The bus is the cheapest way from Bangkok to Koh Chang, and it works well if you start early. Here is the departure we know about, what it costs and how the day unfolds.
The bus we know about leaves Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai at 07:45, and fares start from about ฿329. That is the morning 999 bus towards Trat, as researched in October 2026. Timetables change, so check the day before you travel.
The bus takes you as far as the ferry. After that comes the crossing and a songthaew ride down the coast, and door to door the whole trip is usually 6 to 7.5 hours.
The morning departure
We can only vouch for one bus: the 999, departing at 07:45. We would rather say so than hand you a table of times we cannot stand behind. Other departures may exist, and the booking sites below list what is running on your date.
- Departs: 07:45 from Ekkamai.
- Fare: from about ฿329 at the time of writing.
- Road leg: around 5 to 6 hours to the ferry piers.
- Busy periods: in the high season, buy your ticket a day ahead.
An early start suits this trip. It gets you to the ferry in daylight, and you reach Lonely Beach in the afternoon with time for a swim before sunset.
Finding the bus at Ekkamai
The Eastern Bus Terminal sits next to the BTS Skytrain station of the same name, Ekkamai. If you are staying in central Bangkok, the Skytrain is the easiest way to reach it, and it avoids the worst of the morning traffic.
Arrive with some margin before 07:45, and carry a little cash for water and snacks. Keep your passport and valuables with you rather than in the luggage hold.
The road and the ferry
Allow around 5 to 6 hours on the road to the ferry piers. Most buses and minivans use Ao Thammachat pier, with Centrepoint pier as the backup. The car ferry crosses in about 25 to 45 minutes and costs around ฿80 to ฿90 per person. Ask when you buy your ticket whether the crossing is included, and keep some cash in your pocket either way.
Ferries run roughly from 06:30 until 18:30 or 19:00, and more often in the high season. A 07:45 bus leaves plenty of room to catch one in daylight. We go through the piers and prices in our Koh Chang ferry guide.
Go up to the top deck once you are across. The mountains rising out of the sea are the first proper view of the island.
From the pier to Lonely Beach
Shared songthaew taxis wait where the ferries land. They run down the west coast past White Sand Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae to Lonely Beach, and the ride takes about 45 to 60 minutes. The road climbs some steep hills, so take a motion sickness tablet before you board if you need one.
Tell the driver "Paradise Cottage, Lonely Beach". If you would rather have a seat waiting, ask us in advance and the team will arrange a taxi from the pier.
The bus fare starts from about ฿329, the ferry is around ฿80 to ฿90, and a minivan from Suvarnabhumi Airport costs about ฿700, plus about ฿50 to be dropped at Lonely Beach. Bring cash for the ferry and the songthaew.
Making the day work
Check-in at Paradise Cottage is from 14:00. Taking the 07:45 bus and allowing 6 to 7.5 hours door to door means you arrive in the afternoon, which suits it well.
- Book the bus a day ahead in the high season, which runs from October to May.
- Send us your expected arrival time on WhatsApp so the team knows when to expect you.
- If your plans slip and you will land late, tell us. Do not try to beat the last ferry on a rushed connection.
- Not keen on a bus? Our full Bangkok to Koh Chang guide also covers the minivan, the flight to Trat and a private car.
Our getting here page has the address and map. The first evening is easy: a swim in the pool, a cold drink on the deck and a sunset over the rocks. If you want a bungalow waiting, you can send a booking request and we will confirm the price on WhatsApp.
Quick answers
What time is the bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
The morning 999 bus from Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal) departs at 07:45, as researched in October 2026. Check the booking sites for other departures on your date, as timetables change.
How much is the bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
Fares start from about ฿329 at the time of writing. The ferry is around ฿80 to ฿90 per person, so ask whether it is included, and a songthaew from the island pier is extra.
How long does the bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang take?
The road leg to the ferry piers takes around 5 to 6 hours. With the ferry (25 to 45 minutes) and the songthaew to Lonely Beach (45 to 60 minutes), the trip is usually 6 to 7.5 hours door to door.
Where does the bus to Koh Chang leave from in Bangkok?
It leaves from the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai, next to the BTS Skytrain station of the same name.
