Trat: Islands, Mangroves and Local Discoveries

Trat features long stretches of white sandy beaches and pristine coral reefs, as well as mangrove landscapes and fine black sand. The province includes 52 large and small islands. At Hat Sai Dam, a sand ridge with black sand stretches for more than a kilometre. These varied landscapes offer different focuses for planning your trip: islands and beaches on one hand, mangroves and local discoveries on the other.

Islands and mangroves: varied landscapes

At Hat Sai Dam, you can walk along a nature trail through the mangrove landscape. The trail and the long sand ridge are both part of this place, but offer different ways to experience the landscape: a walk through the mangroves, or time spent on the fine black sand. If you like to include several nature-related themes in your holiday plans, you can find both here, without limiting your experience to a single beach setting.

Mangrove forest also defines the character of Ban Salak Khok: the small fishing village is surrounded by mangroves. There, you can choose a Mad boat ride, also known as the “Koh Chang Gondola”. Another way to explore the mangrove forest is at Ban Na Nai, in the mangrove forest of Ban Salak Phet. A nature trail leads through the forest to the coast. This gives you a choice of different nature experiences: a walk that ends at the coast or a boat ride in Ban Salak Khok.

Local traditions and insights

At the Ban Chang Thun Eco-Museum, you can learn about making an inhalant from local herbs. In Ban Nam Chiao, demonstrations show how Ngop hats are made from palm leaves. These two experiences highlight different local materials and ways of making things: herbs used to make an inhalant in one place, and palm leaves used to make Ngop hats in the other. If you are interested in traditional crafts and production processes as well as landscapes, these stops can add to your choice of experiences.

Another cultural stop is the learning centre in Ban Laem Makham. It has rare photographs of King Rama V’s visits to Trat. The focus here is on the King’s visits to the region, while the Eco-Museum and the demonstrations in Ban Nam Chiao cover other topics. These different places offer distinct ways to get to know Trat through its nature, local production and history.

At Sompoch Orchard, visitors can learn during a tour how farmers grow longans, mangosteens, bananas and sweet Sumalee salak fruits. The focus is on growing a variety of fruits. An adventure activity is also offered at Lan Tabun near Ban Tha Ranae.

Trat as a starting point for your trip

Trat town is the main starting point for trips to the Ko Chang island group. If these trips are part of your plans, you can consider Trat town as a possible base when choosing a holiday rental. To plan the rest of your trip, it helps to decide what you want to focus on: for example, trips to the island group, walks through mangroves or insights into local production and farming. The experiences mentioned are at specific locations, so choose according to the themes that interest you most rather than treating all the offerings as a single stop.

More places in Trat: Huai Raeng, Ko Kut, Ko Chang, Laem Ngop, Koh Chang Tai, Bang Phra, Khlong Yai, Thung Nonsi, Mueang Trat District and Mai Rut.

For the broader travel overview: Thailand.