Things to Do in Trang in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Trang
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Post-monsoon clarity for island hopping - November marks the sweet spot when the Andaman Sea calms down but crowds haven't arrived yet. Visibility for snorkeling typically hits 15-20 m (49-66 ft), and boat operators resume full schedules to islands like Koh Kradan and Koh Mook after the September-October rough seas.
- Loy Krathong celebrations with local flavor - Trang does this festival authentically, without the tourist circus you'll find up north. The floating krathong ceremonies along the Trang River (usually mid-November, tied to the lunar calendar) involve actual locals, not performers, and you can join in for the cost of a banana leaf float from riverside vendors at around ฿30-50.
- Comfortable temperatures for exploring - Morning temperatures around 24-26°C (75-79°F) make this ideal for the cave temple circuit or cycling through rubber plantations before the heat builds. You're not dealing with the scorching 35°C (95°F) days of March-April, and the occasional afternoon shower actually provides welcome relief.
- Dim sum season hits its stride - November marks peak season for Trang's famous morning dim sum culture, when the cooler mornings mean locals pack the traditional coffee shops from 6am onwards. The pork buns are fluffier in lower humidity, and you'll actually want to drink hot Chinese tea at 7am instead of melting into your plastic stool.
Considerations
- Unpredictable afternoon showers disrupt beach plans - Those 10 rainy days aren't spread evenly, and when storms roll in around 2-4pm, they can wash out your beach afternoon entirely. Unlike the brief showers of December-January, November rains tend to linger for 1-2 hours and bring choppy seas that cancel boat departures.
- Shoulder season means inconsistent services - Some island resorts and tour operators are still transitioning from monsoon closures, so you might find limited boat schedules or properties doing maintenance. Not everything is fully operational until mid-December, which means less flexibility and occasionally having to adjust plans.
- Humidity makes exertion genuinely uncomfortable - That 70% humidity combined with 30°C (86°F) afternoons means activities like kayaking through mangroves or hiking to Khao Pu-Khao Ya National Park viewpoints will leave you drenched. It's the kind of sticky heat where your clothes never quite dry and you'll go through three shirts a day if you're active.
Best Activities in November
Emerald Cave Sea Kayaking Expeditions
November offers calm enough seas to paddle through Tham Morakot (Emerald Cave) on Koh Mook without the January-February tour group chaos. The morning light filtering into the cave's interior lagoon is spectacular around 8-10am, and you'll likely share the experience with just 2-3 other kayaks instead of 20. Water temperatures sit comfortably at 28°C (82°F), and the post-monsoon conditions mean less debris floating in the channels. The occasional afternoon shower actually adds drama to the experience rather than ruining it, as you're already wet.
Trang Underwater Wedding Festival Activities
If you're visiting in early November, you might catch the tail end of preparations or related events for Trang's famous underwater wedding ceremony, typically held in mid-February but with promotional diving events sometimes scheduled in November. Even outside the main festival, November marks the start of excellent diving conditions at sites like Koh Rok and Koh Haa, with visibility improving to 15-20 m (49-66 ft) as the monsoon sediment settles. Water temperature hovers around 28-29°C (82-84°F), comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit.
Rubber Plantation and Waterfall Cycling Routes
November's cooler mornings make cycling through Trang's interior actually pleasant before 10am. The rubber trees are actively tapped during this season, so you'll see the collection process firsthand along rural roads. Routes to waterfalls like Ton Te and Ratchaprapha typically cover 25-35 km (15.5-21.7 miles) roundtrip through minimal traffic. The post-monsoon landscape is lush green, and smaller waterfalls have decent flow without the dangerous torrents of October. Just plan to finish by early afternoon before potential rain.
Morning Market and Dim Sum Cultural Tours
Trang's morning food culture peaks in November when comfortable temperatures bring locals out in force from 6-9am. The municipal market and surrounding streets transform into a dim sum circuit where you'll find pork buns, spring rolls, and congee at ฿15-40 per item. November is also when seasonal fruits like pomelo and mangosteen hit their stride. The experience is genuinely local - you'll be the only foreigner at most stalls - and the cooler weather means you'll actually want the hot soy milk and Chinese tea that accompany the meal.
Pak Meng Beach and Chao Mai National Park Exploration
November offers a goldilocks moment at Pak Meng - the monsoon has ended, but the European winter holiday crowds haven't arrived yet. The 5 km (3.1 mile) beach is nearly empty on weekdays, and the casuarina pine backdrop provides natural shade for the humid afternoons. From here, you can arrange longtail boats to islands in Chao Mai National Park for ฿1,500-2,500 for private charters. The sunsets are spectacular when weather cooperates, typically around 6pm, and beachfront seafood restaurants offer grilled fish at ฿180-350 per plate.
Trang Night Market and Street Food Circuit
November evenings are perfect for the night market scene - warm enough for outdoor dining at 26-28°C (79-82°F) but not the sweltering heat of April. The main Ratsada Night Market runs Thursday-Sunday from 5pm-10pm, with vendors selling everything from grilled squid to roti. The real insider move is hitting the rotating neighborhood markets that locals frequent - different locations each night of the week, with dishes running ฿30-60. November also brings out seasonal desserts like kanom krok (coconut rice pancakes) that vendors make fresh to order.
November Events & Festivals
Loy Krathong Festival
Trang celebrates this nationwide festival with floating krathong (decorative banana leaf boats) on the Trang River and at Pak Meng Beach. Unlike tourist-heavy destinations, Trang's version remains authentically local - families make their own krathong from banana leaves, flowers, and incense, then release them at sunset to pay respects to the water goddess. You can buy ready-made krathong from riverside vendors for ฿30-80 or make your own at community workshops. The festival coincides with the full moon and includes traditional performances and food stalls along the riverfront.
Trang Vegetarian Festival Aftermath
While the main Vegetarian Festival happens in October, November in Trang still carries the culinary momentum with many Chinese-Thai restaurants continuing to offer special vegetarian menus and yellow flags still marking participating vendors. You'll find excellent meat-free versions of local dishes at better prices and less intensity than the actual festival period. Worth noting if you're vegetarian or just curious about the cuisine without the crowds and piercing ceremonies.