Trat - The Town & Province Upstaged By Their Paradise Islands

Trat: The Gateway to Paradise (That You’ll Probably Skip)

So you’re heading to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, or Koh Kood but wait, what’s this "Trat" place you keep driving through? Oh, just the most overlooked province in Eastern Thailand, that’s all. This is where backpackers speed through on their way to islands, where road-trippers stop for a quick coffee, and where absolutely nobody plans to stay. Which is exactly why you should.  

———————

Why Trat? (Because You’re Not a Basic Traveler)

- It’s the last real Thai town before the islands. Once you hit those fancy resorts, prices triple and authenticity disappears.  

- Insanely good fruit: This is durian and mangosteen heaven. Your taste buds will throw a party.  

- Zero crowds: No tour groups, no influencers, just markets, temples, and locals who don’t care that you’re there.  

———————

What to Do (Besides Wondering Why You’re Not on a Beach Yet)

1. Trat Town – The Quirky Pit Stop You Didn’t Know You Needed

- Walking Street (Friday-Sunday): Not like Chiang Mai’s. This one’s 100% local, with grilled squid, weird desserts, and zero souvenir t-shirts.  

- Wat Buppharam: A peaceful temple with a giant golden Buddha who looks mildly disappointed in your life choices.  

- Clock Tower: The unofficial symbol of Trat. It's a tower. It has a clock. Take a photo so you can prove you were here.  

2. Black Sand Beach (Not Your Ordinary Beach)

- Sand So Black, It's Goth: Forget golden tans, this beach rocks black sand (from minerals, not a bad spray tan) that's so unique, it probably listens to The Cure.

- Mangrove Walkway: Rooting for You! Stroll on a wooden path through a dense mangrove forest where the trees are literally putting down roots for your viewing pleasure. Just try not to get too tangled up.

3. Fruit Farms (Because Durian is Life)  

- Take a tour of a durian or mangosteen orchard and eat fruit straight from the tree.  

- Pro Tip: Try durian sticky rice if you’re brave. Mango sticky rice is for sissies.

4. Laem Sok Pier – Where You Catch the Boat to Paradise 

- Not much to do here, but the vibe is "adventure is coming." 

- Grab a coffee and watch backpackers stress about ferry times.  

5. Random Local Markets (The Best Kind)

- Trat Morning Market – Where fishermen, grandmas, and motorbikes collide.  

- Noodle stalls, fresh coconut pancakes, and the best iced coffee you’ve never heard of.

———————

Where to Stay (If You Must)

- Budget (300-600 THB/night) – Basic guesthouses in Trat town. Perfect if you just need a bed before an early ferry.  

- Mid-Range (800-1,500 THB/night) – Cute boutique hotels with actual charm.  

- Splurge (2,000+ THB/night) – Koh Chang’s resorts (because let’s be real, you’re not staying in Trat long).  

———————

How to Get There (It’s Not That Hard, Come On)

- Bus or Minivan from Ekkamai (5 hrs, ~250 THB) – The classic move.  

- Drive (4-5 hrs from Bangkok) – Best for freedom to stop at random fruit stands.  

- Flight to Trat Airport – Exists, but only if you’re fancy (or really bad at long car rides).  

———————

Final Verdict  

Trat is the place you usually skip but shouldn’t. It’s the last taste of real Thailand before the islands suck you into their tourist vortex. Stay a night, eat some durian, and soak up the fact that nobody’s trying to sell you a ping pong show.  

Now go catch that ferry but don’t say we didn’t warn you when you start missing Trat’s weird, wonderful charm.