How Best to Get to Koh Chang from Bangkok or Pattaya

Koh Chang (or Ko Chang) draws the attention of many tourists coming to Thailand for vacation. Naturally, there is no direct connection between the island and the mainland, so the big question is: how to get to Ko Chang from Bangkok or Pattaya? That’s what our article is all about.

Contents

How to Get There
From Pattaya
From Bangkok
Plane
Bus
Taxi
From Trat to the Pier

How to Get There

You can only reach Koh Chang via transfers, as there is no direct flight to the island. Moreover, there isn’t even an airport here — all planes land on the mainland in Trat Province.

The possible routes are:

Plane + ferry.
Bus + ferry.
Train + ferry.
Car + ferry.

From Pattaya

How do you get from Pattaya to Koh Chang?

Taxi;
Transfer through a tour bureau;
Excursion program.

A taxi is the most comfortable but also the most expensive option. On average, the fare to the Ao Thammachat Pier (this is where the ferry departs) ranges from 75 to 150 USD (the cheapest is a sedan, the most expensive is a minivan). You can split the cost among all passengers, so traveling as a group is more economical.

It’s cheaper to get to Koh Chang using a transfer from one of the tourist bureaus. The price list is as follows:

One-way transfer – 400 baht (includes ferry fare of 100 baht);
Round-trip transfer – 720 baht;
Transfer from your hotel – 520 baht one-way, or 1,100 baht round-trip.

This is the most convenient option because they’ll take you to the island (and back) in a vehicle with other tourists, and you won’t have to worry about transfers.

The total travel time is about five hours from the moment you board the minibus in Pattaya until you’re dropped off on Koh Chang. Buses usually leave in the morning, typically two trips a day in one direction, though during the rainy season, one trip may be canceled due to lower tourist demand.

And here’s an interesting tip: order a transfer directly to your hotel on Koh Chang. Otherwise, you could end up sitting at the pier for a long time waiting for other tourists who only paid for transfer to the Koh Chang pier.

The thing is, songthaew drivers are reluctant to leave unless there are enough passengers. They’re willing to go for the taxi rate of 400 baht, but not at the songthaew rate of 50 baht. You’ll have to wait until they fill the vehicle. This applies to Koh Chang, just so you’re aware.

Another option is buying a tour, but in essence, that’s the same transfer plus guided activities and accommodation fees. If you’ve already booked a hotel room, this won’t be suitable. However, for those traveling on a package, it can be perfect, with prices starting around 2,500 baht for one night.

Pattaya – Ko Chang: how to get there on your own? It’s quite tricky if you don’t have a rented vehicle. The thing is, there’s no direct bus from Pattaya to Trat province, and all buses pass by the city on Sukhumvit Highway. Your only chance is to intercept the bus on the highway. But it’s unlikely you can flag it down with a simple wave, the way we might do back home. Still, if such difficulties don’t scare you off, the approximate time the shuttle bus drives through Pattaya is 11:30 AM; you’d have to catch it on the highway. The bus number is 392, and the ticket costs 200 baht.

If you plan to visit Ko Chang by motorbike or car, the route isn’t complicated. The map below shows the path, so you’ll figure it out. The cost to ferry your vehicle is 100 baht each way.

From Bangkok

How do you get from Bangkok to Ko Chang? In this case, things are a bit simpler because there are many more options, including:

Plane;
Bus;
Taxi;
Transfer.

Plane

Flying is one of the easiest yet priciest methods. The plane lands at Trat Airport, from which you’ll need to take a transfer to the pier.

See below for more information on flight prices.

Bus

There are more bus options. The simplest is the bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport, departing daily at 7:50 AM from Exit #8 (where you can also buy tickets). The price is 700 baht.

Departure times can change, so it’s best to check updated information on this website.

The ride takes about seven hours. On the return trip, the bus leaves at 1:00 PM.

Alternatively, a minibus also runs from the airport three times a day. Check times at the ticket counter near Exit 8, as it’s not a regular route but an additional one (though it runs more frequently than the regular bus). The price is the same.

How do you get to Ko Chang from Bangkok if you’re already in the city, not just arriving at the airport? In that case, you need to get to one of the following bus terminals:

Ekkamai.
Mo Chit.

From Ekkamai, the Government Bus 999 goes straight to Laem Ngop Pier (the second pier in Trat), while from Mo Chit, a bus heads towards Ao Thammachat.

Both buses pass by Bangkok’s main airport, so you could simply board at the airport bus station and head to Ko Chang from there — you don’t necessarily have to go all the way to the bus terminal (though there’s a chance there may not be seats available).

If you’re worried about finding a seat, there’s a free shuttle from the airport to the bus terminals, where you can buy tickets for the time you prefer.

Taxi

If you’ve got the funds and want to avoid extra stress, you can simply order a taxi or transfer to the island. It generally costs around 3,000 baht to the pier and up to 5,000 baht to your hotel.

A minivan option is more expensive overall, but if you split the cost among a group, it can be cheaper — up to 10,000 baht.

It’s best to book a transfer here:

No matter what people say, a car is usually the most comfortable option. Although buses sometimes have their own menus.

From Trat to the Pier

Because the bus station and airport aren’t right next to the pier, and most travelers arrive here first, you’ll need a ride to the pier. This typically costs 50–70 baht for a songthaew. Before you hop in, let the driver know which pier you need, because by default they might take you somewhere else.