Trang islands

Where the islands are

The Trang islands are in Trang province on Thailand's Andaman coast, between Koh Lanta to the north and Koh Lipe to the south.

Boats leave from Pak Meng pier in Sikao and from the Hat Yao pier area in Kantang. Pak Meng to Koh Mook is about 40 minutes by boat, and Khuan Tung Ku pier is about 30 (checked July 2026).

Trang town has its own airport, so the islands are a short drive and a boat ride from the plane.

Ask Tanner which pier suits your hotel.

Four islands, four moods

Koh Ngai is the high-end island, popular with honeymooners. Pick one base and visit the others by longtail.

Ask Tanner which island fits your group.

The Emerald Cave on Koh Mook

The Emerald Cave, Tham Morakot, is the famous sight: a swim through a dark sea tunnel into a hidden lagoon ringed by cliffs, on Koh Mook's west coast.

The swim is about 80 m, pitch black in the middle, and takes 10 to 15 minutes each way, with life jackets, torches and a rope. The arch floods at high tide, so boat times move every day.

The day boats arrive from about 9am and groups of 40 go through at a time, while the green colour is best from about 10am to 2pm. The park fee is ฿200 for adults, and children pay half under the Department of National Parks' fee rules, on top of the boat.

Insider tip: the cave closes in the monsoon, from 1 June to 30 September. Come in season, and be first through the tunnel.

Ask Tanner to time the boat for the tide.

The prettiest one: Koh Kradan

Koh Kradan is the prettiest of the Trang islands, with a long white beach, clear water and reef close to shore.

Its beach is quieter than Koh Mook's, with fewer boats once the day tours leave. Snorkel straight off the sand, then give the afternoon to the beach.

For Thailand's best islands nationwide, see our best islands in Thailand.

Ask Tanner to hold the boat on Kradan until sunset.

What Trang is famous for

Trang is famous for its quiet islands, the Emerald Cave and the dugongs of Koh Libong, and in town for its dim sum and morning market.

Koh Libong is surrounded by seagrass, the dugong's food. Surveys since February 2026 have counted at least 72 dugongs in Trang waters, and in April a drone filmed two mating off Koh Libong, often called the "dugong capital".

See our Trang guide for the town and its evenings.

Ask Tanner to add a slow longtail over the seagrass.

How to get to the Trang islands

Fly or drive to Trang, then take a boat from Pak Meng or the Hat Yao pier area. Google Maps puts Pak Meng pier about 40 minutes from Trang town (38 km), checked 2 Nov 2026.

A private longtail or speedboat is quoted on request, depending on the islands and the day.

From Koh Lanta, day trips run south to the Emerald Cave in season, reaching it from about 9am.

Ask Tanner to have the car meet the plane and run you to the pier.

A Trang islands tour

The classic day out from Pak Meng: the Emerald Cave, Koh Kradan's beach, snorkelling and lunch on the sand.

Most shared day tours include snorkelling gear and lunch; check whether the park fee is in the price before you pay it twice.

A full day trip works, but a night or two on an island lets you see more than one.

For a group, a private boat sets its own timing and beats the crowds to the cave.

Day trip or a night on the island? Ask Tanner.

Where to stay on the islands

Koh Ngai has the smartest resorts on the Trang islands. It's the pick for couples who want a quiet beach and a good dinner.

Koh Mook has more island life, with small resorts, a village and the Emerald Cave on your doorstep.

Koh Kradan has a few beach resorts and the best sand. Koh Libong is the quiet one, for nature and the seagrass, and it's the largest of Trang's islands, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says.

First time? Base on Koh Mook and see the rest by boat. Sleep there and you're in the cave before the day boats arrive.

Ask Tanner which resort has space on your dates.

Things to do in the Trang islands

The Emerald Cave comes first. Swim the dark tunnel and come out in a lagoon ringed by cliffs.

Then snorkel Koh Kradan's reef straight off the beach. Koh Libong is a slow longtail ride over the seagrass, looking for dugongs. You can also paddle to the cave from Charlie Beach on Koh Mook: kayaks are about ฿200 an hour, and it's about 30 minutes each way.

Back on the mainland, Trang town's dim sum breakfast and morning market are worth the early start.

Ask Tanner to build the day in your order.

Your own boat

My advice: take your own boat. The cave first, before the crowds, then Kradan's beach on your own schedule.

The price depends on the boat, and Tanner quotes it to your plan; we add the party: the crew, the drinks, music and the meals.

Pair the Trang islands with Koh Lanta or Koh Lipe for a longer Andaman trip.

See Koh Lipe and our Thailand island hopping guide.

Plan it with Tanner.

The Trang islands in short

• What they are: Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai and Koh Libong, on the Andaman coast south of Koh Lanta.

• Boats: from Pak Meng pier, about 40 minutes to Koh Mook, and the Hat Yao pier area.
• The Emerald Cave: an 80 m swim through a sea tunnel, closed 1 June to 30 September.
• Park fee: ฿200 for adults, ฿100 for children. Dugongs: at least 72 counted in Trang waters in 2026, around Koh Libong.
• Best months: November to April.

Checked October 2026.

Pick your base

Pick your base, Koh Mook, Koh Kradan or Koh Ngai, and come between November and April.

A car meets you at Trang airport and runs you straight to the pier, and the boat is waiting.

Ask Tanner, and he sends back the islands and the timing for your group.