Hat Lan Sai

Hat Lan Sai is a quiet sand beach in Laem Klat subdistrict, about 20-25 km southeast of Trat town on the Gulf of Thailand coast. It’s free to visit, open daily, and sees a fraction of the traffic that Trat’s better-known islands (Koh Chang, Koh Mak) get — most of the people on the sand are locals or guests of the small resorts strung along the shore, like Hadlansai Resort.

The beach itself is a gently sloping stretch of pale sand with calmer water than much of Trat’s mainland coast, which tends to run rockier further north. That makes it a reasonable swimming spot for families, though there’s no lifeguard and no marked swimming zone, so use normal caution. Facilities are minimal: a few small guesthouses and a scattering of local food stalls, not the beach-club setup you’d find on Koh Chang. Bring your own water, sunscreen, and shade if you’re staying more than an hour or two.

Insider Tip: Laem Klat’s real draw for a lot of visitors isn’t the beach itself — it’s Irrawaddy dolphins. The waters between Laem Klat and neighbouring Khlong Yai are one of the few reliable dolphin-sighting spots on Thailand’s Gulf coast, with the best chances around November. Local boat operators in the village run short trips out to the sighting area; ask at your guesthouse rather than booking ahead, since sightings depend on the day.

Watch out: There’s little shade beyond scattered palms, and shops selling drinks or snacks are inconsistent — don’t count on buying anything once you’re on the sand.

Hat Lan Sai sits within Trat province’s Laem Klat cluster alongside Hat Muk Kaeo and the Irrawaddy Dolphin Point at Laem Klat — worth combining into one day trip rather than visiting alone, since none of the three has much on its own beyond the sand and the dolphins.