In this article, I will share with you my experience of how to get to Koh Chang from Koh Samet and how to get around the island without renting a scooter. I’ll also suggest ways to travel to Koh Chang from Bangkok, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood.
Koh Chang is a popular tourist destination located in the Gulf of Thailand, close to Cambodia. It is a part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park, and is a great destination for beach activities and hiking.
The most popular way to get to the island from any other places in Thailand is to get to Ao Thammachat Pier in Trat first, then from here take a boat to Koh Chang. It is a 1 hour boat ride and the ferry is running frequently from 06.30 am to 6.30 pm everyday.
There is no airport on Koh Chang. The closest airport to Koh Chang is Trat Airport, which is located around 20 minutes drive to Ao Thammachat Pier. You can take a shared minibus to the pier or book the combo ticket (minibus + boat) outside of the airport.
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How to Get to Koh Chang from Koh Samet
It is around 5 hours to travel from Koh Samet to Koh Chang. This includes a ferry/speed boat ride from Nadan Pier in Koh Samet to Ban Phe Pier in mainland Rayong + minivan to Ao Thammachat Pier + boat ride to Ao Sapparot Pier in Koh Chang.
You can book a private transfer or shared minivan in advance online, at a travel agency in Koh Samet, or ask your hotel to help you. Just be sure to book in advance like a couple of days before your departure, especially in the high season.
I asked a tour agent in Koh Samet but the ticket was sold out, others offered private transfers but I was solo and couldn’t afford it. I found out the phone number of PN Group, called them to check and they gave me confirmation on whatsapp.
Next day, I walked to Nadan Pier, checked in with PN Group staff, and took the speed boat to Ban Phe Pier. We were transfered to a shuttle bus to their office (2 minutes away). I made the payment for the ticket at their office and got in the minivan to Ao Thammachat Pier.
I left Koh Samet around 9am, and arrived at Ao Thammachat Pier at 12.40pm. The staff at the Pier gave us the boat ticket and we got right on the boat. We arrived at Ao Sapparot Pier at 1.10 pm, then used a shared songthaew to get to my hotel in White Beach.
How to Get to Koh Chang from Koh Mak
You can easily travel between Koh Chang and Koh Mak by speed boat, or wooden boat. You can book online at boonsiriferry.com, ask your hotel to book it for you, or book from a agency on the island. The ticket usually includes a minivan transfer to the hotel in Koh Chang.
I traveled from Koh Chang to Ko Mak by booking a wooden boat (available in high season). It includes a pick up from my hostel in Koh Chang. The minivan picked me up around 8am, dropped me off near Bang Bao Pier around 8.40 am. I walked around 10 minutes though a fishing village to get to the pier where the boat dock.
The boat arrived at a pier near Koh Mak resort after a 40 minute boat ride. It took me a total of 2.5 hours to get from my hotel in Klong Prao Beach Koh Chang to get to Koh Mak. From the pier, you can easily get a shared taxi to get to any hotel on the island for 50-100 baht.
How to get to Koh Chang from Koh Kood
Similar to Koh Mak, you can book boat tickets from Koh Chang to Koh Kood online or at any tour agencies on the island. Boonsiri Company running this route, the ticket includes pick up from the hotel in Koh Chang, a ferry ticket, and a drop off at your hotel in Koh Kood.
How to Get to Koh Chang From Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Chang by airplane
If you are short in time and have a good budget, you can consider taking a flight from Bangkok Airport to Trat Airport. From Trat Airport, you can book a private transfer or shared van online or just outside of the airport.
The ticket will include a transfer from the airport to Koh Chang Pier, a boat ride from Koh Chang Pier to Koh Chang island, and a transfer from the pier to your hotel in Koh Chang. It is around 2.5 to 3 hours in total.
Bangkok to Koh Chang By Bus/ Minivan
You can book a ticket from Bangkok at Ekkamai Bus Station or Mo Chit Bus Bus Station. The bus will usually terminate at Trat Bus Station, from here you can catch additional transport (shared songthaew) to get to Ao Thammachat Pier by boat to Koh Chang. The last boat is around 6.30pm, so if you miss it, you can stay a night in Trat, and take the bus the next day.
If you are traveling from Ekkamai Bus Station or Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you can consider taking bus number 999. The bus will stop right at Koh Chang Pier, so you don’t need additional transfer to the pier. The bus ride is around 5 hours and twice a day.
If you want to book a combination of bus/van + ferry, you can consider booking online in advance here. If you stay in Khao San, you can probably book the ticket from your hotel, or tour agency right in the area.
How to Get to Koh Chang From Pattaya
There are several companies running the routes between Pattaya and Koh Chang. They are Andaman Shuttle, 35 Group Pattaya, and Boonsiri. You can book tickets at their office in Pattaya, at tour agencies, or your hotel. If you want to book in advance, you can check this website.
Most companies offer pick up from your hotel in Pattaya to Koh Chang Pier, Ferry to KOh Chang island, and then transfer to your hotel in Koh Chang. The total time is around 5.5 to 6.5 hours.
Best ways to get around Koh Chang
Some ways to get around Koh Chang include walking, taking a guided tour, renting a motorbike, or songthaew. I explored Koh Chang without a scooter, so I used my foot, and guided tours most of the time.
Taking songthaew is a good option for a short distance but you will need to bargain. I only use Songthaew one time to get from Ao Sapparot Pier to my guest house in White Sand Beach. It cost me 100 baht, but I saw some other passengers stop at the same location and pay him 50 baht. I was not good at bargaining skills at the time.
Explore Koh Chang on foot
Each Beach area of Koh Chang has its own tourist stops with facilities such as shops, restaurants, bike rentals, massages. You can easily explore the area around your hotel on foot.
I stayed in two areas in Koh Chang which include White Sand Beach and Klong Prao Beach. While in White Sand Beach, I can walk to the beach, the night market, and lots of restaurants in the area. Staying in the Klong Prao Beach area also allows me to explore the nearby Chai Chet Beach on foot.
Get around Koh Chang on guided tour
Taking a guided tour is the most convenient and comfortable way to explore Koh Chang, especially if you don’t plan to rent a motorbike or a car. It allows you to see many things in a short time.
There are many tours and activities such as the Around island tour, Trekking tour, or the full day 4 island tours. I booked the Around the island trip which let me visit highlights such as Viewpoints, Waterfalls, mangrove forests, and Beaches.
I love trekking, so I also booked a full day trekking tour to the highest peak of Koh Chang. We hike to Salak Phet and have stunning views from the top.
Get around Koh Chang on motorbike
If you have good motorbike riding skills, you can consider renting one. It allows you to explore every corner that guided tours don’t take you there. It is also a cheap way to explore the island. Take note that some parts of Koh Chang are hilly with sharp turns, you need to be an experienced driver to handle it.
These parts include the road from Ao Sapparot Pier to White Sand Beach and Kai Bae to Lonely Beach. The road in the east coast is flat and easier to drive than the west coast.
Explore Koh Chang by songthaew
Songthaew is a popular transport option on Koh Chang. Lots of drivers on the main tourist areas of the island. You can easily catch them but you will need to bargain the price before heading off. It can be a good option if you travel with a group or family.
See more:
- Best places to Stay in Koh Chang
- How to spend 3-4 Days In Koh Chang Itinerary
- 19 Exciting Things to Do in Koh Chang
These are my suggestions of how to get to Koh Chang from Koh Samet, Pattaya, Bangkok, Koh Kood and Koh Mak. I also give some recommendations on how to get around including walking, taking tours, or renting a scooter. I hope you will have a good trip to Koh Chang.