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What a perfect day to enjoy
sunbathing at Ko Muk, Thailand
Koh Muk, Trang
Ko Muk and Morakot Cave are the most impressive points in the Trang Sea. The
island is comprised of mostly high and majestic cliffs facing the sea to the
west, while a fishing village is to the east facing the mainland. Swallow birds
make the numerous cliffs their home. Hidden among them are the fantastic Morakot
Cave. The cave entrance is a small passage on the island’s western side that is
accessible by boat during low tide. The cave itself winds for about 80 metres to
the other exit, opening onto a clean white beach surrounded by high cliffs. To
get to Ko Muk, tourists can take a boat from Pak Meng Pier in Amphoe Sikao for
the 40-minute trip. The boat rent is around 1,500 baht/day. Accommodation is
available on the island.
Coconut trees are standing against
the wind at Ko Muk.
This wonderful island is located 30
minutes by boat from the Khuantungku Pier in Trang province.
Most parts of the island are filled with towering rocks encouraging the swallows
to inhabit along the cliff.
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Tham Morakot
one of the fantastic
attractions of the
Unseen in Thailand
is located at the
west of Ko Muk. The
exciting journey to
Morakot Cave besides
seeing the marvelous
nature creation is
the way to reach the
cave by swimming one
by one into the
entrance of the cave
with the width of
not more than 10
metres and little
area above the sea
level. |
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This can allow only
a small boat to pass
through during low
tide along the
channel of 80 metres
long. After passing
the entrance to the
other side, one will
stand at the large
hall roofed by the
sky looking like
standing inside the
very large funnel.
The sand beach will
be seen in the
middle to the hall
surrounded by high
cliffs. Some species
of plant are found
either on the beach
or at the cliff such
as Caladium, spurge
(Euphorbia
antiquorum) etc. |
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The sunlight during
midday will be
straight through the
mouth of the funnel.
The reflection of
the sea creates the
emerald color as the
name “Morakot Cave”
which means”Emerald
Cave”. To get to Ko
Muk and Morakot
Cave, boat service
leaves Kuan Tung Ku
Pier at 08.00 hr
everyday charging 40
baht per person. One
trip by the rented
boat will charge 400
baht and takes 30
minutes to Ko Muk.
Upon arrival at
Sapanyao Pier in
front of the island,
one have to rent a
long-tailed boat to
Morakot Cave rested
at the other side of
the island (100 baht
each). Another way
is to rent the boat
from Pak Meng Pier
straight to Morakot
Cave at Ko Muk. The
rate is 1,800
baht/day taking
about 40 minutes. |
Tham Morakot is
visited by swimming
or by small
inflatable boats.
Starting from a
ship, the swimmer
has to enter the
cave until he
reaches a water
filled chamber,
which is lit by
sunlight through a
hole in the ceiling.
The entrance passage
is rather small and
low, and it is
passable only during
low tide. If
visitors miss the
time inside, they
have to wait for the
next low tide to get
out again.
The name of the cave
means Emerald Cave.
It describes the
emerald colour
produced by sunlight
filtered through sea
water. Inside the
cave is a secluded
beach of white sand.
This cave played a
small role in the
enormous desaster of
the 2004 Christmas
earthquake and
tsunami of southeast
Asia. When the wave
hit the cave, two
swimmers were washed
in, battered, and
killed. Eighty
visitior who
survived the wave
were resued after
five hours.
Another cave in the
Hat Chao Mai Marine
National Park is
called Tham Chao
Mai. It is located
in the south of the
park and is a dry
cave above the sea
with a small spring
inside. It also only
reached by boat, but
it is not necessary
to swim.
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