Hat Yong Ling

Hat Yong Ling is a sheltered, sea-pine-backed beach on the Trang mainland coast, inside Hat Chao Mai National Park’s Protection Unit 2 in Tambon Ko Libong. The water runs clear and pale green, calm enough for swimming most of the year, and a limestone outcrop at the north end holds a short walk-through cave that draws more visitors than the sand itself.

What’s there

The name is thought to come from the local southern-Thai Malay dialect — “yong” for cape (แหลม) and “หลิง” for sailor (กะลาสีเรือ) — pointing to the rocky headland at the beach’s edge. That headland holds Tham Yong Ling, a tunnel of around 12 metres through the limestone that opens onto a gap framing the sea, a favoured stop for photos beyond the beach itself. At low tide, the sand connects south to Hat Yao, so the two beaches can be walked as one stretch without a second drive to a separate car park.

Atmosphere and timing

A ranger station overlooks the beach and staff patrol it during opening hours. Because it sits inside a national park unit rather than a resort strip, there’s no beachfront development beyond the sea pines and the checkpoint — the shops near the ranger post cover drinks and snacks, not a full beach-bar setup. Shade thins out past the tree line, so plan for full sun on the open sand.

Insider Tip: Time a visit for low tide and cover both the cave and the walk south to Hat Yao in one trip — most day visitors only see one of the two.

Watch out: Rip currents can form on this stretch of coast. Check the park’s flag system before swimming past waist depth, and swim parallel to shore if you get pulled out.

Practical

There’s no rental gear at the beach, so bring your own mask if you want a closer look at the rocks around the cave mouth, and pack reef-safe sunscreen — this coastline sits inside protected park waters. The park office at Hat Chao Mai National Park can confirm current conditions before you set out, and Kantang Hot Spring Forest Park is a reasonable add-on if you’re touring the wider Trang area for the day.