The way to Get to Koh Chang by Bus, Boat & Aircraft November 4, 2023

Bus Timetables and Boat Schedules to Koh Chang

Koh Chang Bus Timetables  

Earlier than you e mail to ask, there aren’t any trains because of the lack of railway tracks on this a part of Thailand. The bus timetables under in all probability gained’t differ an excessive amount of over the 2023-24 Excessive Season.  Inter-island boat schedules are on the backside of the web page and these too stay fairly related yr on yr.

Purchase tickets for minibuses and inter island boat companies from any tour agent.   Costs must be the identical in every single place, though some accommodations prefer to up the costs they cost company for tickets for excursions and transport, and it’s value haggling if in case you have a bunch of individuals as a smart agent must be keen to earn rather less fee slightly than miss out on a giant sale.

Buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

Ideally take the Authorities Bus 999 which runs between Ekamai Bus Station, Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok and the ferry piers, highlighted in inexperienced under. The ticket worth is 261 Baht per particular person. 

These buses are all new and in good situation.  They supply a free snack and drink on the bus and it’ll additionally cease a few instances in the course of the journey.  As soon as for a bathroom break and as soon as for an extended 20 minutes break that may allow passengers to seize a espresso, snack or plate of Thai meals.

As that is one of the best ways to get to Koh Chang by public transport I’ve written a separate information on The way to Take the 999 Bus from Ekkamai Bus Station to Koh Chang.

In a single day Buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

No there isn’t any night time bus to Laem Ngop, the place the piers are situated. However there’s 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 solely half-hour of ready time earlier than you may get on the primary boat, so it really works effectively.

For folks attempting to save lots of an evening’s lodging it’s nonetheless higher to journey by night time by way of total price. And the visitors isn’t so unhealthy. Daytime buses to the piers from Bangkok or vice versa take 6+ hours, practically 7 in the event that they go by way of the airport. Nighttime is lower than 6 hours both method, generally shut to five hours.

Be aware that at Ekkamai they may try to promote you the by means of ticket to Koh Chang (together with the boat ticket). There’s no motive to purchase the boat ticket till you get to Trat, as a result of there’s no low cost, nevertheless it’s as much as you.

Going again to Bangkok there’s a 23:30  bus from Cherdchai too, from Trat bus station. So you are able to do the identical factor in reverse.  Nonetheless, you’ll have fairly an extended wait after taking the final boat off Koh Chang from Centrepoint pier at at 19:30 to getting prime Trat bus station.  And there’s not rather a lot to do in Trat bus station late night time. Or in Trat city for that matter.

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

Timetable from buses from Morchit Bus Station (by way of Suvarnabhumi Airport) to  Koh Chang

Minibuses from Bangkok to Koh Chang

In late 2011 the variety of large bus companies from Bangkok to Trat, the closest mainland city, was diminished.   BUT new minibus companies had been launched.   Minibuses, with a ticket worth 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 principle street about 25Km earlier than you attain Trat.  From there there can be a choose up truck taxi ready to take folks to the ferry pier.

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

The one draw back of those minibuses is that the drivers usually have the necessity for pace.   So, if security is paramount or you’re a nervous passenger then possibly it’s finest avoiding them.   On the plus aspect, they not often crash and when they don’t everybody dies.  

Suvarnabhumi Burapha Airport Bus to Koh Chang

This service is also called the Koh Chang Specific on some web sites. The primary direct bus service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Klong Son, on Koh Chang, started on 1 December 2009 and was run by the Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Firm.  Buses now go to their new workplace on White Sand seaside.

Departures from Entrance 8 on Stage 1 of Suvarnabhumi Airport are at 07:00 & 10:00. Ticket worth is 650 Baht together with ferry ticket.   The autos used are microbuses.    

Heading from Koh Chang to the airport, the buses depart from the White Sand seaside workplace, situated on the principle street simply south of The White Elephant bar.   There are two departures a day at 10:00 and 13:00

It’s also doable to get dropped off or picked up at your lodge on Koh Chang.  For this there’s an extra cost of 100 Baht.

Tickets for these companies will be booked upfront by means of the 12go.asia web site. 

If you’d like selecting up out of your lodge on Koh Chang for the return journey you will want to name the minibus firm to allow them to know a few days upfront.  There’s an additional 100 Baht cost for this. 

One factor to be careful for is that in quieter instances, in the course of the off-season, buses could go by way of Pattaya, thus including on a few hours to the drive , slightly than going direct.  The tickets are nonetheless good worth however it’s going to imply an extended day on the street.  Verify this if you’re travelling throughout Low Season.

Don Meuang Airport Bus & Minibus to Koh Chang

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

You’ll should take a shuttle bus from the airport to Morchit Bus Station.  From there you possibly 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.

Another is to take a taxi to Suvarnabhumi Airport after which from there take a minibus direct to your lodge on Koh Chang.  However keep in mind it’s about an hour drive between the 2 airports.  However in case you’re touchdown early in Don Meuang, then ebook a ticket for the Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang minibus and getting right here can be trouble free.

Heading from Koh Chang to Don Meuang you will see that brokers promoting tickets for this service.  Nonetheless it’s essential to notice that the minibuses will first drop folks off at accommodations in central Bangkok earlier than going to the airport.  So the journey will take longer than you anticipate.

Subsequently, the most suitable choice is to take a minibus from Koh Chang to Suvarnabhumi Airport. 

Why?  As a result of there’s a free shuttle bus between the airports for folks holding tickets for flights.  If you get to Suvarnabhumi go to Door 3 on the Arrivals degree. 

You’ll see the indicators for the shuttle bus and a counter the place the workers could or could not ask to see your airplane ticket. The air-conditioned shuttle buses between the airports depart repeatedly – about each quarter-hour from early morning till late night time.  It’s about one hour drive between the airports. 

Alternatively, if  it’s doable to fly into Suvarnabhumi, slightly than Don Meuang, then this may make life simpler, just because you possibly can take a shared minibus or a personal switch can be rather a lot faster . Because of the further distance and antiquated automobile parking at Don Meuang, it’s going to take a minimal of a hour and sometimes 90 minutes longer when coming from Don Meuang to Koh Chang in comparison with Suvarnabhumi. You may discover that both it’s much less trouble to fly into Suvarnabhumi after which take a minibus direct from there.  

Buses from Pattaya to Koh Chang

( Be aware that companies have been badly affected because of the lack of vacationers.  At current, mid-2023, the shared minibuses solely run twice every week on Tuesday and Friday.)

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

However notice that you just’ll principally have to hold round roadside in the midst of the night time and hope that the bus arrives.  Because the buses are sometimes an hour or extra late and there aren’t any workers to ask or present assist.  So that is solely actually an choice for folks on a decent price range.

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

As well as Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Firm even have a day by day service from Pattaya to Koh Chang . This departs Pattaya at 08:00 day by day.  From Koh Chang to Pattaya the bus departs at 10:00 day by day.  It’s doable to get picked up and dropped off at your accommodations in Pattaya and on the island.  Purchase tickets upfront on-line at 12go.asia

Or if you wish to come direct to Koh Chang, there are personal firms that present companies that may choose you up out of your lodge on Pattaya or Jomtien and drop you off at your lodge on Koh Chang.  Purchase tickets from any tour agent in Pattaya.  

Flights to Koh Chang

Flying from Bangkok to Trat

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

Bangkok Airways owns Trat Airport and so has a monopoly on the day by day flights to/from Bangkok.   Prier to covid there have been as much as eight flights per day, 4 in every route.  The costs for the 40 minute sky hop aren’t that low-cost, you may get a return ticket for Bangkok to Hanoi cheaper than a a technique Bangkok to Trat flight.  However it’s a stress free, handy approach to get right here.

Costs from 1,500 – 4,000 Baht/particular person a technique relying on time of yr and the way determined for bookings the airline is.  Hold an eye fixed out for 1,000 Baht a technique flights throughout Low Season, there are generally good offers available.  Ebook on-line on the Bangkok Airways web site.   Flights are not often full exterior the principle peak season.

2023 Replace:  Be aware that for the 2023 – 24 excessive season solely flights PG305 / PG306 & PG307 /PG308 are working.  

*  = Flight not at the moment working as of mid 2023.

** = Excessive 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

Each day flights between Samui and Trat started in December 2010 and had been then discontinued in mid 2012 because of Samui attracting the kind of guests who don’t need to additionally go to Koh Chang (and vice versa).

There’s a minibus service for passengers on Bangkok Airways.  This runs from Trat Airport to accommodations on Koh Chang.  You purchase tickets whenever you land in Trat.  A technique worth is 800 Baht and return worth is 1,500 Baht.  Costs for the minibus have elevated rather a lot since covid.  It’s now more economical and comfy for many passengers to rearrange a personal switch a personal switch from Trat Airport to your lodge by means of the TratAirportGuide.com website.  A door to door personal switch for 2 passengers is 1,900 Baht complete. Or for 4 passengers, 2,500 Baht complete. 

Ferries and Speedboat from Trat to Koh Chang

Boats from Trat to Koh Chang

Extra detailed data on the boat companies to Koh Chang will be discovered at KohChangFerries.com

There are two companies which run giant automobile ferries between the mainland piers at Laem Ngop and Koh Chang. 

Ferry Koh Chang  

This automobile ferry to Koh Chang runs between Ao Thammachat pier, Trat on the mainland and Ao Sapporot pier on Koh Chang. Ticket costs. One Manner: 80 Baht per grownup, 30 Baht for kids  Automobile: 100 Baht

Trat (Centrepoint) Ferry

Trat Ferry – previously Centrepoint  – is the slower of the automobile ferries to Koh Chang.  Ticket costs. Spherical Journey: 160 Baht per particular person ( anybody beneath 10 is free ) One Manner: 80 Baht per particular person ( anybody beneath 10 is free ) Automobile is 80 Baht.

Santhiya Tree Resort Speedboat

It’s also doable 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 however anybody can use it.  The boat runs from Ao Tan Khu pier on the mainland to Santhiya Tree Resort , Klong Prao seaside. 

The boat service is timetabled to coincide with Bangkok Airway’s flights to & from Trat Airport.  The ticket worth is 900 Baht / particular person for the boat solely or 1,250 Baht / particular person for a switch between Trat Airport to Koh Chang by minibus and boat.  Full timetable and extra particulars on the Santhiya Tree Resort web site. 

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

Bangbao Boat

Bangbao Boat run companies from Koh Chang to Koh Wai to Koh Mak to Koh Kood for round six months per yr, from late October / early November till the the center of Could.   They’ll cease working in the course of the  wet season when the circumstances are unhealthy and there are only a few guests on the islands.  

Purchase tickets from any tour agent on the islands.  For tickets from Koh Chang, the worth consists of transport out of your lodge to the pier in Bangbao.

Each the wood boat and speedboat moor on 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 closest pier doable. ) The ultimate drop off, and choose up, location are the resorts in Bangbao Bay, Koh Kood. 

These aren’t the total timetables.  You may get on get off at any island. However they provide you an concept of prices.  

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

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

Kai Bae Hut Speedboat

Again in 2010, Kai Bae Hut started working speedboat companies to Koh Mak and Koh Kood.     Costs are the identical as Bangbao Boat, 600 Baht from Koh Chang to Koh Mak and 900 Baht to Koh Kood.  This service solely runs from 15 November to 30 April.

There’s one boat day by day in every route.   This can be a good different in case you don’t fancy the lengthy choose up truck trip south to Bangbao.  Plus you get to see Kai Bae seaside, Lonely Seashore, Bailan Bay and the peninsula at Bangbao from the ocean.

I take advantage of this service after I go to the opposite islands .  The switch out of your lodge to the boat is included within the worth.  Purchase tickets out of your lodge or at any tour agent.

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

Boonsiri Ferry Excessive Velocity Catamaran

In late 2018 Boonsiri Ferry started working a excessive season service from 1 October  – 31 Could between Koh Chang – Koh Mak and Koh Kood.  Their service makes use of a contemporary, air-conditioned excessive pace catamaran.  It additionally has free wifi and is definitely essentially the most comfy approach to get between the islands. The boat moors in Bangbao, on Koh Chang; Ao Nid pier on Koh Mak; and Ao Salat Bay within the north east of Koh Kood. 

The ticket worth on Koh Chang and Koh Kood consists of choose up and drop off at your accommodations on the island.  Purchase tickets on-line at https://boonsiriferry.com or from most tour brokers if you end up on the islands. 

There isn’t a off-season service. However, as Boonsiri Ferry runs yr spherical from the mainland to Koh Kood, you possibly can ebook a ticket from a lodge on Koh Chang to a lodge on Koh Kood throughout off-season.  This entails being picked up by minibus and taking the automobile ferry again to the mainland after which driving to Laem Sok pier the place you’ll catch the boat to Koh Kood.  Ticket worth is barely increased at 900 Baht per particular person.

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