TRANG-SATUN-HATYAI

TRANG-SATUN-HATYAI

I was contacted by Tourism Authority of Thailand marketing personnel to sign up for a 4D3N tour to promote Southern Thailand province, in 2014.

It is a familiarisation trip meant for the journalists on board.

It was a memorable trip as I joined a group of journalists and travel agents to understand more about what was in store of southern province. 

KOH MOOK ISLAND

DAY 1

We reached Trang in the afternoon – start-off with a city tour followed with the Sunset Candlelight Dinner along Pak Meng Beach. Check into Anda Resorts facing the beautiful Andaman Sea.

TRANG - TOWN CENTRE

Trang is first earning popularity after the Tourism Authority of Thailand listed the sleepy town in its Visit Thailand Year. Trang's Provincial Office of Tourism & Sport's has come up with a cute pocket book titled“10 Amazing Attractions in Trang”. Trang is one of the oldest town in the Southern Thailand region. Called Mueang Thap Thiang (in Thai), the town faces the Andaman Sea.Trang is one of the 12 satellite towns that existed 900 years ago, where King Rama II gave the province its first governor.

PAK MENG BEACH SUNSET DINNER

DAY 2

Trang is popular for 'island hopping cum snorkeling' activities found in these pristine islands namely Koh Mook, Koh Ngai, Koh Chuak and Koh Kradan.

PANORAMIC SCENE AT PAK MENG BEACH

All ready for island hopping, we are attired in swimming costume and equipped with a life jacket each – departed from Pak Meng Pier – to the four islands.

PAK MENG PIER

 

READY FOR SNOKERLING

Our boat headed to the first island – Koh Mook, which is also called Emerald Cave. The island is the most beautiful among the four islands we visited. Here, it offers a unique experience as visitors have to swim in a line to get to a natural cave tunnel on the other side to view the majestic Emerald cave. 

 

KOH MOOK

Our next stops are snorkeling areas namely Koh Kradan and Koh Chuan. The excursion ends with a sumptuous lunch at Koh Ngai Resort.

KOH  KRADAN

 

KOH CHUAN

DAY 3

We bid farewell to Trang as we could not possible visit all the town's 10 amazing attractions – Wat Phukhad Thong Temple, Wat Tham Phra Buddha, Tham Khao Chang Hai Cave, Tham Le Khao Kob Cave, Saltwater Fall, Koh Sukom, Black Beach, Bar Laem Sai Freshwater Well and Want Pha Mek Amazing Mist.

PHU PHA PHET CAVE

A three-hour bus ride from Trang to Satun, the last province on the western Andaman coastline, before reaching the Malaysian border. Famously known as the “emerald city” of south Andaman Satun is also famous for her white sandy beaches, caves, mountains, waterfall and jungle. The highlight of Satun leg is the visit to Phu Pha Phet Cave, the largest in Thailand and third largest in the world. Historically, the cave was discovered 73 years ago by a Buddhist monk while meditating nearby. In the past, people were resideing inside the cave; they entered the cave using ropes. Today, the cave is equipped with proper lighting, a wooden bridge and a local tour guide to take tourists for an-hour long tour of the 3km-long cave.

PHU PHA PHET CAVE

WANGSAITHONG WATER RAFTING

From caving, we move to Wangsaithong waterfall to have an hour of kayaking and cruising along 7km stretch of the river. Along the way, we get to see beautiful flora and fauna and unspoilt forests. Some of the more adventurous also participated in the water rafting into Wangsaithong canal.

HATYAI TREE

DAY 4

Arrived in Hatyai for a last minute shopping and massage - before leaving for Ipoh on Day 5. Hatyai derived its name from a big tree called Tong Han, which can be found in Satun. In early years, people used the Tong Wu Tau Pau River as transport in Hat Yai. Hat meaning beach and Yai means Big = Hat Yai.

Attraction places are – Terazut Market, Odeon Market, Kim Yong Market, shopping and massage SPA.

HATYAI

DAY 5 DEPARTURE

MARCH 3-4, 2014