Lay Khao Kob Cave

Lay Khao Kob Cave is a river cave system in Huai Yot district, Trang, explored entirely by boat through a network of chambers cut by an underground stream. A shared boat costs 300 THB for up to five people, runs daily from 08:00 to 18:00, and takes about 45 minutes round trip.

Experience

The boat sets off from a jetty inside Khao Kob subdistrict and threads through a series of named chambers rather than one continuous cavern. Chao Sao Cave has a curtain-like stalactite formation near its mouth and a flat stone ledge locals liken to a bed; Kon Tan Cave has stalactites that ring with a bell-like tone when tapped, a trick the boatmen sometimes demonstrate; Rak Sai Cave runs alongside a long stretch of exposed banyan roots trailing down from the surface. The highlight is the final passage, known locally as the dragon’s belly — the ceiling drops low enough that everyone lies flat in the boat while a boatman poles it through in near-darkness before the chamber opens out again.

Two boatmen — one at the bow, one at the stern — pole and paddle the boat throughout, since the current and low ceilings rule out a motor. It’s a slow, physical way to see a cave: no walkways, no lighting rigs, just torchlight picking out the stalactite formations as you pass.

Atmosphere & Timing

Mornings are quieter and the water tends to run clearer before afternoon rain stirs up sediment upstream — worth aiming for a start before 10:00 if the trip coincides with rainy season (June-October), when water levels and clarity shift day to day. The cave stays cool year-round compared to the open Trang countryside outside, a welcome break in the hot season (March-May).

Insider Tip: Bring a dry bag or waterproof phone case — you’ll want photos of the stalactite chambers, but the low-ceiling passage means getting splashed is close to guaranteed.

Watch out: The lying-flat section is genuinely tight and pitch-dark for a short stretch. If anyone in your group is claustrophobic or has back problems that make lying flat in a moving boat difficult, ask the boatmen about skipping that final passage before setting off.

Practical

The site is in Khao Kob subdistrict, Huai Yot district, on the Trang-Krabi Road, about a 40-minute drive from Trang town. There’s no public transport directly to the jetty — a rented car, motorbike, or arranged taxi is the practical option. Bring cash for the boat fee; card payment isn’t available on-site. For groups or questions ahead of a visit, the Tambon Khao Kob Subdistrict Administrative Organization can be reached on 0 7550 0117 or 0 7550 0088 ext. 107. Tham Khao Pina, another Huai Yot cave, sits along the same drive if you want to make a two-cave day of it.