It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that there is no own airport on Koh Chang. How is it, - tourists are surprised, - this is an island, how can you get to it? Moreover, the place is well-known and popular with Europeans.

No worries: the lack of an airport makes the island less accessible and prevents it from becoming another Phuket.

Why is there no airport on Koh Chang?

• Reason #1. Ecological.

Koh Chang is a protected area. Any activity that pollutes is prohibited here. environment. For example, watercraft with internal combustion engines cannot be used at sea: only rowing is allowed. Ferries are an exception, but their routes are clearly defined. The second exception is road transport.

• Reason number 2. Economic.

Koh Chang, despite a number of advantages, is still not a top tourist destination. Focused mainly on the young audience, assuming a vacation in a budget style. There are also expensive accommodation options. high level, but they are few. In general, no one wants to build an airport so that a couple of hundred ravers hang out on the island.

In general, the tourist capacity of the island is small. In terms of its tourist potential, Chang is inferior to Phuket and Koh Samui, which have airports.

What is the nearest airport to Koh Chang?

Administratively, the island is part of the province of Trat. This is a border region of Thailand that until recently was not of great tourist interest. Relative proximity to Bangkok (about 300 km or 5 hours highway) allowed local residents to do without air service.

Despite the fact that Chang became famous among young foreigners in the 1970s, until the late 1990s. it remains an underground place. And the underground, as you know, does not imply great comfort. But gradually a more serious public began to visit Trat, which, having heard about the reserved status of Chang, almost all followed to this island.

Only in 2003 was the first, currently the only, airport built in Trat. It is located in the west of the province, in the area bearing the same name.

Since the main purpose of this airport (if we talk about passenger traffic) is to serve the needs of Chang, often, for example, in Bangkok Airways, Trat Airport is called Chang Airport, and when booking tickets, the inscription “Trat (Koh Chang)” is displayed.

What flights fly to the airport?

Direct flights to Bangkok only:

Travel time - 1 hour. The cost of a one-way ticket is about $70.

If you need to fly to any other destination in Thailand, then a transfer is made in Bangkok. In popular destinations, planes fly frequently, and the connection time is always minimal.

Here are some options (1 change in Bangkok):

All flights are operated by Bangkok Airways.

How to get from the airport to Koh Chang?

The airport is located:

• 17 km from Ao Thammachat;
• 20 km from Centrepoint Piers.

In both places there are piers from which ferries depart for Koh Chang. From Ao Thammachat, ferries leave every half an hour, from Centrepoint Piers once an hour. They moor at 2 different piers: on the north side of the island.

The road, therefore, consists of the following segments:

1. Way to the piers - from 20 to 30 minutes. (any minibus - 100 baht - $ 3);
2. Sea route - from 25 to 45 minutes. (ferry - 80 baht - $ 2.5);
3. The way to the hotel on the island is up to 30 minutes. depending on the distance to the piers.

Shuttle to:

• White Sand Beach - 50 baht - $ 1.4;
• Kai Bae Beach - 60 baht - $ 1.7;
• Lonely Beach - 100 baht - $ 3;
• Bang Bao - 150-200 baht - $ 4-6.

Total: maximum - 380 baht.

Difficult path, isn't it? Bangkok Airways would not have been the national carrier and the pride of all Thais if it had not thought of everything in advance so that its passengers would not experience such difficulties with the transfer. As a result, the following scheme was developed:

1. All arriving passengers are waiting for minivans at the exit from the airport.
2. For 500 baht ($15) minibuses:

• take passengers to the ferry;
• board a ferry (the fare is included in the general ticket);
• upon arrival at Koh Chang, passengers are transported to hotels.

Despite the fact that Bangkok Airways notes that they deliberately adjust the flight schedule for the movement of ferries, it must be admitted that they are disingenuous. Only one of the three flights (the latest) arrives 50 minutes before. before the departure of the last pier at 18.00. Passengers of the first two flights still have to wait at the piers from 40 minutes. up to 1 hour.

Those who want to make their airport transfer even easier should use a taxi. Prices start at $25 per person. For $60, if there is mutual desire on both sides, you can bargain for the whole car. Plus pay extra for the ferry crossing. But if the destination lies significantly to the south of the island, then the cost of such a trip will increase.

Distance from Bangkok to Koh Chang - 342 km on the road, 280 km in a straight line. You can get there by bus, minibus, plane, taxi or order a transfer. And, of course, any kind of transportation includes a ferry.

The vast majority of transport goes to the city of Trat (the capital of the province of Trat, which includes the island of Koh Chang). Then from the Trat bus station you will need to transfer to a songteo (local pickup bus) to the pier on Koh Chang. The city of Trat is not very far from the pier to Koh Chang, and getting from it is already quite simple and not long.

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang

There are bus routes in the right direction from different parts of Bangkok, including from the airport. Departures are frequent throughout the day.

From Ekamai bus station

The easiest way to get there is from the bus station Ekkamai Bus Terminal, as there are buses to Trat from early morning until evening with short intervals between flights. They depart to Bangkok with the same frequency. Another positive point is that this bus station is a 5-minute walk from the metro station of the same name. A ticket to Trat will cost from 263 baht (for flight number 99) to 275 baht (other buses in the same direction). Travel time is about 5-6 hours, buses arrive at Trat Bus Terminal or go straight to the pier.

From Mo Chit bus station

From Suvarnabhumi Airport you can go directly to Koh Chang by minibus. The minibus departs from Bangkok Airport at 9:30, 11:00 and 14:00, and its ticket price includes a transfer to Lonely Beach on Koh Chang. In the opposite direction, minibuses depart at 7:00, 9:00, 17:00 and 19:00. The total travel time from the airport to the beach on Koh Chang is 6-7 hours. The fare is 600 baht one way and 900 baht return to Bangkok.

From Victory Monument metro station

This station is located in the city center and from here you can go to the pier on Koh Chang by minibus. They go quite often, a ticket costs about 300-400 baht (usually a ferry ticket is already included in the price). Travel time 5-6 hours to the pier.

From Khaosan Road

No need to go to the bus station, buses leave from Khaosan Road to Koh Chang. Tickets are sold at travel agencies, of which there are plenty. The issue price is 700-950 baht. When buying tickets, specify what is included in the price - only the bus fare or the ferry ticket to Koh Chang is also included.

You can buy bus tickets from Bangkok to Koh Chang directly at the box office, but if you can buy them in advance, why not use it? Using the 12go.asia website, you will not only buy a ticket, but also find out the schedule of all the listed flights and additional information on them (for example, there are even photos of buses).

Ferry to Koh Chang

There are two piers on the mainland from where ferries run to Koh Chang. Ferries from Koh Chang Ferry Pier sail for 30 minutes and run every half hour, and from the Center Point Ferry Pier, ferries sail for about an hour with a frequency of once an hour. They run from 6:30 to 19:00. Ticket price - 80 baht per passenger one way, 120 baht - car transfer by ferry.

Transfer Bangkok – Koh Chang

You can book in advance a transfer from Bangkok (for example from the airport) to Laem Ngop Pier or a full transfer including a ferry ticket. The option is expensive, but one of the most comfortable, convenient primarily for large groups.

Search for transfers from Bangkok

Show transfers in Bangkok

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang by car

The car route has a length of about 350 km. The car can be left in the parking lot near the pier.

Description of the route Bangkok — Koh Chang

Route length between Bangkok and Koh Chang: 350km

Approximate travel time: 6h 9m show route description

The price of an air ticket is from 2660 baht, travel time is 1 hour. By taxi or songteo (for 70 baht) you will get to the desired pier, from where ferries leave for Koh Chang.

On the island of Koh Chang, then before you, as before me in due time, there is a question about the choice of transport and route. So, how to get to Koh Chang on your own?
Koh Chang is an island and can only be accessed from the city of Trat. That is, in any case, from whatever corner of the country you get, whatever mode of transportation you use, you have to visit the city of Trat. And from the pier of the city of Trat, either a ferry or a boat will take you to the island.

Let's take a closer look at the option of how to get to Trat from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

From Bangkok Airport to Trat

If you flew to Bangkok airport with the difficult-to-pronounce name Suvarnabhumi, then there are several options for how to get to Trat:

• Taxi from airport or city
• Bus from the city
• Minivan from the city
• Plane Bangkok Trat
• Minivan from the airport

Taxi

Taxi is the easiest, but also, of course, one of the most expensive options. It can be ordered both in the airport building, in the official pavilion (on the first floor there will be a stand with the inscription Public Taxi or you can ask any airport employee), and when you go outside. If you decide to take a taxi on the street - bargain. On average, such a trip will cost about 3000-3500 baht and take 4-5 hours. For a family traveling with children, this option is quite acceptable. But not for us: it's too expensive, too easy, and I'm sure that "our people don't take taxis to the grocer's shop" :).

Bus from the city

Trat can be reached by bus from one of the bus stations. It will be either Ekamai Bus Terminal (east bus station) or Mo Chit Bus Terminal (north bus station).

Ekamai Bus Terminal and Mo Chit Bus Terminal bus stations on the Bangkok metro map:

Ekamai Bus Terminal is located next to the Ekkamai metro station of the same name, literally 100 meters from the exit. As soon as you exit the metro, you will immediately see the building of the bus station.

Mo Chit Bus Terminal is also located near the subway station Mo Chit. But here the distance is a little more. You will have to either walk 20 minutes from the metro or take a taxi.

The bus itself will be large, spacious enough and comfortable. Depending on the carrier company, on board you will be given blankets and drinking water. As a rule, these buses are used by the local population, and it is not customary for them to express emotions violently. So you have every chance to get there in peace and quiet.

There is enough space for luggage. The option is quite budgetary - about 270 baht, but the trip will take about 6 hours in time, as the bus will stop often. And be careful, many drivers do not reach the pier in Trat, they stop in the city itself, a kilometer or two from the pier (this can be clarified when buying a ticket). Even if you are unlucky and your bus does not go to the pier, then for a very reasonable price of 70 baht, the glorious brotherhood of tuk-tukers will take you to the ferry without slowing down.

The bus option is good if you are not traveling directly from the airport, but stayed in the city for a day or two. Immediately after a many-hour flight, it is difficult to go to the station, wait for the bus and shake it for 6 hours in a row. Moreover, there is still a ferry crossing ahead of you. I did not plan to stay in Bangkok, so this option seemed unsuitable to me.

Minivan from the city

There is an option to get to Trat by minivan from the city: from Victory Monument Square (it is located next to the metro station of the same name). Here, around the monument, there are pavilions selling tickets to anywhere in the country; you can buy a ticket to Trat for 300 baht one way. The journey will take approximately 5 hours.

This method is also only good when traveling from the city and not from the airport. And in this case, there is one caveat. There is very little space for luggage in minivans, and it is possible that there is no free space for it except on your lap. This option was rejected by me, because I wanted to rush straight from the airport to the island, without wandering around Bangkok.

Plane Bangkok Trat

It is possible to get from Bangkok airport by plane to Trat airport. Flight time is only an hour. The cost is about 3000 baht - a little expensive, but so fast!

But in reality it turned out that not everything is so simple. There are only three flights to Trat per day. It is difficult to guess with arrival. And while you check in your luggage, check in for a flight, wait for it, fly, stand in line for baggage, get from Trat airport to the pier - the bus has every chance to overtake you. Expensive and also long.

By the way, Trat airport is quite tiny.

Again, this option didn't work for me. It is probably good for families with small children: I think they are more interested in running around the airport than shaking in a car.

If you choose this method, you can take a taxi further from Trat Airport to the pier, as a rule, they expect the arrival of each plane. Or, for greater certainty, you can order a taxi in advance. You can ask to organize a transfer to your hotel, this is also practiced.

Transfer to Koh Chang, booked in any company, hotel or on Koasan Road

There is an option to order a transfer through one of the many companies. A large number of them are located on Koasan Road (Bangkok's main tourist street), or via the Internet. There are even Russian-language sites where you can make a similar order. In this case, the cost will vary on average from 400 to 900 baht per ticket for one person. The cost depends on the carrier company you choose and on the range of services it provides. Upon agreement, you will be picked up from the airport or city. Delivered to the pier in Trat, or to the hotel on Koh Chang, this must be agreed in advance.

Once I used such a service, but it was the way Chang-Bangkok, and not vice versa, since it seemed to me unreliable to order a transfer to an arriving plane. Airplanes have a bad habit of being late often, they can even reschedule a flight, and such companies usually work on a prepaid basis.

Minivan from the airport

And finally, the option that seemed optimal to me. On the first floor of the airport, next to gate number eight, there is a small kiosk selling tickets for Koh Chang. Not only, of course, to Chang, to other parts of the country too. It is not difficult to recognize him by the yellow sign. Just pay attention: this pavilion is located on the first floor! When you arrive, get your luggage and go down, behind the glass doors you can see the road, cars, the complete illusion that you are on the ground floor. But it's not. You went down from the third floor to the second. You need even lower. The first time, having arrived and not realizing that I was above ground level, in search of this kiosk I cut several circles on the second floor of the airport :-).

The cost of such a transfer is 600 baht per person, in my case, the cost of the ferry was already included in the ticket, I was supposed to be delivered directly to the hotel on the island. I didn’t quite understand how this would happen, but since they promised to deliver it, I’m ready to sail even in a minivan. Almost exactly what happened afterwards.

Only a few flights go from this company to Chang: two or three in the morning. Moreover, these flights are not tied to the schedule, if any. The minivan is filled with passengers and leaves when there are no empty seats.

There is not much space for luggage, but it is there. All the passengers on my flight were with luggage, but the driver, apparently, has been playing Tetris with bags for years - he managed to pack everything very cleverly. I traveled around Thailand several times with similar firms. For the first time, when landing, they put on a necklace of orchids, and a few more times they glued colored pieces of paper on me, as if on luggage. The first time I thought: "Probably, this is a manifestation of hospitality." In subsequent times: "Bureaucracy". And now it seems to me that this is a way for the driver to mark his farangs (foreigners) so that, God forbid, not to lose them during a stop. They are all the same as one - big, white and it is not clear what they are muttering in their own language.

Travel time is approximately five hours. There are two gas stations along the way. Gas stations have everything you need: toilets, cafes, small shops, but no ATMs. In time, the stop takes 10-20 minutes. The driver informs in advance how long the stop lasts.

Through the whole city of Trat you are taken to the pier, then you slowly, in a series of other cars, board directly on the minivan. The driver parks on the first floor of the ferry, and all passengers go to the second floor, where there is a small kiosk, benches and a stand with free maps.

At first glance, the ferry does not inspire much confidence: it looks like a huge rusty trough, but this vehicle has been tested by me many times, and it is quite reliable.

Having moored at the pier, the cars also go ashore one after another and carry their passengers to their final destinations. That is, in this case, to the hotel you need. They will bring you directly to the hotel, and they will also help to convey things to the reception.

From Trat to Koh Chang

If your ticket did not include a ferry, then you will need to buy it at the pier. Here, in general, everything is clear, there are ticket offices right in front of the entrance to the pier. If you suddenly do not see and pass by, the employees will not let you through anyway, they will show you the cashier. The cost is 80 baht per person one way, in both directions, respectively, 120 baht, luggage, whatever it may be, is not paid. Children under 8 travel free. Swim for about half an hour.

And yes, there are several berths in Trat, the main ones are Center Point Ferry Pier and Ko Chang Ferry Pier (or it is also called Ao Thammachat). There are a few more, but they do not carry tourists, they are used mainly by the local population for trips to other islands of the archipelago.

Personally, I advise you to go to the Ko Chang Ferry Pier (Ao Thammachat). Ferries depart from it every half an hour, starting at 6.30 in the morning. From Center Point Ferry Pier, ferries start running a little earlier, from 6.00, but the interval between them is longer - an hour.

Be careful, the last ferry departs at 19.00, rarely delayed until 19.30. There will be no further ferries until the morning. If suddenly you arrived at the pier after this time, there is still a chance to get to the island. There are private carriers who will take you on their boat, but it is not cheap, about 3000 baht. Moreover, you will need to try to negotiate on the spot, or pre-order such a service in some company.

From Koh Chang Pier to Center

There are no problems with leaving the pier inland and cannot be. Tuk-tukers guard each ferry, with a practiced look, they look out for insufficiently tanned people and invite them on board their "ship". The cost will be around 50-80 baht per person, depending on the distance of your hotel. They know all the hotels by ear, so they should not confuse and deliver to the other side of the world. By the way, traveling by tuk-tuk along the roads of the island is very impressive. The road is made in such a way as to minimize damage to the jungle, crazy ups and downs are no worse than on some kind of attraction. And all this in such a car.

On the first trip, I clung to the window properly while lifting the car up the hill. I didn't want to end up on asphalt. And believe it or not, it's a two-story building. Luggage is usually carried on top of the roof if there are a lot of passengers. A couple of times, I saw how the local population rides there. Tourists on the roof, of course, are not accommodated.

In any case, whichever means of transportation you choose to travel to Koh Chang, I'm sure this island will steal your heart just as it once stole mine!

Koh Chang is a fairly large island in the east of Thailand. There is also the eponymous national park. There are several ways how to get to Koh Chang in 2016.

How to get to Koh Chang by plane

The nearest airport to Koh Chang is in Trat, on the mainland. It is very convenient to get to Trat by plane from Bangkok - flights are made three times a day from the main Thai airport Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the flight lasts one hour. To search for cheap air tickets, we recommend using the aviasales service.

There are numerous minivan transfers between Trat Airport and Koh Chang, the ticket price, including the ferry crossing, is 500 baht.

In addition, you can get on your own: songteo to the pier costs 60-100 baht, how to get further, see the Ferries section.

How to get to Koh Chang by bus

Another way to get to the island in 2016 is to get to Koh Chang by bus. The most convenient option for this is to use bus number 999, which runs from the Eastern Terminal in Bangkok (Eastern (Ekamai) Bus Terminal) directly to the town of Laem Ngop, from where ferries depart for Koh Chang. Ticket price: about 280 baht. The bus ride takes approximately five hours, and there may be stops in other Thai cities along the way. Buses depart every 30 minutes throughout the day. This option is also convenient because the bus terminal is located near the metro station.

If you arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and want to immediately go to Koh Chang from there, it will be more convenient to use bus number 392, which runs between the bus terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport (the terminal is located one and a half kilometers from the airport, free shuttle buses go to it). Departure from the terminal - 07:50, tickets cost 600 baht. The bus stops in several cities, including Pattaya, Trat and others. Tickets can be booked at bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com.

The same company operates minivan flights (non-stop) from the Suvarnabhumi bus terminal directly to Lonely Beach, located on Koh Chang. Unlike the bus, the minivan leaves three times a day: at 09:30, at 11:01 and at 14:00. Ticket price: about 600 baht. It is not possible to book a ticket online.

There are also several bus services from Bangkok (from the northern bus station (Mo Chit)) to Trat city. From there you can get to the songthaew ferry for 50 baht.

How to get to Koh Chang by ferry in 2016

Ferries to Koh Chang depart from three different piers:

• Laem Ngop (also known as Tha Khrom Luang) is located 700 meters west of Laem Ngop town. Ferries from this pier arrive at the pier called Tha Dan Kao. The trip to Koh Chang takes 45-60 minutes.
• The Centrepoint is located another 3.5 kilometers northwest, serving both car and people-only ferries.
• The Thammachat Bay car pier is located 14-15 kilometers west of the city of Laem Ngop. Ferries arrive at the Ko Chang Ferry Pier on Koh Chang (three kilometers north of Tha Dan Kao Pier).

See the location of all piers on the map above (zoom in if necessary).

To get from the ferry pier to the desired hotel or beach, use the taxi / minibus services that are always waiting for visitors near the pier. The cost of a minivan trip depends on the distance and ranges from 55 to 210 baht.

How to get to Koh Chang by taxi

Some companies offer transportation services for travelers from Bangkok airport to the hotel or any other place in Koh Chang by car. Travel time is approximately 5.5 hours. Prices start from 4800 baht and depend on the brand and class of the chosen car (4800 baht - Toyota Camry, but if you pay extra, you can also drive a Mercedes). You can check the prices and book a transfer on the website

I continue the theme of moving between Chang and Bangkok. , I already wrote, today I will tell you how to go in the opposite direction. In principle, if you read the article above at the link, then you yourself will understand the whole algorithm of actions. Everything will be the same only in reverse. I will dwell only on some of the nuances, and let all the basic information be in that article.

Koh Chang - Bangkok on your own

Let me remind you that Koh Chang is connected to the mainland by ferries that run from two piers. Read more about ferries here -. Therefore, if you want to go to Bangkok on your own, then you will first need to take a minibus from your beach to the Koh Chang Ferry Pier or Center Point Ferry Pier, buy a ferry ticket, cross to the mainland, and buy a bus ticket on the mainland pier or minibus to Bangkok. Moreover, minibuses can be different, some will go to, others to, others to the Victory Monument metro station. All this way can be done without preparation, just get up early and go.

Estimates for the price will be something like this: from the beach 50-200 baht to the pier (depending on the distance of the beach), 80 baht ferry, 300-400 baht minibus or bus. Travel time from the mainland pier to Bangkok is about 5 hours by bus and 4 hours by minibus.

If for some reason there are no minibuses from the mainland piers, then you can take a minibus to the bus station in Trat, where you can buy a bus ticket to Bangkok, they run quite often, there are night buses, they come to the Ekkamai bus station.

In this case, the cost of moving will be as follows: from the beach 50-200 baht to the pier (depending on the distance of the beach), 80 baht ferry, 50-100 baht minibus to Trat, 250-300 baht bus.

Koh Chang - Bangkok transfer

For me, this option is much more convenient at a very similar price. The easiest transfer option is to buy it at the nearest travel agency in Koh Chang, prices may vary, points of arrival in Bangkok too. I noticed that if you ask for a transfer at your guesthouse, then the price is slightly higher, apparently they charge for mediation. The transfer can be different, both with transfers and without. They can take you to the pier, transfer, after the ferry they put you on a bus or minibus, or they can take you directly from the hotel in one minibus.

I liked the office called SWBtour, which is actually this one http://www.bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com/ . And the previous site, which is written on the glass of the office, does not work and apparently for a long time. Well, Thais don't care about such trifles. They have two offices on Koh Chang, one in Klong Son between Koh Chanf Ferry Pier and White Sand, and one on Lonely Beach.

Transfer from Klong Son Bus Station to Suvarnabhumi Airport is 400 baht. From White Sand Beach - 500 baht, from other beaches even more. The price includes a ferry ticket. In principle, no one bothers to get to their office on their own by minibus-songteo.

There are only 3 minibuses per day (departure time - arrival time):
7.00 — 13.00
13.00 — 20.00
17.00 — 00.00

If there are too many people, then a bus is formed, at least they told me so, and indeed, once I rode a bus instead of a minibus.

If this option seems inconvenient to you, buy other transfers, but my advice is to go exactly to if you need to go to Bangkok itself. The fact is that in any case you pass Suvarnabhumi, from which there is a direct metro line to the city center. It may well turn out that it will be faster than driving through the city in traffic jams.

Bus Station on Koh Chang - actually just a company office

The inscriptions are outdated, and the site is different, and the time is not right

If upon arrival in Bangkok you need to stay somewhere for the night, you can find a hotel on RoomGuru, a service where it is convenient to compare hotel prices in different booking systems.

I have stayed in Bangkok many times and in different hotels. I will not provide links to all my reviews, I will give only a few. – convenient for stopping near the airport and metro, – a good place for an overnight stay next to Khaosan, located in the center next to the park.