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Traralgon

Traralgon is a city in the Latrobe Valley of Central Gippsland, Victoria.

The population was about 25,500 in 2016.

By train
V/Line - is probably the easiest way to get into Traralgon from Melbourne. Myki cards are valid for travel to Traralgon but not beyond.

By car
Just head east on the not so scenic Princes Freeway. The freeway is quite unusual, since it has traffic lights and houses along the way. Once you're at the end, you're at Traralgon.

By plane
Some flights go to Latobe Valley Airport.

Get around
Traralgon by taking the Yallourn exit and passing through Tyres and Glengary. Come out at Heyfield before continuing on towards you're intended destination.

Buy
Downtown is small, but bustling, with a shopping centre surrounded by numerous small shops. Nothing special, but a few interesting things can be found.

Drink
Traralgon is well known throughout the state as a genuinely refreshing, and interesting, place to let loose, country style. Favourite local watering holes include the Saloon Bar at the bottom of Kay Street, where old classics and top 40s music is played well in to the morning. A huge dance floor and great beergarden make for a delightful evening's entertainment. There's also a deer head in the bar above the smaller dance floor, which speaks volumes of the townsfolk, as well as a couple of large mirrors opposite the main bar for the salmon-tinged, collar up t-shirt wearing country boys.

If it's a bogan-infested, snooker-playing, guaranteed broken-jaw kind of setting you're after, then perhaps Ryan's Hotel would be your place of preference. Friday nights primarily cater for a younger, more energetic crowd. Violence is still peaking in this venue, though everyone knows everyone anyway, so as long as you didn't sleep with Bazza's sister, or steal Wazza's parents lambs, you should be pretty safe. Great DJ also.

If you just want a decent Irish bar, go to Flanagan's on the corner of Hotham Street and the Princess Highway. Regular alcoholics rule the roost at this local favourite, though they are a friendly bunch, and a large number of poker machines sit adjacent to the building, awaiting your every last cent. A great beergarden is also a feature of this establishment.

Go next

 * Yarragon
 * Trafalgar

title: Traralgon


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Trashigang

Trashigang is an administrative town of 4,500 people in Eastern Bhutan. The traditional architecture and narrow streets give the town a quaint and snug feel, not unlike an Italian or Cornish fishing village.

Understand
Trashigang serves as the largest town in the eastern region, and a base for tourists venturing into the surrounding villages and mountains. It was once the centre of an important trade route with Tibet.

By plane
Yongphulla Airport was officially opened to domestic flights in December 2011. Flights are operated by Drukair and Tashi Air to Paro, although due to regulatory requirements of the runway and poor financial results, most flights have been suspended. Check the individual airlines for current information.

By road transportation
From Thimphu there are two routes, both requiring two days:
 * On the northern route, there are direct buses that make a night stop at Jakar and pass through Mongar.
 * The southern route passes through Phuentsholing, where you'll need to arrange private transportation to Samdrup Jongkhar, as there are no buses on this route. This leg of the journey passes through the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam. From Samdrup Jongkhar, there are direct buses to Trashigang.

Get around
As the town is nothing more than a few streets, everything can be visited on foot.

See

 * Trashigang Dzong was built in 1659 by an ancient ruler, as an administrative headquarters and monastery. There have been reports it is on the verge of collapse, despite constant renovation.
 * The town's old bazaar area around the prayer wheel.

Do

 * Tashigang Tsechu is a colorful religious festival usually held for a few days during November and December. The date changes each year.

Eat

 * Druk Denjung Hotel (see entry under sleep) offers simple but tasty dishes.

Budget

 * Druk Denjung Hotel. In the absence of tourist class hotels, this small hotel tucked in the corner next to the prayer wheel is the town's best choice to spend the night. Single: attached bathroom (cold water) 350Nu, attached bathroom (hot water) 400Nu, shared bathroom (cold water) 300Nu. The hotel has a restaurant with a small garden and also offers an internet service.

Go next

 * Rangjung Woesel Chokling monastery, 16 km north of Trashigang
 * Radi, 8 km north of Rangjung - known as the "rice basket in the east" - also Radi Lhakhang (temple).
 * Sakten, in the northern most part of Tashigang district - a great area for trekking. Yak and dzo (female yak) are common in this area.
 * Khaling - a small town famous for its weaving center operated the National Women's Association of Bhutan.
 * Pasaphu Village in Thrimshing district - famous for its handmade cane baskets and other cane products (ringshu).

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Trashigang


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Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is in Northern Portugal. The Alto Douro Wine Region is a.

Cities

 * — it has several megalithic structures, dolmens and castros; the centre of the oldest demarcated wine region in the world
 * — famous for its mountain apples, wines, cheeses, smoked meats and sausages
 * — one of the oldest cities in Portugal, with a fine medieval castle
 * — with a 13th-century church and the ruins of a medieval castle
 * — one of the most historical cities in Portugal, with a castle, fortresses and historical churches
 * — home to the Torre do Galo, one of the most notable and unique examples of Portuguese military architecture
 * — an ancient city, dating back to Roman times, where D. Afonso Henriques was acclaimed the first King of Portugal in 1140
 * — the Geopark Terras de Cavaleiros has important geological heritage, and is classified by UNESCO
 * — a small, but an important historic city on the banks of the Douro river
 * — home of the Douro International Natural Park
 * — famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras sausages
 * — a centre of production for Port wine, and home to a museum about it
 * — birthplace of the famous explorer, Ferdinand Magellan
 * — the oldest recognized municipality in the country has a wine museum
 * — known for its wine and handicrafts
 * — visitors are drawn by its built heritage, agritourism facilities and the Valpaços wine
 * — a base for visiting the Coa Valley's prehistoric rock art
 * — home of the beautiful Palácio de Mateus

Other destinations

 * — The 2,000-year-old wine region that produces vinho do Porto (Port wine) is a . The region stretches about along the valley of the River Douro from Cidadelhe in Mesão Frio municipality to Pocinho in Vila Nova de Foz Côa.
 * — a

Understand

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (TRAHZ oozh MOHN-t(ih)z ee AHL-too DOH-roo, /ˈtɾaz uʒ ˈmõ.tɨz i ˈaɫ.tu ˈdo.ɾu/)

Due to the region's isolation from outside influence, many folkloric forms have remained preserved up to the modern day. One example would be the area's distinctive traditional bagpipe, the gaita transmontana. Not only did Trás-os-Montes maintain a piping tradition as bagpipes in general declined throughout Europe, but the regional bagpipe also shows many aspects of pre-modern musical scales which have been preserved. Also, in this region that is spoken the second official language of Portugal, the Mirandese language. It's used in the Terra de Miranda area (widely in Miranda do Douro and Vimioso, and partially in Bragança, Mogadouro, and Macedo de Cavaleiros).

Get in
The region is served by Interregional and Regional trains on Comboios de Portugal's (CP) Linha do Douro line along the river valley from Porto to Pocinho (Vila Nova de Foz Côa) via Peso da Régua.

Rede Expressos offers long-distance intercity service from throughout the country into numerous destinations in the region.

Rodonorte provides regional bus service throughout Northern Portugal, as well as connections from major cities outside the region.

Motorways and main routes connect the region with the rest of the country. The main ones in the region are:
 * A4 (Autoestrada Transmontana) from Matosinhos (just north of Porto) to Vila Real and Bragança.
 * A7 (Autoestrada do Douro) from Póvoa de Varzim to Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
 * A24 (Autoestrada do Interior Norte) from Viseu to Lamego, Peso da Régua, Vila Real, and Chaves.
 * IP2 from Guarda and the south to Vila Nova de Foz Côa and Macedo de Cavaleiros.

Get around
The methods listed in the "Get in" section can be used for travel within the region.

Go next

 * Beira Alta
 * Douro Litoral
 * Minho
 * Porto

title: Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro


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Trat

Trat (ตราด) is the capital of Trat Province, Eastern Thailand. Trat town is the main centre for road travellers to the eastern islands of Thailand including Ko Chang, Ko Mak, and Ko Kood.

Understand
Trat is on the Cambodian border in southeastern Thailand. Some travellers will use Trat as an access point to Ko Chang, but most will use buses or vans that will deliver them directly to Ko Chang, bypassing Trat. Trat, formerly a vibrant traveller scene when all transport passed through town, has sunk into the doldrums according to most residents.

Trat is at the southeast end of Sukhumvit Road, which connects it with Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, and Bangkok.

There is regular bus service, taking 5–6 hours, to Bangkok's Ekamai Station for downtown Bangkok and Bangkok Mo Chit for other destinations in Thailand. Many tourists stop over in Trat before going to the islands from Laem Ngop or Leam Sok (15–20 km from Trat. There are ferry and speedboat services to the eastern islands, Ko Chang and Ko Kood.

Trat is a transit point for people travelling to Cambodia, as it is a 90-km minibus ride to the border at Hat Lek. After crossing the border there is a short journey to Koh Kong and bus service to Sihanoukville.

By plane
Alternatively, and much cheaper, is a 1st class bus service that connects Trat directly with Suvarnabhumi Airport.

By bus
Buses to Trat depart from Bangkok's Eastern (Ekamai) and Northern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminals (5 hours). From Ekamai buses run frequently throughout the day 06:00-23:30 with an overnight bus at 23:30 (as of October 2016). First class is 252 baht (June 2019) and the government-run bus has a nice 2nd class (air-con, but no toilet) for 188 baht. These buses are slow (they stop at every station en route), and the journey can take up to eight hours. Consider taking a minivan for a faster transit time.

If attempting to go to the border with Cambodia and continue on to Phnom Penh via one of the regular Cambodian bus services the same day, it is advisable to take one of the overnight buses from Bangkok to Trat. The overnight buses will arrive at the Trat bus depot very early in the morning and you can then catch the first morning mini-bus from the Trat bus depot to the border. 120-150 baht. Takes one and half hours. hourly 05:00-18:00.

There are also 5 buses daily from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport for 248 baht. The journey takes about 5 hours.

The regular Cambodian buses that leave Koh Kong for Phnom Penh depart Koh Kong around 08:00, so in order to catch the bus you need to be across the border when it first opens in the morning or shortly thereafter. Taking a mid-day bus from Bangkok puts you into Koh Kong either too late to cross the border (not a 24-hr operation) the same day or too late to catch the bus to Phnom Penh. In these cases you will have to spend a night in a hotel on the Thai or Cambodian side before moving onward.

To go straight to or from the border by minivan from the Trat bus station to cross over to Koh Kong costs 120 baht. Regular bus connections from Chanthaburi, 70 baht, and other provincial capitals are also available from the Trat bus depot.

By share-taxi
On the east side of the main market building is the local songthaew departure area. You can't miss the blue cars and pick-ups. Departures toward most provincial villages leave when the vehicle is full, including those to Haad Lek. Connections from there are available to the Cambodian border and Koh Kong.

Get around
The town is sufficiently small to make walking the best mode of transport, although there is little to do besides explore the backstreets and relax. If needed, a motorbike taxi to just about anywhere in town, including to bus terminal, is 20 baht.

See

Festivals

Do
Trat can be a starting point for a motorcycle trip to Ko Chang. Rentals of Honda and Yamaha motorbikes, in good condition, can be hired at the shop on Sukhumvit south of the market area (~200 baht per day). Drive south along Sukhumvit for about 45 minutes, and follow signs for the ferry quay. Be sure to top up with petrol before taking the ferry, as fuel prices on the island are rather high. Also, caution is required when driving on the island as the roads, although in excellent condition, are very steep and winding. Furthermore, if taking your motorbike on the ferry you have no choice but to immediately go over the most dangerous hill, since it lies between the ferry piers and all the beaches. Carrying maps of Ko Chang and Trat province is advisable, as the routes are not always clear.

Cycle around the scenic lake which is just a few minutes cycle away from Trat town centre. It's about 10 km around the lake and is scenic the whole way around. There are a few places to eat and drink as well. Hire a bicycle from Tattoo Guesthouse opposite Pop Guesthouse for 50 baht for all day. Use the bike to go shopping at the huge Tesco Lotus supermarket on the edge of town. It has an excellent pharmacy.

Have a 2 hour kick boxing lesson in the ring, at Tattoo Guesthouse.

Buy

 * Resident expats have set up a few used bookshops which provide English and German books at fair prices. They can be found in the small streets south of the central market.

 * Rubies (พลอยแดง) - Trat is renowned for its precious red gemstone known as the "Siamese ruby". As gemstones in the province are depleted, the Siamese ruby is now becoming rare. Remember, if you're offered a deal that's too good to be true, you're probably being scammed.

 * Ngop Nam Chiao (งอบน้ำเชี่ยว) is a folk-style hand-made palm leaf hat identified with the Nam Chiao community. The hat is made into a distinct shape looking like an overturned frying pan or soldier's hat in former times.

 * Rakam Wan (ระกำหวาน) is a sweet variety of salacca, the most famous of the province's vast array of fruit produce.

 * Trat Si Thong pineapple (สับปะรดตราดสีทอง) is a sweet and crispy variety of Trat's juicy pineapple with yellowish skin.

 * Namman Lueang (yellow oil) (น้ำมันเหลือง) is a herbal rubbing oil made since ancient times. The aromatic oil is claimed to relieve muscular pain, stiffness, dizziness, congested nose and cold symptoms

Eat

 * Across from the KFC in central Trat, and very close to the main bus terminal, there is a large indoor market with plenty of restaurants.
 * A lively night market gets underway around 18:00 just north of the main market. Just north of that is a smaller market open all day offering snacks and local produce.

Sleep

Go next

 * Most people head straight from Trat to Ko Chang, Ko Kood, Ko Mak, Ko Wai or continue to Hat Lek for a visa run to Cambodia

title: Trat


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Trat Province

Trat Province is a popular travel region in Eastern Thailand, mostly for Ko Chang and the surrounding islands.

Cities

 * — border crossing with Cambodia
 * (Ngop Cape) — gateway town to Ko Chang
 * (Sok Cape) — gateway to Ko Kood
 * — provincial capital with airport

Other destinations

 * — main island undergoing significant tourist development
 * — large island with nice beaches, quiet with comparatively little development
 * — small island, shaped like a cross
 * — small island that is part of Mu Ko Chang National Park

Understand
A small province at the easternmost border of Cambodia with the Khao Banthat mountain range forming a natural demarcation, Trat also has fifty large and small islands, long white sandy beaches and relatively unspoiled coral ranges. It is also a major fruit-growing and fishing area.

About 315 km from Bangkok and covering an area of 2,819 km², the province is administratively divided into the districts of Mueang Trat, Khao Saming, Laem Ngop, Khlong Yai, and Bo Rai, and the sub-districts of Ko Chang and Ko Kut.

History
It is thought that the name "Trat" is a corruption of “krat” which is the name of tree plentiful in Trat Province that is used in broom production. In the Ayutthaya period during the reign of King Naresuan, the town was called "Ban Bang Phra".

While King Rama V was on the throne, the Thai government entered into a treaty with France granting what is now Trat Province to France in exchange for France withdrawing its forces from Chanthaburi Province. Later, on 23 Mar 1906, the king had to grant areas, namely Pratabong, Siem Reap, and Sri Sophon to France in exchange for Trat and the islands and towns on the right bank of Mekong River. Trat residents thus regard 23 Mar as "Trat Independence Day". They also built a King Rama V monument at the city hall to commemorate the king's attempt to keep Trat with Thailand.

On 17 Jan 1941, during the war, a French squadron violated Thailand’s territorial waters. A Thai flotilla came to defend its sovereignty. Thus, the skirmish which was later to be known as the "Ko Chang Naval Battle" began. The Thai forces beat back the French incursion. The Thai side, however, lost three warships, namely the Songkhla, Chonburi, and Thonburi as well as some naval officers and ratings. Therefore, on this date every year, the Thai Navy holds a merit-making day dedicated to those who gave their lives in their effort to protect the country.

By car
From Bangkok, take one of these three routes:
 * 1) Bang Na - Trat (Hwy 3) passing Chonburi – Rayong –Chanthaburi – Trat, a total distance of approximately 385 km.
 * 2) Bang Na – Chon Buri – Klaeng – Chanthaburi – Trat (Hwy 344), a distance of approximately 318 km.
 * 3) Motorway: Start at km0 at the Sri Nagarind – Ramkhamhaeng intersection and drive the route Ban Bueng – Klaeng – Chanthaburi – Trat.

By plane
Bangkok Airways has three daily flights from Bangkok to Trat  at 08:40, 10:30, and 17:05. Flight time is 1 hr. For details, contact Tel. +66 2 2655555, +66 2 2655678, or the Trat office at Tel.+66 39 525767-8. (A transfer service is available from the airport to the ferry pier where tourists can take a ferry to Ko Chang.)

By bus
Both non air-conditioned buses and air-conditioned buses are available at the Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) on Sukhumvit Rd.

Air-conditioned buses: A first-class air-conditioned bus takes 5 hours to get to Trat. Tourists can also contact other private transportation companies for further information such as Cherdchai Tour at Tel. +66 2 3912237 or +66 2 3914164, or its Trat office at Tel. +66 39 511062; Chokanukun Tour at Tel. +66 2 3927680, or its Trat office at Tel. +66 39 511587; and Suppharat Tour, which provides VIP buses, at Tel. +66 2 3912331 or its Trat office at Tel. +66 39 511481.

Non air-conditioned buses: For more information, contact the Public Relations Section, Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) at Tel. +66 2 3912504, or +66 2 3914164.

In addition, it is possible to take a first-class air-conditioned bus leaving Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to Trat everyday along the motorway. For more information, call Tel. +66 2 5378055, +66 2 9362852-6.

Buses of other private transportation companies such as Suppharat Tour at Tel. +66 2 9363388 or its Trat office at Tel. +66 39 511481; Cherdchai Tour at Tel. +66 2 9360199 or its Trat office at Tel. +66 39 511062 also go to Trat.

Getting to nearby provinces
Trat – Chanthaburi, from the market in Trat, there are regular buses to Chanthaburi leaving Trat daily every half an hour from 08:00–15:30. The journey takes 1½ hours and the fare is approximately 40 baht.

Taxis are available between Chanthaburi – Trat, leaving Wongwian Nam Phu (Fountain Circle) in Chanthaburi and next to the Mueang Trat Hotel in Trat from 06:00–17:00 daily. The journey takes nearly 1½ hours and the fare is 60 baht each (5–6 persons/taxi).

Bo Rai –Chanthaburi, leaving every half an hour from 06:00–17:00. The journey takes 1½ hours and the fare is 50 baht.

Bo Rai–Mae Sot, Tak Province, leaving twice daily at 07:30 and 08:30. The journey takes 15 hours and the fare is 200 baht.

Local transport

Trat-Khlong Yai (songthaew), a distance of 75 km, leaving from behind the Municipal Market from 06:00–18:00. The fare is 80 baht (a connection from Khlong Yai to Ban Hat Lek is available at 20 baht).

Trat–Ban Hat Lek (minibus), a distance of 90 km, leaving the Si Trat Rama Theatre from 06:00–18:00. The fare is 110 baht.

Trat–Laem Ngop (songthaew), a distance of 30 km., leaving the Trat Municipal Market from 06:00 onward. The fare is 20 baht.

Trat–Laem Sok (songthaew), a distance of 28 km, leaving the Trat Municipal Market from 08:00–13:00. The fare is 35 baht.

Trat–Khao Saming – Bo Rai, a distance of 53 km, leaving the Trat Municipal Market from 08:00–12:00. The fare is 50 baht.

Trat–Khao Saming – Saen Tung – Tha Chot, a distance of 28 km, leaving from 06:00–17:30. The fare is 25 baht.

Generally, transportation to various districts starts from the provincial town. Songthaews leave the Municipal Market and Bank of Ayutthaya daily. After 19:00 travellers will have to charter one at a negotiated price.

See

 * Ao Tan Khu (อ่าวตาลคู่) is a bay with fine sandy beach popular with local people during holidays.
 * Ao Khlong Son (อ่าวคลองสน) is a bay in the northernmost west of the island where Ban Khlong Son community is located, with a beautiful coral reef.
 * Bang Bao Fishing Village (หมู่บ้านประมงบางเบ้า) is a village of houses on stilts built into the sea with bridges connecting them. Most of the residents are descendants of the Salak Phet villagers. The area is an ideal berthing area for fishing boats, with mountains and islands providing shelter from wind and storms in the monsoon season.
 * Ban Rong Than (บ้านโรงถ่าน) is a small community near Salak Phet, south island. It is a scenic viewpoint where the mist-covered peak of Khao Salak Phet in the north and Ko Maphrao Nai and mountains near Laem Yai in the east are visible.
 * Ban Hat Lek Border Market (ตลาดชายแดนบ้านหาดเล็ก) is a village on the Thai-Cambodian border. When the fighting in Cambodia was over in 1986, it used to serve as an intermediate marketplace for grain trading between farmers in Cambodia and traders in Koh Kong.
 * 'Ban Mai Rut (บ้านไม้รูด) is a large fisherman's village. Besides homestays, the village offers fresh seafood.
 * Ban Nam Chiao (บ้านน้ำเชี่ยว) is noted for Ngop Nam Chiao, a native hat to ward off the sun. The hat is woven with local palm leaves from plants grown in mangrove area. It is still widely used today as it is light and comfortable.
 * Ban Salak Phet (บ้านสลักเพชร) is a large and the oldest community on Ko Chang. The villagers' main occupation is coastal fishery in an advantageous area sheltered from winds and storms by islands and mountains. There is an old temple in front of the village known as Wat Salak Phet.
 * Hat Sai Ngam (หาดทรายงาม) is an approximately 200-metre long white sandy beach running parallel to a grove of pine trees.
 * Hat Sai Ngoen (หาดทรายเงิน) is a not-so-wide beach with a pine forest more ideal for relaxing or fishing than swimming.
 * Hat Muk Kaeo and Hat Sai Kaeo (หาดมุกแก้ว และหาดทรายแก้ว) have a peaceful atmosphere for recreation. Hat Muk Kaeo is a white sandy beach, which runs from Hat Sai Ngoen to Hat Sai Kaeo, with the shade of pine and coconut trees all along the beach.
 * Hat Banchuen (หาดบานชื่น), formerly called Hat Maro (หาดมะโร), is a beach with delicate sand grains and clear sea water where it is possible to swim.
 * Hat Kai Bae (หาดไก่แบ้) is a sloping and long stretch of beach connecting with Hat Khlong Phrao.
 * Hat Sai Yao (หาดทรายยาว) is near Ao Salak Phet to the south of the island with a long stretch of sandy beach.
 * Khao Lan Center (ศูนย์สภากาชาดไทยเขาล้าน), run by the Thai Red Cross, is on Trat-Klong Yai Road, Tambon Mai Rut, in the same area as the former Cambodian refugee camp. The camp was closed in 1986 when the refugees moved back to Cambodia. The center was established on the occasion of the 60th birthday of Queen Sirikit in 1992, commemorative of Queen Sirikit's establishment of the camp for Cambodians who suffered from their civil war. Ratchakarun Hall (ศาลาราชการุณย์) and the museum exhibit the history, lifestyle, and household items of Cambodian refugees.
 * 'Khao Than Kong Viewpoint (จุดชมวิวเขาท่านก๋ง), views of the Khlong Yai coastline.
 * Ko Chang Naval Battle Memorial (อนุสรณ์สถานยุทธนาวีเกาะช้าง) at Laem Ngop, commemorates the Franco-Thai naval engagement on 17–21 January 1941. There is also a statue of Prince Chumphon, father of the Thai navy, and a warship-shaped museum displaying old equipment and armament of the fleet with exhibits on the Ko Chang naval battle.
 * Ko Pui (เกาะปุย) is an undeveloped privately owned islet not too far from the shore that makes an ideal attraction for relaxation in shady surroundings. It is home to coconut groves, herbs, and Dinso Phong (white clay body-powder) mentioned at the time of King Rama V's visit to Trat.  Known locally as the "Governor's Island" it was acquired in the late 1950s by then Governor of Trat, Jarat Tedvisarn, the property remains the governor's family to this day.
 * Ko Ngam was the first point of confrontation in the Franco–Siamese War in which the French army sent aircraft on a reconnaissance and bombing of the island, whereas Ko Wai is the point where a French patrol aircraft crashed after being fired on by HTMS Songkhla and HTMS Chon Buri.
 * Ko Mai Si is a small private island where there is beautiful nature, sandy beaches and clear water. It is home to diversified marine life and is ideal for diving.
 * Ko Lao Ya (เกาะเหลายา) is a group of islands to the south of Ko Chang including Ko Lao Ya Nai, Ko Lao Ya Klang, and Ko Lao Ya Nok.
 * Ko Wai (เกาะหวาย) is the bay to the north of the island with coral reefs in a perfect condition, whereas the western area of Ao Yai provides home to mostly hard corals and scaly giant clams.
 * Ko Phrao Nok or Ko Sai Khao (เกาะพร้าวนอก หรือ เกาะทรายขาว) is to the south facing Ao Salak Phet. The island has white sandy beaches and shady coconut groves.
 * Ko Ngam (เกาะง่าม) is a twin island connected by a large sand bar located to the southeast of Ko Chang, with an inlet surrounded by the hilly topography where the sea is calm and scenic.
 * Ko Kut (เกาะกูด) is Thailand's easternmost island in Trat waters, the province's second largest island after Ko Chang, and the country's fourth largest island. The topography is generally still in its natural condition, with mountains and ridges forming the headwaters of many streams from which originate various waterfalls. The best-known waterfall on Ko Kut is Namtok Wang Chao.
 * Ko Mak (เกาะหมาก)'s topography is mostly coastal plain with a thicket of coconut groves and rubber plantations. Scenic bays and sandy beaches embracing crystal clear water are all around the island such as Ao Ta Nit, Ao Prong, Ao Phat and Ao Daeng.
 * Ko Kradat (เกาะกระดาษ) has a flat paper-like topography with Alocasia plants, "kradat" in Thai, growing wild in abundance. The island has a long and white sandy beach with beautiful coral reefs.
 * Laem Sok (แหลมศอก) was used as the residence of Kromluang Chomphonkhetudomsak, the father of the Thai Royal Naval Army. Fishing villages are found near the area.
 * Laem Klat (แหลมกลัด) is a white sandy beach sticking out into the sea with not too deep water ideal for swimming.
 * Monkey Training Centre (โรงเรียนฝึกลิง) at Hat Sai Khao provides training as well as shows of monkeys' abilities, especially in collecting coconuts.
 * Namtok Salatdai (น้ำตกสลัดได) is seven kilometres from km25 of Highway 3157 (Saen Tung-Bo Rai).
 * Namtok Khlong Kaeo National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกคลองแก้ว) has an area of approximately 65,525 rai (104,840 square kilometres).
 * Namtok Khiri Phet (น้ำตกคีรีเพชร) is a single-storey waterfall located 3 km from Ban Salak Phet community through a rubber plantation.
 * Namtok Khlong Nueng (น้ำตกคลองหนึ่ง) is a small waterfall near Namtok Khiri Phet – Ban Rong Than, located some 2 km deeper inside the island from the Salak Phet Community with another 480 metre walk. The waterfall cascades down from a narrow gorge for 120 metres.
 * Namtok Khlong Nonsi (น้ำตกคลองนนทรี)is a small waterfall to the northeast of the island accessible by a 3 km pathway from Ban Dan Mai or about 4 km from the national park headquarters.
 * Namtok Than Mayom (น้ำตกธารมะยม) is a medium four-tiered waterfall some 500 metres through a garden behind the national park headquarters, with the 3rd tier being the most beautiful.
 * Namtok Khlong Phlu (น้ำตกคลองพลู) is a large waterfall on Ko Chang with water cascading down three tiers of the cliff to a basin, with an entrance located 3 km from Ao Khlong Phrao.
 * Ratchakarun Beach (หาดราชการุณย์) in the area of Khao Lan is a recreational place of the Khlong Yai District locals on Sukhumvit Road.
 * Residang Kampot (โบราณสถานจวนเรสิดัง กัมปอต) is a former residence now used as the Office of Probation, Department of Corrections, still in its original architectural style.
 * Thailand's narrowest area (ส่วนที่แคบที่สุดในประเทศไทย) is at Mu 2 Ban Khot Sai, Tambon Hat Lek, on the Trat–Khlong Yai route between km 81–82. The area is 450 metres wide.
 * Wat Buppharam (วัดบุปผาราม) or Wat Plai Khlong (วัดปลายคลอง) is a temple on Plai Khlong Road, which dates from the mid-17th century and features the oldest wooden image hall in the country. The murals are of the early Rattanakosin period. The temple's museum houses ancient relics, Buddha images, and Chinese and European porcelain.
 * Wat Khiri Wihan (วัดคีรีวิหาร) is a temple which features fine architecture with a blend of modern art. Principal buildings inside the temple's precincts include a large Phra Ubosot or ordination hall, Phra Chedi, reception pavilion for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, monk's residence, preaching hall, and Chinese pavilion enshrining Phra Phuttha Udom Sombun, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and Phra Sangkatchai.
 * Wat Phai Lom (วัดไผ่ล้อม) used to be a resident of Trat's Father of Education, Than Chaokhun Phra Wimonmethachan Worayannurak. The temple also houses a Buddhist garden for public meditation and chedi museum of three much revered monks of Trat.
 * Wat Saphan Hin (วัดสะพานหิน) it is assumed to be more than a hundred years old, although its exact date of building is not known. There is an old Buddhist ordination hall in the water, approximately 1 km from the temple.
 * Wat Yotha Nimit (วัดโยธานิมิตร), also known as Wat Bot (วัดโบสถ์), is the only royal temple in Trat. The temple was once used as a place to hold the oath of allegiance ceremony. There is an old ordination hall of Ayutthayan art serving as a wihan called Wihan Yotha Nimit for storing many antiques.

Do
Trat is known for a number of regional specialties that make good souvenirs or gifts:

 * Trat Shrimp Paste is known for its quality, being made entirely from shrimp. (Most shrimp paste contains a mixture of shrimp and fish.)
 * Koh Chang Wine is an award-winning fruit wine made from local fruits and herbs such as mangosteen and pineapple. It is available at some hotels, from 200 Baht.
 * Golden pineapples from Trat are known for their bright yellow colour and distinct sweetness.

Eat
Rakam Waan or Sweet Rakam is a Trat regional specialty, together with other more well-known tropical fruits such as the rambutan, mangosteen, mango, durian, coconut and pineapple.

Go next
The coastline and highway continue into Cambodia: travellers can continue to the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains by way of Hat Lek on Thai Hwy 3 which becomes Cambodian Hwy 48.

title: Trat Province


text:
Traun

Traun is the fifth largest city in Upper Austria (Oberösterreicch).

Get in
Traun is close to the Blue Danube Airport Linz.

See

 * Schloss Traun in the center of Traun is definitely worth a visit. Also, there's a decent restaurant in the Schloss.
 * Oedter See is a small pond ideal for sunbathing in the summer time.

Eat

 * Cooking Lee Asia Cuisine (Bahnhofstraße 21) is a good spot for Chinese food and sushi.
 * Schlossrestaurant Traun is a little upscale and pricey, but has an ever-changing menu featuring sophisticated local food.

Drink

 * Old Sherry's Irish Pub is a traditional Irish pub, and one of the few places in the region where you can grab a decent pint of reasonably priced Guinness.
 * Galerie Cafe is a trendy cafe providing a laid back retreat for locals.

Go next

 * Linz
 * Wels
 * Steyr

title: Traun


text:
Sleep

Sleep, and thus accommodation, is a basic need for travellers. It typically requires more planning and money than other parts of the journey. Without a good night's sleep you won't be at 100% the next day which can ruin your trip.

Finding accommodation

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

- Luke 2:7 on the birth of Jesus

Accommodation can either be booked in advance, or found on the day. If the itinerary is set, booking as soon as possible is usually the best option.

Booking in advance
Booking in advance gives the traveller peace of mind that they will have somewhere to sleep once they arrive at their destination.
 * Over the Internet
 * Through a travel agent
 * Over the telephone

However, hotel managers have to fill beds so it's not uncommon for travellers having booked a room, particularly at the lower end of the cost scale, to arrive to find that it has been resold. This is because hotels usually have a policy of overbooking (selling more reservations than they have rooms available), especially on high-demand nights, with the assumption that some guests will cancel or no-show. (As some hotels abuse this more than others, it pays to check online reviews before booking anything.)

If a guest has to be "walked" (told that there are no rooms available despite having a reservation), the hotel will usually offer to pay for a night's accommodation at another nearby hotel — but if there is especially high demand for rooms throughout the whole area, even this may not be possible. Managers who overbook hotel rooms have been known to play favourites, with the lone voyager staying "just one night" as a first-and-only time visitor to the city taking lowest priority, along with clients of third-party reseller websites and any travellers the desk staff perceive to be "impolite" or "rude". Turning away a loyal client who visits often, such as a business traveller or a convention vendor, would mean the inn losing that client's future business. To reduce your chances of being walked, try to arrive at the hotel as soon as possible after check-in time begins.

Check carefully what you are booking. Search results often include offers even tens of kilometres from the location searched for. Marketers are infamous for touting accommodation as being "close to" attractions which are far away, sometimes even in the next city. Wikivoyage articles often provide coordinates and a locator map to give an idea of the relative proximity of lodging to key attractions; at minimum, a street address should be mentioned.

Beware of hidden charges, such as a non-optional "resort fee" or "destination marketing fee"; the hotel may have no intention of making any room available at the advertised price. Ask for the full cost before you book anything. If a hotel refuses to rent a room without a credit card, which happens frequently but not universally, they may be planning to bill all manner of "incidental fees" or hidden charges to your card. It sometimes pays to read the fine print.

Thanks to crowd-sharing sites, travelers have many more options.

On-line
You can book accommodation on-line, either at the hotel's own web site or at the website of an agency. Depending upon where you are going, this can be extremely useful. Yet if you are travelling to somewhere a bit more out of the way, for example, a small city or town, you may find something, but there will be accommodation options not listed on the internet. In this situation, it is better to find accommodation "on the day", as described below.

Metasearch websites aggregate results from numerous providers (Online Travel Agencies - OTA, Vacation Rental Marketplace, Booking Engines) that allow users to price compare. Metasearch is very useful in gaining an overview of the accommodations market of a given destination and to price compare the different properties.

Sometimes, a hotel has its own web site but doesn't publish the dates for which it still has vacancies. Completing a "Contact us" form or sending an email should obtain every detail you need.

On-line reservation is increasingly becoming the most common way of booking accommodation (sometimes the only way); unfortunately the downside is that a credit card is required to complete the reservation – so you will be out of luck if you don't have one (sometimes getting a debit or pre-paid VISA/MasterCard may work). Moreover, you will need to check the rate being offered if payment is needed immediately or upon arrival/departure. Discounted rates usually require that payment be made immediately, but regular rates will allow you to pay upon arrival or check-out at the property. In the case of the latter, you do not need to settle payment with the same credit card used for making the reservation; you can pay using cash in many establishments. However, you may still be required to present the credit card used for making the reservation (especially for pre-paid/advance purchase bookings to reduce card fraud).

One hazard of online bookings that are not directly through a hotel's website is that the reservations are sometimes lost in online transit between the booking site and the hotel, so consider calling the hotel directly to see whether they will match the rate you saw online, and if not, you might want to call them in advance to confirm that they got the correct information from the booking site. Also, consider the costs of required taxes and fees when comparing room prices, as the same price may be represented differently, depending on whether taxes and fees are included in the price that's shown or simply charged later. As well, when using an aggregator, keep in mind the hotel is making less money on your room than on those booked directly through them (hotels sell rooms at a steep discount to the aggregator, who then increases the price to the end user back up to the rack rate and profits on the difference). This often translates to poorer service from hotel staff, being considered lower priority for available-on-request amenities that the hotel may only have in limited quantities e.g. rollaway beds and minifridges, and the like.

Email
For booking by email, the sequence of events is roughly the same, with some steps omitted when not applicable:
 * first, ask whether your dates are available; ask for up-to-date prices
 * inquire on your preferred rooms and other essential details
 * ask to reserve for your dates
 * ask for confirmation for your embassy; provide all personal details (passport details of every visitor etc.) they may need to issue the confirmation
 * in the end, ask for cancellation policy, directions to the hotel and other practical details that don't affect your decision to stay there.

When you use a non-native language for writing to a hotel, it works best to ask one or two questions per email, get answers and then choose your next questions. Asking all questions at once frequently results in huge delays that can be broken only by a telephone call.

Avoid giving sensitive financial information such as credit card details through email. Use the website's booking engine for that instead and make sure you see in your browser a padlock that is locked (which should appear when using https:// at the start of the URL).

Travel agent
Travel agents often have deals with specific hotels, although you may find it possible to book other forms of accommodation, like camping grounds, through a travel agent. Travel agents usually offer packages that include breakfast, transportation arrangements to/from the airport or even combined flight and hotel packages. They can also hold the reservation for you if you need time to think about the offer or procure other documents for your destination (e.g. visa). Any amendments or requests though should be coursed through the travel agent first and not directly with the hotel.

Telephone
Consumers often find the best lodging rates by calling travel suppliers directly. Contacting the specific property, rather than the chain's main toll-free telephone line, provides the best opportunity to negotiate discounts and ask about specials (advertised and unadvertised). In the U.S., hotel and lodging listings can be found for free either by name or category via 1-800-Free411.

Cancelling a reservation
You might have to change or cancel a reservation. For example, if your plane/train/bus is delayed or cancelled and you therefore arrive a day later.

Depending on how you booked the accommodation, you may be able to contact the hotel or pension directly by phone or internet to make the necessary change/cancellation. If it was booked through a travel agent or consolidator, you may need to go through them.

Pay attention to the cancellation policy when you make the reservation. Most hotels will require a credit card number to guarantee the room. They will usually charge you for one night if you cancel less than 24 hours before arrival. In some popular tourist destinations such as Hawaii or Las Vegas, this minimum notice may be as long as 72 hours, or you may be charged for the entire stay. This can happen even when you make reservations through a travel agent and your delay is caused by transportation also arranged by that travel agent.

On the day

If you have planned your trip yourself, which means you have not decided to use a package from a travel agent, sometimes finding accommodation when you arrive is the best option.

If you have not made reservations in advance, this should be your first priority upon arriving. The best and/or cheapest hotels have a tendency to fill up most quickly, and looking for a place to sleep as darkness falls can be an anxious – and even dangerous – experience.

It is sometimes frustrating to be reading a guidebook and looking for the listed recommendations trying to decipher an unfamiliar map having just travelled for several hours. Walk around and inquire at the first few places you see. Courage and confidence are required for this type of thing, especially if you are not using your native languages. However, it is sometimes easier to do this rather than tracking down listings, especially for the first night.

Larger cities and popular tourist destinations may have "tourist information offices". These may be operated by the local government, a consortium of local hotels and attractions, or independent parties (of varying trustworthiness). These frequently offer listings of hotels and other lodging options (e.g. hostels, bed-and-breakfasts). Some act as booking agents for hotels, placing visitors in facilities with vacancies (though there may be a fee for this service).

Looking at last-minute accommodations may not be feasible if your intended destination country requires a visa be obtained in advance; many such countries require that visitors have already arranged accommodation before approving a visa or admitting a traveller into the country.

Finding bargains

 * Newly opened hotels. Frequently, the best hotels are those that just opened. Beyond being modern, they need to attract clientèle, and may strive to offer more comfort or services for less money. It often makes sense to ask locals upon arrival which hotels/B&Bs, etc., have opened in the last year or two.
 * Group deals. If you travel with a group or a travel agency, the rate per person might be lower.
 * Last-minute offers. Many hotels discount their unsold rooms and sell them through specialist 'last minute' type consolidators. The reduced rates available from these consolidators are not usually advertised in the hotels themselves (the hotels do not want to advertise these lower rates to guests who are paying full rates). Contacting a consolidator directly can save you money and, especially in larger cities, legwork – the better companies will usually telephone the hotels within your budget to confirm availability, important when you've got tired legs in a large city like London for example. Look for consolidators offering both telephone and online booking services so you are not dependent on internet access when trying to find a hotel.
 * Off season – or the right day of week. Check business hotels for weekends and resort hotels for weekdays, be aware of local holidays and consider non-peak seasons. Sunday night both weekend tourists and business travellers are away, so you could use it for a night in an expensive city. Some establishments publish off season prices, for others negotiating a better price may be possible. Depending on your destination, some individual attractions may be closed off-season; check whether what you want to see is open before booking a trip.
 * Location Location Location – It has been said that those are the three only things that matter for a hotel. Quite often a bargain can be had for a hotel that is a bit out of the way. For many camping sites this is the whole raison d'être – being on cheap plentiful land outside major settlements or in the back of beyond. Some of the best deals are available for a hostel or hotel that is just a bit farther away from the ferry dock or the bus stop everybody arrives at than most people will likely venture. A suburban hotel at a public transit line to the inner city might be more affordable. Of course all of this comes with the obvious downside of your accommodation being far away from many things, and if that means you spend more on transportation it could outweigh the money you saved on lodging.

General
Hotels provide private serviced rooms for guests. They range from very basic budget-style to extremely luxurious accommodation; various rating systems award "stars" (or "diamonds", in one automobile association system) based on levels of provided amenity. Grand old hotels are glamorous hotels, usually dating back a hundred years or more.

Capsule hotels
Capsule hotels are a cheap form of accommodation in Japan, usually more or less on par with a dorm bed in a hostel, in terms of pricing. The "rooms" are little more than small one-person capsules with only a mattress, radio, and TV (which usually boasts a variety of Japanese porn channels). Note that most capsule hotels are segregated by gender, while many, if not most, don't accept female guests at all.

Scattered Hotels
The idea of scattered hotels got its start in the early 1980s in Italy. The goal was to revive tourism in an earthquake-damaged corner of northeastern Italy in the 1970s. A "Diffuso hotel" consists of different accommodations in different buildings scattered throughout the village. For those who do not love staying at a hotel, an Albergo Diffuso is a balance between a hotel and a house.

Resorts
A resort or a resort hotel is usually separated from the local community (in some cases a gated community) with restaurants, shopping, and other amenities on site. A destination resort can be integrated with a main attraction, such as a theme park, a ski lift, or a spa.

Motels

Motels (motor hotels or motor courts) evolved from the primitive cabin camps of the 1930s to become inexpensive, single-story hotels in which motorists entered their rooms directly from the car park instead of through an inside corridor. In the 1950s, many of these were built quickly and inexpensively at the edge of towns on the main two-lane highways of the era. As these roads were increasingly bypassed by freeways, independent motels began to decline, ultimately being supplanted by economy limited service hotel chains which appeared at motorway exits in the 1980s and 1990s. In some European countries, "motel" may refer to any low-cost hotel; in others (particularly in South America) it may refer to a "no-tell motel" where rooms can be rented for as little as a few hours. In Oceania, it is common for motel rooms to incorporate mini-kitchens often fully equipped with utensils, cutlery and crockery for preparing your own meals.

Hostels
Hostels, also referred to as backpackers or youth hostels (for historical reasons; there is usually no upper age limit now in most regions). These are usually low-budget dormitory accommodation but may also have private rooms available. Usually kitchen facilities are a must, but the kitchen may be sacrificed in third-world countries where labour is cheap and even impecunious young visitors are rich in local wage terms.

Inns

Historically, inns were local roadhouses which offered food, water, stables, drink and lodging at short, periodic intervals on the main horse and stagecoach roads. These date to imperial Roman times, but were largely supplanted by downtown hotels in the railway era, which in turn lost traffic to roadside motels (and then to chain hotels) in the motorcar era. Along the Silk Road and elsewhere in Asia they had something similar called caravanserai; like the inns these are now mostly gone. Ryokan are traditional Japanese inns, and a visit to one is the highlight of a trip to Japan for many.

As any establishment offering any of the functions of the coaching inns is free to use "inn" in its name, a few establishments brand a British-style pub, restaurant or tavern as an "inn" even if they offer no lodging facilities. Most use the term "inn" as just another modern synonym for "hotel", where it often appears in names of major chains – including some with no restaurant. A "motor inn" or "motor lodge" is a motel.

Bed and breakfasts
Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) and Guesthouses provide private, serviced bedrooms for their guests. However, they are typically private residences and you will interact with your hosts and other guests, often eating together and sharing common spaces. Bed and Breakfasts and Guesthouses are found both inside and out of major centres. Many market themselves as providing a "quiet escape"; others eschew formally marketing themselves at all, relying on word of mouth and repeat visitors or just a swinging "Vacancy" sign to attract passing travellers in rural areas. In France, a "gîte" as a tourist home does not necessarily include breakfast; in Canada, "gîte" and its variants (gîte du passant, gîte et déjeuner) are almost always B&Bs, even where "déjeuner" (breakfast) isn't spelled out explicitly.

There are many associations and websites that offer help finding a Bed and Breakfast in your travel area.

Hospitality exchange
A hospitality exchange or home stay network is an organization that connects travellers with local residents in the cities they're visiting. If travellers can connect with the right people at the right time, they can get room and sometimes board in the place they're visiting for free or at very modest prices. Network size ranges from a few thousand to millions, and most networks are growing steadily. These have disrupted the industry to a great degree.

A related variant is home exchange, which involves staying in private homes during times they would otherwise be vacant. This provides room but no board which is a great option to many who don't need it.

Ships, trains, and planes

On long rail journeys, a sleeper car is often available for a price, allowing the traveller to sleep in moderate comfort on the train. Bunks and cabins are also available on some overnight ferry trips, such as the six to fourteen hour voyage from Canada to Newfoundland and many of the Baltic Sea ferries.

Typically, the least expensive options are crowded and noisy; more comfortable accommodation is available at a premium.

Sleeping on board of a vehicle is a method for minimum budget travel.

Car camping
Car camping, Caravaning or RV camping involves carrying your equipment in your motor vehicle, which you drive right to your campsite. The focus is usually to enjoy the site, cook-outs, day hikes, and other outdoor activities. Some use their vehicle for transportation, pitching a stand-alone tent to sleep in; others pull a pop-up trailer/tent or use their car or van as part of the tent or shade structure. Some drive large vans or recreational vehicles which may include many of the comforts of home (on a more compact scale). Caravan parks tend to have two or three types of accommodation: powered sites to put your caravan and car; caravans owned by the park that you can stay in; and small cabins with a bit more space. Often they also have an area separate from the caravan parking area, for those with just a tent. In some locations, the site also hosts a marina.

Caravan parks are usually located in medium-sized towns and cities, or in very popular tourist spots. Some commercial camp grounds provide showers, a general store, picnic areas, an amusement park, a beach or an outdoor swimming pool.

Camping
Camping is do-it-yourself accommodation: you carry your roof and your bedding in your backpack or your car (or whatever). It is often the only choice of accommodation you have when hiking or travelling off the beaten track, but there are also very popular sites for camping holidays. Many car camping sites have an area for those coming with just a tent. On these, or other areas especially for campers, there are usually at least basic facilities, such as fresh water and toilets.

In e.g. the Nordic countries the right to camp is a fundamental part of the right to access: you may put your tent more or less anywhere (outside developed or protected areas) for a night or two, as long as your camping does not disturb or harm nature or people.

Boats

At some destinations, it is possible to rent houseboats or other small craft with sleeping bunks, a campstove-equipped galley and primitive toilet facilities on board.

Marinas may be able to offer short-term dock rental with some caravan park-like amenities such as shore power hookups and Wi-Fi.

Cabins
Cabins and cottages in rural destinations, such as hunting or fishing outfitters camps, or at camping sites, represent one step up from camping. There are also better equipped and even luxurious ones with most of the comforts of home. As they provide cooking facilities and a living room or similar space, they are popular among families and other groups. The typical size is suitable for a small family, but size varies from those for just a couple to ones with several bedrooms for even large groups. Visitors are generally expected to make their beds and clean up for themselves. Linen are often not included in the price, not necessarily even sheets and pillows. This kind of accommodation is often rented for a week, although, except for single cabins in the backwoods, most are available also for single nights.

Cabins and cottages are often found in remote locations (such as a small, quiet lake at the end of a long, winding, poorly-marked country road), but also at camping sites and as an alternative to hotels at resorts. The cottages are often available in groups, with an office providing advice and some additional services, quite often e.g. a café with meals. For single cottages you should usually get all advice beforehand, although you may have a phone number for any unexpected problems.

For the end-of-winding-road version, check whether facilities you expect are provided and be prepared if not. Electricity and running water (hot or otherwise) may not be available and heating may be in the form of a wood stove. You may need to bring your own linen, food or other supplies. There may even be some walking or boating required to get to the cabin. The most primitive ones can be excellent for "getting away from it all", and may even be cheaper than a tent lot at a camping area.

Villas can usually accommodate a minimum of four people, offering more space and privacy than a hotel room. Each typically has its own kitchen, living/dining room, bedroom and in many cases a private swimming pool. The rental price is charged per week, which for extended stays may prove more cost-effective than a hotel.

The line between cabins, villas and vacation rentals (see below) is not clear. Villas and vacation rentals tend to be in the high end and in areas with more tourists, but terminology varies between regions and there are no definite definitions.

Wilderness huts

Wilderness huts or refuges are spartan cabins on hiking routes and similar. They vary from guesthouse- or B&B-like to huts with roof, walls, a fireplace (if that), and not much more. There are even lean-to shelters, which are open towards the fireplace outside. The comfort level is usually quite consistent along a trail or in a country or area, perhaps with some simpler huts meant only for lunch breaks and emergencies, and higher standard lodgings found at trail crossings, popular destinations and places with road connections.

Mountain cabins are invaluable as refuges in bad weather. There are good networks e.g. in parts of the Alps, in Norway and in Finnish national parks. Where there is a reliable network of huts or cabins they may allow hiking without carrying tent and sleeping bag (given that you can manage in bad weather without them). In some you can buy food or meals, so that carrying just what you need in the day suffices. Check what is offered, so that you carry what you need.

For many wilderness huts advance bookings are not needed, as they have to be available in unexpected bad weather. Some are unmanned and unlocked, paid with an honor system (on site or afterwards), some even free. On the other hand, unmanned huts rely on the guests taking care of themselves and of basic maintenance. Make sure to leave them in as good a state as you found them.

Condominiums and timeshares
Like a privately owned summer cottage, a condominium or timeshare requires that the traveller incur the capital cost of real estate ownership at destination. Unlike a private cottage, a condominium confers ownership of just one room or suite in a larger building; a timeshare confers partial ownership (typically one room of a hotel or resort for one week a year).

These arrangements can be inflexible as the owner/investor continues to incur significant expense even during years when they don't have time to travel, cannot afford to travel or would prefer to go elsewhere for a change. As with any bet on real estate, prices can rise or fall substantially over time. They may be very difficult to get rid of.

Vacation rentals
Vacation rentals are houses and apartments of residents of popular tourist destinations, which are leased to visitors. The residence may have been bought specifically for this purpose or the normal occupants may vacate it during some parts of the year. The guests will have full use of the residence, usually with utilities included but no servicing or meals. This approach can be cheaper than booking a hotel room for the same length of time (and give more space than a hotel room), especially if travelling with a family or other sizeable group of people. Facilities will vary depending on the property, but usually include kitchen and laundry facilities and possibly amenities like a swimming pool (or access to a communal pool), a games room (table tennis, pool, game consoles), and TV/video/DVD players. Contacting the owners directly is the ideal way to make arrangements as they can answer any questions you may have about the property, and may offer more competitive pricing since there's no middle-man.

Second homes
A second home is a long-term owned or rented dwelling, away from the owner's primary home, such as a cottage. This is a long-term commitment, usually for coming generations.

Hotels
There are exotic hotels in some areas:
 * in sandstone caves: Goreme (Turkey), Ia (Santorini, Greece)
 * in rock caves: (Matala, Greece; 'Anatolian Houses' near Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Turkey)
 * on trees: Rafter's Retreat in Kitulgala (Sri Lanka); tree houses in Olympos and Çıralı (Turkey)
 * on rock cliffs
 * on moving vehicles (a rail sleeper car is standard enough, but a blimp or a Zeppelin?)
 * in theme parks or pioneer village living museums, styled or restored to match the park
 * in a nature preserve, as a three-story giant mushroom (Reino Fungi Lodge, Panguipulli, Chile)
 * beside the midtown New York Public Library, a 10-story Library Hotel's numbered rooms whose artwork and décor follow Dewey's Decimal System
 * ice hotels: Sweden (Jukkasjärvi), Norway, Canada (Valcartier), Finland (Kemi, Kittilä) and Romania
 * island hotels: Sveti Stefan (originally a fishers village)
 * underwater bedroom: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (Maldives), Jules Undersea Lodge (Key Largo FL US)

Hostels
as well as unusual hostels:
 * in a former convict settlement (Darlington, Tasmania)
 * in a decommissioned jail (Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada, Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm and Visby (Sweden))

Novelty motels

 * Faux wigwams/teepees: Holbrook AZ, San Bernardino CA, Cave City KY (US)
 * Caboose inns (in decommissioned rail cars): (US, various)
 * Cabin court of permanently-installed VW minibus or camper vans
 * Nostalgia motels restored to 1940s or 1950s themes (US Route 66)
 * Grain silos as individual motel rooms or short-stay apartments: (Little River, NZ)
 * Underground motels (including a few former mine sites in Australia)

Novelty bed and breakfast

 * Historic lighthouses
 * Shipboard floating B&B ('Golden Slipper' yacht, Boston)
 * In the former machine room atop a Dutch harbour crane (Havenkraan & Lighthouse, Harlingen (Netherlands)). There's also a three-room Crane Hotel in Amsterdam where everything's high, including the price – more than €400/night.
 * On islands reachable only by cruising on small craft or off-road, off-grid locations
 * In caves ('Kokopelli's Cave' near Mesa Verde National Monument, New Mexico)
 * Oversize dog house ('Dog Bark Park Inn', Cottonwood, Idaho, a pine guesthouse shaped like a giant beagle)
 * Tramway or rail cars, decommissioned
 * Tree house (an oversize 'Cedar Creek Treehouse' near Mount Rainier National Park, WA US)

title: Sleep


text:
Activities

Many travelers seek out destinations that are particularly suited to specific activities, such as scuba diving or rock climbing. Some of these travel activities require specific gear, training, or planning to pursue, while others may be as simple as slipping into a warm spring to enjoy the soothing waters.

Outdoor life
While most of the world is outdoors; the concept includes activities outside built-up areas, where travellers need to bring much of the needed equipment themselves.

 * Camping
 * Car camping
 * Cruising on small craft
 * General aviation
 * Offroad driving
 * Rockhounds
 * Safaris
 * Winter driving

Food

 * Fishing
 * Foraging – Picking berries, mushroom and other edible things from wild nature.
 * Hunting
 * Outdoor cooking

Wildlife watching
This is an activity that is undertaken by professional scientists, by amateur scientists or wildlife watchers, and by other travellers who visit areas with interesting birds or beasts.

Be very cautious about dangerous animals.

Wildlife photography generally requires a telephoto lens; this allows you to keep your distance, both for your own safety and to avoid ruining the shot by spooking the animals.

There are separate articles on birdwatching and whale watching. See Marine life, Diving and Snorkeling for seeing underwater wildlife.

Regions

 * African flora and fauna
 * Wildlife of Madagascar
 * America
 * North American wildlife
 * Central and South American wildlife
 * Arctic wildlife
 * Australasian wildlife
 * Eurasian wildlife
 * Hiking in the Nordic countries
 * Wildlife in South and Southeast Asia
 * Wildlife of the Southern Ocean

Backpacking
See also:

 * Urban backpacking
 * Wilderness backpacking
 * Cross country skiing
 * Straight line missions

Sport
Many of the activities below can also be practised as gentle pastimes and are not seen as sports by all practitioners.

Air sports
Air sports are those that take to the air, and may use an aircraft as a launch platform, but that don't themselves involve sustained flight. The latter are covered under flying, "gliding", "aerobatics" and general aviation, while the air sports include: There's some blurring of categories, and new sports continually evolve as materials and other technologies make new things possible. They all started out as daredevil, edge-of-the-world stuff, before becoming systematised and regulated, with training and competition structures.
 * Ballooning, i.e. with a hot air balloon, rather than a powered rigid balloon, dirigible or zeppelin, which would be "flying".
 * Skydiving or parachuting, ie jumping from a plane into freefall then opening a parachute - see main article.
 * Paragliding with a parachute-like wing, but with no freefall, and so light that they're capable of extended flight. See Paragliding in Kosovo for specifics on Kosovo.
 * Hanggliding is similar, with an unpowered wing with a rigid frame, and with shorter flights, e.g. gliding down a mountainside.

Wilderness sports

 * Rock climbing
 * Canyoning
 * Mountaineering
 * Cycling
 * Mountain biking

Water sport

 * Beachcombing
 * Fishing
 * Ice skating
 * Ice swimming
 * Kitesurfing
 * Sea kayaking
 * Snorkeling
 * Snuba
 * Surfing
 * Swimming
 * Whale watching
 * Whitewater sports
 * Windsurfing

Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a sport in which people breathing from tanks of compressed air explore underwater areas. It's most popular in areas with tropical coral reefs, but there are scuba diving sites in most areas of the world with water.

Hiking, riding and running

 * Hiking, Wilderness backpacking
 * Horse riding
 * Orienteering
 * Running

Quad bikes
Riding quad bikes (also known as ATVs – all-terrain vehicles) is a sport that involves riding on a small, rugged vehicle, usually in off-road areas.

Riding independently, quad bikers should check local regulations and consider possible damage to soil and plants, prior to embarking on a trip.

Normally, quad bikes are designed only for a single rider (although are frequently rented for riding by two). There's only one model of quad bike that has is designed for two persons, and that model is quite rare in commercial rent.

Snowmobiles
Snowmobiles are the equivalent for winter conditions. They are extensively used by locals in some Arctic areas (for getting around, reindeer husbandry etc.), and snowmobile "safaris" may be a common activity offered to tourists. On straight legs on prepared tracks and frozen lakes, speeds can be around 40 km/h (25 mph), but in difficult terrain the speeds are low and safe maneuvering requires much practice.

Winter sport

 * Downhill snowsport
 * Telemark skiing
 * Cross country skiing
 * Ice skating
 * Winter swimming
 * Snowboarding
 * Snowkiting
 * Snowmobiling

Zip lining
Zip lining refers to an activity where participants (often referred to as “zippers”), are suspended from a pulley that moves across a cable suspended between trees or man-made structures. The cables are mounted descending from a higher to lower point which propels the zipper purely by the use of gravity. The amount of incline as well as the weight of the zipper determines the speed at which the participant travels from point to point.

Zip line courses can be designed purely for speed (adrenaline rush), while others are designed to allow zippers to enjoy the natural surroundings such as forest, jungle or waterfalls (often referred to as canopy tours). While others employ elements of both.

Other sports

 * Recreational shooting, including hunting

Agritourism
Agritourism means travel organized around farming or animal husbandry. Visiting a working farm or ranch for the purpose of enjoyment and education are key parts of this often rural experience. Farmer's markets, wine tourism, cider houses and corn mazes all constitute examples of agritourism. Travelers who participate in this type of vacation frequently desire to see how food is grown and prepared or to learn how animals are raised. Occasionally there are opportunities to tour small, local food manufacturing companies, such as cheese factories, although this is becoming less common as mass production increasingly crowds out the independent operators.

Wine tourism is travel organized around the appreciation of, tasting of, and purchase of wine. A kind of tourism highly developed in many regions, it can be as simple as hopping on a wine shuttle in Napa Valley or as complicated as renting a villa in the south of France for a month. Wine tourism is a great way to learn about the people, culture, heritage, and customs of an area. Some of the famous wine producing regions of the world have been producing wine for centuries or even millennia, and the production and consumption of wine is deeply ingrained in the local culture.

Learning languages abroad
Travelling to a foreign country both for leisure purposes and to study the local language can be an excellent way to deepen one's experience in a foreign culture and to combine leisure with learning. Although perhaps more common for people between the ages of 18 and 24, language tourism is undertaken by people of all ages and backgrounds. They tend to enroll in non-intensive foreign language courses that allow considerable free time in which to practice the language outside of class and travel extensively. Typical stays range from 2 to 5 weeks, and trips are often repeated in subsequent years.

Hygiene and body care
Hygiene and body care is not just necessity; cleaning up thoroughly after a tough ride might be the greatest experience of a journey.

Sauna is a bathing facility where sweating in a hot room is an essential part of the cleaning procedure. Sauna is used for getting clean, but very much also to relax and socialize. Sauna is also used for getting warm before and after ice swimming (and any swimming in cold water).

A trip to the spa is a common travel activity. It can be a great way to experience local culture and customs, enjoy some serious relaxation and/or remove the grime that accumulates while on the global road.

City life
Some urban activities are guided city tours, nightlife, shopping, urban rail adventures, urban sketching, industrial excursions, urban cycling and urbex.

Gambling
While gambling is outlawed in some countries, whole cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Monaco are world famous for their casinos. Macau passed Las Vegas as the highest-revenue gambling destination around 2008 and is now far ahead.

Other activities

 * Amusement parks
 * Drones
 * Haciendas of Ecuador
 * Hacker tourism
 * Science tourism
 * UFOs
 * Zoos
 * Geocaching

title: Activities