Bangkok City to Koh Chang Island – Travel Guide

Seriously I like Thailand specially the food you don’t need to eat in fancy restaurant to eat authentic Thai food. . I feel the hot weather in Thailand even at night compare to Philippines. Five days in Bangkok my husband and I (travel buddy) decided to visit Koh Chang Island it’s third larges Island of Thailand.

Brief Information About Koh Chang Island:

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• Koh Chang is the largest island in the Ko Chang Archipelago. The name means Elephant Island, named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to the island.
•  Koh Chang has an area of approximately 429 square kilometers.
• Most accommodation is located on the western side of the island, where the sandy beaches are.
•  Koh Chang is close to the Cambodian border and is part of a range of 52 islands that are off the coast of Trat, like a string of sparkling jewels.

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Chang

How to get there:

From Suvarnabhumi Airport (Express bus from airport to Koh Chang)

SWB Bus

Photo credit to: http://www.bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com/

“SWB” Tours also known as Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus service is direct to Koh Chang Island, leaves the airport at 7:30AM. Ticket price is set at 308 baht / person / way to or from Koh Chang.

From Ekamai (Public and government bus)

Bus at Ekamai station

Photo credit to : http://www.flickr.com/photos/calflier001

Ideally take the bus between Ekkamai Bus Station and the ferry piers, highlighted in orange below. Ticket prices are around 250 Baht per person. Which goes to Trat Bus station, this leaves about every two hours from 6:00 to 11:30PM, then take a Taxi to one of the ferry ports.

By Airplane (Bangkok Airways)

Bangkok Air

Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bangkokair

The most convenient way is by air. Trat airport was open by Bangkok Airways. The airport is located on the mainland near Laem Ngob. The flight operates daily and twice a day (8:30 & 16:50) only an hour’s flight. The trip takes 45 minutes. Take mini bus to Koh Chang Island.

BY VAN

Me and my husband inside the minivan

Alternatively, visitors can take minibus and full sized bus services pickup from “Khao San” road. This service can be book by travel agents in this area. It costs around 600 – 700 THB and maybe include ferry crossing. This choice is good if you stay at any guesthouse in “Khao Sarn” road. Suggested travel agency: Telephone 0871014811 (Quick and easy)

By Taxi

Direct travel and door to door from Bangkok to Koh Chang roughly cost 3,500 THB. If you are lucky 2,500 negotiation on taxi driver.

Pink taxi in Bangkok

Koh Chang Ferry Pier and Ferry Koh Chang Pier

Ferry going to Koh Chang island

 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.

Welcome to Koh Chang Port

We choose to call travel agency going to Koh Chang Island its more convenient just call them and they will give you the information. From Sukhumvit 18 we ride taxi going to Khao San road and wait for our mini van to pick up us just in front of MC Donald. It took us 4 to 5 hours travel time direct to Koh Chang Ferry pier with 2 stops for toilet and snack break. Afterwards we ride Ferry and took us 35 minutes transfer time and another 35 to 40 minutes on taxi going to Lonely Beach.

 WARNING: Some of the mini van drivers are driving too fast they are worst than Philippines driver. If you want to remind them about their driving do it in a nice way or else they will get angry.

Travel safe! Based on our own experience*