Getting to Koh Chang Thailand

Getting to Koh Chang Thailand.

Ko Chang Take a sawngthaew from Trat ti Leam Ngop on the coast,then a ferry to Ko Chang.In Laem Ngop there sre now three piers serving Ko Chang -the main one at the end of the road from Trat,called Tha Laem Ngop;another 4km north-west of Leam Ngop called Tha Ko Chang Centrepoint;and a newer one called Tha Thammachat at Ao THammachat,farther west of Leam Ngop.

Tha Laem Ngop is the best jumping off point as there are boats to all the islands from here.Boats go to Tha Dan Kao on Ko Chang year-around;This is the boat most people take .During the high season-roughly December to April - boats depart hourly from 7am to 5pm.For the remainder of the year the schedue is reduced to about every two hours,al though departures ultimately depend on weather,number of passengers and any number of other factors.The trip takes one hour and costs 50B per person.You should check on fares in advandce - sometimes the boat crews overcharge farang.At Tha Dan Kao,sawngthaaew will be waiting to take you to any of the various beaches along the west coast or to Ao Salak Phet.

One boat leaves Tha Leam Ngop at 3pm daily for the two-hour trip to Hat Sai Khao on Ko Chang's west coast.In the return direction it depart from Hat Sai Khao at 9.30am.The fare is 80B per person

From the gleaming Tha Ko Chang Centrepoint,there are three or four daily boat departures between 7am and 4pm.The trip takes 45 minutes and costs 30B per person

The newest way to get to Ko Chang is via a vehicle ferry ervice from Ao Thammachat.It leaves four times daily;because of the the pier's pesition in relation to the is the island,and the craft'more powerful engines the car ferry reaches Ao Sapparot in half an hour.It costs 400B for a vehicle and driver,plus 30B per passenger or pedestrian,to ride the Thamachat ferry.So far custom is for the most part restricted to people doing business on the islad but in the future this service could very well supplant the Leam Ngop ourist ferry as well.

There are direct minivans from Th Khao San in Bangkok to Leam Ngop for 250B per person.Although it's no longer the case that the minivans neccessarity miss the last boat to Ko Chang,It 's better to take a regular bus,spend the night in trat or Laem Ngop and take your time shoosing a boat the next day.Or start out earlier in the day by government tour bus to Trat catch a sawngthaew to Laem Ngop in time for the afternoon boats.

By Car
The best way to get to Koh Chang requires a trip to Trat province. Once you are in Trat, ferry services are available at three main piers to go to the island itself.

Route 1 : Bangna-Chonburi-Ban Bung-Klaeng-Chantaburi-Trat. Distance: 315 km.

(a) Take Highway No. 3 (Bangna-Trat Road) until you reach the Chonburi bypass. You can either take the normal road or the new elevated Bangkok-Chonburi Tollway which is right above it. Toll fee is 55 baht.

(b) Exit from the main road, head to the left and follow the Chonburi bypass that reads Pattaya-Rayong.

(c) Head for Rayong until you see the Ban Bung-Klaeng-Chantaburi and the Bang Saen-Pattaya signboards.

(d) Take the Ban Bung-Klaeng-Chantaburi route on your left. You are now on Highway No. 344.

(e) Take the right route at Ban Bung-Klaeng junction and head for Klaeng only until you reach the Chantaburi-Rayong junction. Turn left to Chantaburi but do not enter the town which is on your right. This is again Highway No. 3. Go forward until you reach the Sa Kaew-Trat junction.

(f) Take the right turn to the town of Trat.

(g) Alternatively, you can head directly to the three piers without passing through Trat town. Look for the Laem Ngob signboard at the Laem Ngob-Trat junction. Notice there is a PTT petrol station on your left just after a police checkpoint followed by another PTT station exactly one km away. This is the Laem Ngob-Trat junction. Turn right to Laem Ngob. This is Highway No. 3156 (Laem Ngob-Sahn Tung Road). You will reach Ao Thammachat followed by the Centrepoint and Kromaluang Chumporn Piers.

Route 2 : (Motorway Route): Rama IX or Srinakarin-Ban Bung-Klaeng-Chantaburi-Trat. The motorway is another alternative. Starting from Rama IX Road or Srinakarin Road, exit after paying the second toll that leads to Ban Bung, Klaeng, Chantaburi and finally Trat. The total toll fee is 60 baht.

Route 3 : Bangna-Chonburi-Rayong-Chantaburi-Trat; ; Distance-385 km. This is the other route using Highway No. 3 but takes longer as you need to pass through Chonburi and Rayong provinces.

By Bus
The Ekamai Bus Terminal is the main terminal for the eastern provinces. It is located at the Ekamai section of Sukhumvit Road which is also easily accessible by the BTS Skytrain. Air-conditioned and ordinary buses depart almost every hour as shown in the timetable here. The trip is about 5 hours. The Northern Bus Terminal (New Morchid) is the other route. It is located at New Morchid of Kampaeng Petch Road. Air-conditioned buses depart as shown in the timetable. The trip is also about 5 hours.

By Van
There are many vans plying between Bangkok and Laem Ngob. They are found on Khao San Road near the Vieng Tai Hotel, departing at 8:00 a.m. daily and leaving Laem Ngob at 11:00 a.m. daily. The one-way fare is 500 baht / person depending on the season.

By Air
Bangkok Airways (tel.1771) flies twice daily to Trat. The flight time is 50 minutes. Airport - hotel transfers to Koh Chang is 280 to 350 baht per trip depending on the hotel where you stay.