Ao Nang is a town mostly known for its resorts and boat tours to islands and nearby beaches, including the spectacular Railay Beach. While the golden beaches and crystal waters of Southern Thailand were stunning, it was hiking in Ao Nang, along Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail that stole the show.
Also known as Dragon Crest Trail, Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail was challenging for both my friend and me, who are both moderately fit. To beat the heat, we left early in the hazy morning. Humidity quickly rose into the 90% range and the temperature climbed above 30C.
Confined behind a wall of the jungle there was no wind at all, only making the track more challenging. We planned for around two hours each way and ended up being a little quicker than four hours in total – including a couple of photo and food/water stops.
Getting to and Along Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail, Ao Nang, Thailand
Leaving our wonderful Stayover Hostel (check them out below) we set off on the 21km drive on rented scooters. The road to Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature trail is quiet enough – it can get a little busy in downtown Ao Nang, but nothing too serious. Taking in as much of the beautiful coastline and scenery as possible, the road itself is well paved with very few potholes to be wary of.
Once at the beginning of Tab Kak Hang Nak Mountain Nature Trail, we parked our bikes in the specific motorbike parking lot. You are then required to sign some form of trail registry, giving details of yourself and vehicle you have here, which is all done at the nearby ranger station.
While there isn’t an entrance fee, there was a donation box and 20 Baht ($0.65 USD) was more than enough for them to give a smile and a nod. It made me feel completely confident our bikes would be looked after.
There is also a small shop where snacks and water can be bought. I highly recommend at least 2L of water for the trek. I went through my entire bottle a lot quicker than I thought as I sweated it out constantly. Combining the humidity, the heat, and the general challenging nature of the hike, my energy was zapped out of me quickly.
Underneath Hang Nak Trail’s natural canopy was void of any sort of breeze or fresh air. The stale humid air took it’s toll fast! But the nature that was almost suffocating was also so peaceful. Not many people along the trails and no vehicles to be seen. Even though I was exhausted, sweaty and the horizon was full of haze the entire day, it was still a lovely walk.
Other Points of Interest Along the Ao Nang Hiking Track
Along the weaving track, there were a couple of small detours to other sights along the way. If I’m being honest both the “pond” and waterfall aren’t must-sees, especially the so-called pond. I’m still not convinced the rocky puddle of water was the attraction listed, but we left without much more investigation.
The waterfall on the other hand, I quite enjoyed. Not only was it an extremely quiet section of the trail, but the waterfall also reduced the temperature around us considerably, it was a welcome relief.
Although a slow trickle of dripping water struggles to gain my acceptance of being classified as a waterfall, it sure was a quaint, relaxed area. Nice to have a break and a cool photo spot. Keep an eye out for some interesting mushrooms! Both detours are extremely short in distance – at most 500m to each of them.
To the Top of Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail
As we gained elevation and took in some early viewpoints, we realized the early morning haze had not cleared up, at all. Slightly disappointing, as the pictures online are simply stunning, but you can’t win them all. Some days you have to make the best with what you have. We did just that.
Our limited view was still beautiful, faint golden beaches and blue water faded into a grey haze as we looked out making jokes the entire time about our luck. You would assume being at the peak of Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail, now outside of the canopy walls, you would be gifted a breeze. And you would be wrong. So still, so stale, not much relief at all, despite being at 498m in elevation.
As our sliver of hope the sea of grey would wash away began to fade, all we could do was laugh. Even though it had cemented itself in for the day, I thoroughly enjoyed the sweaty hike! The jungle trail was as I envisioned. Sweating for hours on end. It never rewarded us with the stunning vista of online blogs, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill Nature Trail Infomation
We had read online that the trail was easy to moderate, which rang true for a decent amount of the hike. Some steps had replaced older, worn-out routes and most of the track was an exhausting incline/decline. Quite a few spots where good shoes are highly recommended. Although, we witnessed a lady in flip-flops/thongs who obviously regretted her decision. Large loose rocks uncovered tree roots and sections were quite slick.
Even though we did not see any, snakes are said to frequent these trails of Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill.
From Ao Nang to Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill Nature Trail entrance it takes around 40minutes of solid driving at a slow speed – we made a few wrong turns. The roads are well maintained but can get a little busy in parts.
Before setting out for the day we checked both our bikes thoroughly (as I always do). However, not well enough it seems. Along a bumpy dirt road, my mate realized his fuel gauge was depleting quickly. We stopped to fill up at one of the many roadside “vending machines”, where we discovered a larger issue. His bike’s fuel cap was missing. Nowhere to be found. Along each of the bumps, the flammable liquid sloshed out beneath his seat.
A local man who helped us decipher the foreign unmanned vending machine for fuel. This man also devised a temporary solution by scrunching up a ball of plastic and stuffing into the gaping fuel tank hole. Not before he and his children had a nice long giggle of course. I might’ve joined in for one or two as well. Why not!? Just goes to prove how important it is to ALWAYS check your bike!
The trail is open from 8am-4pm. If you would like to stay for sunset, inquiring at the ranger’s station is your best bet. If not, you could be slapped with a 1000Baht fine (40$ AUD). Don’t forget a good source of light, if planning to hike at night!
It’s not an overly popular trail, we saw maybe fifty people along the trail, maximum. This number would fluctuate depending on the season.
Tab Kak Hang Nak trail has around 573 meters of elevation, and the viewpoint of Dragons Crest Trail sits around 450m.
Where to stay in Ao Nang
Please note: The link below is an affiliate link. If you book your accommodation through this link, at no extra cost to you, I get a small commission. If you have any questions, please contact me!
For accommodation, Stayover Hostel is one of the best kept and friendly hostels I visited in Thailand. Dorms cost around 345Baht ($14 AUD)
Book your stay at Stayover Hostel here!
How to get to Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail
Getting to the trail of Dragons Crest, or Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Hill is pretty easy. You can hire a motorbike as my friend and I did. Many hostels provide bikes for rent and are cheap. Make sure to check over your bike and gear if you go this route.
An alternative option to visit Tab Kak Hang Nak is by hiring a private tuk-tuk and driver for the day. This is a little more expensive, but if you’re not comfortable driving a bike in Thailand, this is a great way of experiencing a beautiful view near Krabi.
Both options are similar whether you will be visiting from Krabi or Ao Nang, but Ao Nang will be a much shorter trip as it is a lot closer to the trail than Krabi.
Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill Nature Trail Map
The road from Ao Nang to Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail is pretty good. It’s smooth and there’s usually not too much traffic. Plus, the scenery is stunning!
Getting to Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail from Krabi is a little bit longer. It takes around 50 minutes and a 38km drive.
Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail Tips
- Beginning the trail in the early morning to beat the mid-day heat and humidity is well advised.
- Taking good shoes is a must! Some sections are unstable and spraining an ankle would be quite easy on the shakey rocks!
- Don’t leave yourself thirsty on the hike, not fun. I still went through the whole 2 liters before the hike was over.
Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail Highlights
- The 40min-1hr drive was stunning. Quiet enough to take in the scenery, and easily drive the smooth roads.
- The viewpoints are beautiful (even if you draw the short straw with bad weather!).
Why Hang Nak Mountain Trail should be high on your Thailand list!
During my time throughout Thailand, I did quite a few hikes. But Tab Kak Hang Nak was one of the most memorable and scenic hikes in the entire country. It was a challenging hike, but the views, even though they were hazy, were so worth the effort.
Have you visited Hang Nak Mountain? Do you have any questions at all? Leave a comment below!
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Further reading on traveling Thailand
- Hiking to Koh Tao’s overgrown lighthouse
- Scuba diving the stunning Phi Phi Island
- The lesson we can all learn from the closure of Phi Phi’s Maya Bay
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
2 Comments
Hello. What did You do with helmets?
Hi Filip. Thanks for your comment. For helmets, everything was supplied to my friend and me from our hostel in Ao Nang. They provided us with the bikes and helmets, and had a decent selection to choose from for fit and to make sure it wasn’t going to fly off mid-ride! If you have any more questions, just let me know!