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Trat in 2 Days, 1 Night
Laem Ngop to Koh Chang

Trat has gorgeous water, but it sits at the far end of Thailand's eastern seaboard, so a lot of people worry it's too far to be worth it. In reality, 2 days and 1 night is enough to soak up the coastal-town feel at Laem Ngop, pick up proper fresh-from-the-sea souvenirs, and still take the ferry over to spend the night on Koh Chang at an easy pace. This plan is built around the ferry timings so you don't end up standing on the pier or missing the last boat.

⛴️ Laem Ngop ferry🦐 Fresh seafood souvenirs💦 Klong Plu Waterfall

Trat in 2 Days, 1 Night Laem Ngop to Koh Chang

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Trat is about 300 km from Bangkok — roughly 4–5 hours by car or van. Most people heading to Koh Chang skip the town of Laem Ngop entirely, even though it's where seafood is fresher and far cheaper than on the island. So this plan starts the morning at Laem Ngop, gets your souvenirs and lunch sorted, and then puts you on an afternoon ferry to check in to your Koh Chang resort without any rush.

Know this about the ferry first

The most popular pier is the Ao Thammachat ferry (Khlong Yai sub-district, Laem Ngop), because the crossing is the quickest at around 30–45 minutes. The first boat runs about 06:30 and the last around 18:30. Tickets are roughly 90 THB per person each way, and around 200 THB each way for a car. The schedule shifts with the weather, so if you're coming in the rainy season, check the pier's page before you set off.

Day 1

Laem Ngop → ferry crossing → check in on Koh Chang

09:30

Arrive in Laem Ngop town, browse the seafood marketLaem Ngop is a source for shrimp paste, fish sauce, dried shrimp, and ngop (the traditional fishermen's hat). Prices at the source are cheaper than buying on the island. Pick things up on the way in and stash them in the boot — much better than lugging them back on your last day.

10:30

Stop at the Laem Ngop viewpoint + old pier bridgeThere's a lighthouse and a sign marking the 'easternmost point of the mainland', with Koh Chang sitting out on the horizon as a line of mountains. It's a nice opening-shot photo stop that most people just drive past.

12:00

Lunch: waterfront seafood at Laem NgopThe seafood here is fresh because it's a fishing town. Order blue crab, prawns, and shellfish without paying the tourist prices you'd get on the island. Eat your fill, then drive on to the pier.

13:30

Drive to Ao Thammachat ferry, cross to Koh ChangIf you have a car, just drive it straight onto the ferry. No car? Park on the Laem Ngop side and pick up a songthaew on the island. The crossing takes about 30–45 minutes.

15:00

Check in around White Sand Beach or Klong Prao BeachWhite Sand Beach is the liveliest, with restaurants, bars, and convenience stores all close by — good if you like an evening stroll. Klong Prao Beach is quieter and more private, with several larger resorts.

17:30

Sunset at Kai Bae viewpoint / Kai Bae BeachThe west side of Koh Chang faces right into the sunset. Kai Bae viewpoint is free and open until about 16:30, while Kai Bae Beach is an easy place to sit and wait for the evening light. The best months are November to February.

19:00

Dinner: seafood by the beachAround Kai Bae and White Sand Beach there are plenty of seafood spots with a sea view. Prices on the island run higher than at Laem Ngop, so check the per-kilo board before you order to avoid surprises.

Pick the beach that fits your style

Want shops and somewhere to wander at night? Go for White Sand Beach · After quiet, privacy, and easy swimming? Choose Klong Prao Beach · On a budget with a laid-back vibe? Try the Kai Bae–Lonely Beach area further south.

Day 2

Klong Plu Waterfall → the sea → back to the mainland

08:30

Breakfast, then head to Klong Plu WaterfallKlong Plu Waterfall runs year-round and sits about 3 km inland from the beach. It opens around 08:00–16:30. Go early while it's still quiet — the water is cool and just right.

09:00

Short 800-metre walk in, then swim under the fallsThe trail isn't steep; wear shoes with some grip. There's a pool up top you can swim in — an easy way to cool off before midday, and doable with kids.

11:30

Back for a last swim / a beachside massageSave the late morning for one more dip in the sea, or grab a Thai massage along White Sand Beach — there are several places to choose from — before checking out.

13:00

Check out + a light lunch on the islandGive yourself enough buffer so you're not racing for the last ferry and sweating whether you'll make it.

14:30

Drive to the pier, take the ferry back to Laem NgopAllow extra time for the car queue at the ferry on long weekends, when the line can get long. Once you're back on the mainland, drive home to Bangkok — or carry on to Chanthaburi if you like.

Rough budget per person (2 days, 1 night)

Ferry round trip — about 180 THB per person (add roughly 400 THB per car for the round trip).
One night's lodging — from around 600–900 THB for a mid-range guesthouse or resort; split it in two if there are two of you.
Four meals — around 600–1,000 THB, depending on how heavily you order seafood.
Fuel / songthaews on the island — without a car, budget around 50–100 THB per songthaew ride.
Done on a budget, it comes to roughly 1,800–2,500 THB per person (fuel from Bangkok not included).

🎟️

Book the activities in your Trat trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in TratHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Trat attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from TratOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Trat activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide

🎟️ See all Trat tours & activities (Klook)

Can you do it without your own car?

Yes. Take a van or bus from Bangkok to Trat, get off in town, then catch a songthaew to the Laem Ngop pier. From there, buy a walk-on passenger ferry ticket (no car needed), and once you're on Koh Chang, the red songthaews run between the various beaches. The trade-off is you'll need to watch the last songthaew of the day carefully, because there are far fewer of them at night.

Times to avoid

Koh Chang in the rainy season (May–Oct) gets strong waves, the ferries are cancelled on some days, and the water turns murky. If you want clear water and easy swimming, aim for November to April. Klong Plu Waterfall, on the other hand, looks its best and runs full toward the end of the rains.

Want a longer plan, or to look at Koh Chang places to stay before you book?

See the Trat travel guide →

FAQ

Is 2 days and 1 night enough for Koh Chang?

It's enough for the main highlights: swimming at White Sand or Klong Prao Beach, sunset at Kai Bae, and Klong Plu Waterfall on the morning of day two. But if you want to dive the outer islands or add Koh Kood and Koh Mak, plan on 3 days and 2 nights.

Which pier do you take to Koh Chang, and how much is it?

The popular one is the Ao Thammachat ferry in Laem Ngop, because the crossing is quickest at around 30–45 minutes. Tickets are roughly 90 THB per person each way, and about 200 THB each way for a car. The first boat is around 06:30 and the last around 18:30.

What's worth stopping for at Laem Ngop before crossing to the island?

Laem Ngop is a fishing town with seafood souvenirs — shrimp paste, fish sauce, and dried shrimp that are cheaper at the source than on the island. There's the Laem Ngop viewpoint and old pier bridge for photos, plus waterfront seafood restaurants that are fresher and cheaper than on the Koh Chang side.

Is it a long walk to Klong Plu Waterfall?

It's about 800 metres in from the car park, and the trail isn't steep — non-slip shoes help. The waterfall runs year-round and has a pool you can swim in. It opens around 08:00–16:30, and it's quieter if you go in the morning.

When is the best time to visit Trat and Koh Chang?

For clear water and easy swimming, November to April is the window. The rainy season, May to October, brings strong waves, ferry cancellations on some days, and murky water — but that's exactly when Klong Plu Waterfall runs full and looks its best.

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