krathong.
8.4 Mueang Trang Park (สวนสาธารณะเมืองตรัง)
Simply translating to the “Trang City Park”, this is another park that’s quite in the ‘middle of things’ and yet remains peaceful. You’ll often find groups of friends practicing their Sepak Takraw skills here.
There are a few places to exercise, sit in the shade and even take some photos; namely the wall murals and the Payoon Roundabout which is right across the road.
There are many lovely parks to visit in Trang. We recommend going and getting a Cha Yen (Thai ice-tea) or a Coco Yen (iced-cocoa), spring rolls and fried banana (กล้วยทอด) and then going to go and relax in one of the parks for a while. This used to be a quick thing we’d do to unwind…
In the evening the parks become an exercise hub for Trang’s community. You can join a local aerobics class, use the many outdoor machines, jog around the park or try your hand (foot, haha) at Sepak Takraw, one of Thailand’s most unique sports.
9. The Evening Markets
My mouth is watering already!
We had an absolute blast visiting all of the different markets in Trang, it was one of our favourite things to do, but if it’s not your idea of fun, here are the top three you have to try.
9.1 Cinta (“Chin-Ta”) Garden (ชินตาการ์เด้น)
This is Trang’s most prominent night market. We ate here almost every night for quite a while until we saw the beauty of broadening our horizons, needless to say however, that means Cinta is pretty cool. (It is actually “cool”, you’ll find a lot of teens here on the weekends)
You can buy lots of trinkets and clothing, you can do that fish eating your feet’s skin thing or have a nice night out with live music and good food.
P’Bank was our hero here, if you find his green stand selling burgers, you’re in for a treat. He became a really good friend, so please tell him we say hi! Anyway, that’s our first suggestion, a burger and Coco Yen (iced chocolate milk) from further down the aisle.
Or you can get some Tom Yum Kung (sour shrimp soup) and a fresh passion fruit smoothie.
We’d suggest sitting upstairs and getting a good feel of the atmosphere, be careful of the steep metal stairs though.
Should you be so disposed, you could end your evening off at one of the many bars that surround the market, often also featuring their own live music and energy level from moderate to high.
Cost: A meal and drink will cost between 50 to 120 baht
Times: 5 pm to 10 pm on weekdays. 5 pm to 11pm on weekends.
Location: Cinta Garden
9.2 The Train Station Market (ถนนคนเดินสถานีรถไฟตรัง)
This is a weekend market! Only open from Friday to Sunday.
Even though it opens at 5 pm, we’d suggest only getting there just before 7pm as that’s when the crowds are there, the music is blasting, the performers are…performing and all the stalls are open.
Now we can’t tell you to get the spicy chicken salad, banana roti and chicken on a stick, you need to try and find your own favourite!
Cost: A meal and drink will cost between 50 to 120 baht
Times: Fridays to Sundays from 5 pm to 10 pm
Location: Train Station Market
9.3 Center Point Market (ตลาดเซ็นเตอร์พอยท์)
Our favourite night market in Trang.
This is the road we’d drive in the mornings and then shop at in the evenings. Set up everyday from around 4pm, Center Point market is a more local alternative to Cinta.
We can’t even recommend what to get from here – I mean, get anything really. They do have some fresh salads if you’re into that or Khao Muk Gai (chicken biryani with sweet chilli sauce) if you haven’t had that yet. Let your taste buds guide you!
A good idea would be to get a little bit of a lot of things and enjoy a shared meal Thai style!
Cost: A meal and drink will cost between 30 to 100 baht
Times: 4 pm to 10 pm
Location: Center Point Market
10. Explore Trang’s Other Temples
Pretty much every trip to Thailand involves exploring some exquisite temples and a visit to Trang is no different. In fact, exploring temples is one of our absolute favourite things to do, there are just so many different kinds! Chiang Mai’s temples are a good example of the eclectic styles of the Thai temples we enjoy.
10.1 Wat Tantayapirom Phra Aram Luang (วัดตันตยาภิรม พระอารามหลวง)
Affectionately referred to as the “ice-cream” temple by many foreigners, this is probably Trang’s most iconic temple.
10.2 Wat Kaphang Surin (วัดกะพังสุรินทร์)
Near Kapangsurin park, this beautiful temple is also on the very large grounds of the namesake school.
10.3 Wat Matchimpum (วัดมัชฌิมภูมิ)
The temple associated with the school Tammy taught at in Thailand, which hosts a very large statue of a Chinese Buddha. There is also a Chinese temple (เจ้าเเม่กวนอิมเขาหนองยวน) just down the road that we often enjoyed driving past.
Trang has many more temples, but these three would be our recommended first-visits. Don’t be afraid to explore any others you see on your route that intrigue you!
The Top 6 Things To Do On The Outskirts Of Trang In Thailand
There is honestly so much to do in Trang and its surroundings, it is a great central point to access different destinations and islands from. Here are a few of the best short trips you can make from Trang!
1. The Emerald Cave Or Tham Morakot (ถ้ำมรกต)
This is probably Trang’s most visited attraction. To get into the cave you have to swim or kayak through a 20-meter tunnel, in pitch darkness! As you come out, you emerge into a beautiful lagoon with a white sandy beach and tropical foliage. A true hidden oasis.
We recommend doing this early in the morning with a private longtail boat instead of a busy tour guide company. Your experience will be completely different. We had the whole place to ourselves and there were only six of us as opposed to around 30! Also, if you choose to journey out by yourself on a kayak, please note high/low tide times! Since the cave is pitch dark you don’t want to deal with the swells created during the high tide or get blocked off completely.
The Emerald Cave is in a national park, which always carries a 200 baht entrance fee for foreigners. Our entrance fee was collected right outside the actual cave, luckily we had cash with us! So please take some extra money with you if you’re not taking a tour company.
P.S. This secret cave was once used by pirates to store their treasure!
Here’s our entire day in one minute. Our longtail boat took us to three different islands and we got to do some more snorkelling too! (The second best snorkelling we’ve done)
Cost: The national park costs 200 baht. A private longtail boat costs us 600 baht (split between 6 of us). A kayak will cost around 100 baht an hour.
Times: You can only visit during low-tide. We set sail at 06:30 am.
Location: The Emerald Cave Khuan Tung Ku Pier (where to catch your private longtail boat [ท่าเรือ ควน ตุ้ง กู])
2. Tree Top Canopy Walk at Thung Khai Botanical Gardens (สวนพฤกษศาสตร์ภาคใต้)
Admire Thailand’s tropical rainforest as you walk above the trees at the Thung Khai Botanical gardens. Bring along some water, sunblock and bug spray as the journey is longer than you think!
There are a few levels to the Canopy Walkway. You walk along a bridge and then up to the next level. At each point, there is information on how high you are, what fauna and flora flourish here and then you get to go out and be among it. A very cool idea and a very fun outing.
After about an hour and a half you will find yourself exiting the gardens alongside a pond. Carry on straight a little towards the benches and sit yourself down for an ice-cream and icy cold water!
If you’re keen for a closer look at the Thung Khai Botanical gardens, here’s our YouTube video from our first day exploring the canopy walkway.
Cost: It is donation-based, 50 to 100 baht per person is fair.
Times: 8 am to 6 pm.
Location: Thung Khai Botanical Gardens
3. Splash About In Trang’s Waterfalls
This is another one of those things to do in Trang that might just never end! So instead of letting you become frustrated trying to find the best waterfalls, we’ve listed our top three.
3.1 Ka Chong Waterfall (น้ำตกกะช่อง)
This is one of Trang’s most talked about waterfalls as it is pretty impressive during the rainy season. It is multi-levelled and has a few natural swimming pools to relax in.
Just driving through the forest to get there is already beautiful, but the main attraction is all the way at the end, just follow the signs. If you’re like me (Tammy) you can enjoy a relaxing time on the rocks to the backdrop of water and if you’re like Byron you can disappear up the waterfall and explore away.
There are actually three waterfalls in this park and the one you crossed over when taking the bridge is a lot of fun. There are two places to slide down, two pools to swim in and even a small ledge to jump off should you be so inclined.
3.2 Sai Rung Waterfall (น้ำตกสายรุ้ง)
Sai Rung has no entrance fee, but does have another price you need to pay. Getting to the main waterfall isn’t the easiest trek over rocks and can be rather dangerous during the rainy season. You can, however, simply enjoy some of the pools earlier along if you’re not up for the whole journey.
3.3 Ton Te Waterfall (น้ำตกโตนเต๊ะ)
There are a few waterfalls in this area, but this one is the largest (obviously more impressive during the rainy season). This waterfall is more about relaxation and spending some time cooling off in the clear pools. As a local hangout spot, it gets very busy on the weekends and you’ll rarely see any foreigners here.
If you’re not keen to walk very far, you can enjoy the river and pools right off the road as you arrive (there are even benches there). To get to the top of the waterfall, you’ll need to make a one kilometer journey along the path, which is what we definitely recommend!
4. Le Khao Kob Cave (ถ้ำเลเขากอบ)
This is one for the adventure seekers. Don’t do this if you are in any way claustrophobic.
Le Khao Kob cave is situated under a single limestone mountain in Trang. You can hire a boat and then cruise on the stream through the rainforest as you are guided toward the caves.
Once you enter the cave system, you will get off of the boat at different points along the journey to go and explore the stalactites and stalagmites. You hop off, walk through a little and then find your boat has been brought around for you already to simply get back on to and continue. That part is great!
The main attraction, however, is known as the Dragon Cave, as it looks like you make your way through the insides of one!
You will have to lie down as the canoe slowly makes its way underneath the Dragon’s belly. In my mind it feels like you are being swallowed by a dragon and then exit out… uhm… the other end. The walls surrounding you are so close that in some spots the tour guide will move your face in different positions as to avoid you scraping it against the walls of the cave. This apparently goes on for 800 meters (we’re not too sure of the distance).
Here’s the video we made when we experienced Tham Le Khao Kob for the first time!
Cost: Entrance is 50 baht p.p. Plus 300 baht per boat for max 5 people. Parking also costs 100 baht.
Times: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Location: Tham Le Khao Kob
5. Wangphamek Palace (วังผาเมฆ)
Wang Pha Mek is actually a theme park, filled with large dinosaur sculptures roaming the area. More importantly for us though, it hosts a stunning mountain-top viewpoint.
You can make your way up to the viewpoint whenever you’d like, but bear in mind that it’s quite a strenuous hike and will take you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to summit. So if you’re going for sunrise (as we’d highly recommend) you need to get there early! We began our hike up at 4:30 am.
If you’re aiming to enjoy a sunset on the mountain, remember that Pha Mek Palace closes at 7 pm, so you can’t spend too long up there once the sun is down.
Cost: It costs 100 baht per group (max 10 people) to do the hike. Parking is 20 baht per car or 10 baht per motorcycle.
Times: 4:30 am to 7:00 pm. The website says it opens at 3am.
Location: Wangphamek
6. Love Station (สถานีรัก กันตัง) And The Kantang Railway Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์รถไฟกันตัง)
This cute coffee shop, Love Station, became a staple of our visits to Kantang. Why not start your morning off with a light meal, hot coffee and cuddle with a giant teddy? Their seating is unique and the café is filled with antique images, cassettes, appliances, tools and books – enough to keep you occupied for a while.
From there, you’ll just need to step outside to explore the Kantang railway station and museum. Besides having great photo-op spots, they have a lot of old railway equipment and interesting information along with it. The yellow, wooden train station is the oldest operational station in Thailand and was opened to the public in 1913, more than 100 years ago!
Cost: Some coffee and a snack should cost around 100 baht at the Love Station. The museum is free.
Times: Love Station is open from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm. The Kantang railway museum is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Location: Love Station Kantang Railway Museum
The Top 3 Beaches To Visit In Trang, Thailand
1. Pak Meng Beach (หาดปากเมง)
Great for grabbing a bite to eat and discovering some new seafood options being sold by the local street vendors. Definitely the busiest beach and your go-to option for a fun, yet relaxing, day out.
As you come to the traffic circle, turn left and park wherever you find a spot. From there, we suggest you walk down the entire road. You will pass so many vendors selling all kinds of goodies; beach toys, rentable inflatables, fresh seafood and divine local snacks.
We’d always allow our stomachs to determine where we’d set-up camp. Once we find the restaurant of the day, we’d order some food and perch ourselves on a beach chair under the trees.
Of course you can also swim in the sea or just walk along the shoreline. This was not our favourite beach to swim at because the water is rather shallow and takes a while to get deep enough (especially at low tide), but we have done it a good few times.
Cost: 80 to 140 baht for a meal and drink.
Times: 8 am to 9 pm (average restaurant's hours).
Location: Pak Meng Beach
2. Rajamangala Beach (หาดราชมงคล)
Our favourite beach. Perfect for floating in the brilliant water or having a serene day on the beach.
This place is magical. We would come here fairly often to just escape. I’d (Tammy) float in the water while Byron would read in the shade.
This is part of a university so I don’t recommend you go and party it up on this beach. However, if you are looking for a nice place to relax and admire the beauty of Thailand’s beaches without the crowds, then this is your best bet. Please respect this place as we would hate to see the negative effects of tourism take place here.
There are no restaurants or vendors here, so our day would often start here and end at Pak Meng which is only 10 minutes away.
P.S. This is the beach where some of Thailand’s world-famous underwater weddings are hosted!
3. Yao Beach (หาดยาว)
This is definitely the best beach in Trang for swimming. It is also very quiet, but will still have a small crowd on the weekends.
We often had this beach to ourselves, so it’s a lot more quiet than Pak Meng, but more importantly it’s deeper and often has stronger waves. I’m (Tammy) a fan of the flat turquoise waters of Rajamangala, but Byron believes water should be at least deeper than hip height to properly swim. I suppose it depends on your mood.
There are a few restaurants and vendors on the beach if you’re out for the fresh seafood.
Cost: 50 to 120 baht for a meal and drink.
Times: 8 am to 5 pm (average restaurant's hours).
Location: Yao Beach
The Top 5 Islands In Trang, Thailand
As previously said, Trang is a great location to use as an access point for other islands. Now we can’t go into too much detail here because they each deserve their own travel guides, so very briefly, here are some of the islands:
- Koh Muk – A medium-sized, sleepy, fishing village and island. Perfect for a cheaper island experience.
- Koh Ngai – This is one for a more romantic getaway. The resorts are a little more pricey and there is a little less to do, but it is a stunning island to soak up some sun and bask in the sparkling turquoise waters.
- Koh Kradan – Same situation here as Koh Ngai, it’s a little more pricey but again beautiful! We would recommend doing a day trip here.
- Koh Sukorn – A less visited island off of the Trang province. It doesn’t boast the same postcard beauty as some of the other islands, but it is definitely the quietest.
- Koh Libong – The biggest Trang island and again one that is less frequented off the Trang coastline. Similar to Koh Sukorn.
A little to the South of Trang, the next province in fact, is the doorway that led us to our favourite island in ALL of Thailand! Without giving too much away…
➳ Here’s The Best Island In Thailand.
Interesting Festivals To Experience In Trang
The Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony: This is one of the coolest things we have ever heard of. You can legally get married underwater! It is a festival that happens over a few days and it aims to promote an exotic, eco, unique, and traditional Thai style wedding to people from all over the world.
Other than the uniquely-Trang festival mentioned above, here were some of our favourite Thai festivals that we enjoyed in Trang.
- Songkhran – The three-day water fight involving the entire country to celebrate Thai new year. [Early April]
- Chinese New Year – Trang goes all out with lights and decorations. Not to mention the food stalls, markets, dancing, performances and parties. [Late January]
- Loy Krathong – The floating lantern festival, thanking the water goddess for the rains and asking for forgiveness. [Full Moon Day in November]
- Wai Kru – Students (not only from schools) thank their teachers and give symbolic offerings for good fortune [Varies, but often Mid-March]
The festivals in Trang (Thailand) were eyeopening for us. Seeing the entire community and country come together like that was unheard for us. After getting over the initial shock of it, we adored them! Taking part in the festivals was one of the biggest cultural contributors to our overall Thailand experience which we loved so dearly!
So if you ever get the chance, respectfully and wholeheartedly get involved!
Where To Stay In Trang
Considering we lived in Trang, accommodation wasn’t something we had to tackle very often. In spite of that, we always kept our eyes open for a great place to stay!
Kachong Hills Tented Resort
This resort offers up some amazing, unique accommodation options, great views and has an onsite restaurant with amazing food. I think this would be the perfect accommodation for a couple on honeymoon. It is very romantic! We visited the restaurant a few times, but we would love to go back and stay there.
Rua Rasada Hotel
Also known as the boat hotel, this is also one of the more fancy hotels in Trang and has a very lovely pool. We’re familiar with it because a lot of the expats like to spend the day at the pool; and when giving directions in Trang, it’s quite the popular landmark!
The Tree Sleep & Space
We used to visit The Tree Sleep & Space all the time to grab some coffee and get some work done. On top of that they also offer hostel options for those of you looking for a more budget-friendly option.
The Glasshouse Place
Although this is a hotel, it’s also suitable for longer term accommodation. This is actually where we stayed for the first three months in Trang!
Should none of these tickle your fancy, remember that you can always peruse Airbnb with your specific preferences in place. If you haven’t already signed up to Airbnb, then you’re even more in luck. Signing up here with our code can score you up to 1000 baht of of your first stay and 400 baht towards an experience.
The 10 Best Places To Eat In Trang
We’ve covered a lot of things to do in Trang, but many of you may be jetting off to Thailand for the food… and we don’t blame you! There are so many restaurants, markets and cafes to indulge in! You can read our Top 10 Cafe’s to visit in Trang, Thailand post for a more in-depth look at our café choices but for now, we recommend:
| Restaurant | Recommended Meal |
|---|---|
| Ka Chong Hills | Chicken curry quesadillas |
| Café 1952 | 1952 Burger (paired with a San Miguel light) |
| Richy Café | Spinach bake and green curry (Trang cake for dessert) |
| Old Town | Khao Soi and a Cha Yen (Tha ice tea) |
| Kuanito Patisserie | Banana and Chocolate Crepe Cake |
| Cinta Garden | Burgers (from P’Bank) or Tom Yum Goong |
| Kru Bang Daeng Isalaam | Chicken Massaman curry |
| Ban Suan Sudaporn | Pad Kaprow Moo Kai Dow (Stir fried pork with basil) |
| Mamma Mia | Three cheeses or Italian meats and gelato for dessert |
| Alabarb Coffee Shop | Mubarak roti, Coco Rawn (hot cocoa) and two or three sweet rotis |
Thailand Travels From Trang
We were so blessed to be placed in Trang when we originally came to Thailand to begin our travels as teachers. After exploring our home (as you can hopefully see above) we started exploring the rest of Thailand. After two years of travel around this beautiful country, here is some advice for your own trips!
Trips Nearby Trang
Phatthalung is so underrated and it’s right next to Trang, so go there next! You might also want to sneak off to Songkhla for a day trip if you have the time.
➳ 9 Reasons You Need To Visit Phatthalung
Krabi is the province right above Trang and it’s also where we visited the Emerald Pool, went whitewater kayaking and bamboo rafting! Another beautiful (and tiring) adventure was when we went camping and visited Wat Tham Seua or:
We kept Satun (the province below Trang) for last because WOW! Heading to Koh Lipe, Tarutao and Koh Adang from here was such an incredible experience that we did it twice!
A Little Further Out
You may be asking “what about Phuket?” Well, we visited Phuket and really enjoyed it, but it’s nothing compared to Chiang Mai!
➳ The Top 9 Things To Do In Chiang Mai
No, we didn’t forget the planet’s most visited city, in fact we made:
➳ A Complete Video Itinerary for Bangkok
Okay, so that’s a lot right? Sure. But you don’t have to do them all, travelling is about feeding your spirit! Do what makes you happy, we are only trying to help you along.
Way Further Out
If you are interested, we moved to Bali after our time in Thailand, so of course, we have a few recommendations for that too!
P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube!
How To Get Around Thailand
The only difficult thing about arranging transport in Thailand (and Southeast Asia as a whole, predominantly) is that English isn’t always used. If you rely on English or just like to book all of your transport before you begin your trips, then we’d highly recommend 12Go Asia.
We used them for all of our Southeast Asia travels and were so grateful for them! Having all of our tickets booked and ready before we even packed our bags was so nice. One less thing to worry about.
Our Final Words About Trang
We sincerely hope that you enjoy your trip to Trang and that you make the most of every moment. Take in the sights, the aromas, the culture. Lose yourself in a whole new world until that new world starts to feel like home. Trang has truly become our second home and all we want to do is share that amazing feeling with you!
If this helped, if you travelled Trang, if you’re there now… Please share that with us! We’d really love to share in your travel adventures with you. Just tag us on Instagram or on Facebook (and please don’t be shy to hit follow while you’re there if you found our Trang guide helpful!) Or even chat with us in the comments below!
By the time you are reading this, we have already started on our Trang Pocketbook. It will be absolutely everything that you could ever need for living in Trang, travelling the province and as well as travelling the surrounding provinces. Even more than this blog!
So if you’d like even more; if you’d like travel itineraries, secret hot spots, long-term apartments, local camping trips, visa info, vehicle repairs, bargain shopping, party venues, all the islands, cost breakdowns, transport hacks, local cuisine, some essential phrases, Thailand work connections and even a local contact for any help you may need… You can pre-book here!
Please sign up to Dear Travallure if you’d like to stay in the loop and enjoyed our extensive guide on the best things to do in Trang, Thailand!
❀ PIN FOR LATER ❀
Wow! Thank you so much for this comprehensive Trang guide! This is exactly what we were looking for, as we will be teaching in Trang later this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Author
Ah, we are so glad we could help. 🧡 You will absolutely love Trang! We wish we were there every day. Good luck teaching!
Thanks for the tips! Not much information about Trang online and this way better than some of the more outdated stuff I’ve found. Too bad a lot of stuff is closed for Covid right now 🙁
Author
Thank you so much! We are so glad that it proved to be helpful!👏 That is so so sad! I can’t wait to see the world return to something more normal and recognizable…💔
My husband and I plan a Thailand trip in May and while doing research on Trang I stumbled onto this blog. Loved your accurate and varied describtiuns. We have decided on going there for a few nights based on what you wrote. You are a great ambassador for Trang
Author
Hi Karen 😃 Firstly, thank you so much! We absolutely love Trang.Secondly, How did it go? That is so exciting!