Six to seven and a half hours from the city to your hammock. Here is every way to make the trip, what it costs and how to time the ferry.
Getting to Koh Chang is a proper journey: road or air to Trat province, a car ferry across to the island, then a ride down the west coast to Lonely Beach. Door to door from Bangkok it usually takes 6 to 7.5 hours. It is easy once you know the pieces, and the final stretch, winding along the coast with the sea on your right, is the moment the holiday really begins.
Your options at a glance
| Option | From | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal) | From about ฿329 | Budget travellers |
| Minivan | Suvarnabhumi Airport | About ฿700, plus about ฿50 to Lonely Beach | Landing and going straight to the island |
| Flight | Bangkok to Trat, Bangkok Airways | Varies by date | Saving time |
| Private car | Anywhere in Bangkok | Ask for a quote | Families and groups |
By bus from Ekkamai
Buses towards Trat leave from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai, next to the BTS Skytrain station of the same name. The morning 999 bus departs at 07:45, with fares from about ฿329 at the time of writing. The road leg to the ferry piers takes around 5 to 6 hours. In the high season, buy your ticket a day ahead.
By minivan from Suvarnabhumi Airport
Flying into Bangkok? Minivans run from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang, with some continuing across on the ferry to the west coast beaches. Expect around ฿700, plus about ฿50 to be dropped at Lonely Beach. It is the simplest way to go from the plane to the island on one ticket.
By plane to Trat
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Trat, the quickest way to skip the long road leg. From Trat airport, transfers run to the ferry piers. Choose a flight that lands early enough to make a ferry in daylight.
The ferry to Koh Chang
Most minivans and buses use Ao Thammachat pier, with Centrepoint pier as the backup. The car ferry takes about 25 to 45 minutes and costs around ฿80 to ฿90 per person. Ferries run roughly from 06:30 until 18:30 or 19:00, more often in the high season. Stand on the top deck: the island's green mountains rising out of the sea are Koh Chang's welcome.
From the pier to Lonely Beach
Shared songthaew taxis wait where the ferries land on Koh Chang. They run down the west coast past White Sand Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae to Lonely Beach, which takes about 45 to 60 minutes. The road climbs some steep hills, so take a motion sickness tablet if you need one. Tell the driver "Paradise Cottage, Lonely Beach", or ask us in advance to arrange a taxi from the pier.
Paradise Cottage Resort, 104/1 Moo 1, South Koh Chang, Ko Chang, Trat 23170. Open directions in Google Maps or call +66 95 149 5935.
Timing it right
- Leave Bangkok early so you reach the ferry in daylight.
- Check-in at Paradise Cottage is from 14:00. Morning departures usually arrive in the afternoon, just in time for a swim and sunset.
- Arriving late? Add your arrival time to your booking request so the team can welcome you.
- Carry cash for the ferry and the songthaew.
Driving yourself
The drive from Bangkok follows the highways east via Chanthaburi to Trat, then the car ferry takes you and the car across. Allow 5 to 6 hours to the pier, plus breaks. On the island, the west coast road is steep in places, so take the hills in a low gear.
Quick answers
How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
Usually 6 to 7.5 hours door to door: about 5 to 6 hours by road to the ferry piers, 25 to 45 minutes on the ferry, then 45 to 60 minutes down the west coast to Lonely Beach.
Which pier do ferries to Koh Chang leave from?
Most minivans and buses use Ao Thammachat pier, with Centrepoint pier as the backup. The crossing takes about 25 to 45 minutes and costs around ฿80 to ฿90 per person.
What time is the last ferry to Koh Chang?
Ferries run roughly from 06:30 until 18:30 or 19:00, depending on the season and the operator. Plan to reach the pier well before dark.
How do I get from the ferry pier to Lonely Beach?
Shared songthaew taxis wait at the island pier and take about 45 to 60 minutes down the west coast to Lonely Beach. Paradise Cottage can also arrange a taxi.
