Located on Thailand's eastern frontier, bordering Cambodia and sandwiched between the Khao Banthat mountain range and the Gulf of Thailand, Trat is home to some of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. It also has a ton of history, having been at the forefront of many territorial conflicts throughout history, waiting for you to explore and learn.
Within this travel guide, you'll find all the information needed to plan a fantastic trip to Trat. We will be exploring the islands of Trat as well as all the cool tourist attractions on the mainland. So, without further ado, here are the 10 best things to do in Trat for solo travelers.
- Trat Things to do Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in Trat?
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10 Best Things to Do in Trat
- Enjoy the Beaches on Koh Kood Island
- Explore Koh Chang Island
- Learn the history at Trat City Museum
- Check Out Trat City Pillar Shrine
- Explore the Ancient Temple of Wat Buppharam
- Visit Ban Nam Chiao Community
- Hike Saphan Hin Waterfall
- Walk the Narrowest Part of Thailand
- Explore the Mangrove Forest at Lan Tabun
- Visit The Farthest Point of the Eastern Land Lighthouse
- More Trat Activities
- Thailand Travel Video
- What to Pack for Trat?
- Further Reading for Eastern Thailand
Trat Things to do Itinerary Map
10 Best Things to Do in Trat
1. Enjoy the Beaches on Koh Kood Island
I've seen many islands in Thailand, but nothing comes close to the beauty of Koh Kood, the southernmost island of the Trat archipelago and the fifth-largest island in Thailand.
Koh Kood, also known as Ko Kut, has some of the clearest water and most pristine white sand beaches I have ever seen. The best part is that it is not crowded at all, despite requiring quite a bit of effort to get to due to how remote the island is.
Ao Phrao Beach, for example, is one of my favorite beaches on the island. It is situated in the southernmost part of the island and is one of the longest and most spacious beaches in Koh Kood, spanning about 1 km along its southwestern coastline.
- BaanRimNam Resort Trat (Budget)
- Trat City Hotel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- J.P.GRAND HOTEL (High-End)
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry (2.5 hours)
- Koh Chang: Full-Day Reefs or Wreck Sites Snorkeling Trip (7 hours)
- Koh Kood or Koh Rang: Snorkeling Day Trip with Buffet Lunch (7 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
Thanks to its remote location and expansive beach, Ao Phrao also doesn't feel as crowded as other beaches on the island. If you are looking for the best beach to stay on Koh Kood island, this is the place to be.
Not only that, but there are also several things you can do on the island, such as going waterfall hopping and jumping into the refreshing pools at Khlong Chao Waterfall and Klong Yai Waterfall, two of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island.
You can also take a break from the beach and rent a kayak to explore the estuaries and mangrove forests of the island. You might be able to spot some wildlife out in nature, such as monkeys, birds, and more.
With the number of things to do on the island, it should keep you occupied for at least 2 days. But trust me, you are going to want to spend more time here. Koh Kood is one of the most beautiful islands in the country, and it would be a shame if you had to rush through it.
To get to Ko Kood, you can take a bus or rent a car and drive straight from Bangkok to get to Laem Sok Ferry Pier in Trat, where you can take the speedboat across to Koh Kood. The drive should take about 4 hours, and the speedboat should take about 1 hour to reach the island.
Where to Stay in Trat?
2. Explore Koh Chang Island
Out of all the 30-something islands off the coast of Trat, Koh Chang is the most accessible and affordable to visit, which makes for a great island getaway if you feel Koh Kood is a little out of your budget range.
While it may not be as beautiful and remote as Koh Kood, Koh Chang has a lot more to offer in terms of options for things to do, places to stay, and transportation, thanks to its size as the third-largest island in Thailand.
Among all the beaches I visited in Koh Chang, Klong Prao Beach is, hands down, one of the best beaches to stay at. The beach is incredibly photogenic, with its stunning view of the mountains to the left, a beautiful coastline to the right, and distant islands hovering over the horizon in the background.
Along the west coast of Koh Chang, you will find plenty of beautiful beaches like Klong Prao Beach. Another awesome beach you should definitely visit is Kai Bae Beach, a beautiful white sand beach located behind a cliff where you can rent a kayak and explore the beautiful coastline of Ko Chang at your leisure.
You should also check out Kai Bae Viewpoint, located right above Kai Bae Beach atop the cliff. There, you will find a stunning observation deck and a cafe with an incredible vantage point over the coastline.
Koh Chang also has some really awesome waterfalls as well. The two most beautiful waterfalls on the island are Khlong Phlu Waterfall, a beautiful cascade with a sizable swimming hole nestled in the heart of a jungle, and Than Mayom Waterfall, a waterfall where many Kings of Thailand have visited and imprinted their initials on.
There is also Ghost Ship Beach, where you will find an abandoned ship right by a remote beach on the southern tip of the island. A fun fact: this "ship" is, in fact, not a ship but an abandoned resort located by a beautiful empty beach that you can pay to access.
With so many things to do on Koh Chang, you're going to want to spend at least 3 days on the island. Getting there is also pretty straightforward, and you can take your own vehicle across on one of the ferries to the island.
To get to Ko Chang, you can take a bus or rent a car and drive straight from Bangkok to Aow Thammachat in Trat, where you can take the ferry across to Koh Chang. The drive should take about 4 hours, and the ferry should take about 20 minutes.
3. Learn the history at Trat City Museum
Thanks to its location on the frontier of Thailand's eastern border, Trat has some of the most interesting history out there, and one of the best places to learn about it is at the Trat City Museum.
Trat City Museum is housed in this beautiful teakwood colonial-style building that was once used as the city's town hall during the reign of King Rama VI in the early 20th century. The museum was established to be a learning resource for the history, culture, and lifestyle of the local people of Trat.
The museum is divided into 6 sections, starting from the prehistoric time with all the excavated artifacts found off the coast of Trat, all the way to the infamous naval battle of Koh Chang. This battle is known for the valiant fight of the Siamese (Thais) against France, as they were at a stalemate while trying to negotiate a pact during the beginning of the Asian frontier in WW2.
The museum dives deep into what makes Trat such an important province to Thailand, and sprinkled in this information are some really cool historical facts that even I, as a Thai, have completely forgotten about.
For example, did you know that there was a sister province of Prachuap Khiri Khan called Prachan Khirikate, located on the opposite side of the Gulf of Thailand, in Koh Kong Island in modern-day Cambodia? I hadn't either!
Apparently, the 2 provinces were supposed to create a defensive line to prevent colonial powers from attacking our coastline back in the day, until the plan was thwarted by the French when they took over Koh Kong and formed its Indochina colony. Man, I love learning about a place through history!
The museum is open from 9 AM to 4 PM every day except Mondays, and the entrance fee is only 30 THB. If you want to learn more about the history of Trat, be sure to check out Trat City Museum.
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4. Check Out Trat City Pillar Shrine
One of the most impressive landmarks in Trat is the Trat City Pillar Shrine, a unique city pillar that takes the shape of a Chinese temple, unlike city pillars found in other provinces around Thailand. Usually, a city pillar looks more or less like a Thai pagoda, but not this one.
The shrine was sanctioned by King Thaksin the Great when he assembled his troops at Trat after the sack of Ayuthaya by the Burmese in the 18th Century in order to begin his plan of reunification of Siam and to restore peace and order, to fight back against the Burmese.
The temple is beautifully decorated with colorful sculptures across its pillars and roof, while inside, it is engulfed in the smell of incense as people come to pay respect to the Buddha images inside.
The city pillar shrine is a symbol of the bond between China and Thailand, and it is a must-visit while you are in Trat. The shrine is open from 5 AM to 9 PM every day, and it is free to enter.
5. Explore the Ancient Temple of Wat Buppharam
Another ancient temple you should visit while you are in Trat is Wat Buppharam, the province's oldest temple built around the Ayutthaya period in the 17th century.
In the temple, you will find many beautiful structures housing all kinds of artifacts, from the old Buddha images of the Ayutthaya era to a museum housing a vast collection of precious objects of antiquity, such as the Lord Buddha's relic, golden Buddha images, and European ceramic wares.
These objects indicate just how influential trading was in the cultural exchanges among the Eastern ports and overseas ports in the Southeast Asian region, reaching as far as the West.
Around the temple grounds, you will also find many small buildings housing Buddha images, as well as numerous unique and beautiful Thai-Chinese style murals with their faded colors and minimalist approach to wall paintings.
The temple is quite big, so be sure to spend some time exploring all the buildings around the temple ground. The place is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day, and there is no entrance fee to enter. Photos are prohibited inside the museum; however, that's just a small part of the temple.
6. Visit Ban Nam Chiao Community
Located not too far from Trat City Center, you will find a small fishing community called Ban Nam Chiao, a riverside community known for its incredible diversity, with Khmer and Malay Muslims, Chinese, and Thais living together harmoniously.
The most popular landmark at Ban Nam Chiao Community is the Wat Jai Bridge or the Bridge to Test Your Willingness, a tall, steep bridge that connects two sides of the river together. As the name suggests, you can test your willingness, or more so, your fear of height, by climbing it. It's not particularly special or scary in my opinion, but people with acrophobia might disagree with me here.
Thanks to the migration of the Muslims in Cambodia in the 19th century, the Chinese traders who settled here, and the Thais who shared their lands, they formed this unique tight-knit community, where you can find a mosque, a Chinese and Thai Buddhist temples, in the vicinity of each other.
If you are looking for a nice place to stroll around and explore in Trat, be sure to drop by Ban Nam Chiao Community and check out the Bridge to Test Your Willingness.
7. Hike Saphan Hin Waterfall
As you drive east towards the Cambodian border, there is a little hidden gem you should definitely not miss. Saphan Hin Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall tucked away in the middle of nowhere, where you can hike to and go for a swim.
From the parking lot, it is about a 5-minute walk to reach the bottom tier and another 15 minutes to reach the top tier. The top tier is spectacular and definitely worth the hike, especially if you are here during the peak of the wet season, around September.
Technically, there is an entrance fee of around 20 THB, but there was no one at the gate when I was there, so you might be able to enter for free. Just watch out for some dogs around that area. They are harmless but can be quite loud. If you are looking for a hidden gem in Trat, Saphan Hin Waterfall is definitely worth the visit.
8. Walk the Narrowest Part of Thailand
Did you know that the Narrowest Part of Thailand is located in Trat? Right near the Thai-Cambodian border, you will find a monument erected to mark the location where the narrowest part of Thailand is.
When you arrive at the parking lot, you will see a mountain with a monument you can climb. Behind that mountain is Cambodia. Once you are at the top, you will be able to see the coastline, which marks the end of Thailand's territory to the south.
Apparently, this gap is only 450 meters wide, and this is as narrow as Thailand can be. Personally, I have always thought that the bottleneck area between Prachuap Khirikan and Chumphon in Southern Thailand (location) is the narrowest, but I forgot to look east.
There isn't a whole lot to do but to take photos of the sign, but hey, it's a bucket list thing you can easily cross off, so why not do it? You can also drive about 8 minutes further and check out the border crossing there. You can find some really interesting Cambodian products down there.
9. Explore the Mangrove Forest at Lan Tabun
As you make your way back from the ferry pier to Koh Kood, it might be worthwhile to stop by Lan Tabun, a mangrove forest located in Ban Tha Ranae Community just southeast of Trat City. Here, you will find a walking path where you can stroll in nature and observe the rich marine life of a mangrove forest along the way.
The elevated walkway is quite extensive, and it may take you 10 to 20 minutes to walk to the lookout tower. However, I would not recommend climbing it as the tower is made of wood and is in very rough shape. Some wooden steps are either broken or completely missing.
That said, it is still a nice place to stroll around as it is quiet, and it has some of the most overgrown mangrove roots I've seen out here. If you are looking to kill some time while you wait for the boat to Koh Kood, be sure to check the place out. It's open 24/7 and free to enter.
10. Visit The Farthest Point of the Eastern Land Lighthouse
Another thing you can cross off your Thailand bucket list is visiting the farthest point of the eastern land located at Laem Ngop Lighthouse.
The lighthouse overlooks the ocean, with Koh Chang in the background. There, you will see a large sign saying that you have arrived at the farthest point of the eastern land, where you can take photos of yourself as proof that you are here.
Personally, I'm not sure why this is considered the farthest point of the eastern land, but hey, the view is nice. There is a seafood restaurant by the pier, and it is considered to be the best spot on the mainland for sunset, so be sure to check it out.
What to Pack for Trat?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Trat, Thailand:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Trat, Thailand in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Eastern Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Eastern Thailand? Here is a collection of articles about Eastern Thailand that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3-Month Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Pattaya City is no longer a sin city it used to be as the city shifts its focus to becoming a more family-friendly destination. Here are the 10 Best Family-Friendly Things to Do in Pattaya City.
- Want to visit Rayong soon? You are going to love this! Here are the 10 Best Things to do in Rayong.
- Chantanburi's old town is the most historic part of the province and is rich in history and plenty of things to do. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Chantaburi's Old Town.
- For the best things to do in Chantaburi, be sure to check out our guide: 13 Best Things to do in Chantaburi.
- For the best island getaway in Eastern Thailand, Koh Chang is still the best with its stunning beauty and affordability. Here are the 12 Best Things to do in Koh Chang.
- If you are looking for the most beautiful island in Thailand, Koh Kood is the place to be. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Koh Kood.
- Planning a trip to Thailand? Here are the 11 Best Places to Visit in Thailand.
- Visiting a country like Thailand, you are going to need a comprehensive packing list to ensure you bring everything you need for your trip. Check out: What to Pack for Thailand - The Essential Packing List.
- Wondering when the best time to visit Thailand is? Here is a complete guide on picking The Best Time to Visit Thailand.
- Want to spend one month backpacking around Thailand? Check out: One Month Itinerary for Thailand.
- Have 2 weeks in Thailand? Check out this itinerary: 2 Weeks Backpacking Thailand Itinerary.
- Have only 10 days in Thailand? This itinerary might be more suited for you: 10-Day Itinerary for Thailand.
- Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
- Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
- If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
- More often than not, your journey in Thailand will begin in Bangkok, and there are a ton of things you shouldn't miss in this city. Here are the 16 Best Things to Do in Bangkok.
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Southern Thailand?
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all of my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all of my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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