Hat Chao Mai National Park
Hat Chao Mai National Park is vast national park (around 231,000 square kilometers) that includes Hat Chao Mai beach and Hat Chang Lang beach (where the park headquarters are situated). The west of the park features a range of limestone cliffs overlooking the sea. The cliffs provide entrance to Morakot Cave (known locally as ‘Tam Nam’ or Emerald Cave). The entrance is a hole in the cliffs and the cave can only be entered at low tide - when the tide is in, the entrance is completely submerged. Going into the hole, you travel through a pitch dark tunnel and come out in a lagoon. The visual effect of moving out of the darkness into the lagoon is quite breathtaking – the lagoon has genuine picture postcard appeal. White sand and clear blue water enclosed by cliffs; it’s difficult to imagine anywhere nicer. It is important to note that if the tide comes in while you are in the lagoon, that’s it! You are there until the next day! There is of course more to the park than Morakot Cave; there is a small fishing village in the east of the village, and a number of islands (including Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, Kao Jao Mai, Koh Waen, Koh Cheuak, Koh Pling and Koh Meng) are under the park’s control. A visit to Hat Chao Mai National Park might be a holiday in its own right, but if you are in Trang, you should certainly see something that it offers.
How to get there: The park is on Trang-Sikao highway 50 kilometres from Trang town. Songtaews leave from Trang but given the size of the park and the distances involved a visit here might be best approached on an organized tour.
Details: Accommodation is available in the park but must be booked in advance.
Contact:
To book accommodation
Hat Chao Mai National Park
Tambon Ko Libong
Amphoe Kantang
Trang
Tel: (579) 0529; (579) 4842