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Trat : Hotels
- Getting There - Attractions
- Festivals - Local
Product - Trat
Map
 Thailand's
eastern-most province, located about 315 kilometres from Bangkok,
bordering Cambodia with the Khao Banthat mountain range forms a
natural demarcation. Composed of 52 large and small offshore islands,
long white sandy beaches and unspoiled coral reefs, offering delightful
scenery and a tranquil hide-out for nature lovers. Trat also serves
as a major fruit-growing and fishing spots.
Trat is a starting point for Ko Chang island group or forays into
outlying gem and Cambodian markets. Those enthralled by shopping
will be delighted since Trat has bigger market size for its size
than almost any other town in Thailand thanks to Cambodian coastal
trade.
Like Chanthaburi, Trat is a very important ruby-mining province,
with the most famous gem market located in Bo Rai District, some
50 kilometers north of the Cambodian border.
Covering an area of 2,819 square kilometres, Trat is administratively
divided into the districts of Muang, Khao Saming, Laem Ngop, Khlong
Yai and Bo Rai, and the sub-districts of Koh
Chang and Koh Kut.
The weather in and around Trat is very comfortable with warm temperatures
throughout the year. The region is influenced by the northeastern
and southwestern winds, sometimes limiting sea transport to a group
of islands particularly from May to October when the southwest monsoon
blows. During this period the western coast can be wet and stormy
and occasionally unsafe for ferries and smaller boats to lift anchor.
However, visitors can still visit the islands via the other popular
routes to the northeast of Koh Chang.
The history of Trat can be traced back to the reign of King Prasat
Thong of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Formerly known as Muang Thung
Yai, Trat has played an important role in the development of country's
stability and economy due to its strategic location. The town of
Trat has later become a community of Chinese Merchants.
Trat served as a checkpoint and buffer city in 1767 and was responsible
for providing provisions to King Taksin the Great before he moved
his navy from Chanthaburi to Ayutthaya, where he expelled the Burmese
and liberated the Kingdom from Burmese rule.
In the Ratanakosin period, during the reign of King Rama V, Trat
played an important role again in stabilizing the country's sovereignty.
King Rama V made an agreement with the French government (who had
also taken Chanthaburi under its supervision) to get Trat back.
In doing this, Phra Tabong, Siamrat and Sri Sophon were traded off.
During the Indochina War, the French Navy tried to seize Trat again.
The French Thai Battle broke out on 17 January 1941 at Koh Chang.
The Thai Navy successfully drove out the French Navy.
By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 34 (Bang Na-Trat) or Motorway to
Chonburi, then use Highway No. 344 (Ban Bung-Klaeng) Arriving at
Klaeng, turn onto Highway No. 3 and proceed to Trat. The total distance
from Bangkok to Trat is 318 kilometres.
Note: Just approximate difference (not exact measurement)
By Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses depart from
Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) to Trat every hour from
6 a.m. to midnight. From Bangkok the buses to Trat cost 169 baht
for 1st class air-conditioned buses (132 baht for 2nd class) and
197 baht for 24-seat VIP air-conditioned buses or 113 baht for regular
buses. The trip takes five to six hours by air-conditioned bus or
about eight hours by regular bus.
For more information, contact Transport Co. Ltd at Tel: 0-2391
-4164, Choet Chai Tour Tel: 0-2391-2237, Chok Anukun Tour Tel: 0-2392-7680
and Suppharat Tour Tel: 02-3912331.
Several non air-conditioned buses leave daily, starting from 07:00
a.m.-11:00 p.m. Fare is 78 Baht (Tel.02-3912504). Air-conditioned
buses leave every one and a half hours, starting from 07:00 a.m.
till 11:00 p.m.. Fare is 140 Baht (Tel. 02-3914164).
Note: Rate may change without prior notice
From Chanthaburi to Trat, the regular bus takes about 30 minutes.
If one goes by taxi from Chanthaburi to Trat, it takes around 45
minutes.
Car rent in Muang District
Suppharat Opposite to Choet Chai Tour, Sukhumvit Road, Tel:
039-312011, 039-512236
Getting around the city
Sam-lor (3-wheel taxis) moving around the town cost about 10
baht per person for short distnce and more for longer distance.
Small Song-Taews (local bus) cost about 5 baht per person on a share
basis or 20 baht to 40 baht for the whole vehicle.
Note: Rate may change without prior notice
Getting to Islands
Ferries depart either from Ao Thammachat Pier, or Koh
Chang Centre Point Landings between 07:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
with a travel time of 30 minutes. Private vehicles can be loaded
onto the ferry. Please note that vehicles used on the island should
be 4 wheel drive vehicles as road conditions are bumpy and there
are steep slopes to be negotiated. From the landing on Koh Chang
there are Song-Taew services to various points. Fares should be
settled beforehand.
The Koh Chang Yutthanavi Day
The Ko Chang Yutthanavi Day is organized in late January at the
Koh Chang Yutthanavi Memorial on Laem Ngop. The event is to commemorate
the bravery of the Royal Thai Navy's action against the French on
January 17, 1941. Merit-making and tribute rites are performed and
there is exhibition by the Royal Thai Navy.
Trat Fruit Fair
Trat Fruit Fair , usually in late May or early June, features exhibitions
and agricultural produce. There fruit contests, particularly of
sweet Salak (or Rakam)
Trat Memorial Day
Trat Memorial Day , on March 23, marks the day the province returned
to Thai sovereignty after the French occupation. The celebrations
are held at the provincial town hall.
Fruit
Apart from seafood products, Trat is also famous for tropical fruits
such as rambutans, durian, krathon, pineapples and sweet sala. The
fruit season is from April to July.
Typical Hat
The native hat or Ngop is a cottage industry product made by villagers
in the Nam Chieo community which is located on the route to Laem
Ngop district.
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