Hat Yao

Hat Yao sits on the northeast shore of Koh Libong, Trang’s largest island — not on the mainland, despite how earlier versions of this page described it. The beach is in Moo 6, Ko Libong subdistrict, Kantang district. Boats over from the mainland leave from Hat Yao Pier near Kantang, a name that’s confused plenty of visitors, since the pier and the beach share it but sit on opposite sides of the channel. Entry is free and there’s no gate — the beach is simply there whenever you arrive.

The sand here is finer and cleaner than much of Trang’s mainland coastline, which tends toward shell-strewn shallows; Hat Yao’s stretch is one of the better spots on the island for that reason. Food stalls cluster near the entrance rather than full restaurants, so bring cash and don’t expect a menu. There’s no lifeguard and no marked parking area — visitors leave motorbikes along the entrance road. Insider Tip: most day-trippers only see the pier side of Koh Libong; walking or riding the short distance to Hat Yao gets you away from the boat traffic.

Koh Libong itself stays quiet by Trang-island standards — it’s a working fishing community first, a beach destination second, and Hat Yao reflects that. On weekdays especially, you’re more likely to share the sand with fishermen mending nets than with other tourists. The island’s real signature draw is dugong-watching on guided boat trips over the seagrass beds near Laem Ju Hoi on the west coast — a separate trip from a Hat Yao visit, but easy to combine into the same Koh Libong day.

Trang’s mainland beaches — Hat Yong Ling and Hat Chao Mai National Park among them — make an easy add-on if you’re island-hopping out of Kantang. Watch out: don’t confuse this beach with Koh Phangan’s Haad Yao — same name, different coast, different island chain.