To reach Koh Chang from Bangkok you travel about 300 km east to Trat province, then take a 30 to 40-minute car ferry from Ao Thammachat pier to Ao Sapparot on the island. You can do the mainland part by bus or minivan (five to seven hours), by a short Bangkok Airways flight to Trat, or by driving yourself. The second car ferry, Centrepoint, has been suspended since 2024.
Koh Chang is one of the easiest big islands to reach from Bangkok without flying, and one of the few where taking your own car makes sense. The ferry is short and runs all day. What decides your journey time is the road east, the traffic leaving Bangkok, and on holidays, the queue at the pier.
This page covers the trip. For the island itself, see our Koh Chang guide, and for choosing a beach, our comparison of Koh Chang's beaches.
Bangkok to Koh Chang at a glance
- Mainland pier
- Ao Thammachat, near Laem Ngop, Trat province
- Island pier
- Ao Sapparot, north-east Koh Chang
- Ferry
- Ferry Koh Chang, about 06:30–18:30, roughly hourly or when full; 30–40 minutes
- Ferry fares (reported from 10 April 2026)
- 90 baht per adult, 200 baht per car; cash only, at the pier
- Centrepoint (Trat Ferry)
- Suspended since July 2024, according to local information sites
- Flights
- Bangkok Airways to Trat Airport, the only airline on the route
- Driving distance
- About 315 km, around five hours to the pier without holiday traffic
The ferry: Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot
Every route ends at the same place. The working car ferry, run by Ferry Koh Chang, crosses from Ao Thammachat pier on the mainland to Ao Sapparot on the north-east of the island. The published timetable runs from about 06:30 to 18:30, roughly hourly, but local information sites report that the boats currently leave when full, in response to government calls to save fuel, and that at busy times they shuttle every 20 to 30 minutes. The crossing takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on the boat.
Tickets are sold only at the pier, in cash, for one way. You cannot book in advance; ignore websites that claim otherwise. Local information sites report fares from 10 April 2026 of 90 baht per adult and 200 baht for a car, raised because of fuel costs, and say prices are now tied to diesel. We could not verify the fares with the operator directly, so bring some extra cash.
Ignore directions to the Centrepoint ferry. The second car ferry, from a pier closer to Laem Ngop to Dan Kao on Koh Chang, suspended its services in July 2024 and had not resumed by October 2026, according to local ferry information sites and our sister site's driving guide. Old maps, blogs and some bus tickets still mention it. Go to Ao Thammachat.
By bus or minivan from Bangkok
Buses are the cheapest way. Government and private buses run from Bangkok to Trat town, and some continue to the Laem Ngop piers. From Trat town, shared pickup trucks (songthaew) take passengers to the ferry. The trip takes roughly five to seven hours depending on stops and traffic.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport, Airports of Thailand's page on public buses from the Public Transportation Center lists Transport Co. routes 917 to Laem Ngop and 9908 to Trat, each with two morning departures. That page is dated January 2022, so check the current times at the center or with the bus company before you plan around them. Buses also leave from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and the Northern Terminal (Mo Chit); ask at the terminal for services that go through to the piers.
Minivans are faster but cramped, and the driving can be fast. Many hotel and travel agents also sell combined minivan-and-ferry tickets to your hotel on the island. Our guides to long-distance buses and minivans in Thailand explain the trade-offs, and our article on 12Go covers booking online. If you are starting at the airport, see the guide to Suvarnabhumi's transport options for where to find buses inside the terminal.
Flying to Trat
Trat Airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, which says it is "the only airline that flies into Trat". The airline puts the airport 387 km east of Bangkok. The flight is short, and from Trat Airport it is a short drive to Ao Thammachat; arrange the transfer with your hotel or at the airport.
The airline's own investor page also says the airport operates under a licence "valid until March 14, 2026", a date that has passed and that the page has not updated. We could not find an official statement on its renewal, so check flights directly with Bangkok Airways. Flying saves several hours on the road and suits people with little time; it is usually the most expensive option. Our guide to domestic flights in Thailand covers baggage rules and airlines.
Driving yourself
Koh Chang is one of the few Thai islands where driving your own or a rented car all the way is easy. The route runs east on Motorway 7 towards the eastern seaboard, then along Highway 3 (Sukhumvit Road) through Rayong and Chanthaburi to Trat, about 315 km in total. Many people break the journey in Chanthaburi.
- Licence: the Tourism Authority of Thailand says foreigners may drive with an International Driving Permit valid under international agreements, or a licence from an ASEAN country. UK drivers should follow the UK Foreign Office, which says to carry the 1968-convention IDP with the UK licence. Our article on international driving permits explains the details.
- Rental contract: many contracts forbid taking the car on a ferry. Ask before you book and get permission in writing; the guide to renting a car in Thailand covers insurance.
- Holiday queues: on long weekends, Songkran and New Year, the vehicle queue at Ao Thammachat can be very long. Local ferry information sites reported queues of several kilometers and waits of four to six hours in May 2026. Arrive before 08:00 on a holiday, or leave the car in paid parking on the mainland and cross on foot.
For a full driver's briefing on both the Koh Chang and Koh Samui vehicle ferries, including where to queue and what to do with a rental car, see our sister site's guide to the Koh Chang and Koh Samui car ferries.
Arriving on Koh Chang
Ao Sapparot is on the north-east of the island, and almost all the resorts are on the west coast, so you still have a drive after the ferry. Shared songthaews usually wait at the pier and run to White Sand Beach, Klong Prao, Kai Bae and Lonely Beach; agree the fare before you set off. The west coast road has steep sections, especially south of Kai Bae, so if you are driving, take it slowly and avoid it after dark.
A note on the Cambodian border
Trat province borders Cambodia. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Cambodia, after fighting in 2025, and says the land border crossings remain suspended. Koh Chang and the Laem Ngop piers are on the coast west of Trat town, but some roads in the province, including the road south towards the Hat Lek crossing, run close to the border. Check the Foreign Office's map before you drive beyond Trat, and do not plan an overland trip to Cambodia from here while crossings are closed.
Which way should you go?
| Option | Time to the pier | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Bus to Trat or Laem Ngop | About 5–7 hours | Budget travelers, solo travelers |
| Minivan or combined ticket | About 5–6 hours | Door-to-door convenience |
| Flight to Trat | About 1 hour in the air, plus transfers | Short trips, travelers short of time |
| Driving | About 5 hours, more on holidays | Families, groups, longer stays with a car |
If you are carrying on to the smaller islands, the guide to Koh Samet, Koh Kood and Koh Mak covers the boats further south. The beach comparison linked at the top of this page helps you choose where to get off the songthaew.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book the Koh Chang ferry in advance?
No. Tickets for the Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot ferry are sold only at the pier, in cash, one way, on the day of travel. Foot passengers board the next boat that leaves; cars queue, which can take hours on public holidays.
Is the Centrepoint ferry to Koh Chang still running?
No. The Centrepoint service (later called Trat Ferry) suspended operations in July 2024 and had not resumed by October 2026, according to local ferry information sites. All regular car and passenger traffic now uses the Ao Thammachat route.
How long does it take from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
Plan on six to eight hours door to door by bus or car: around five hours to the pier, a wait for the ferry, a 30 to 40-minute crossing and a drive to your beach. Flying to Trat cuts the road time, but you still need the transfer and the ferry.
Is there a bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang?
Airports of Thailand lists Transport Co. buses from the airport's Public Transportation Center to Laem Ngop (route 917) and Trat (route 9908), on a page dated 2022. Check the current schedule at the airport. From Laem Ngop, songthaews run to the ferry pier.
Sources
- Bangkok Airways Investor Relations – Airport business (Trat Airport) (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Public bus at the Public Transportation Center, Suvarnabhumi (dated 24 January 2022) (checked October 2026)
- Koh Chang Ferries (local information site) – Ferry Koh Chang timetable and fares 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Driving in Thailand: essential guidelines for tourists (checked October 2026)
- UK Foreign Office – Thailand travel advice (Thailand–Cambodia border) (checked October 2026)
- UK Foreign Office – Thailand: safety and security (driving, IDP) (checked October 2026)