Getting to Koh Chang can be a bit challenging as it's somewhat distant from Thailand's major airports. If you're planning to travel to Chang independently, consider the different routes to find the one that suits you best.
There's no airport on the island itself. The nearest one is in Trat province, which receives flights from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can also reach Koh Chang from Bangkok's airports. Below, you can find details about the two most popular routes.
All transportation to Koh Chang goes to the pier where ferries depart for the island:
Operation Schedule: Sea transportation departs every hour, starting at 6:00 am until 7:00 pm.
Cost: An adult ferry ticket costs 80 THB, and children under 8 years old travel for free.
How to Get to the Island from Bangkok Airports
Suvarnabhumi Airport
There are several transportation options from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang:
Minivans and Bus
The Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus Company operates buses from the airport in Bangkok to the island.
Routes and Timetables:
The air-conditioned bus #392 departs in the morning at 7:50 sharp. Travel time is approximately 5 hours with about 1 hour on the ferry. The company also has three more minivan departures at 09:30, 11:00, and 14:00.
You can take a passing bus to the ferry, which departs from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bus Terminal near the airport.
From Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport, buses depart in the morning at 07:00, 09:00, and in the evening at 17:00, 19:00.
Fare:
The cost of a direct flight to Chang is 600 THB (one way). For round-trip tickets, the price is 900 THB. Tickets can be purchased at airport gate 8.
For a passing bus to the ferry, the fare is 265-275 THB.
Information about the ferry can be found at the beginning of this article.
Shuttle
There is a free shuttle bus that goes directly from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang. However, it only takes you to the town of Trat and not to the pier for the ferry to the island. To reach the ferry from Trat, inquire at the bus station ticket office or local travel agents for directions.
Don Muang Airport
Bangkok has another airport, Don Muang Airport. Nearby is the Northern Bus Terminal, from where comfortable air-conditioned buses leave for Trat. From the town, you can catch a ferry to Koh Chang.
A comfortable taxi from the airport to the hotel door on Chang will cost THB 4,500. It can be booked at the airport grounds.
Bus
Operation Schedule: Buses depart at least three times a day. Check the exact schedule at the ticket office on the airport grounds.
The Cost of bus fare to Trat is 265-275 THB, and you will also receive free snacks and water.
How to get to the island from Trat
The province of Trat is considered a staging point not only between cities in Thailand, but also between islands. Airplanes from Bangkok land several times a day.
You can book a direct group transfer to Koh Chang by minivan from local tour operators online. The fare will cost 390 THB per person.
Route:
From the provincial airport, you need to get to Trat Bus Terminal. This is where buses from Bangkok bus terminals go, passing the local airport on the way to pick up tourists.
Further afield, you need to transfer to a Songteo with "Koh Chang Ferry" written on the glass. They will take you to the pier of Center Point.
From there, you buy a ticket and take the Koh Chang Ferry to the island on your own.
Price:
For the bus to the bus station and Songteo to the pier, you will have to pay an amount between 70 - 150 THB.
Information about the ferry is posted at the beginning of this article.
There are plenty of options on how to get from the airports to the island on your own, but if you value comfort and time, booking a shuttle or cab to Koh Chang might be a better choice.
