By Kylian Dev
Bangkok to Koh Chang: the options compared
Four ways to go, from cheapest to fastest.
| Option | From | Time to the ferry | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 999 | Ekkamai bus terminal, morning | 5 to 6 h | About 300 THB, ferry included |
| Minibus + ferry | Ekkamai, Mo Chit or Khao San | 5 to 6.5 h | 600 to 750 THB, ferry included |
| Flight + transfer | Suvarnabhumi airport | 1 h flight + 30 min drive | 2,500 to 4,000 THB for the flight |
| Private car | Your hotel or the airport | 5 to 5.5 h | 4,600 to 5,200 THB per car, ferry included · Book |
Bus 999 is unbeatable on price and comfortable enough: assigned seats, a rest stop and a drop at the ferry. The minibus costs more for less comfort; it only makes sense if it picks you up at your hotel. Flying is worth it when time is short, and a private car becomes reasonable for four people with luggage.
Bus 999 from Ekkamai
The most reliable budget option.
Government bus 999 leaves Ekkamai, Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal, early in the morning, usually with two departures around 7.45 and 9 am. It heads to Trat and drops passengers at the ferry pier in 5 to 6 hours, with a rest stop on the way. The ticket, about 300 THB, includes the crossing.
- Take the BTS to Ekkamai to skip the morning traffic.
- Buy your ticket the day before at the counter or online, especially on Fridays.
- Keep the ticket stub: it is used for the ferry.
By minibus with ferry
Handy if the minibus picks you up at your hotel.
Minibuses leave from Ekkamai, Mo Chit and Khao San agencies on a combined ticket that includes the ferry, for 600 to 750 THB. The ride is a little longer than the bus, with several stops, and luggage space is tight.
- Travelling with a large hard-shell suitcase: it barely fits at the back.
- Buying a ticket without knowing whether it includes the transfer to your beach.
- Taking the last afternoon departure: you risk missing the last ferry.
Flying to Trat
The fast option that saves half a day.
Bangkok Airways links Suvarnabhumi and Trat airport in about 50 minutes, with several flights a day. Expect 2,500 to 4,000 THB one way depending on the date. On arrival, shared minivans take you to the ferry and often all the way to your beach, and the airport is only about 30 minutes from the pier.
By private car
Door to door, ferry included.
A private car picks you up at your Bangkok hotel or the airport and drops you on the island, ferry included, in 5 to 5.5 hours. The price, 4,600 to 5,200 THB per car, is shared: for four it comes close to the minibus fare, with far more comfort.
If you drive yourself, the car takes the ferry for a small fee, and having it on the island makes beach-hopping easy. Beware: Koh Chang’s roads are very steep and winding.
The ferry to Koh Chang
A short, simple crossing.
The ferry leaves from Ao Thammachat pier, near Laem Ngop, and arrives at Ao Sapparot pier in the north-east of the island. The crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes, with departures all day from about 6.30 am to 6.30 pm, every 30 to 60 minutes. A ticket costs about 80 THB per adult if it is not already included with your bus.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| From | Ao Thammachat, on the mainland near Trat |
| To | Ao Sapparot, north-east Koh Chang |
| Crossing | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Times | About 6.30 am to 6.30 pm, every 30 to 60 minutes |
| Price | About 80 THB per adult, extra for a car |
Arriving and reaching your beach
All the beaches are on the west coast, 15 minutes to over an hour from the pier.
At Ao Sapparot pier, white songthaews meet every ferry and serve the west coast. Expect 100 to 200 THB per person depending on distance. Many hotels also offer pick-up: ask when you book.
White Sand Beach
LivelyThe liveliest beach, closest to the pier, with the most restaurants.
Klong Prao and Kai Bae
FamiliesLong, calm beaches, ideal for families.
Lonely Beach
BackpackersBackpacker vibe and beach bars.
Bang Bao
QuietThe fishing village on stilts in the south, and the departure point for boats to other islands.
When to go to Koh Chang
The dry season changes everything: calm seas and boats to the other islands.
From November to April the sea is calm, boats link Koh Chang with its neighbours and most hotels are open. From June to October the monsoon brings showers and rougher seas; the island is greener and far quieter, but some speedboat links stop. Details in the Koh Chang weather guide.
- Book early for Thai school holidays and long weekends.
- Carry cash: ATMs exist but are clustered on White Sand Beach.
- To choose your beach, see where to stay in Koh Chang.
How to get back to Bangkok
The same options, in reverse.
Bus 999, minibuses and private cars make the return trip every day: your hotel can book a ticket including the songthaew to the pier and the ferry. For an international flight, sleep in Bangkok the night before: the ride back is long and traffic into the city is often heavy.
Where next?
Koh Chang opens up the Trat archipelago.
- For smaller, quieter islands: Koh Kood and Koh Mak, by speedboat from Koh Chang in the dry season.
- For an island closer to Bangkok: our Bangkok to Koh Samet guide.
- For every boat in the country: our Thailand ferries guide.
To combine several islands, see our guide to island hopping in Thailand.