We often dream about retiring in Thailand one day and the Trat Islands are always the first place that comes to mind. This archipelago in the eastern Gulf of Thailand is home to around 50 islands with the “Big Three” being Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak. Collectively, they form a tropical, laidback and quirky set of destinations that are absolutely worth visiting.

In fact, Koh Chang was the first Thai island we visited together as a couple. It was a “meet the in-laws” experience with both our families joining us for the trip. Since then, we’ve been back to the Trat Islands several times and they’ve yet to disappoint. We often combine them with Chanthaburi (where Kat’s family lives), and other regions such as Chonburi or Rayong. This part of Thailand has a slightly undiscovered feel to it, which we love.

Trat Islands - Koh Kham — *Koh Kham near Koh Mak*

Trat Islands - Best Time to Visit — *Sunsets in Koh Chang*

How to Get to the Trat Islands from Bangkok

The first thing you need to know about Trat is that the province covers both the islands and a corner of the mainland in the east. Getting there from Bangkok takes 5-6 hours by bus or you can fly to Trat Airport with Bangkok Airways in an hour. It’s a 330 kilometer journey but one that can easily be broken up with a few stopovers. Here are some routes you could consider:

Bangkok → Trat
Bangkok → Chanthaburi → Trat
Bangkok → Pattaya → Koh Samet → Trat

If you’re not flying to Trat, the transport options are either bus or private van/taxi. The boat piers are then 20-30 kilometers away from Trat Town, although most travelers don’t actually pass through the town. You can buy joint tickets for the bus/minivan, ferry/speedboat, and shuttle to your resort at the travel agencies in Bangkok. Or you could book these legs separately depending on your route. Just note there are different piers for each island:

Koh Chang: Ao Thammachat Pier
Koh Kood: Laem Sok Pier
Koh Mak: Laem Sok Pier or Laem Ngop Pier

Trat Islands - Kats Nieces — *Kat catching the ferry to Koh Chang with her niece*

Best Places to Visit in Trat Province

Koh Chang

Koh Chang is the largest of the Trat Islands, known for its rugged jungle hills. In our opinion, it’s the best of the “Big Three” for scooter rides. You can head up the steep, winding roads of the west coast to find your next beach or cruise along the east coast to discover a more local atmosphere. While the beaches on average aren’t as impressive as Koh Kood, they’re still not to be scoffed at. We particularly enjoy Klong Prao Beach and Klong Kloi Beach. From Koh Chang, it’s easy to hop on a boat to Koh Mak or Koh Wai.

Trat Islands - Best Places to Visit — *Klong Kloi Beach, Koh Chang*

Trat Islands - East Coast of Koh Chang — *East coast of Koh Chang*

Koh Kood

No trip to the Trat Islands is complete without spending a few days in Koh Kood: our favorite island in all of Thailand. This is where we come when we want to get off the grid and soak up a tropical vibe. There’s a seemingly neverending supply of palm trees on Koh Kood which instantly puts us in a relaxed mood. And the beaches, like Bang Bao Beach, are spectacular.

Koh Mak

Koh Mak isn’t your typical island paradise but it makes up for its lack of pristine beaches with an eccentric character. You might enjoy riding a golf cart to your accommodation, finding cake and Thai tea at little roadside cafes, partaking in a Muay Thai lesson at Elite Fight Club, and watching the sunset from the rustic wooden pier at Blue Pearl Bar. The water around Koh Mak is incredibly calm, providing you with a sense of serenity - especially when viewed from boutique resorts such as Little Moon Villa.

Trat Islands - Where to Stay — *Little Moon Villa, Koh Mak*

Koh Kham

Koh Kham is a privately owned island just off the coast of Koh Mak, only accessible on a day trip. This tiny islet is home to the abandoned resort of Ananya Hideaway - something that resembles an intentional piece of art rather than an unfinished construction project. Beyond that, the beaches here are what actually makes your visit worthwhile: blindingly white sand, palm trees, and black volcanic rock formations scattered throughout the water.

Koh Wai

The ultimate castaway experience can be found on Koh Wai, situated halfway between Koh Chang and Koh Mak. This is the only Trat island where you can stay overnight and have beautiful beaches all to yourself. But it comes with a warning. Most of the bungalows and beach huts are fitted with fans, rather than air-conditioning. If you’re happy to “slum it”, you’ll have a wonderful time. Otherwise, you could visit on a day trip.

Hidden Islands of Mu Ko Chang National Park

All great archipelagos have hidden islands waiting to be explored, and this is definitely the case with Mu Ko Chang National Park. Day trips to the marine park are best organized from Koh Chang or Koh Kood, where you can go snorkeling at spots like Koh Rang or discover immaculate beaches at islands like Koh Lao Ya. If in doubt, visit Sol Beach Club on Koh Chang and book one of their private boat trips. As they say: “We know the secret spots”.

Trat Islands - Private Boat Trips — *Private boat trips advertised by Sol Beach Club*

Trat Islands - Mu Ko Chang National Park — *Signs to islands in Mu Ko Chang National Park*

Trat Town or Chanthaburi

Breaking up your trip by stopping over in Chanthaburi* or Trat Town makes total sense. Chanthaburi is our personal favorite due to the amount of time we’ve spent there with Kat’s family. It’s a reasonably large city with all the creature comforts you need, from shopping malls to heritage hotels on the Chanthaboon Waterfront. The vibe is very local and the food is sublime, worth visiting for that facet alone. Trat Town, on the other hand, is a smaller city filled with its own charm: lovely canals, street art and local markets.

*Note: Chanthaburi isn’t in Trat province but it’s on the way from Bangkok.

Which of the Trat Islands Should You Visit?

Koh Chang vs Koh Kood

Ideally, you’d visit both on the same trip. But if you’re pressed for time, you might be forced into making a difficult decision. Here’s how they stack up. For starters, the resorts are cheaper on Koh Chang and there’s way more accommodation in general. This island also has more restaurants, activities, fire shows and nightlife options. Koh Chang offers distinct tourist hubs (Lonely Beach and White Sand Beach) that have a real buzz about them.

Contrast that with Koh Kood where life largely revolves around the resorts, outside of one small strip of shops by Klong Chao Beach. It’s a lot less developed than Koh Chang and has a noticeably slower pace. If lounging by the beach all day sounds like your cup of tea, choose Koh Kood. For a bit of adventure thrown in with your beach hopping, go with Koh Chang.

Trat Islands - Fire Shows in Koh Chang — *Fire shows in Koh Chang*

Koh Kood vs Koh Mak

Koh Mak makes for a cool one-off trip but we’re not sure we’d visit again to be honest, as much as we enjoyed its little quirks. Whereas Koh Kood is a place we plan on returning to for the foreseeable future. You just can’t beat its tropical beauty. Even the fact that Koh Kood has waterfalls - such as Khlong Chao Waterfall - while Koh Mak doesn’t, adds to its appeal.

FAQs for Visiting the Trat Islands

What’s the best time to visit?

The biggest downside of the Trat Islands is just how much rain they receive in the monsoon season (May to October), and so we don’t recommend coming during this period. The best months to visit are November and December, at the end of the wet season, when the hills of Koh Chang are at their greenest and the waterfalls of Koh Kood are at their fullest. However, the dry season continues into April, with plenty of sunshine.

Are the Trat Islands expensive?

Trat can work as both a budget or luxury trip, depending on which islands and accommodation you prefer. Koh Chang offers a huge selection of cheap hostels and mid-range resorts, while Koh Kood is where you’ll find a higher density of expensive resorts. One way to save money for Koh Kood is to book your accommodation months in advance, ensuring you don’t get hit with the “surge pricing” that occurs with the limited availability of peak season. Koh Mak sits in the middle and is generally great value for money.

Trat Islands - Koh Kood Hotels — *Resorts of Koh Kood*

How many days do you need in the Trat Islands?

Since the journey from Bangkok takes a fair bit of effort, you’ll want to spend at least 4 or 5 days in the Trat Islands to make it worthwhile. Your days could be split between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, or focused on one of these two islands. Alternatively, you could set aside 7-10 days for the Trat Islands and use this region as the beach portion of your 2 week Thailand itinerary. That will give you plenty of time to explore Koh Kham, stay on Koh Wai for a night or two, and venture deeper into the marine park.

Final Thoughts

The Trat Islands are special to us for many reasons - from the holidays we’ve taken with Kat’s nieces, to the simple pleasures of riding scooters through palm trees and watching sunsets. And it’s not just the islands that we love. It’s the stopover in Chanthaburi along the way where we explore the dimly lit streets of the riverfront or try local delicacies like Massaman Durian Curry. Bangkok → Chanthaburi → Koh Kood is the route we’d take our friends on to show them the best of eastern Thailand. It never fails.

Trat Islands - How to Get There — *Riding scooters in Koh Mak*

How to Visit the Trat Islands: Koh Chang, Koh Kood & Beyond

How to Get to the Trat Islands from Bangkok