Transport

How to Get to Koh Chang by Bus and Boat

Buses and minibus to Koh Chang at Ekamai bus station

Bus Timetables and Boat Schedules to Koh Chang

Koh Chang Bus Timetables  

Before you email to ask, there are no trains due to the lack of railway tracks in this part of Thailand. The bus timetables below probably won’t vary too much over the 2023-24 High Season.  Inter-island boat schedules are at the bottom of the page and these too remain pretty similar year on year.

Buy tickets for minibuses and inter island boat services from any tour agent.   Prices should be the same everywhere, although some hotels like to up the prices they charge guests for tickets for tours and transport, and it’s worth haggling if you have a group of people as a sensible agent should be willing to earn a little less commission rather than miss out on a big sale.

Buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

Ideally take the Government Bus 999 which runs between Ekamai Bus Station, Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok and the ferry piers, highlighted in green below. The ticket price is 261 Baht per person. 

These buses are all new and in good condition.  They provide a free snack and drink on the bus and it will also stop a couple of times during the journey.  Once for a toilet break and once for a longer 20 minutes break that will enable passengers to grab a coffee, snack or plate of Thai food.

As this is the best way to get to Koh Chang by public transport I have written a separate guide on How to Take the 999 Bus from Ekkamai Bus Station to Koh Chang.

Overnight Buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

No there is no night bus to Laem Ngop, where the piers are located. But there is a Cherdchai bus from Ekkamai have a service which leaves at 23:30. It arrives at Trat bus station at 05:00 and from there you get a songthaew to the piers. There’s only 30 minutes of waiting time before you can get on the first boat, so it works well.

For people trying to save a night’s accommodation it’s still better to travel by night in terms of overall cost. And the traffic isn’t so bad. Daytime buses to the piers from Bangkok or vice versa take 6+ hours, nearly 7 if they go via the airport. Nighttime is less than 6 hours either way, sometimes close to 5 hours.

Note that at Ekkamai they will try and sell you the through ticket to Koh Chang (including the boat ticket). There’s no reason to buy the boat ticket until you get to Trat, because there’s no discount, but it’s up to you.

Going back to Bangkok there is a 23:30  bus from Cherdchai too, from Trat bus station. So you can do the same thing in reverse.  However, you’ll have quite a long wait after taking the last boat off Koh Chang from Centrepoint pier at at 19:30 to getting top Trat bus station.  And there’s not a lot to do in Trat bus station late night. Or in Trat town for that matter.

Timetable for buses from Ekkamai Bus Station, Bangkok  to Koh Chang

 

Company Timetable
Transport Co., Ltd.

Ticket price: 261 Baht

Bangkok  to Laem Ngop – 999 Bus  Laem Ngop  to Bangkok  – 999 Bus 
07:45, 09:00 14:00, 16:00
Bangkok  to Trat Trat to Bangkok
04:00, 08:45, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:30, 16:00, 17:30, 24:00 09:30, 12:00, 06:30, 08:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 24:00
Cherdchai Tour

Ticket Price: 279 Baht

Bangkok to Trat Trat to Bangkok
05:00, 09:30, 11:30, 17:30, 23:30 (Friday only) 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00
Koh Chang Bangkok Minibus Co.

Ticket price: 290 Baht

Bangkok to Trat Trat to Bangkok
05:00, 07:00, 08:30, 09:30, 11:00, 12:30, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00 04:00, 06:00, 07:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00

Timetable from buses from Morchit Bus Station (via Suvarnabhumi Airport) to  Koh Chang

 

Company Timetable
Cherdchai Tour

Tel: 02-391-2237

Bangkok  to Trat Trat  to Bangkok
08:30, 17:30 08:30, 14:30
Tanakawee

Tel: 02-391-233

Bangkok  to Trat Trat  to Bangkok
06:00, 09:30, 12:30, 15:30, 23:00 07:30, 09:30, 14:30, 16:00

 

Minibuses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

In late 2011 the number of big bus services from Bangkok to Trat, the nearest mainland town, was reduced.   BUT new minibus services were introduced.   Minibuses, with a ticket price of 300 Baht, now depart from Ekkamai Bus station at 05:00, 06:00, 09:30, 12:00, 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30.   These will all drop passengers on the main road about 25Km before you reach Trat.  From there there will be a pick up truck taxi waiting to take people to the ferry pier.

Returning to Bangkok, there are minibuses from the mainland pier at Ao Thammchat every couple of hours at 08:00, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30.  

The only downside of these minibuses is that the drivers often have the need for speed.   So, if safety is paramount or you are a nervous passenger then maybe it’s best avoiding them.   On the plus side, they rarely crash and when they do not everyone dies.  

Suvarnabhumi Burapha Airport Bus to Koh Chang

This service is also known as the Koh Chang Express on some websites. The first direct bus service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Klong Son, on Koh Chang, began on 1 December 2009 and was run by the Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Company.  Buses now go to their new office on White Sand beach.

Departures from Entrance 8 on Level 1 of Suvarnabhumi Airport are at 07:00 & 10:00. Ticket price is 650 Baht including ferry ticket.   The vehicles used are microbuses.    

Heading from Koh Chang to the airport, the buses depart from the White Sand beach office, located on the main road just south of The White Elephant bar.   There are two departures a day at 10:00 and 13:00

It is also possible to get dropped off or picked up at your hotel on Koh Chang.  For this there is an additional charge of 100 Baht.

Tickets for these services can be booked in advance through the 12go.asia website. 

If you want picking up from your hotel on Koh Chang for the return trip you will need to call the minibus company to let them know a couple of days in advance.  There is an extra 100 Baht charge for this. 

One thing to watch out for is that in quieter times, during the low season, buses may go via Pattaya, thus adding on a couple of hours to the drive , rather than going direct.  The tickets are still good value but it will mean a long day on the road.  Check this if you are travelling during Low Season.

Don Meuang Airport Bus & Minibus to Koh Chang

There aren’t any buses or minibuses running a direct route between Koh Chang and Don Meuang Airport.

You’ll have to take a shuttle bus from the airport to Morchit Bus Station.  From there you can take a public bus or minibus to Trat.  ( See the bus timetable above ). Then take a pick-up truck taxi to the ferry pier for Koh Chang.

An alternative is to take a taxi to Suvarnabhumi Airport and then from there take a minibus direct to your hotel on Koh Chang.  But bear in mind it’s about an hour drive between the two airports.  But if you’re landing early in Don Meuang, then book a ticket for the Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang minibus and getting here will be hassle free.

Heading from Koh Chang to Don Meuang you will find agents selling tickets for this service.  However it’s important to note that the minibuses will first drop people off at hotels in central Bangkok before going to the airport.  So the journey will take longer than you expect.

Therefore, the best option is to take a minibus from Koh Chang to Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

Why?  Because there is a free shuttle bus between the airports for people holding tickets for flights.  When you get to Suvarnabhumi go to Door 3 on the Arrivals level. 

You’ll see the signs for the shuttle bus and a counter where the staff may or may not ask to see your plane ticket. The air-conditioned shuttle buses between the airports depart regularly – about every 15 minutes from early morning until late night.  It is about one hour drive between the airports. 

Alternatively, if  it’s possible to fly into Suvarnabhumi, rather than Don Meuang, then this will make life easier, simply because you can take a shared minibus or a private transfer will be a lot quicker . Due to the extra distance and antiquated car parking at Don Meuang, it will take a minimum of a hour and often 90 minutes longer when coming from Don Meuang to Koh Chang compared to Suvarnabhumi. You might find that either it’s less hassle to fly into Suvarnabhumi and then take a minibus direct from there.  

Buses from Pattaya to Koh Chang

( Note that services have been badly affected due to the lack of tourists.  At present, mid-2023, the shared minibuses only run twice a week on Tuesday and Friday.)

There are two early morning bus services from Pattaya to Trat run by Phetprasert Bus Company.  These depart from their depot on Sukhumvit Rd, Pattaya (not far from Pattaya Klaeng Rd)  at 03:20 and 05:00.  Ticket price is 268 Baht.  The journey time is around 4 and a half hours.  

But note that you’ll basically have to hang around roadside in the middle of the night and hope that the bus arrives.  As the buses are often an hour or more late and there aren’t any staff to ask or provide help.  So this is only really an option for people on a tight budget.

It’s therefore far less stressful to take one of the shared minibuses from Pattaya to Trat.  These depart from Pattaya bus station at 08:00 and 10:30 and the ticket price is 300 Baht per person.  This service is run by 35 Group Tour

In addition Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Company also have a daily service from Pattaya to Koh Chang . This departs Pattaya at 08:00 daily.  From Koh Chang to Pattaya the bus departs at 10:00 daily.  It is possible to get picked up and dropped off at your hotels in Pattaya and on the island.  Buy tickets in advance online at 12go.asia

Or if you want to come direct to Koh Chang, there are private companies that provide services that will pick you up from your hotel on Pattaya or Jomtien and drop you off at your hotel on Koh Chang.  Buy tickets from any tour agent in Pattaya.  

Flights to Koh Chang

Flying from Bangkok to Trat

There isn’t an airport on Koh Chang.  But there is one on the mainland in Trat.

Bangkok Airways owns Trat Airport and so has a monopoly on the daily flights to/from Bangkok.   Prier to covid there were up to eight flights per day, four in each direction.  The prices for the 40 minute sky hop aren’t that cheap, you can get a return ticket for Bangkok to Hanoi cheaper than a one way Bangkok to Trat flight.  But it is a stress free, convenient way to get here.

Prices from 1,500 – 4,000 Baht/person one way depending on time of year and how desperate for bookings the airline is.  Keep an eye out for 1,000 Baht one way flights during Low Season, there are sometimes good deals to be had.  Book online at the Bangkok Airways website.   Flights are rarely full outside the main peak season.

2023 Update:  Note that for the 2023 – 24 high season only flights PG305 / PG306 & PG307 /PG308 are operating.  

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok to Trat Airport

Flight Depart Arrive
PG301 * 08:40 09:40
PG305 ** 12:40 13:40
PG309 * 14:45 15:45
PG307 16:15 17:15

Trat Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

PG302 * 10:10 11:10
PG306 ** 14:10 15:10
PG310 * 16:25 17:25
PG308 17:45 18:45

*  = Flight not currently operating as of mid 2023.

** = High Season schedule. From March to October 2024, PG305 departs Bangkok at 11:40, arriving Trat at 12″:40.  PG306 departs trat at 13:10, arriving Bangkok at 14:10

Daily flights between Samui and Trat began in December 2010 and were then discontinued in mid 2012 due to Samui attracting the type of visitors who don’t want to also visit Koh Chang (and vice versa).

There is a minibus service for passengers on Bangkok Airways.  This runs from Trat Airport to hotels on Koh Chang.  You buy tickets when you land in Trat.  One way price is 800 Baht and return price is 1,500 Baht.  Prices for the minibus have increased a lot since covid.  It is now more cost effective and comfortable for most passengers to arrange a private transfer a private transfer from Trat Airport to your hotel through the TratAirportGuide.com site.  A door to door private transfer for two passengers is 1,900 Baht total. Or for four passengers, 2,500 Baht total. 

Ferries and Speedboat from Trat to Koh Chang

Boats from Trat to Koh Chang

More detailed information on the boat services to Koh Chang can be found at KohChangFerries.com

There are two services which run large vehicle ferries between the mainland piers at Laem Ngop and Koh Chang. 

Ferry Koh Chang  

This vehicle ferry to Koh Chang runs between Ao Thammachat pier, Trat on the mainland and Ao Sapporot pier on Koh Chang. Ticket prices. One Way: 80 Baht per adult, 30 Baht for children  Car: 100 Baht

Ferry Koh Chang  Timetable
From / To Times Schedule
Ao Thammachat to Koh Chang 06:30 – 18:30 Hourly at 45 minutes past the hour
Koh Chang to Ao Thammachat 06:30 – 18:30 Hourly at 45 minutes past the hour

Trat (Centrepoint) Ferry

Trat Ferry – formerly Centrepoint  – is the slower of the vehicle ferries to Koh Chang.  Ticket prices. Round Trip: 160 Baht per person ( anyone under 10 is free ) One Way: 80 Baht per person ( anyone under 10 is free ) Car is 80 Baht.

Centre Point Timetable
From / To Times Schedule
Centrepoint Pier to Koh Chang  07:15 – 17:20 About every three hours
Koh Chang to Centrepoint Pier 06:00 – 16:00 About every three hours

Santhiya Tree Resort Speedboat

It is also possible to take a speedboat from the Trat mainland to Koh Chang.  ( Or from Koh Chang to the mainland.) This service is run by Santhiya Tree Resort but anyone can use it.  The boat runs from Ao Tan Khu pier on the mainland to Santhiya Tree Resort , Klong Prao beach. 

The boat service is timetabled to coincide with Bangkok Airway’s flights to & from Trat Airport.  The ticket price is 900 Baht / person for the boat only or 1,250 Baht / person for a transfer between Trat Airport to Koh Chang by minibus and boat.  Full timetable and more details on the Santhiya Tree Resort website. 

Boats from Koh Chang to Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood

Bangbao Boat

Bangbao Boat run services from Koh Chang to Koh Wai to Koh Mak to Koh Kood for around six months per year, from late October / early November until the the middle of May.   They will stop running during the  rainy season when the conditions are bad and there are very few visitors on the islands.  

Buy tickets from any tour agent on the islands.  For tickets from Koh Chang, the price includes transport from your hotel to the pier in Bangbao.

2023 -24 UPDATE: All boat services will be back to normal for the 2023 – 24 high season.  Including Boonsiri Ferry who will be running their high speed catamaran between the islands from 1 October 2023 onwards

Both the wooden boat and speedboat moor at the pier at Koh Mak Resort on the northwestern shore of the island.   The speedboat will drop passengers off at their resort’s pier on Koh Kood. ( Or the nearest pier possible. ) The final drop off, and pick up, location are the resorts in Bangbao Bay, Koh Kood. 

These aren’t the full timetables.  You can get on get off at any island. But they give you an idea of costs.  

Wooden Boat.  Timetable from Koh Chang  – Koh Wai – Koh Mak – Koh Kood

Bangbao Boat Wooden Boat

From / To Depart Arrive
Koh Chang – Koh Wai – 400 Baht 09:00 10:00
Koh Chang – Koh Mak – 500 Baht 11:00
Koh Chang – Koh Kood – 700 Baht 12:00
Koh Kood – Koh Mak – 400 Baht 14:00 15:00
Koh Kood – Koh Wai – 600 Baht  16:00
Koh Kood – Koh Chang – 700 Baht 17:00

 

Speedboat.  Timetable from Koh Chang  – Koh Wai – Koh Mak – Koh Kood

Bangbao Boat Speedboat

From / To Depart Arrive
Koh Chang – Koh Mak – 700 Baht 12:00 13:00
Koh Chang – Koh Kood – 1,200 Baht  14:00
Koh Kood – Koh Mak – 700 Baht 09:00 10:00
Koh Kood – Koh Chang – 1,200 Baht 11:00

Kai Bae Hut Speedboat

Back in 2010, Kai Bae Hut began operating speedboat services to Koh Mak and Koh Kood.     Prices are the same as Bangbao Boat, 600 Baht from Koh Chang to Koh Mak and 900 Baht to Koh Kood.  This service only runs from 15 November to 30 April.

There is one boat daily in each direction.   This is a good alternative if you don’t fancy the long pick up truck ride south to Bangbao.  Plus you get to see Kai Bae beach, Lonely Beach, Bailan Bay and the peninsula at Bangbao from the sea.

I use this service when I go to the other islands .  The transfer from your hotel to the boat is included in the price.  Buy tickets from your hotel or at any tour agent.

Speedboat.  Timetable from Koh Chang  – Koh Mak – Koh Kood

From / To Depart Arrive
Koh Chang – Koh Mak – 600 Baht 09:00 10:00
Koh Chang – Koh Kood – 1,200 Baht 11:00
Koh Kood – Koh Mak – 400 Baht 12:00 13:00
Koh Kood – Koh Chang – 1,200 Baht 14:00
Koh Mak – Koh Kood – 400 Baht 10:00 11:00
Koh Mak – Koh Chang – 900 Baht 13:00 14:00

Boonsiri Ferry High Speed Catamaran

In late 2018 Boonsiri Ferry began running a high season service from 1 October  – 31 May between Koh Chang – Koh Mak and Koh Kood.  Their service uses a modern, air-conditioned high speed catamaran.  It also has free wifi and is easily the most comfortable way to get between the islands. The boat moors in Bangbao, on Koh Chang; Ao Nid pier on Koh Mak; and Ao Salat Bay in the north east of Koh Kood. 

The ticket price on Koh Chang and Koh Kood includes pick up and drop off at your hotels on the island.  Buy tickets online at https://boonsiriferry.com or from most tour agents when you are on the islands. 

There isn’t a low season service. But, as Boonsiri Ferry runs year round from the mainland to Koh Kood, you can book a ticket from a hotel on Koh Chang to a hotel on Koh Kood during low season.  This involves being picked up by minibus and taking the vehicle ferry back to the mainland and then driving to Laem Sok pier where you will catch the boat to Koh Kood.  Ticket price is slightly higher at 900 Baht per person.

Boonsiri Ferry.  Timetable from Koh Chang  – Koh Mak – Koh Kood

From / To Depart Arrive
Koh Chang – Koh Mak – 600 Baht 09:00 10:00
Koh Chang – Koh Kood – 900 Baht 10:30
Koh Kood – Koh Mak – 400 Baht 14:00 14:30
Koh Kood – Koh Chang – 900 Baht 15:00
Koh Mak – Koh Kood – 400 Baht 10:00 10:30
Koh Mak – Koh Chang – 600 Baht 14:30 15:00

 

Koh Chang Island Guide For Independent Travellers