Koh Chang, or Elephant Island, gets its name from its elephant shaped headland and it’s the third largest Thai island behind Phuket and Koh Samui.Pretty interesting, huh?
Yes it is, and you’re probably wondering what’s the best way get to Koh Chang form Bangkok? Well, the answer to that depends on the type of traveler you are. Continue reading to learn how you can go to Koh Chang from Bangkok in a style that best fits your level of comfort or adventure.
There are 3 ways you can travel from Bangkok to Koh Chang. They are by air, via public bus or minibus, by hired car/taxi, or driving yourself.
BY AIR
The fastest method of reaching Koh Chang from Bangkok is to fly from Bangkok to Trat. The flight is a short 1 hour hop, however Trat airport is located on the mainland, so it won’t be a direct flight to Koh Chang.
If you do choose to fly to erat, from the airport in Trat you can get a direct minibus transfer to Koh Chang. The minibus fee will be 500 baht, which includes the ferry crossing. A roundtrip ticket will cost you 900 baht. Alternatively, you can try to flag down a local pickup truck taxi. That won’t be cheap and won’t be fun.
One word of caution, during high season or during Songkran, ticket prices increase significantly. You might even find cheaper flights to Hong Kong or Singapore at these times.
BY BUS
By bus is the cheapest and most economical method of going to Koh Chang. It’s also the most complicated and offers the most adventurous Thailand experience. But don’t worry, it isn’t too complicated or dangerous. it’s just a little different and a bit more exciting.
There are a few options, but the best way is to take a bus from the Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal. For about 280 baht you’ll take the bus to Laem Ngop and then go to the pier from there.
The most popular bus is the #999 bus that will take you directly to the pier. This bus departs at 07:45 and 09:00. The earlier bus takes passengers to Ao Thammachat pier and the later bus stops at Centrepoint pier.
Alternatively, you can take a minibus to Saen Tung where you’ll switch over and take a songthaew to the ferry terminal. If choosing the minibus, be sure to be on the minibus by 13:00 to reach Koh Chang on the same day.
Bus tickets are 280 baht and the songthaew is 60-100 baht, depending on the number of passengers. The songthaew ride to the pier is about 30 minutes and is the most adventurous way to get to the ferry pier.
No matter which bus you take from Bangkok your travel time will run about 5-6 hours.
There are also a few private VIP buses that can be booked for 450 baht per person. These depart from Khao San Road. These buses are more expensive and aimed towards travelers staying in the Khao San Road area.
There are also buses that can be taken directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rate is 600 baht per person and bookings are made at the airport.
BY CAR OR TAXI
If public transportation isn’t right for you and you don’t want to fly, there’s the option of hiring a car or taxi from Bangkok to Koh Chang. This is more popular than you might expect, especially for groups of travelers splitting the fare. In fact, it’s a great alternative to flights during the high season when flights are as much as 3500 baht per person.
Bookings for private transfers can be made online through several companies. You can arrange pickup at your hotel or either of the Bangkok airports. Prices will vary but a regular sedan will run you about 4000-5000 baht.
It’s also possible to hail and hire a taxi from central Bangkok. However, you need to find a driver willing to spend 8-12 hours on a round trip. As for the price, that will depend on your negotiation skills. If you’re good, about 3500 baht. If you look like you have money to spend, probably like 4000 baht.
But, if absolutely none of these previous options are appealing and you’re 200% confident in your ability as a driver in Thailand; you could drive yourself to Koh Chang. But be warned, this isn’t recommended unless you’ve already been living and driving in Thailand for years. However, if you do choose to drive. It’s a simple route and almost all road signs are in English and Thai.
To go by car to Koh Chang from Bangkok, start by following the Bangna-Trat motorway (Highway 7) out of Bangkok until highway 344.
Stay on 344 then join Highway 3 near Klaeng.
About 23km before Trat, turn left at a T-junction with the signpost to Laem Ngap. 25 minutes later you’ll be at the Ferry Koh Chang, or Ao Thammachat.
How Will You go to Koh Chang?
There you have it, the different ways you can go from Bangkok to Koh Chang. Which one is the right way for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
