Ecotourism – Take a boat ride to explore the wonders of the Lan Tabun mangrove forest, Trat Province

     Lan Tabun is considered an unseen beauty of Trat Province, what the locals call the "wonderful Lan Tabun." It is located in Ban Tha Ranae, Mueang District, Trat. The mangrove forest covers an area of approximately 2,000 rai (3.2 square kilometers) and is over 100 years old. Each tree is huge and provides abundant food for the locals, including various types of seafood such as shrimp, clams, crabs, and fish. It is also an ecotourism destination for learning about the rich and diverse ecosystem of the mangrove forest, considered a wonder of the province.

     To get to Lan Tabun, visitors must take a boat from Bang Ranae pier, about 2 km away. Along the way, you will pass through three forests: red mangroves, Nipa palms, and cannonball trees. You will be fascinated by the beauty of the mangrove ecosystem in the canal. Some sections of the route are like a tunnel of trees where you can take beautiful pictures.

     When you arrive at Lan Tabun, you will be amazed by the wonders of the old mangrove trees, which have the unique feature of having roots that float above the ground rather than being buried underground like the roots of normal trees. Instead, they spread out like waves above the clay soil of the mangrove forest, creating a mysterious and enchanting scene that looks like a forest in a fantasy novel. When the sunlight shines through the thick leaves and illuminates the roots of the trees, it adds to the scene's beauty, and the best time to see this is during low tide, when you can see the roots of the trees clearly. Then, you can walk down and take pictures.

     Apart from the wonders of the Lan Tabun mangrove forest, the community in Tha Ranae also offers many activities, such as tasting Ant plant tea from the mangrove forest (good for health), trying tempura-fried mangrove leaves, making traditional Thai sweets called "Khanom Phim Khaotok," and experimenting with dyeing fabric with cannonball fruits. There are also homestay programs and a chance to see fireflies at night.

     Those interested in visiting Lan Tabun can visit the community in Tha Ranae. A boat ride to explore the mangrove forest costs 300 baht per boat for 1-2 people or 100 baht per person for three or more people. The boats can accommodate up to 9 people, and the trip takes approximately 1 hour. And don’t forget that you can enjoy this experience any day you choose.