Trat

Trat (ตราด) is the capital of Trat Province, Eastern Thailand. Trat town is the main centre for road travellers to the eastern islands of Thailand including Ko Chang, Ko Mak, and Ko Kood.

Understand
Trat is on the Cambodian border in southeastern Thailand. Some travellers will use Trat as an access point to Ko Chang, but most will use buses or vans that will deliver them directly to Ko Chang, bypassing Trat. Trat, formerly a vibrant traveller scene when all transport passed through town, has sunk into the doldrums according to most residents.

Trat is at the southeast end of Sukhumvit Road, which connects it with Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, and Bangkok.

There is regular bus service, taking 5–6 hours, to Bangkok's Ekamai Station for downtown Bangkok and Bangkok Mo Chit for other destinations in Thailand. Many tourists stop over in Trat before going to the islands from Laem Ngop or Leam Sok (15–20 km from Trat. There are ferry and speedboat services to the eastern islands, Ko Chang and Ko Kood.

Trat is a transit point for people travelling to Cambodia, as it is a 90-km minibus ride to the border at Hat Lek. After crossing the border there is a short journey to Koh Kong and bus service to Sihanoukville.

By plane
Alternatively, and much cheaper, is a 1st class bus service that connects Trat directly with Suvarnabhumi Airport.

By bus
Buses to Trat depart from Bangkok's Eastern (Ekamai) and Northern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminals (5 hours). From Ekamai buses run frequently throughout the day 06:00-23:30 with an overnight bus at 23:30 (as of October 2016). First class is 252 baht (June 2019) and the government-run bus has a nice 2nd class (air-con, but no toilet) for 188 baht. These buses are slow (they stop at every station en route), and the journey can take up to eight hours. Consider taking a minivan for a faster transit time.

If attempting to go to the border with Cambodia and continue on 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. 120-150 baht. Takes one and half hours. hourly 05:00-18:00.

There are also 5 buses daily from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport for 248 baht. The journey takes about 5 hours.

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 need to be across the border when it first opens in the morning or shortly thereafter. Taking a mid-day bus from Bangkok puts you into Koh Kong either too late to cross the border (not a 24-hr operation) the same day or too late to catch the bus to Phnom Penh. In these cases you will have to spend a night in a hotel on the Thai or Cambodian side before moving onward.

To go straight to or from the border by minivan from the Trat bus station to cross over to Koh Kong costs 120 baht. Regular bus connections from Chanthaburi, 70 baht, and other provincial capitals are also available from the Trat bus depot.

By share-taxi
On the east side of the main market building is the local songthaew 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 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 backstreets and relax. If needed, a motorbike taxi to just about anywhere in town, including to bus terminal, is 20 baht.

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Festivals




Do
Trat can be a starting point for a motorcycle trip to Ko Chang. Rentals of Honda and Yamaha motorbikes, in good condition, can be hired at the shop on Sukhumvit south of the market area (~200 baht per day). Drive south along Sukhumvit for about 45 minutes, and follow signs for the ferry quay. Be sure to top up with petrol before taking the ferry, as fuel prices on the island are rather high. Also, caution is required when driving on the island as the roads, although in excellent condition, are very steep and winding. Furthermore, if taking your motorbike on the ferry you have no choice but to immediately go over the most dangerous hill, since it lies between the ferry piers and all the beaches. Carrying maps of Ko Chang and Trat province is advisable, as the routes are not always clear.

Cycle around the scenic lake which is just a few minutes cycle away from Trat town centre. It's about 10 km around the lake and is scenic the whole way around. There are a few places to eat and drink as well. Hire a bicycle from Tattoo Guesthouse opposite Pop Guesthouse for 50 baht for all day. Use the bike to go shopping at the huge Tesco Lotus supermarket on the edge of town. It has an excellent pharmacy.

Have a 2 hour kick boxing lesson in the ring, at Tattoo Guesthouse.

Buy

 * Resident expats have set up a few used bookshops which provide English and German books at fair prices. They can be found in the small streets south of the central market.


 * Rubies (พลอยแดง) - Trat is renowned for its precious red gemstone known as the "Siamese ruby". As gemstones in the province are depleted, the Siamese ruby is now becoming rare. Remember, if you're offered a deal that's too good to be true, you're probably being scammed.


 * Ngop Nam Chiao (งอบน้ำเชี่ยว) is a folk-style hand-made palm leaf hat identified with the Nam Chiao community. The hat is made into a distinct shape looking like an overturned frying pan or soldier's hat in former times.


 * Rakam Wan (ระกำหวาน) is a sweet variety of salacca, the most famous of the province's vast array of fruit produce.


 * Trat Si Thong pineapple (สับปะรดตราดสีทอง) is a sweet and crispy variety of Trat's juicy pineapple with yellowish skin.


 * Namman Lueang (yellow oil) (น้ำมันเหลือง) is a herbal rubbing oil made since ancient times. The aromatic oil is claimed to relieve muscular pain, stiffness, dizziness, congested nose and cold symptoms

Eat

 * Across from the KFC in central Trat, and very close to the main bus terminal, there is a large indoor market with plenty of restaurants.
 * A lively night market gets underway around 18:00 just north of the main market. Just north of that is a smaller market open all day offering snacks and local produce.

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Go next

 * Most people head straight from Trat to Ko Chang, Ko Kood, Ko Mak, Ko Wai or continue to Hat Lek for a visa run to Cambodia