Hat Chao Mai National Park: Trang Islands and Trip Plan

Featured image: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Hat Chao Mai National Park at a glance

Hat Chao Mai sits in the Sikao and Kantang Districts of Trang Province. It was established in 1981 and covers about 231 km² of sea, shore and forest. Limestone hills, mangroves and seagrass meadows define the landscape. Fees for all Thai parks are explained in our national park fee guide. Plan one full day for the mainland beach and a boat trip, or two days if you want an island base.

Is Hat Chao Mai worth visiting, and who should skip it?

Hat Chao Mai suits travelers who prefer quiet water, mangroves and wildlife over nightlife. Boats run on a weather-dependent schedule. Facilities are simpler than at the big-name Andaman parks. If you want headline reef diving, look at Similan Islands diving or the Surin Islands instead. If you want crowds, boat parties and bars, Phi Phi delivers them. Hat Chao Mai fits slow days on a beach, a kayak paddle and a chance of seeing wildlife.

• Go if you like kayaking, birdwatching, snorkeling and uncrowded sand.
• Skip if you need dive centers, late-night boats or polished resorts.
• Skip if your dates fall in heavy monsoon weather and your schedule cannot flex.

Best things to do in the park

Emerald Cave (Morakot Cave) is the best-known stop. You reach it by boat or kayak and swim or paddle through a tunnel that depends on the tide. Island hopping around Ko Muk and Ko Kradan adds snorkeling and beach time. Boundaries between the park and neighboring protected areas differ by source, so treat island names as a trip route rather than a park map. Mangrove kayaking, mainland beach walks and birdwatching need no big itinerary. Dugong sightings are never guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus.

• Emerald Cave: needs a boat or kayak operator and a suitable tide.
• Ko Muk and Ko Kradan: boat required, shared or private.
• Snorkeling: by tour or your own gear from a beach.
• Mangrove kayaking: usually hired locally.
• Mainland beach and birdwatching: no operator needed.

How to get there and get around

Start in Trang town or at Trang airport. Krabi and Hat Yai are alternate gateways, so check current transit times before committing. Public transport is limited, so many visitors arrange a pickup or hire a driver. Boats to the islands leave from mainland piers, including Pak Meng and Hat Yao. Expect no evening departures, and do not plan a late return from an island.

Costs, entry fees and bookings

Entry fees for foreign and Thai visitors are set by the Department of National Parks, and the current rates are on the official DNP site. For fee context across Thailand, see our guide to park entry fees. Beyond the entry fee, price five lines: boat charter or shared seat, tour package, kayak hire, accommodation and meals. Compare a shared seat against a charter split among friends, since the charter is often better value for four or more people. Prices and hours checked November 2026 against the official source where published.

When to go

Sea conditions drive the visit. Calm months give easier boat trips and clearer snorkeling. Monsoon months can reduce boat service, so build a spare day into your trip. Emerald Cave access depends on the tide, so ask your boat operator for the day's timing instead of planning around a fixed hour. Weekends and Thai holidays are likelier to bring more visitors. Compare this with Lanta's park, which has easier access.

Where to stay near the park

There are three practical bases. A mainland beach stay near Pak Meng or Hat Yao gives the easiest road access and the most flexible boat departures. Ko Muk suits travelers who want an island base with Emerald Cave close by. Ko Kradan is quieter and better for beach time. Ko Libong is a lower-key alternative with a mangrove-and-seagrass focus. On islands, ask about last-boat times, power and Wi-Fi limits when you book, and bring cash for meals.

Suggested Hat Chao Mai itineraries

Match the plan to how much time you have. Each option keeps travel simple and leaves room for weather changes.

• Half day: mainland beach walk, mangrove kayak and an early return.
• One day: shared or private boat to Emerald Cave, then a snorkeling stop at Ko Kradan.
• Two days: first day at Ko Muk and the cave, overnight on an island, second day on Ko Kradan or Ko Libong.

Wildlife and conservation etiquette

The park's seagrass beds feed dugongs, and ASEAN Heritage Park data lists 268 fish species, 205 bird species and 8 seagrass species in the park and the Mu Ko Libong islands. Turtles, dolphins and migratory shorebirds also use the area. Dugongs are shy, and boats cause the most disturbance in shallow grass beds. Keep engines slow and distant from any dugong sighting. Never chase, feed or touch wildlife, and stay off coral and seagrass when snorkeling. Take all litter back to the pier.

• Do: use reef-safe sun cream, keep quiet near birds, follow guide instructions.
• Don't: feed fish, stand on coral, anchor over seagrass, or chase dolphins and dugongs.

Common mistakes and safety

Most problems come from timing. Visitors miss Emerald Cave because the tide is wrong, or they leave the pier late and cannot get back. Sun and jellyfish are real risks on boat days, so pack a rash vest and drinking water. ATMs are scarce on the islands, so withdraw cash on the mainland first. Underestimating transfer time also catches people out, since road and boat legs add up. Finally, do not book a trip around a guaranteed dugong sighting.

Related Thailand national parks

Hat Chao Mai is one of many Thai marine parks, each with a different mix of access and crowds. Tarutao is the closest comparison for remote southern islands. Sirinat suits visitors based around Phuket. For the Gulf side, see Ang Thong and Mu Ko Chumphon. East-coast travelers can look at Mu Ko Chang and Laem Son.