Trang

Trang is the Andaman coast's under-the-radar gem — stunning islands, serious food culture, and a fraction of Krabi or Phuket's crowds. The province's islands are the main event: Koh Muk has the Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot), where you swim through a dark cave passage to emerge in a hidden beach surrounded by sheer cliffs. Koh Kradan regularly ranks among Thailand's best beaches — a single perfect crescent of white sand. Koh Libong is the largest, with a dugong-watching community and rural Muslim fishing culture.

Trang town is a culinary destination in its own right. The morning dim sum culture — roast pork buns, steamed dumplings, and thick Trang-style coffee — is inherited from the town's Hokkien Chinese community and taken very seriously. The night market on Ratchadamnoen Road is excellent. Trang also has the Underwater Wedding ceremony each February on Koh Kradan, attracting couples from around the world. On the mainland, the Botanical Garden near Khao Chong and the caves at Tham Le Khao Kop (which you explore by boat) are worth a detour.