Ferry Service | Koh Chang

[Tripadvisor]

Ferry Services from Trat to Koh Chang

There are two car ferry companies running regular services to Koh Chang from piers on the mainland. These are ‘Ferry Koh Chang’ and ‘Centrepoint Ferry’. They operate from piers at small ports which are about 5 Km apart, near the village of Laem Ngop, Trat. Also on the same stretch of coastline is Krom Luang pier which is used by the speedboats to Koh Mak. The ferries dock on Koh Chang at two different ports.

• Koh Chang Ferry | Ao Sapporot Pier
  Koh Chang Ferries operate every 45 min. from early morning until the evening 365 days a year. There are no days off. They run on Sundays on Christmas Day and even on Thai holidays.
• Centrepoint Ferry | Dan Kao Pier
  Centrepoint Ferries run to an hourly schedule which is printed and on display at their piers.

Buses from Bangkok to Laem Ngop will drop passengers off at both the ferry piers. Trat town is roughly 20 Kilometres away but there are ‘songtaews’ (shared pick up truck taxis) available from both Trat bus station and the town centre to the piers for around 50 – 60 THB per person. These don’t run to fixed schedules and will depart when they are full.
There are two car ferry companies running regular services to Koh Chang from piers on the mainland. These are ‘Ferry Koh Chang’ and ‘Centrepoint Ferry’.

They operate from piers at small ports which are about 5 Km apart, near the village of Laem Ngop, Trat. Also on the same stretch of coastline is Krom Luang pier which is used by the speedboats to Koh Mak. The ferries dock on Koh Chang at two different ports. Ferry Koh Chang has the shortest crossing and heads to Ao Sapporot pier on the northeast coast of the island. Whereas Centrepoint ferry moors at their pier in Dan Kao, a couple of kilometres to the south.

Even in the rainy season cancellations are extremely rare as the sea between Koh Chang and the mainland is sheltered from any tropical storms that may blow up. the only time the strait gets choppy is in November – December, following the end of the rainy season, when strong northerly winds sometimes blow. This slows down the crossing time from Koh Chang to the mainland and it can be a bit bumpy at times.

Website

[Sundance2020]

Koh Chang Map

[Sundance2020]

How to get to Koh Chang

Getting to Koh Chang is relatively easy and fast in comparison to many other islands. Thanks to its close proximity to Bangkok you can choose between several transit methods. As there is no right answer of traveling to Koh Chang, the mode of transport depends mainly on your time and comfort. We have selected the three main hubs from where visitors arrive from – Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Cambodia.

From Bangkok
If you leave Bangkok before early afternoon, you can easily reach Koh Chang on the very same day. Should your arrival delay, however, book a night in Bangkok and continue the next morning.

By Bus from Bangkok
There are three locations from where you can take a bus to Koh Chang: Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Ekkamai Bus Terminal and the Victory Monument in the heart of Bangkok. Do note that most buses won’t drive directly to the pier but to the bus terminal in Trat. Take a blue Songthaew (shared taxi buses, basically converted pick-up trucks) from the terminal to the pier. This costs 60 Baht per person but the driver might charge more if no other passengers are traveling.

• By Bus from Ekkamai
  Also known as Eastern Bus Terminal, the Ekkemai Bus Terminal is located right in the city centre between Sukhumvit 40-42 and within 2 minutes walk of Ekkamai BTS Skytrain station. Hop on bus no. 999 that departs twice a day from here, at 07:45 and 09:00 and takes about five hours. The bus will travel straight to the pier. Costs are 260 THB one-way. Alternatively, you can drive with Cherdchai Bus Tours or Thanakawee Tours (5-6 hours) as both companies offer more departing times. These buses stop at Trat Bus Terminal from where you have to catch a Songthaew to the pier. Costs are 250 THB one-way. Express 05:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 12:00
• By Bus from Suvarnabhumi
  There are minivans and buses traveling from the airport to the pier and even to Koh Chang. After picking up your luggage, go to door 8 on the first level and look for the service desk from the tour company Suvarnabhumi Burapa Co, Ltd. You can choose between the microbuses that offers drop-off right at your hotel on Koh Chang (600 THB, departure at 11:00 am and 02:00 pm) or the 40-seater bus at 07:50 am for the same price.

By Car
The drive from Bangkok to Koh Chang takes approximately five hours, but add another 60-90 minutes for the ferry ride and the way from the jetty to your hotel. The highway conditions are great while the land is widely flat, making the drive easy and comfortable. You have to leave Bangkok on the Motorway (Highway 7 ) and then follow Highway 344 and then Highway 3 until you reach the well signposted turning for the ferry piers. The trip takes in numerous towns: Bangkok – Ban Bung – Klaeng – Chantaburi – Laem Ngop. Once you near Trat, look out for the ferry pier signs, ‘Centre Point’ or ‘Ao Thammachat’. Ferries from both piers are able to carry cars and charge the same: 80 THB for passengers and 120 THB cars (one-way). The majority of hotels and resorts are located on the west coast – after arriving at the pier you have to turn right on the main road and continue further on to White Sand beach, Kai Bae beach, Klong Prao beach, Lonely beach etc.

Private Transfer
Private transfers from Bangkok to Koh Chang are becoming more popular these days and are especially recommended when travelling with families, elderly or in groups. Prices depend on the number of passengers and start at 4,600 THB. This includes ferry tickets.

From Cambodia
Koh Chang is located close to the border of Cambodia and makes up a popular first entry point to the ‘Land of Smiles’. We recommend starting the journey in the early morning, due to potential long waiting times at the border and departure of the last ferry to Koh Chang at 07:30 pm.

• From Siem Reap to Koh Chang
  First you have to get to Poipet where the border is. You can reach the town via bus (about $10.00) or taxi (about $50.00). There are taxis and minivans waiting at Aranyaprathet, the Thai side of the border, ready to drive you to Trat (from 2,000 THB, depending on the number of passengers). The cheaper but longer alternative would be taking a bus from Aranyaprathet Bus Station to Chanthaburi (4 hours) and from there to Trat (1.5 hours). There is unfortunately no direct service from Aranyaprathet to Trat. The fastest way is by plane: fly with Bangkok Airways from Siem Reap to Bangkok and then to Trat. The flight leaves at 09:45am and arrives at 11:00 am in Bangkok, onward flight to Koh Chang is at 11:40 am.
• From Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville to Koh Chang
  Several private companies offer shared minivan services from both towns. The trip takes you across the border at Had Lek (on the Thai side) and then further on to the piers in Trat (120 km). Costs are between 900-1,200 THB. If you prefer to travel independently take a public bus to the border (costs between $15-25). Once in Had Lek, take the minibus service to Trat, departing every 45 minutes and then a Songthaew to the jetty.

Local Transportation
Koh Chang is serviced by two main ferry piers, Ao Thammachat and Centerpoint; both are located in the district of Laem Ngop and can be reached within only 30 minutes from Trat. Ferries depart every hour from 06:00 am to 07:30 pm, crossing time is 45 minutes. If you arrive in Trat after 06:30 pm you’ll have to look for a place to stay. If you’re coming from Bangkok, make sure to leave the city not later than 01:00 pm. Once on Koh Chang you can see Songthaews waiting by the arrival jetty. Just tell the driver your hotel’s name and he will drop you right at the doorstep. Prices range between 60-200 THB per person depending on where you are staying on the island.