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Sunset Beach | Koh Kradan Travel Information
In recent years Koh Kradan has become the most popular of the Trang beaches. With sands the colour of Carrara marble and azure waters, it’s easy to see why. Cashew trees lend their distinctive fragrance to the air, and at low tide the ripples of the Andaman Sea recede to reveal wide sandbars so bathers can stroll far out into the sea. Even if this island no longer quite qualifies as untouched, the majority of the land is protected by Hat Chao Mai national park, keeping development to a minimum. Bucket bars, beach parties, and other tourist trappings are conspicuously absent, as are convenience stores and ATMs. Most visitors stay and sun on Kradan Beach, a skinny, 2km palm-fringed strip. For a more secluded spot, ride a longtail boat for roughly half a kilometre to this cove on the western coast. The beach’s popular nickname says it all: go at the end of the day to watch the sky flare into magenta, scarlet and saffron.
Haad Man Sai, Koh Rok Nai & Koh Rok Nok
Ringed by a sprawling coral reef submerged just a few metres below the water’s surface, Koh Rok Nai and its twin Koh Rok Nok lure eager snorkellers from Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, and Koh Muk. Technically, both are part of Krabi Province, but the spectacular scenery more than merits the more than two-hour longtail boat ride from the Trang islands. Mu Ko Lanta National Park has shielded Koh Rok from greedy hoteliers, meaning monitor lizards still outnumber humans and an unruly tangle of jungle occupies most of the land. The majority of the boats moor at Haad Koh Rok, an expanse of crushed-coral sand that looks as if it has been plucked from the pages of a glossy magazine. If even a few fellow travellers are too many, walk to neighbouring Haad Man Sai, an equally lovely beach hidden from view by a few boulders. Note that a number of tours shut down during the rainy season between May and October.
In recent years Koh Kradan has become the most popular of the Trang beaches. With sands the colour of Carrara marble and azure waters, it’s easy to see why. Cashew trees lend their distinctive fragrance to the air, and at low tide the ripples of the Andaman Sea recede to reveal wide sandbars so bathers can stroll far out into the sea. Even if this island no longer quite qualifies as untouched, the majority of the land is protected by Hat Chao Mai national park, keeping development to a minimum. Bucket bars, beach parties, and other tourist trappings are conspicuously absent, as are convenience stores and ATMs. Most visitors stay and sun on Kradan Beach, a skinny, 2km palm-fringed strip. For a more secluded spot, ride a longtail boat for roughly half a kilometre to this cove on the western coast. The beach’s popular nickname says it all: go at the end of the day to watch the sky flare into magenta, scarlet and saffron.
- Accommodation:
Accommodation on Koh Kradan runs from a high-end boutique resort to more rustic bungalows. If you don’t mind staying a few metres off the main beach, the quirky Paradise Lost (bungalows £14) offers plenty of personality and a terrific value. - Getting there:
As per entry for Haad Farang (Haad Sai Yao), Koh Muk
Haad Man Sai, Koh Rok Nai & Koh Rok Nok
Ringed by a sprawling coral reef submerged just a few metres below the water’s surface, Koh Rok Nai and its twin Koh Rok Nok lure eager snorkellers from Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, and Koh Muk. Technically, both are part of Krabi Province, but the spectacular scenery more than merits the more than two-hour longtail boat ride from the Trang islands. Mu Ko Lanta National Park has shielded Koh Rok from greedy hoteliers, meaning monitor lizards still outnumber humans and an unruly tangle of jungle occupies most of the land. The majority of the boats moor at Haad Koh Rok, an expanse of crushed-coral sand that looks as if it has been plucked from the pages of a glossy magazine. If even a few fellow travellers are too many, walk to neighbouring Haad Man Sai, an equally lovely beach hidden from view by a few boulders. Note that a number of tours shut down during the rainy season between May and October.
- Accommodation:
Since this is a protected national park, there aren’t any fancy resorts or even scruffy bungalows here. A few government-run tents are available for rent on Koh Rok Nok for £10. While the likelihood of scoring one is high, if you want the peace of mind that comes with a guaranteed reservation, it is worth considering a service such as Freedom Adventures, a Koh Lanta-based tour company run by a Thai-English couple that offers private, chartered overnight camping trips to the island (two days from £295 for two including all meals, snacks, national park fees, transportation, accommodation and guide). - Getting there
Longtail boats lead snorkelling tours from Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, and Koh Ngai for around USD 60.00 a boat.