Trat is blessed with 52 islands scattered along the Gulf of Thailand, with mountain ranges to the east and coastlines to the west. It is the easternmost province of Thailand bordering Cambodia.

        Bangkok lies 315 km to the northwest and Trat itself covers an area of 2,819 sq km. It is comprised of 5 districts-Muang Trat, Khao Saming, Laem Ngob, Klong Yai and Bo Rai-- with the addition of 2 sub-districts, Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

        In 1971, Trat was a gem trading centre because of rubies and sapphires that were discovered in Bo Rai district. However, these resources are nowadays depleted although gem markets in Hua Thung, Baan Sa Yai, Nong Born and Khao Saming still exist.

        With a mountain range on one side and a coastline on the other, Trat is protected from storms despite several months of rainfall during the year.

        The weather is cool and pleasant with plenty of sunshine between November and February, and average temperatures hover around 34 C during the months of March and April. Visitors should take extra precaution when traversing its waters during the southwestern monsoon which is from mid-May to October.

        Koh Chang, Trat’s largest island, is the second largest in Thailand, behind Phuket. The interior of the island is  mountainous and covered with tropical rainforest.

        In 1982, the island and its 51 surrounding smaller islands came  under protection as part of the Koh Chang Marine National Park. Animals in the park include the stump-tailed macaque, the small Indian civet, the Javanese mongoose and around 61 resident bird species. The Koh Chang wart frog is native to the islands and the mainland Trat as well.