Koh Chang

Koh Chang Getting here and around on Koh Chang
To reach the KOH CHANG MARINE NATIONAL PARK you need to travel eastbound to Trat, the easternmost province in the Gulf of Thailand that borders Kampuchea.This is the jumping-off point to the islands.

Most visitors take the Bangna-Trat route. However,visitors who are already in Pattaya, Rayong or Koh Samet can conveniently link to Trat as well,either by road or by sea.

From Bangkok to Trat ( Trad )

BY AIR (Bangkok Airways)

The most convenient way is by air. Trat airport was opened by Bangkok Airways. The airport is located on the mainland near Laem Ngob. The flight operates daily and twice a day. The trip takes 45 minutes.

Bangkok Airways : +66(0) 2265 5678, +66(0) 2265 5555 (Bangkok Office) , +66(0) 39 52 5767-8 (Trat Office) Trat Airport Office : +66(0) 39 525776

BY CAR

BY AIR-CONDITIONED BUS

A 5 hours drive by bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal (called "Ekamai", located on Sukhumvit Rd,) or Northern Bus Terminal (called "Mochit 2", located on) will take passengers to the Trat Bus Terminal (departures between 06.00 am. - 12.00 pm.). It costs around 220-250 THB. In the meantime, there are 4 bus operators as shown below.

BY VAN

Alternatively, visitors can take minibus and full sized bus services pickup from "Khao Sarn" road. This services can be booked by travel agents in this area. It costs around 500-600 THB and maybe include ferry crossing. This choice is good if you stay at any guesthouse in "Khao Sarn" road.

MOVING AROUND TRAT

The main transportation in Trat is by Songthaew which literally means two rows. Songthaews are pick-up trucks modified for public transportation.Essentially they have two rows of seats at the back of the truck where passengers sit face to face.They can accommodate up to 8 or 10 people depending, of course, on the size of the passengers.

The following serves as a guideline on the route and approximate costs

From Trat to Piers

THERE ARE 3 PIERS SERVICING KOH CHANG.

THERE ARE 3 PIERS SERVICING KOH CHANG. All of them are located in the Amphur (district) of Laem Ngob.To go to these piers take one of the Songthaews in Trat. They can be easily found around the municipal market from as early as 6.00 am. The fare is about 30 Baht per person. Vehicle-carrying ferries and taxi or chartered boats are ready to take you to Koh Chang.

Option 1: Laem Ngob pier - Dan Kao pier ; Passenger boats usually leave from Leam Ngob pier to Dan Kao pier (near Koh Chang Ferry Pier) on Koh Chang every hour from 8.00 am. - 5.00 pm. The trip takes 40 minutes and the fare is 30 THB per person. http://www.kohchangislandguide.com

Kromaluang Chumporn Pier-Also Called Laem Ngob Pier

Centre Point Pier

Option 2: Ao Thammachart piers ; There are 2 piers; Koh Chang Ferry Pier and Ferry Koh Chang Pier.
Koh Chang Ferry Pier : Ferry boats usually leave from pier to Koh Chang Ferry Pier (near Dan Kao Pier) on Koh Chang every hour from 6.30 am. - 6.30 pm. The fare is 30 THB per person and 150 THB per car.

Ao Thammachat Pier

Tips from fellow travelers
There are many ways to get to Koh Chnag, but they are all very similar. The cheapest way to do it is by taking the public bus from Bangkok to Trat and from there take the ferry to Koh Chang. However, it is more comfortable to take a van, booked off of Khao San Road, or a tourist bus, also booked from a travel agency on Khao San Road. I took a 10-seater van right from Khao San Road to the ferry pier in Trat. Note that if you book from an agency on Khao San Road ask if the ferry ticket is included. A seat on a van shouldn't cost more than 300 Baht. The ferry ride takes about forty minutes, and is interesting. You pass many islands and old colorful boats, traveling on the aqua-blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. On the ferry there is an ice-cream/drink stand. When you arrive in Koh Chang you can either take a taxi to your guest house/beach or transportation provided by your hotel (set up before hand).

You can go to Ko Chang from Ekkamai Station. There is a bus going there every 1 or 2 hours. The price is about 190 THB. It will drop you off at a bus terminal in Trat and then you should take a "song taew" taxi to one of the 3 piers. From there you buy a boat ride ticket to the island. The bus ride from BKK - Trat is 5 hours, the taxi to pier takes about 30 mins and the boat ride to Ko Chang is about an hour. The boat leaves hourly and the last one is at 5pm. Suggestion: Check the timetable of the bus to match the boat schedule. Spare some time left in case the bus is late.. cos you dont want to miss the last boat. Add: Its easy to go to Ko Chang without buying a package from Khao San. When you get to a bus terminal in Trat, there will be a taxi waiting for people to go to one of the piers. And its easy to get a boat ride to Ko Chang.

To get around Ko Chang, you can take a "Song Taew" taxi. Simply just tell them where you want to go, like which beach you're heading to. Sometimes the taxi wont pick you up when its actually empty. That's cos its not his round to pick up people. Wait for a while, see a taxi with people, then hop in.

In the port of Laem Sok near Trat we chartered a boat to the south coast of Ko Chang. Our luggage, pots, pans, kitchen utensiles and food, bought at the market inTrat early morning was loaded in a boat which was allready filled with huge earthen pots.This boat with the luggage needed two hours to reach our place at the south coast of Ko Chang. We ourselves went with a faster speedboat and reached or hidden spot at the south coast in about one hour.We had a lovely boatride between the many small islands with mountains and palmbeaches. They talked about pirates, but we reached the bay of our island safely. We had to walk to the beach through the water. Our stay of a few days at our bounty island could start !

TRAT is the main gateway from Bangkok to Koh Chang. TRAT is easily accessible by bus, car, rail. There are flights to trat as well. By Bus, leave from eastern terminal (Ekamai Station) heading from Trat. Once in Trat, connect by ferry to Koh Chang from one of the three piers: Ao Thammachat (found this one to be the fastest / closest), Center Point, or Koh Chang Ferry pier. Ferries also transfer vehicles. All ferries leave the terminal on an hourly basis from both ends: 1st run at 7am and last run at 7pm. (time may change depending on the season) Upon ariving on Koh Chang, some minibus are available to take you to your destinations. While on the islands, one can rent bikes and motorcycles.... please see my tourist trap info. for rentals.

You can buy a package tour on Khao San Road from BKK - Ko Chang. There are one way deal and a rounp trip. The price is around 200-300THB for one way, and 400-470THB for round trip. Both includes a boat ride from the mainland to the island. The price is different , depending on which tour company and whether you will take a minibus(van) or a coach. Also, it depends on the season. I think the price is higher than this during the peak season, around Nov - May. The bus leaves Khao San around 8am and normally, it should take 5 hours to get to Trat, Laem Ngob pier. However, this is on condition that IF the bus doesn't stop often on the way, and IF it doesn't go round to drop people off to Rayong for Ko Samet first... Anyway, once you get to the pier, then you dont need to do anything but wait for the boat.