Getting To & Around Koh Chang
Ferry, Songthaew, Motorbike

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Getting to Koh Chang splits cleanly into two stages. The first is reaching the island (a vehicle from the mainland plus the car ferry from Laem Ngop). The second is getting around the island (songthaew, motorbike, or car). We'll work through them one at a time, and tell you whether it's worth bringing your own car onto the island — the question people ask the most before they go.

Stage one — from Bangkok to Laem Ngop pier

All the ferries to Koh Chang leave from Laem Ngop district in Trat province — no matter which direction you come from, you end up here first. It's around 300-plus kilometres from Bangkok to Trat town, roughly 5–6 hours depending on traffic, and another 20–30 minutes from Trat town to the piers.

• Driving yourself — take Route 3 (Sukhumvit) or the motorway out toward Chonburi–Rayong–Chanthaburi–Trat. The signs to the Koh Chang piers are clear. Driving yourself is convenient if you plan to bring your car onto the island.
• Minivan / bus — vans run daily from Ekkamai and Mo Chit terminals to Trat, with fares around 250–300 THB one way. Some run straight to the pier, others drop you in Trat town where you catch a songthaew the rest of the way.
• Joint minivan + ferry ticket — some operators sell a combined ticket covering the Bangkok minivan and the ferry crossing on one stub. Handy if you'd rather not arrange connections yourself, though it's worth comparing against buying each leg separately.
• Flying — Bangkok Airways flies into Trat Airport, then it's about 30–40 minutes by road to the pier. Faster, but the airfare is much higher — best if you're short on time.

Stage two — the ferry crossing: which pier, what it costs

At Laem Ngop there are two main ferry piers that get the most use, about 8 kilometres apart. Both take cars on board, both run frequently throughout the day, and neither needs booking ahead — just drive up, queue, and buy your ticket at the pier. The two piers land at slightly different points on the island, but they're close together on the north end, and songthaews wait there to take you on to the various beaches.

• Foot passenger fare — around 80 THB per person per trip, roughly 160 THB return. Children are charged by height depending on the pier.
• Taking a car on board — around 120 THB per car per trip (some piers around 150 THB — check the price board at the pier). This usually includes the driver; other passengers pay the per-person fare on top.
• Motorbike on board — around 30–40 THB per bike per trip, if you ride your own bike over from Trat.
• Tickets bought at the pier — no advance booking needed. Drive in, queue, buy your ticket, then board in turn. The wait isn't long except during festivals when the queues stretch out.

Should you bring your own car onto the island?

This is the hardest call to make before you go. The answer depends on how many of you there are and what kind of trip you're after. Here's the upside and downside, laid out clearly.

• Bringing a car makes sense when — there are several of you, you've got kids or older travellers, you plan to hit several beaches in a day, or you want the freedom of not waiting for songthaews. The return car-ferry cost is around 240–300 THB, which is worth it split between a few people.
• Skipping the car makes sense when — there are just two of you, you're staying put on one beach for a while and not moving around much, and you'd rather not stress over the steep roads. The island has songthaews running the main routes, and they're reasonably easy to flag down.
• Worth knowing if you do bring a car — the island roads are narrow and steep in places. Very low sedans need to watch for scraping the undercarriage on the steep climbs, and parking at the smaller beaches is limited.

Getting around the island — songthaew taxis

Koh Chang has no public bus system. The workhorse of getting around the island is the songthaew taxi (colours vary by route), running the main coastal road down the west side, ferrying people from the piers to the various beaches and between beaches. You flag one from the roadside or have your accommodation call one for you.

• From the pier to White Sand Beach — around 50–80 THB per person. The closest, about 10–15 minutes.
• From the pier to Klong Prao / Kai Bae Beach — around 80–120 THB per person. The further out, the higher the fare.
• From the pier to Lonely Beach / Bang Bao — around 100–150 THB per person, the furthest stops down south.
• Between beaches — around 50–100 THB per person per trip depending on distance. Late at night there are fewer cars and prices rise.
• Chartering a whole songthaew for the day — around 1,500–2,500 THB depending on route and how you negotiate. Good if you want to hit several spots in a day without waiting around.

Renting a motorbike — the nimblest option, but be genuinely careful

Renting a motorbike is the most flexible way to get around on your own. Rental is around 250–300 THB a day for a standard automatic; larger bikes or multi-day rentals can be negotiated. Rental shops are along White Sand, Klong Prao, and Kai Bae. Most ask for an ID card or passport as a deposit. Always check the bike's condition, brakes, and tyres, and photograph any existing scratches before you take it.

• Always wear a helmet — for safety and for police checkpoints. Rental shops usually provide one.
• Fill up before going over the hills — petrol stations are at the main beaches; the small southern beaches only have bottles sold by the roadside, so carry enough fuel.
• Avoid riding the hill road at night — there's little street lighting, the bends are blind, and visibility drops sharply.
• Take it slow on the descents — use engine/gear braking to help, and don't ride the front brake alone until the wheel locks.

Renting a car on the island

If you didn't bring your own car but want the comfort of one, there are some car-rental options on the island. Rental runs around 1,200–1,800 THB a day depending on the model and the season. It suits families or groups visiting several beaches who'd rather not risk a motorbike on the steep roads. There are fewer options on the island than on the mainland, so if you want to be sure, book ahead — or consider bringing your own car over on the ferry from the start.

Boat trips to the surrounding islands — always check the weather first

Beyond getting around the island itself, the other journey many people come for is taking a boat out to snorkel the reefs around the nearby islands. Most tours leave from Bang Bao pier in the south, with popular routes stopping at Koh Yak Yai, Koh Rang Yai, and Koh Wai, where the water is clear enough to see coral and shoals of fish. Big-boat tours run around 500–700 THB, speedboats around 1,000–1,500 THB, usually including snorkel gear and lunch on board.

A ready-to-use travel plan for first-timers

If you want a picture of how to time your travel days so you don't miss the ferry, here's a rough schedule for the day out and the day back. Adjust it to the ferry times and the weather on the day.