Ban Tha Ranae offers a reason to spend time on mainland Trat: a community boat trip through mangroves to a remarkable spread of tangled tree roots. In Nong Khan Song subdistrict, Mueang Trat district, this waterside village suits travellers who enjoy looking closely at nature and learning from local guides. Make the creek journey and Lan Taboon root area the focus of your visit.
Follow the creek to Lan Taboon
The boat route passes through different stretches of coastal forest, including mangroves, nipa palms and taboon trees. There is plenty to notice in the changing shapes of leaves, trunks and roots along the water. Let the journey be part of the outing, with time to ask your guide about the forest and the community’s relationship with it.
Lan Taboon is the main attraction. Here, the roots of taboon trees spread and interlace above the ground, creating a broad natural lattice. It is a striking subject for photographs, especially if you enjoy textures and woodland details. The view changes with the water level; low tide exposes more of the roots.
Do not assume that the lowest tide automatically gives the best boat departure. Ask the community to coordinate the journey and root viewing for the day’s conditions. Follow your guide’s directions about getting out of the boat and where to step, and leave roots and plants undisturbed.
Arrange the visit before you travel
Contact the community in advance to confirm a departure, meeting point, current boat charge and whether Lan Taboon can be visited that day. DASTA’s community tourism directory lists 081-161-6694 and 081-983-9874. If you need an English-speaking guide, ask about language arrangements when booking.
Wear secure footwear and bring drinking water, insect repellent and sun protection. Keep your phone or camera protected from splashes, and ask about life jackets before boarding. Anyone with limited mobility should discuss boat boarding and the uneven root area with the organiser before committing.
Leave some flexibility in your plans for weather and tides. A visit arranged around local conditions gives you a better chance to appreciate the forest without rushing the journey.
Find Ban Tha Ranae on Google Maps.
Visitor information: DASTA community profile and contacts. Further reading: Mueang Trat community tourism news and Bangkok Airways’ Trat guide, including Ban Tha Ranae.