Trat Travel

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Trat province and its many islands is during the cool season from November to February. The temperature is usually around 27°C to 30°C, and you're pretty much guaranteed to have blue skies and sunshine almost every day. The monsoon season hits between July and October, but if you don't mind some rain, you'll be rewarded with a quiet atmosphere and some excellent discounts at hotels and resorts.

Check the below table for the general idea of Trat weather throughout the year.

Trat’s current weather and 7-day forecast

TRAT WEATHER

Trat province’s crowning jewel is the series of islands that offer a stunning view of the ocean waters on one side and exquisite jungles on the other. Sandwiched between these two features are white sandy beaches that glisten under the warm Thai sunlight. For those who venture into the jungles, an epic adventure awaits. It’s an adventure that reveals waterfalls, well hidden within the depths of the forests. Trat is a city with promise. It’s the promise of fun and excitement. It’s the promise of rest and relaxation. It’s the promise of enchantment. To put all this into perspective, here’s a list of the things to do in Trat.

1. Relax on Kai Bae Beach

Give in to the allure of a relaxing day at the beach. One of the most popular beaches in Trat is Kai Bae, a small island that is made up of a series of bars, restaurants, guesthouses and, of course, the chief attraction, white sand adjacent to the deep blue waters. However, Kai Bae also holds a series of cliffs which offer visitors a breathtaking view of the waters and the islands that lie beyond.

If you choose to explore the southern side of Kai Bae, you’ll discover a jungle paradise that boasts of the majestic Kai Bae waterfall. Finding a place to stay on this island isn’t a problem. There are numerous resorts and guesthouses from the low-cost backpackers’ accommodations to the high-end resorts. Most of these are within staggering distance to the beach giving you full access to its pleasures.

2. Visit Koh Wai Island

A 30-minute speed boat ride from the mainland delivers you to this small island known as Koh Wai. Life here is one that is undefiled by modernity. It’s a life that’s immaculate in every sense. There are no roads whatsoever. There are no vehicles and very limited electricity. Accommodations are simple wooden cottages or thatched huts.

Koh Wai stretches its arms out to welcome all who seek time away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. The island takes you back to a time of simplicity. A time when human interaction took precedence over interaction with technology. What Koh Wai offers in abundance is natural beauty. The pristine beaches are enchanting while the thick jungle ensnares with its allure. And all these are just within a few kilometers square of island real estate.

3. Trek in Khlong Plu Rainforest

Trat’s largest island, Koh Chang, takes pride in possessing a number of spectacular features. One of these is the Khlong Plu Rainforest, a dense cluster of dark green trees. Within this rainforest is Khlong Plu’s crown, a waterfall that also bears the name Khlong Plu. This is the star attraction and it is here that most visitors troop, seeking to catch a glimpse of the spectacular cascade of water. Leading up to it is a winding path that takes you through the heart of nature. On your way, you’ll see various bird species that call the forest home. The trek is easy for all to manage with appropriate steps and ropes conveniently set up to ensure safe descent to the plunge pool underneath the waterfalls.

4. Tour Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park

A tour of the Mu Ko Chang Marine Park will take you through 52 islands, one of which is Trat’s largest, Koh Chang. Spanning a total area of 650 square kilometers (250 square miles) this marine park was started to preserve the natural beauty of the islands. And preserve it has, with most of the islands flora and fauna kept pristine and untouched by human activity. With beautiful coral reefs dotting the clear sea waters, marine life thrives within the park. Your tour will also bring you to caves that promise an exciting exploration experience. These are accessible by boat from Koh Chang Island. Also within the park is a museum which holds a wealth of information on the flora and fauna on the island.

5. Swim with elephants at Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp

Enjoy a day out with the land’s biggest mammals, the elephants. At the Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp, you’ll have a chance to not only pet the elephants but to also ride on them. These majestic creatures possess a very affable mien, one that allows visitors to enjoy their company. This particular elephant camp is the custodian of 10 elephants. On these, you get an option to trek for 45 minutes on the backs of the friendly mammals and spend 30 minutes swimming alongside them. And if you have children, the staff will take great care of them, allowing you to enjoy your time without worry.

6. Visit Wat Salak Phet Temple

Known for the deeply rooted culture, a visit to Thailand must always include a tour of one of the temples. Trat boasts one of the most colorful temples in the region, found on Koh Chang Island. The Wat Salak Phet Temple is an eye catching piece of architecture whose major attraction is the assortment of colors used on the statues and buildings. The perimeter fence is a work of art, holding a sculpture of a mythological serpent that encompasses the wall’s top section. A tour transports visitors to the mythological world of Southeast Asia’s creatures. This is underscored by a statue of a giant mythical bird standing at the entrance and an elephant statue, a representation of the north of the God of heaven, also at the main entrance.

7. Go elephant trekking at Klong Prao Beach

Klong Prao Beach is home to some of the best accommodations on the island. It is a beautiful carpet of white sand that’s split in two by the Klong Prao river estuary. Forming a unique feature, the estuary is a beautiful haven of tranquility. However, Klong Prao is known for its elephant population and more so for the experience of riding on them and enjoying a trek. These gigantic mammals are a friendly lot, always happy to grant visitors an enjoyable ride. Take advantage of the 45 minute trek on their backs with an expert guide in tow.

8. Enjoy snorkeling at Ko Kham Island

A true, undefiled paradise Koh Kham Island is a breathtaking beach that’s surrounded by stunning natural scenery. On one side you’ll enjoy a view of the lovely coral reefs and on the other is the long, spectacular beach. The waters, on the other hand, bear life in abundance; lots of fish species. And one of the most enjoyable activities to take part in here is snorkeling. You’ll enjoy a close view of these fish species while snorkeling. Many companies offer snorkeling trips with some conducting full day trips while others giving shorter expeditions.

For accommodation, there’s plenty of choice in both Trat town, and along the southeast coast.

In town, most of the accommodation is in the form of charming and good value guesthouses in the old quarter, or basic but comfortable hotels in the city center area. 

Along the southeast coast, there are several wonderful resorts that offer guests a relaxed atmosphere and excellent facilities. 

Budget options

Mukda Guesthouse 

Add: 82/7 ถ.ธนเจริญ ต.บางพระ อ.เมือง จ.ตราด, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Set in Trat, 17 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, Mukda Guesthouse offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The guest house has a garden and provides a terrace.
The units at the guest house come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with free toiletries and a shower. All guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge.

Residence House 

Add: Thana Charoen Road, 87/1-2, Thambol Bangpha, Amphoe Muang, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Residang Guest House offers clean and comfortable rooms with free WiFi. The property features a tour desk, bicycle rental and shuttle services.

Rooms are fitted with air conditioning or fan. They come with a cable TV and en suite bathroom. Some rooms have a balcony.

For guests’ convenience, the property provides luggage storage and free public parking on site.

Local dishes are served at the restaurant.

Mid-range options

Trat City Hotel 

Add: 411/17 Moo 2, Wang Krachae, Mueang, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Set in Trat, 19 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, Trat City Hotel offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. With a shared lounge, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and ticket service for guests.

At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a balcony. All guest rooms in Trat City Hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries.

Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast.

Trat City Hotel offers a sun terrace.

Trat 101 Hotel 

Add: 1 Thana Charoen Road, Bang Phra Sub District, Mueang District, Trat Province, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Decorated with vintage furniture, Trat 101 Hotel offers cosy accommodation with free WiFi. The hotel is located within a walking distance to famous morning/night markets, bus station, banks and convenience stores.

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking views of the old town, rooms at this property can be accessible by key cards. They are equipped with a blind curtain, a satellite flat-screen TV and air conditioning. A fridge is provided. The en suite bathroom comes with a rain head shower and windows that allow guests to enjoy the views outside.

Shuttle bus, speedboat and ferry tickets to Ko Chang, Ko Kood and Ko Mak can be arranged upon request. Additionally, transfers via car are also available for a surcharge between Trat Airport and the property.

BaanRimNam Resort Trat 

Add: 88,88/1-3 Moo. 5 T.Nongsamed A.Muang Trat, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Located in Trat, 18 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, BaanRimNam Resort Trat provides accommodation with a terrace and free private parking. With a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space for guests.

At the hotel, every room is equipped with a wardrobe. All units at BaanRimNam Resort Trat are equipped with a TV with cable channels.

Chivapuri Trat 

Add: 1148/8-1 Moo 1, Wangkajae, Muang, 23000 Trat, Thailand 

A 5-minute walk from the bus station, Chivapuri Residence Trat offers comfortable rooms and free WiFi throughout.
It is a short walk from a night market, local restaurants and Rukachart Park. The ferries that head out to Ko Chang are 30 km away, while Trat Airport is 36 km away.

Air-conditioned rooms provide guests with a flat-screen satellite TV, a refrigerator and a balcony. Th en suite bathroom has a shower and free toiletires.

Facilities at Chivapuri Residence include a 24-hour reception and a free daily maid service. There is free parking.

Rimklong Boutique Hotel 

Add: 194 Soi Rimklong Rakmuang Rd. Bangpha, Muang, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Located in Trat, 18 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, Rimklong Boutique Hotel provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. All rooms feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom.

At the hotel, each room is equipped with a balcony with a city view.

Rimklong Boutique Hotel offers a terrace.

Deluxe options

J.P.GRAND HOTEL 

Add: 555 หมู่ 3, 23000 Trat, Thailand

Located in Trat, 20 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, J.P.GRAND HOTEL provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a shared lounge. Featuring a garden, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property offers city views, a terrace and a 24-hour front desk.

At the hotel, every room is equipped with a balcony. All units at J.P.GRAND HOTEL are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.

Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast.

Avada Hotel 

Add: 1 Moo 5 ,Wangkrajae,Maung,Trat ., 23000 Trat, Thailand

Situated in Trat, 23 km from Yuttanavi Memorial Monument at Ko Chang, Avada Hotel features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a shared lounge and a garden. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and valet parking. The hotel has family rooms.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. At the hotel rooms are equipped with a private bathroom with free toiletries.

Avada Hotel offers a buffet or à la carte breakfast.

Though famous for its crystal clear sea, Trat is also home to a variety of delightful dishes, especially featuring fresh-from-the-water seaFood. Here are five must-try Restaurants in Trat that you simply cannot miss.

1. Yai Saeng Grilled Cuttlefish

This street vendor offers more than what first meets the eye. Granny Saeng’s grilled cuttlefish dipped in red gravy is one of the tastiest snacks in town. Using only freshly caught cuttlefish straight from the Fishing boats, the cuttlefish are put on skewers and dipped in a special Red Sauce before being grilled on a charcoal stove. The gravy drips onto the scorching charcoal, creating fragrant smoke that adds another layer of aroma to the cuttlefish. This vendor only opens on days that fresh cuttlefish are available from 4.00 PM onwards. Warning: they run out really fast!

Address  : 19-33 Soi Sukhumvit, Bang Phra, Amphoe Muang, Trat 23000

Tel. : 084 784 7646

2. Sukhumvit Crab Noodles

Trat’s fruits de mer are super fresh and meaty, making them a common ingredient in some of the province’s best dishes. At Sukhumvit Crab Noodles, the shop’s signature dish, khao pad prik kleua, is fried rice with mantis shrimp meat, shrimp, cuttlefish, and a special seaFood sauce known as nam prik kleua. You cannot miss this dish – it’s so good! Other tasty dishes include the fish dumplings, yentafo noodle soup with Seafood, and seafood tom yum noodles.

Address  : 15 Soi Sukhumvit, Wang Krajae, Amphoe Muang, Trat 23000

Region  : East

Open  : Everyday 8.00 AM -2.30 PM

Tel.  : 0 3951 1972

3. Ba Na’s grilled banana

After a fulfilling meal, we hope you have space left for some sweetness.

Auntie Na’s grilled bananas, located in the old part of Trat, has stood the test of time being open for almost 40 years.
From Sukhumvit Crab Noodles, walk down Lak Muang Road for 20 metres until you find an old shophouse, a charcoal grill, and Auntie Na herself. Bananas hot off the grill are put in a paper bag and drizzled with a sweet sauce that has a slightly salty kick. Apart from grilled bananas, you can also find preserved salacca (snake fruit) and sao ping (a kind of fried dough).

These yummy treats naturally come with a long queue. You might have to wait anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour…or call Auntie Na to check the waiting time at 039-520990!

4. Rim Kheun Tom Yum Noodles

This Restaurant may look simple, but the Food is extraordinary. The tom yum noodles with mantis shrimp come with an extra flavourful, spicy soup, while other signature dishes, like the Seafood rice bowl packed with mantis shrimp meat, shrimp, and crab meat, are also must-tries. (Make sure to add a splash of the shop’s seafood sauce for a bright, bold finish!)

Address  : Reservoir-side Rd., Nong Samed, Amphoe Muang, Trat

Open  : Everyday 06.30 AM - 3.00 PM

Tel.  : 087 133 2945

5. Rimtalay Seafood & Resort

As suggested by its name, rimtalay, this Restaurant is located on the seaside and offers outdoor seating where guests can enjoy the sea breeze (air-conditioned seating is also available). Here, seaFood takes centre stage with a broad array of fresh dishes to choose from, such as steamed crab meat, fried snapper and spicy lemongrass salad, sour soup with fish roe, and much more. Suitable for families or a special occasion with friends, you’ll enjoy a delicious meal paired with spectacular views of the sea.

Address  : 199/9 M.1 Laem Ngop, Amphoe Laem Ngop, Trat 23120

Open  : Everyday 9.30 AM - 10.00 PM

Tel.  : 039-597084, 081-6368137

Get in

By plane

Tiny Trat Airport (TDX) is served only by Bangkok Airways from Bangkok. Alternatively (and much cheaper), a 1st class bus service connects Trat directly with Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

Contact us for the latest flight schedule and price. Or you can check via some online platform such as SkyScanner.com or Kayak.com

Here you can find some tips to book the cheapest flight

By bus

Buses to Trat depart from Bangkok's Eastern (Ekkamai) and Northern (Moh Chit) Bus Terminals (5 hours). From Ekkamai buses run frequently throughout the day with the evening bus schedule less frequent at 17:30, 19:00 and then an overnight bus at 24:00. 1st Class is around ฿240 and the government-run bus has a nice 2nd class (air-con but no toilet) for 188 baht.

If attempting to go to the border with Cambodia and continue onward to Phnom Penh via one of the regular Cambodian bus services the same day, it is advisable to take one of the overnight buses from Bangkok to Trat. The overnight buses will arrive at the Trat bus depot very early in the morning and you can then catch the first morning mini-bus from the Trat bus depot to the border post itself.

The regular Cambodian buses that leave Koh Kong for Phnom Penh depart Koh Kong around 08:00, so in order to catch the bus you do need to be across the border when it first opens in the morning or shortly thereafter. Taking a mid-day bus from Bangkok does ultimately put you into Koh Kong either too late to cross the border (border is not a 24-hour operation) the same day or too late to catch the bus onward to Phnom Penh. In these cases you will have to spend the night in a hotel on the Thai or Cambodian side before moving onward.

To go straight out to the border by minivan costs(~120 baht) to cross over to Koh Kong

Regular connections from Chanthaburi and other provincial capitals are also available from the Trat bus depot.

An aircon bus from Sa Keow will cost B195, and leaves there at regular intervals, taking about 4.5 hours and going via Chantaburi.

We recommend you check the latest bus schedule and price via rome2rio.com

By share-taxi

On the east side of the main market building is the local share-taxi departure area, you can't miss the blue cars and pick-ups. Departures toward most provincial villages leave when the vehicle is full, including those to Haad Lek. Connections from there are available onward to the Cambodian border and Koh Kong.

Get around

The town is sufficiently small to make walking the best mode of transport, although there is little to do besides explore the small streets, (night) market and relax. If needed, a motorbike taxi will take you just about anywhere in town, including to the bus terminal, 30 baht.

There are no Tuktuks here but they have songteows, two bench pickup trucks. These are two sizes in this City - a large 10 seater, which usually does the rounds to outlying districts (but can be hired individually), and smaller ones of six seats which are the defacto tuktuks and are blue in colour (and so are many of the larger ones!). Bargain your price, but they do not appear to be ripoff merchants. To and from the bus station, some distance out of town, will cost you B50/60.