Not as touristy as Phuket and Samui, Koh Chang is the third largest island in Thailand. Often confused as the second largest island because of its inclusion in the Koh Chang District, this remote island with an elephant-shaped headland is nicknamed “Elephant Island”.
Popular as a place for hiking and adventure, it’s the largest island in the Mu Koh Chang National Park and replete with waterfalls, mountains, and beaches. Ask a local how to get to Koh Chang Island and you’re presented with a number of options, from boats and ferries to flights and cars.
Let’s look at how to get to Koh Chang from Bangkok, Pattaya or Trat in more detail.
How To Go To Koh Chang From Trat?
Getting to Koh Chang from Trat can be done in 3 ways; bus, minibus, and ferry. There is no Koh Chang airport and the only option for flights to Koh Chang is to fly into Trat Airport. The airport at Trat has a single runway that is managed by Bangkok Airways and has 4 daily flights from Trat to Bangkok and vice versa. Also, since the only flight option from BKK to Koh Chang is via Trat Airport, the flight costs are high; averaging around $100.
Private Taxi from Trat to Koh Chang
Private taxis from Trat Airport or hotels in Trat to Koh Chang hotels cost between THB 1800 to THB 2500 depending on which side of the island you are going to. The taxi fare includes the ferry Trat to Koh Chang cost and saves you the trouble of porting your luggage on and off the ferry.
Trat Airport to Koh Chang Bus & Minibus Travel
There are no large buses to Koh Chang since buses cannot cross the ferry. Bangkok Airways runs a Trat to Koh Chang minibus service for passengers who flew in from Bangkok.
This service drops you off at your hotel and costs THB 500 one way and THB 900 return. Alternatively, if you’re already in Trat, you can book a minibus to Koh Chang that includes the ferry Trat Koh Chang ticket for THB 140.
Songthaew and Ferry
This option is the cheapest, but may involve a lot of walking. You’ll have to flag down a songthaew and bargain the fare from your hotel to the two piers in Laem Ngop, Trat. It may range from THB 15 to THB 60 depending on your bargaining skills.
Once you’re at either Ao Thammachat pier or Centrepoint Pier, you can choose from between Centre Point Ferry or Ferry Koh Chang and get tickets at THB 80 for anyone over 10 years. Children aged 7 to 10 pay THB 30 while kids under 7 go free. After reaching Koh Chang pier, depending on where your hotel is located, you can either walk there, take bargain with another songthaew or a taxi for the right price.
How To Get To Koh Chang From Bangkok?
There are many ways of getting from Bangkok to Koh Chang – taxi, flight, bus and ferry.
Don’t go looking for a Bangkok Trat train. There is no Bangkok to Trat train as there no trains in this part of Thailand.
The flight is the fastest method to get from Bangkok to Ko Chang but still necessitates travel by ferry as well. The Bangkok to Koh Chang distance is 348 km along the shortest route.
Bangkok To Koh Chang Flight
There is no airport near Koh Chang. So the best way to get there is to catch a Bangkok to Trat flight and then take a minivan, bus or ferry from Trat to Koh Chang. There is only one airline with flights from Bangkok to Trat;
Bangkok Airways with a one hour flight twice a day. There are 4 return one hour Trat to Bangkok flights; and the cost between $80 to $120, or THB 2500 to THB 4000 each way. From Trat to Koh Chang, the minivans outside the airport drop you at your hotel for THB 550 per person. Prices go up during season time though.
Bangkok to Koh Chang bus
The Bangkok Koh Chang bus fares are cheaper than private transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang and a great option for budget travelers. If you’re traveling from Bangkok airport to Koh Chang, you have options of regular or VIP bus Bangkok Koh Chang. You can choose the #999 buses that run from Ekamai Bus Terminal on Sukhumvit Road and stop at the Ao Thammachat pier and Centrepoint Pier in Laem Ngop, Trat. From here you have to catch the ferry Trat Koh Chang. Public bus tickets include the cost of the Bangkok to Trat bus and the Bangkok to Koh Chang ferry ticket in the THB 300 fee.
If you’re looking at how to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang and get a drop at your hotel or hostel while saving money on the bus to Koh Chang instead of hiring a private car, choose the minivans. The minibuses or minvans from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang are an economical option for hotel drops at just THB 600 per person.
If you are interested in saving a night’s hotel cost, consider taking the Cherdchai Bangkok Trat bus that leaves at 23:30 PM and reaches Trat Bus Station at 5:30 AM. From here you can take a cheap shared taxi called a songthaew Trat Koh Chang ferry stop. The return Trat to Bangkok bus also follows the same schedule saving you many dollars.
Bangkok To Koh Chang Private Car
A Bangkok Koh Chang transfer by private car will get you there faster and cost between THB 4000 to THB 5000. Operators allow you to either book and pay for the car in advance or the pay once your transfer Bangkok Koh Chang is completed. The return journey from Koh Chang to Bangkok costs a similar amount.
Booking private transport Bangkok Koh Chang or return Koh Chang to Bangkok is an ideal option if you don’t want the hassle of lugging your bags from the bus or minvans to the ferry and then back to the hotel taxi. The taxi driver will manage the drive in line with the Koh Chang ferry times so that you don’t have too long of a wait at the Koh Chang pier. The total Bangkok Ko Chang journey via Bangkok to Koh Chang taxi or the return Koh Chang Bangkok journey including the ferry time will be around 5.5 to 6 hours each way.
How To Get To Koh Chang From Pattaya?
How to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang? The options to travel the 270 km from Pattaya to Koh Chang or back from Koh Chang to Pattaya are quite limited, and take about 4 to 5 hours. There is no speed boat from Pattaya to Koh Chang or for that matter from any mainland location by boat to Koh Chang. But if you’re going to Koh Chang, how to get there from Pattaya? That’s what we’ll answer now.
Pattaya To Koh Chang Bus or Minibus Travel
Since buses can’t get onto the ferries from Trat to Koh Chang, the buses by Phetprasert Bus Company from Pattaya may not be that great an option. At just THB 268, they are cheap though.
Taxis or minibuses are better options though. The minibuses from Pattaya to Koh Chang start in Pattaya City, reach Trat and cross over to go all the way to the resorts to drop off their guests. They’re a real steal costing about THB 400 from Pattaya to Koh Chang and THB 500 back from Koh Chang to Pattaya.
Pattaya To Koh Chang Transfer By Private Car
There is no direct Pattaya to Koh Chang ferry. So other than the bus Pattaya Koh Chang, you can opt for a direct transfer by private car. These cost between THB 2700 to THB 3100 and include the cost of the ferry crossing in the price. If you’re looking for an easy transfer to Pattaya, private car is the best!
Other Questions
Do you recommend taking the bus from Koh Chang to Bangkok or the taxi Bangkok Koh Chang? It depends on your Ko Chang Bangkok budget. The Bangkok to Koh Chang minibus and buses are more economical than taking a Koh Chang to Bangkok taxi. But if you prefer ease of travel and not having to change modes of transport 3 times during your journey, the taxi is the ideal option.
Should I take the bus from Trat to Bangkok or a flight? If you take the bus Trat Bangkok for THB 300, you’ll reach there in 5 to 6 hours. If you take the flight, you’ll reach there in a total of 2 hours, but will have to shell out THB 5000. You need to decide whether you want to save your time or your money.
Are there any Koh Chang Bangkok bus options leaving from Don Meuang Airport? No, there are no direct options. Your best option is to choose a Koh Chang transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Provided you have a flight ticket to show, you can take the free shuttle bus from Don Meuang to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
