Trat Attractions and Travel Guide

Attractions

Hat Sai Khao (White Sand Beach)

One of the longest beaches on Ko Chang, this beach provides the most magnificent seascape. The beach, which is 2 kilometers long, is dotted with reasonably priced bungalows and resorts. Embracing the beach to the rear are orchards of coconut trees and forests.

Khlong Son Bay

Rich in coral lines, the bay is located on the western coast of Ko Chang where Klong Son Community is situated.

Namtok Khlong Plu

A large 3-tiered waterfall situated 3 kilometers or a walking distance of approximately 20 minutes away from Khlong Prao Bay that is a rewarding experience.

Tri Petch Waterfall

This single level waterfall is situated 3 kilometers from Salak Petch Community along an orchard of rubber trees.

Hat Khlong Phrao and Laem Chat Chet

Laem Chai Chet is along the sea adjacent to Kai Bae Beach, which is rather steep but offers possibilities for swimming. Standard bungalows with facilities are available. The northernmost area of Klong Phrao Beach is adjacent to Chai Chet Bay and Beach where visitors can take in the beautiful landscape while enjoying the superb relaxation and tranquil retreat.

Kai Bae Beach

This beach is close to Khlong Phrao Beach and is similar to Khlong Phrao in that the beach is steep but safe for swimming with quite a few inexpensively priced bungalows in the area.

Ao Bai Lan

This small bay with its long sandy beach where visitors can enjoy the spectacular view in serene ambience is situated close to Kai Bae beach.

Hat Khlong Kloi

This shady beach with coconut trees located next to Bang Bao Village is a perfect place for relaxation.

Activities in Ko Chang

The main thing to do when in Ko Chang is to relax. Other than that, there are numerous activities for visitors such as fishing, snorkeling and visiting nearby islands. In addition, many resorts rent out kayaks and arrange jungle treks as well as provide all day boat tours to the nearby islands. Moreover, scooters can be rented in most places, which make the island easier to explore independently, however the driver should have some two-wheel experience as the roads have a tendency to fade away to nothing more than tracks.

Furthermore, there are diving schools at all of the 4 largest beaches on the west coast, where tours can be booked or various diving licenses can be obtained and sailing-tours can also be booked in many resorts and travel agencies.

Accommodations on Ko Chang

There are many resorts and bungalows on Ko Chang thus visitors purchasing boat/ferry tickets from any of the piers should inform the staff of the desired beach and resort accommodations reserved to prevent misunderstandings on the destination. Facilities on Ko Chang include mainly bungalow-type accommodations on most beaches which generally rent out bicycles and boats. Budget and high-end accommodations are also available with prices ranging from 100 baht (bungalow) to 6,500 baht for superior/deluxe rooms in boutique hotels and internationally accredited resorts.

Best time to visit Ko Chang and other islands

The season is from October to May as from mid May to mid October most of the resorts are closed, but visitors will still be able to find a few open, as some of the owners actually live there and are open all year round.

Dining delights in Ko Chang

Ko Chang is still virtually an untouched gastronomic paradise as the islanders have made a living fishing in the beautiful blue seas for centuries. There are plenty of seafood restaurants dotted around the island and with the recent addition of a number of resorts, visitors can now enjoy a wide range of local and international cuisines.
As the island only has a single road and most restaurants are located on the road or in resort compounds, they are easy to find. It just takes a little looking around to find a place that suits your fancy. Reservations are not normally required but if you want to dine further up the scale it is best to book in advance.

Getting to Ko Chang

A 5 hours bus trip from the Eastern Bus Terminal will take visitors to the Trat Bus Terminal (departures between 06.00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m.). From there continue by song taew transport to Laem Ngop, which is 17 kilometers from town, or the ferry landings at Ao Thammachat and Ko Chang Centre Point where services are operated all day.

Passenger boats usually leave from Laem Ngop to Ao Sapparot on Ko Chang every hour from 8.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. The trip takes 45 minutes and the fare is 50 baht per person. Visitors can continue to Hat Sai Khao, Hat Khlong Phrao and Hat Kai Bae by local bus which charges 30 baht per person. The schedules and fares are subject to change without notice due to climate condition. For current information, please contact TAT Trat office, Tel: Tel: 0-3959-7255, 0-3959-7259-60 Fax: 0-3959-7255.

Ferry Services

Ferries depart either from Ao Thammachat or Ko Chang Center Point Landings between 7.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. with a traveling time of 30 minutes. Private vehicles can be loaded onto the ferry. Please note that vehicles used on the island should be the 4-wheel drive types as road conditions are bumpy and there are steep slopes to be negotiated. From the landing on Ko Chang are song taew services to various points. Fares should be settled beforehand.

Naval Battle Monument Pier (Krom Luang Pier)

Wooden boats depart every hour from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The passenger fare for a round trip costs approximately 100 baht. Call tel. 039 538 084 for more details.

Center Point Pier

Ferries leave hourly from 6.00 a.m. until 7.00p.m. Call 039 538196 for more information.

Rates for round trip:

4-wheel vehicles, 60 baht/passenger
6-wheel vehicles, 250 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger
10-wheel vehicles, 500 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger

Ao Thammachat Pier

Ferries leave every hour from 6.30 a.m. to 7.15 p.m. Contact 039 528288-9 for more details.

Rates for round trip:

4-wheel vehicle, 60 baht/passenger, no charge for driver
6-wheel vehicle, 500 baht, no charge for driver but 60 baht fee is applied for any passenger
10-wheel vehicle, 1,000 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger

Ko Chang Ferry

Ferries depart every 45 minutes from 6.30 a.m. until 7.15 p.m. For more information call tel. 039 597143.

Rates for round trip:

4-wheel vehicle 150 baht, no charge for driver, but a fee of 60 baht/passenger is applied
6-wheel vehicle, 500 baht, no charge for driver but 60 baht fee is applied for any passenger
10-wheel vehicle, 1,000 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger

For visitors planning to stay at Ko Wai there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Ko Wai at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 120 baht/person/one way.

For visitors planning to stay at Ko Kham there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Ko Kham at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 170 baht/person/one way.

For visitors planning to stay at Ko Mak there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Ko Mak at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 150 baht/person/one way.

Facilities on Ko Chang include mainly bungalow-type accommodations on most beaches and rental services for bicycles and boats.

Several smaller isles south of Ko Chang include Ko Wai, Ko Lao Ya and Ko Kradat. Noted for both deep-water and shallow-water corals are the Ko Kra group and Ko Rang which are to the west of Ko Mak.

Travel to other Islands

Most visitors come to Amphoe Laem Ngob where there are 2 piers namely Laem Ngob and Ko Chang Centre Point, offering daily boat services to islands such as Ko Mak, Ko Wai, and Ko Kham. Tourist spots in Ko Chang and other groups of islands.

Wat Thong Thua
 
Wat Thong Thua, 4 kilometres from town on Sukhumvit Highway, is the site of an ancient Bot which was built over a Khmer-style temple. It also has a large collection of ancient Khmer sculptures such as lintels, sandstone door columns carve in various designs and inscription stone. Nearby is the Mueang Phaniat archaeological site with its remains of laterite base of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats marking the town limit the south. The ancient town is believed to have been dated from the 12th-16the centuries B.E. (Buddhist Era).

Wat Saen Tum
 
This temple is a Dharma-practicing facility amid the cool shade of forests and fruit orchards. To the south of the temple is what is called the Khao To Mo Ancient Site where piles of stone pillars have been discovered. It is believed that they were components of ancient Khmer structures. In addition, a large number of relics such as pottery and ornaments and beads were found at the site.

Wat Saen Tum can be reached by taking the Saen Tung-Bo Rai route. At Km. 18.5, take a left turn to head for Ban Tha Lai, Ban Na Makham and Ban Erem where the temple is situated. The temple is about 38 kilometers from Khao Saming district.

Khao Lan Thai Red Cross Centre

The Khao Lan Thai Red Cross Centre on Trat-Khlong Yai Highway at Km. 48 was formerly a facility to assist Cambodian refugees who fled the fighting in their country into Thailand from 1978 until peace was restored in 1986. After the refugees were repatriated, the centre was closed. Today, the site has been adapted into a tourist facility. Tel: 0 3952 1621.

Ban Hat Lek

Ban Hat Lek is the farthest border village in Trat. It is on Highway No. 318 within Khlong Yai District about 16 kilometers from the district town, or approximately 89 kilometers from the provincial capital. After the conflict ended in Cambodia, it has become a channel for Thai-Cambodia trading. There is an immigration check point at the border. Visitors wishing to enter Cambodia from here have to apply for visa at the Cambodian Embassy in advance. Along Highway No. 318 (Trat-Khlong Yai) are several white clean beaches and other attractions including:

Wat Yotha Nimit

This temple, which is also known as Wat Bot, is located on Tetsaban 4 Road near the city pillar. With fine murals in its former Ubosot, the temple was once used as the site for the government officials' oath of allegiance ceremony during the reign of King Taksin. The rite was shifted to Wat Phai Lom by King Rama V.

Residanggamport Residence

On Lak Muang Road, this is an old 3-story building that was once used as the residence of the French governor when the town was occupied in 1904-1907. Subsequently, from 1928, it became the residence of Trat's governors.

Ko Chang Yutthanawi Memorial

The Ko Chang Yutthanawi Memorial, at Laem Ngop, commemorates the Franco-Thai naval engagement on January 17, 1941. Other attractions at the memorial include the Statue of Prince Chumphon, father of the Thai navy, and a warship-shaped museum displaying old equipment and armaments of the fleet with exhibits on the Ko Chang naval battle.

Ko Wai

This big island, which a part of Ko Chang National Park and is situated next to Ko Laoya, has stone laden beaches. However, Ko Wai is famous for its coral and is also the best place for fishing and swimming. As for accommodations, Ko Wai Pakarung Resort is ready to serve tourists.

Ko Rang
 
This small island at the west of Ko Mak does not have enough flat area suitable for setting up of any resorts and bungalows. However, Ko Rung is well known as the location for its birds nest concessions, sea turtle eggs and bat's dung. The main attractions at the island are the stone knolls and the magnificent deep-sea corals.

Ko Phrao

This island situated in front of Salak Petch Bay has clean and calm seas, and is cool and shady with coconut trees. Travel time from Laem Ngob is two hours. Accommodations are available on the island.

Ko Ngam

This island is situated southeast of Ko Chang and is comprised of twin mountains linked by huge rocks with a huge sand knoll at the middle. The little bay formed by the lines of the mountain stretching into the sea makes the island a splendid and serene site worth visiting. Accommodations are available.

Ko Klum

Like Ko Chang, this is an island of historical significance during the Thai-French Naval Battle in 1941. Attractions on the island include the stone yard landscape and fishing activities.

Ko Chang Noi

Ko Chang Noi and Laem Chang Noi lie to the north of Ko Chang. The sea between Ko Chang Noi and Laem Chang Noi is abundant with corals.

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