The city and the province of Trat are known as the gateway to the 52 islands of Mu Koh Chang National Park, which is reason enough to visit this city. If you add to this the fact that Trat has its attractions and is close to the border with Cambodia, you will understand why so many people travel from Bangkok to Trat.
From Bangkok to Trat: what are the options?
Head to the south coast along the western end of the Gulf of Thailand and after 200 miles (320 kilometers) you will reach Trat. Situated at the mouth of the Trat River a few kilometers from Cambodia, the city is well connected to Bangkok with several daily flights and numerous vans and taxis that serve this route. Read on to find out how, when and at what cost you can travel from Bangkok to Trat.
Bangkok to Trat flights
A Bangkok Airways plane landing at Trat Airport. © Commenton / Shutterstock.com
Since there is quite a distance from Bangkok to Trat, flying is the easiest and quickest option to get there. Trat Airport is one of many in Thailand that was built and operated by Bangkok Airways, so it is the only airline offering flights between the two cities. The bad thing is that since there is no competition between airlines, tickets are priced high. If you can, book ahead to get better deals and not spend an exorbitant amount.
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Trat three times a day at well-scheduled times throughout the day: once in the early morning, once in the afternoon and once in the afternoon. All flights depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The scheduled flight time is one hour, although it is usually a bit faster.
Upon arrival at Trat Airport, you have two options. Many travelers come to Trat to continue their journey to the beautiful islands off the coast. There are shared minibuses that will take you to the ferry dock or directly to the town of Trat. It is a journey of about half an hour and needs to be booked in advance as there are usually no taxis at the airport.
From Bangkok to Trat by minibus or van
Bangkok East Bus Station, a 2-minute walk from BTS Ekkamai Station. © Narin Nonthamand / Shutterstock.com
Traveling from Bangkok to Trat by minibus or van is the cheapest option, with most travelers opting for such an affordable price. Traveling by van is very flexible as there are so many departures from Bangkok every day that it is easy to find a tour that suits what you are looking for. Before you buy a bus ticket, think about your destination. Going to Trat to see the city and the surrounding area? Or are you going to Trat because it is the starting point for Mo Koh National Park and its fantastic islands? We tell you this because you can usually buy a combo ticket that includes the ferry crossing from Trat, or if you prefer you can take a van that will take you to the port to continue your journey on your own.
There are two departure points to choose from in Bangkok: Ekkamai or Morchit. Minibuses from both places cost almost the same, so you won’t save by choosing one or the other. Your choice should be based on where you are in Bangkok and which station is easiest for you to get to.
Ekkamai is the eastern station of Bangkok, so if you depart from here, you will start your journey from a point closer to Trat, and the journey will be a little faster. From here to Trat Bus Station, the journey takes approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes, or 5 hours if you continue to Thammachat Port in Trat.
From the Morchit terminal you have the same options: travel to Trat bus station or further to the port. Depending on traffic, a trip from Morchit can add up to an hour to the total trip. Triple T is the company that offers these routes from Bangkok to Trat, and there are many daily. However, please note that the last van leaving Morchit leaves at noon and vans leave Ekkamai by 6:00 PM.
From Bangkok to Trat by Taxi
The last option to get from Bangkok to Trat is a private taxi operated by Glassflower. With this option, you’ll have a whole van at your disposal, and the price is similar to the price of a flight with Bangkok Airways. The advantage of a private van is that it can carry up to 9 passengers, so if you are traveling in a group with friends or family, it can be quite an affordable option to get from Bangkok to Trat. In addition, he is very flexible as he can pick you up from your hotel in Bangkok and drop you off at your hotel in Trat, which saves you the time and hassle of getting to the bus station.
If you’re traveling with a group of friends or family, private taxis can be a great way to get from Bangkok to Trat, but if you’re on a tight budget and traveling alone or as a couple, public vans are the cheapest way to do it.