BEACH
Thap Thim is a small and intimate beach in the Klong Yai Region, with very fine sand and views overlooking the islands of Ko Chang and Ko Mak. The water is usually calm and no matter the tide, you can swim all day long.
At high tide, a small stripe of sand is left, but there are still plenty of opportunities to relax. Enjoy the sunset on one of the beach beds. We like to visit this beach for a short break, just to read, swim and sunbathe. The only important decision we make here is whether to swim in the sea or in the beautiful pool!
WHERE TO STAY
On this small bay there is only one intimate upper range hotel, the Centara Chaan Talay Resort, with 44 suites and villas set in a beautiful garden. The garden is surrounded by jungle-covered hills, giving the place a serene atmosphere. Make sure to the internet for good deals!
We love this place with its pool next to the beach. You can have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. The nearest restaurant is 3 kilometers away, although we ourselves often eat at Klong Yai Night Market, 30 kilometers away.
PLACE
The Klong Yai Region is located in the south-eastern part of Thailand, bordering Cambodia. The region is known for its lush green hills and small fishing villages and is still largely undiscovered by tourists. The beaches are usually empty, even on weekends. This is a great part of Thailand if you want to get off the main roads. The area has beautiful, varied nature, so definitely go explore it!
WHAT TO DO
A nice excursion in the Klong Yai Region is a visit to the Ban Mai Rut fishing community. It is a good place to witness the daily life of the villagers. Here, many houses are built on stilts above the river. We found it an experience riding our scooter on the wooden paths above the river, especially when an oncoming scooter passes by. Take a boat ride on the river in the dark and hopefully you will spot the fireflies and fluorescent plankton.
The capital of this region is also called Klong Yai, a small town with a pleasant harbor and a daily market. When we are in the area, we will definitely visit the night market and enjoy the tasty dishes.
Trat is an alternative excursion with a more varied night market. There are dozens of stalls on the site with all kinds of delicious food. Trat has several beautiful wooden residential buildings. The Trat History Museum is located in one of those buildings; the texts are in English and in Thai. A beautiful pagoda is Wat Phai Lom, about 1 kilometer from the center.
TRANSPORT
From Bangkok are several good bus and minibus connections to Trat, a journey of 5 hours. In Trat, you can take a minibus or pick-up truck to Klong Yai and Hat Lek, where you will be dropped off near your hotel. Depending on the beach, the walk from the drop-off point to your hotel can range from 100 meter to 2 kilometers. Make sure to arrange a final pick up with your hotel!
We recommend renting a car in Bangkok or at one of the airports. It saves time and it’s much easier to get around. It is difficult to rent scooters at the resorts. We ended up renting one from an employee. The best option is to rent a scooter in Trat or arrange a scooter over the phone before booking your hotel.
