Trat's ferry connections fan out from a few key piers. Laem Ngop is the main pier for Koh Chang and sits close to town, while Ao Thammachat and Centre Point piers serve Koh Mak and Koh Kood a bit further south. Which pier you need depends on your island, so it is worth confirming the right one before you set off rather than guessing on arrival.
Trat is roughly 315 km (196 miles) southeast of Bangkok, hugging the Gulf of Thailand coast past Chonburi and Chanthaburi. With a private transfer, the drive typically takes around 4.5-5.5 hours depending on traffic, making it a long but very doable day trip when you have a comfortable ride and a driver who knows the route.
Given the distance, an early departure pays off. Most travelers get a solid few hours in Trat town for the old shophouse quarter, market, and Wat Buppharam, with time built in either side for the drive. If a ferry crossing to the islands is part of your plan, factor in extra time at the pier and prioritize which stops matter most to you.
The old quarter is built around a network of century-old wooden shophouses, many still lived in and worked from, giving the town a lived-in, unpolished character you will not find on the islands. Wander the local market for fresh produce and street food, then visit Wat Buppharam, one of the province's oldest temples, for a quiet contrast to the market bustle.
Trat is the mainland gateway to Thailand's island paradise. From its ferry piers you can reach Koh Chang, the country's second-largest island, plus the quieter Koh Mak and Koh Kood. Add in an atmospheric old town of wooden shophouses and you get two very different experiences in one visit: laid-back coastal charm on the mainland, with turquoise island waters just a short ferry ride away.
A journey of this distance is where a private transfer earns its keep. Instead of juggling bus timetables and ferry connections on public transport, you travel door to door on your own schedule, with stops added or skipped as you like along the way. For a day trip built around reaching a specific pier at a specific time, that flexibility and comfort make a real difference.