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🗺️ Trat Itinerary

Trat 1-Day Itinerary
Old Town & Laem Ngop, or Koh Chang in a Day

One day in Trat is plenty for a good time — the only question is which kind of day you want. Go old town and Laem Ngop for slow walks, seafood and a stop at the Ban Nam Chiao community, or do a Koh Chang day trip there and back for a waterfall and White Sand Beach. We've laid out both routes with real timings, ferry schedules and spots that are open, so just pick the one that fits your style.

🏘️ Old town + Laem Ngop🏝️ Koh Chang in a day⏱️ Real timings + ferry schedule
Trat 1-Day Itinerary Old Town & Laem Ngop, or Koh Chang in a Day

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Trat is the kind of province most people pass straight through on their way to catch a ferry to the islands, forgetting that the town itself and the Laem Ngop coast make an easy full day on their own. If you've got one whole day, we'd pick one of these two routes rather than trying to cram both in — Koh Chang eats up a lot of travel time. Both plans start and end in Trat town, so they work well if you're staying in the city or driving yourself.

Route A: Trat old town + Ban Nam Chiao + Laem Ngop

This one suits anyone who likes to walk slowly, eat well and see how people in Trat actually live. It's about 17 km from town out to Laem Ngop, an easy drive or motorbike ride away, and the whole day barely needs a clock.

Morning

Wake up with Trat old town

08:00
Start the day with breakfast in townYen ta fo and wonton noodles are what Trat is known for. A well-known spot like Kiao Nong Bua serves a punchy seafood noodle soup, roughly THB 50–100.
09:00
Stroll the old riverside neighborhood along Khlong Bang PhraOld wooden houses, little coffee shops and a temple all sit close together — easy, enjoyable photos, and the morning air is still cool.
10:30
Drive out toward Laem NgopAbout 17 km, roughly a 25–30 min drive on a smooth, easy road.
Midday

Ban Nam Chiao community

11:00
Visit the Ban Nam Chiao communityA three-culture community — Thai, Chinese and Muslim — with Wat Nam Chiao and the Al-Kub Roh Mosque close to each other. Try the freshly made khao kriap ya na (steamed rice-paper rolls) and watch the ngop hats being woven.
11:45
Take a boat through the mangroves and out to the river mouthThe community runs boat trips through the mangrove ecosystem. Ask about times and prices at the community center by the entrance — boats are chartered per group.
12:30
Lunch on local home cooking in the communityShops and homestays here cook fresh seafood at local prices. You'll find dishes like pu ja (stuffed crab) and cha kram leaf salad around here.
Afternoon

Laem Ngop naval battle memorial

14:00
Stop at the memorial to the naval battle of Koh ChangThe Krom Luang Chumphon memorial sits by the sea at Laem Ngop, with a small warship museum and wide-open sea views — a good photo spot before sunset.
15:30
Sit at a seaside cafe in Laem NgopAround the pier there are cafes and coffee shops with sea views where you can rest, sipping coffee while the ferries come and go.
17:00
Head back to town for a seafood dinnerOn the way back, stop by a market or a seafood restaurant in town. Fish, prawns and blue swimming crab are fresh and well-priced here, close to where they're caught.

Route A tips

The Ban Nam Chiao community is livelier on weekends than on weekdays. If you want the mangrove boat trip, call the community center ahead to check departure times — on some days the boat only goes out once a group has gathered.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Trat trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in TratHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Trat attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from TratOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Trat activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Trat tours & activities (Klook)

Route B: Koh Chang day trip, there and back

If you came to Trat specifically for the sea, a single day on Koh Chang is enough to catch the highlights — just leave early and keep a close eye on the return ferry. This route works best if you have your own car, since flagging down a songthaew on the island is harder.

The ferries to Koh Chang leave from two main piers on the Laem Ngop side: Ao Thammachat (about a 30-minute crossing) and Centre Point (about 45 minutes). The first boat from Ao Thammachat runs around 06:30 and the last around 18:30. Foot passengers pay roughly THB 80–100 per person, and a car including the driver runs about THB 120–200. Fares and schedules shift with the season, so check the latest before you go every time.

Morning

Cross over to the island

07:30
Reach Ao Thammachat pier and board the ferryLeave early to beat the heat and get a full day on the island. You can drive your car onto the boat if you brought one.
08:30
Land on the island and head for Khlong Phlu WaterfallThe island's most famous waterfall, on the west coast, is about a 600 m walk in from the car park, with water you can swim in most of the year.
10:00
Swim and soak in the clear pools at the waterfallThere's a national park entry fee. Bring non-slip shoes and a change of clothes. It's still quiet in the morning.
Midday

White Sand Beach

12:00
Lunch at a restaurant along White Sand BeachThe island's most popular beach, about 2 km long, is lined with restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood at island prices — you can order it by weight.
13:30
Swim in the sea and laze on the sandFine sand and clear water, perfect for relaxing in the shade. You can rent a deck chair at the beachfront spots.
15:00
Snorkel over the reef near the beach, or take a cafe breakIf you'd rather stay out of the sun, the cafes along nearby Klong Prao Beach are a nice spot to sit.
Late afternoon–evening

A viewpoint, then the ferry back

16:00
Stop at a viewpoint before heading backThere's a nature trail at the south end of the island with views over white sand and mangroves — about a 500 m walk.
17:00
Make your way back to the pier on the island sideAllow extra time to get around the island — the roads are winding and slow. Don't take the last ferry for granted.
17:45
Board the ferry back to Laem NgopDon't bank on the very last boat in case it fills up or the queue is long. You'll be back in Trat town in plenty of time for an easy dinner.

Route B tips

A Koh Chang day trip is best value with your own car, since the beach and the waterfall are in different spots and public transport on the island is limited. If you don't have a car, it's better to park yourself at White Sand Beach alone and use a resort shuttle or grab a ride near the beach.

Which route should you pick?

Old town & Laem Ngop

Pick A if...

You like slow walks, local food and seeing how people live, don't want to lose time on a ferry, and want a relaxed day without watching the clock too closely.

Koh Chang in a day

Pick B if...

You're here for the sea, want to see Koh Chang's waterfall and beach, have your own car, and don't mind an early start and keeping to the ferry times.

  • Budget — Route A is cheaper since there's no island ferry; Route B adds the round-trip ferry plus the waterfall national park entry fee
  • Travel time — Route A stays within reach of town, while Route B means allowing time for two ferry crossings
  • Who it suits — Route A is great with older relatives or anyone after an easy day; Route B suits friends or families who want to get in the water

Thinking of staying a night in Trat? Check out well-located places to stay before you book.

See the Top 10 Trat Hotels →

FAQ

For one day in Trat, should you choose the old town or Koh Chang?

It depends on your style. If you like easy walks, local food and seeing daily life, and don't want to lose time on a ferry, go for the old town–Laem Ngop route. But if you're here for the sea and want the waterfall and beaches, and you have your own car, a Koh Chang day trip there and back is worth it. We don't recommend trying to squeeze both into one day.

Is a Koh Chang day trip doable?

Yes, if you leave early. The first ferry from Ao Thammachat pier runs around 06:30 and the last around 18:30, with a crossing of about 30 minutes. If you're on the island before 9 a.m., you'll have time for both Khlong Phlu Waterfall and White Sand Beach — just keep a close eye on the return ferry.

How much is the ferry to Koh Chang?

Foot passengers pay roughly THB 80–100 per person, and a car including the driver runs about THB 120–200. Fares and schedules change with the season, so check the latest timetable for Ao Thammachat or Centre Point pier before you travel.

What is there to do at Ban Nam Chiao?

It's a three-culture community — Thai, Chinese and Muslim — with Wat Nam Chiao and the Al-Kub Roh Mosque close to each other. The standout activities are a mangrove boat trip, tasting khao kriap ya na (steamed rice-paper rolls), and watching the ngop hats being woven. You can visit on a day trip or stay over at a homestay.

Can you do a one-day Trat trip without your own car?

You can, but it's more limited. For the old town–Laem Ngop route, renting a motorbike or chartering a songthaew is convenient. For Koh Chang, if you don't have a car it's best to base yourself at White Sand Beach alone and use a resort shuttle or grab a ride near the beach.

Related

🗺️ Trat Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Trat Hotels🏝️ Koh Chang Travel Guide

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