Day 4, 8 November - Haad Chao Lao
Ban Tha Ranae Trat Community....... Today we need to try and get up early and reach Ban Tha Ranae Trat Community, Nong Khan Song where we were yesterday. We check out of Paradiso at around 9.30am after three nights. It's a credit to the resort that we've stayed so long but we had no other aiming point. Trat being a popular jumping off point for Koh Chang is rather expensive for accommodation and we wouldn't have achieved better without paying more. Now let's take that trip through the mangrove forest.
Lantabun....... At Ban Tha Ranae the boat is ready. It's a quiet time of year and there would be no way of sharing a boat, so we have it to ourselves. I can spend a good deal of time making videos and taking photos. The highlight of the trip is a visit to Lantabun. Here views of the twisted mangrove roots are the most spectacular. Right now, the lower tide has exposed them for now and we get out of the boat for a photo shoot. Thailand has many areas of mangrove forest, but Trat has one of the densest. I can confirm that this is one of the best excursions into the mangrove I've had and likely to be the highlight of this Trat tour. It's all over too soon though and we head down the Leam Sok Peninsula first arriving at a temple.
Wat Ao Yai....... Wat Ao Yai was built in the reign of King Rama III. The only surviving building from that period appears to be small ubosot (ordination hall). We head further towards Leam Ngop and get some excellent views of Koh Chang at another temple.
Wat Ao Cho....... Wat Ao Cho has no long history but is located in a shaded arboretum in an area populated with durian trees. After the usual photo record, we head to the furthest point on this trip.
Leam Sok....... Leam Sok is the most convenient location to head for the islands of Kok Mak and Koh Kood. The Koh Kood Express speedboat service departs from here. There are parking lots and free transport to the pier. Others arrive by local transport from Trat. It's some distance to the end of the pier but we can drive to the end where there is a waiting area for speedboat departures. While we are there, we see the transport arrive and when the complete passenger compliment is assembled, embarkation proceeds and without further ado the speedboat heads off into the distance.
Khlung Seafood....... Right now the weather is ideal, not too hot but cloud and some rain is expected later. As the tourists head into the distance, it's time for us to leave Trat for a yet unknown destination. Before 1.00pm we cross into Khlung District of Chanthaburi and look for some seafood and an area we know from a previous visit.
We arrive at a jetty where you can take a boat to a restaurant in the Welu Estuary and try the local delicacy Boo Nim (soft bellied crab). We had in mind to repeat that experience but instead we end up in another seafood restaurant nearby. There's time still to look around this area too and we check out Plai Chan Pier, another community where you can explore the mangrove. Now, well into afternoon we must decide where we intend to stay tonight and Katoon suggests Chao Lao Beach even though we've been there before. This is just an hour away.
Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Coastal Highway....... We head to the coast and along the magnificent Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Coastal Highway. This funnels you through an area of outstanding beauty but all we can do is enjoy it. On this cloudy day we don't stop, only reflect that we seem to have explored the whole length of it before.
Haad Chao Lao....... When we arrive at Chao Lao there is one obvious drawback for those looking for modern resorts. Chao Lao is not as popular as it used to be and there has been little new development. There is little in the way of apartment buildings, most of the accommodation being rather dated resorts. It soon becomes clear that we are struggling to find more comfortable accommodation without paying over budget. Finally, we secure a room for 600 baht at Thongsuwan Resort, but I've had to compromise. The rooms were not designed for modern day appliances such as my laptop, but I will cope. There is one advantage in that the market and shops are not that far away.
Next Page.
Ban Tha Ranae Trat Community....... Today we need to try and get up early and reach Ban Tha Ranae Trat Community, Nong Khan Song where we were yesterday. We check out of Paradiso at around 9.30am after three nights. It's a credit to the resort that we've stayed so long but we had no other aiming point. Trat being a popular jumping off point for Koh Chang is rather expensive for accommodation and we wouldn't have achieved better without paying more. Now let's take that trip through the mangrove forest.
Lantabun....... At Ban Tha Ranae the boat is ready. It's a quiet time of year and there would be no way of sharing a boat, so we have it to ourselves. I can spend a good deal of time making videos and taking photos. The highlight of the trip is a visit to Lantabun. Here views of the twisted mangrove roots are the most spectacular. Right now, the lower tide has exposed them for now and we get out of the boat for a photo shoot. Thailand has many areas of mangrove forest, but Trat has one of the densest. I can confirm that this is one of the best excursions into the mangrove I've had and likely to be the highlight of this Trat tour. It's all over too soon though and we head down the Leam Sok Peninsula first arriving at a temple.
Wat Ao Yai....... Wat Ao Yai was built in the reign of King Rama III. The only surviving building from that period appears to be small ubosot (ordination hall). We head further towards Leam Ngop and get some excellent views of Koh Chang at another temple.
Wat Ao Cho....... Wat Ao Cho has no long history but is located in a shaded arboretum in an area populated with durian trees. After the usual photo record, we head to the furthest point on this trip.
Leam Sok....... Leam Sok is the most convenient location to head for the islands of Kok Mak and Koh Kood. The Koh Kood Express speedboat service departs from here. There are parking lots and free transport to the pier. Others arrive by local transport from Trat. It's some distance to the end of the pier but we can drive to the end where there is a waiting area for speedboat departures. While we are there, we see the transport arrive and when the complete passenger compliment is assembled, embarkation proceeds and without further ado the speedboat heads off into the distance.
Khlung Seafood....... Right now the weather is ideal, not too hot but cloud and some rain is expected later. As the tourists head into the distance, it's time for us to leave Trat for a yet unknown destination. Before 1.00pm we cross into Khlung District of Chanthaburi and look for some seafood and an area we know from a previous visit.
We arrive at a jetty where you can take a boat to a restaurant in the Welu Estuary and try the local delicacy Boo Nim (soft bellied crab). We had in mind to repeat that experience but instead we end up in another seafood restaurant nearby. There's time still to look around this area too and we check out Plai Chan Pier, another community where you can explore the mangrove. Now, well into afternoon we must decide where we intend to stay tonight and Katoon suggests Chao Lao Beach even though we've been there before. This is just an hour away.
Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Coastal Highway....... We head to the coast and along the magnificent Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Coastal Highway. This funnels you through an area of outstanding beauty but all we can do is enjoy it. On this cloudy day we don't stop, only reflect that we seem to have explored the whole length of it before.
Haad Chao Lao....... When we arrive at Chao Lao there is one obvious drawback for those looking for modern resorts. Chao Lao is not as popular as it used to be and there has been little new development. There is little in the way of apartment buildings, most of the accommodation being rather dated resorts. It soon becomes clear that we are struggling to find more comfortable accommodation without paying over budget. Finally, we secure a room for 600 baht at Thongsuwan Resort, but I've had to compromise. The rooms were not designed for modern day appliances such as my laptop, but I will cope. There is one advantage in that the market and shops are not that far away.
Next Page.
Trat Province
Ban Tha Ranae Trat Community,
Nong Khan Song, Mueang Trat District
Lantabun, Nong Khan Song,
Mueang Trat District
Wat Ao Yai, Ao Yai, Mueang Trat District
Wat Ao Cho, Ao Yai, Mueang Trat District
Laem Sok, Ao Yai, Mueang Trat District
Chanthaburi Province
Khlung Seafood, Khlung District
Plai Chan Pier, Khlung District