General Information
Trat is Thailand's eastern-most
province, located about 315 kilometers from Bangkok. This small
province borders on Cambodia with the Khao Banthat mountain range
forming a natural demarcation. With 52 large and small offshore
islands, long white sandy beaches and unspoiled coral reefs, Trat
offers delightful scenery and a tranquil hideout for nature-lovers.
The province also serves as a major fruit-growing and fishing
area.
The city of 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 as Trat has more
markets for its size than almost any other town in Thailand due 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.
With an area of 2,819 square kilometers,
the province is administratively divided into the districts of
Meuang, Khao Saming, Laem Ngop, Khlong Yai and Bo Rai, and the
sub-districts of Ko Chang and Ko 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,
which sometimes limit 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 normally more
popular routes, most of which are to the northeast of Ko Chang,
anyway.
The Past
The history of Trat can
be traced back to the reign of King Prasat Thong of the Kingdom of
Ayutthaya. Formerly known as “Mueang 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 Ko Chang. The Thai Navy successfully
drove out the French Navy
How to get there
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
kilometers.
By Bus
Both air-conditioned and non
air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal
(Ekamai) 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:
0-2391-2331.
Several non air-conditioned buses leave daily,
starting from 07.00a.m.-11.00p.m. Fare is 78B (Tel.02 391-2504).
Air-conditioned buses leave every 1.30 hours, starting from
07.00a.m.-11.00p.m.. Fare is 140B (Tel. 02 391-4164).
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.
Travelling around
Trat
Car rent in Muang District
Suppharat
Opposite to Choet Chai Tour, Sukhumvit Road, Tel: 0-3931-2011,
0-3951-2236
Getting around the
city
Sam lors around town should
cost about 10 bahts per person. Small song taews cost about 5 bahts
per person on a share basis or 20 bahts to 40 bahts for the whole
vehicle.
Getting to
Islands
Ferries depart either from
Ao Thammachat Pier, or Ko 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 Ko
Chang there are song taew services to various points. Fares should
be settled beforehand.
Festivals
The Ko
Chang Yutthanavi Day
The Ko Chang Yutthanavi Day is organized
in late January at the Ko 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 Memorail
Day
Trat Memorail 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.
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