🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
From Bangkok, Trat is a 4-5 hour drive or minivan ride. Most people heading to Koh Chang blow straight past the town of Laem Ngop, even though it's a fishing port where the seafood is fresher and a lot cheaper than on the island. So this 3-day, 2-night plan starts the morning in Laem Ngop: sort out your souvenirs and lunch first, then take an afternoon ferry over and check in on Koh Chang at an easy pace. Day two covers the waterfall and the sea; day three leaves time for a snorkeling boat before you head back to the mainland.
What to know about the ferry first
The most popular pier is the Ao Thammachat ferry (Laem Ngop) because it's the fastest crossing, roughly 30-45 minutes. The first boat runs around 6:30 AM and the last around 6:30 PM. Fares are about 80 THB per person each way, and around 120 THB each way for a four-wheel vehicle. Schedules and prices shift with the season, so if you're going in the rainy months, always check the pier's page before you set off.
Day 1
Laem Ngop → ferry crossing → check in on Koh Chang
9:30 AM
Arrive in Laem Ngop town, browse the seafood-souvenir marketLaem Ngop is known for shrimp paste, fish sauce, dried shrimp, and ngop (the local fishermen's hats). Prices at the source are cheaper than buying on the island. Grab these on the way in and stash them in the boot rather than lugging them back on your last day.
10:30 AM
Stop at the Laem Ngop viewpoint + old pier bridgeThere's a lighthouse and a 'Easternmost Tip of Thailand' sign here, with Koh Chang rising as a distant ridge of mountains across the water. It's a nice trip-opening photo spot that most people just drive past.
12:00 PM
Waterfront seafood lunch in Laem NgopThe seafood here is fresh because it's a fishing town, so order blue crab, prawns, and clams without paying the tourist prices you'd see on the island. Eat first, then drive to the pier.
1:30 PM
Drive to Ao Thammachat pier and take the ferry to Koh ChangIf you have a car, just drive it onto the ferry. If you don't, park on the Laem Ngop side and catch a songthaew (shared pickup) once you're on the island. The crossing takes about 30-45 minutes.
3:00 PM
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 wander. Klong Prao is quieter and more private, with several larger resorts.
5:30 PM
Watch the sunset at Kai Bae Viewpoint / Kai Bae BeachKoh Chang's west coast faces the sunset head-on. Kai Bae Viewpoint is free and open until about 4:30 PM, while Kai Bae Beach is an easy spot to sit and wait for the evening light. The prettiest stretch is November to February.
7:00 PM
Seafood dinner by the beachAround Kai Bae and White Sand Beach there are plenty of seafood spots with sea views. Prices on the island run higher than in Laem Ngop, so check the per-kilo board before you order to avoid surprises.
Pick the beach that fits your style
Want shops and a night-time stroll? Go for White Sand Beach. Want quiet, private, and easy swimming? Choose Klong Prao Beach. After a relaxed, budget-friendly vibe? Try the Kai Bae–Lonely Beach stretch a little further south.
Day 2
Klong Plu Waterfall → the sea → viewpoints
8:30 AM
Have breakfast, then head to Klong Plu WaterfallKlong Plu Waterfall runs all year and sits about 2-3 km in from the beach road. National park entry is around 40 THB for adults and 20 THB for kids, open roughly 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. Go early while it's still quiet.
9:00 AM
Short jungle walk of about 500 metres, then swim at the fallsThe trail isn't too steep — wear shoes with some grip. There's a pool at the top to swim in, an easy way to cool off that works fine with kids in tow.
11:30 AM
Head back for a late-morning swim in the seaSave the pre-noon window for the beach in front of your hotel. The water tends to be calmer now than in the afternoon — good for an easy float.
1:00 PM
Lunch, then rest through the harsh midday sunKoh Chang afternoons get fierce sun. Rest in the shade for a bit, or get a Thai massage along White Sand Beach — there are several places to choose from. Head back out once the sun softens.
4:00 PM
Drive up to a Koh Chang / Kai Bae viewpoint for the evening lightThe west side has several hilltop viewpoints where you can see the line of beaches and little islands set against an orange sky. It's a different evening photo angle from yesterday's.
6:30 PM
Dinner + a stroll along White Sand Beach roadAfter dark, White Sand Beach has seaside bars, live music, and food spots running the length of the road — the island's most buzzing night. If you'd rather have quiet, sit down at one of the places around Klong Prao instead.
Take day two as easy as you like
If you don't want to pack it in, skip the evening viewpoint and just laze on the beach all afternoon. Koh Chang isn't an island where you need to race around ticking off sights — the slow pace is the whole charm of the place.
Day 3
Snorkel the outer islands → ferry back to the mainland
8:00 AM
Board a snorkeling tour boat out to the outer islandsSnorkeling tours from Koh Chang usually head out around Koh Yak, Koh Rang, and Koh Tong Lang, where the water is clearer than the beaches on the main island. Book ahead through your resort or a tour shop on the island; the price including lunch is around 1,000-1,400 THB per person.
12:30 PM
Lunch on the boat, then snorkel another spotMost tours serve lunch on the boat or on an island, then take you to 1-2 more snorkel spots before turning back. Good if you want to see coral and schools of fish that the beach in front of your hotel just doesn't have.
2:30 PM
Back at the island pier — pack up and check outLeave time to rinse off and change into something comfortable before the journey. Afternoon half-day tours usually get you back in time for an evening ferry, but if you've booked a full-day tour, tell the driver what time you need to make your boat.
3:30 PM
Drive to the pier and take the ferry back to Laem NgopAllow extra time for the vehicle queue at the ferry on long weekends, when the line can get long. Don't gamble on the last boat around 6:30 PM — getting to the pier about an hour early gives you peace of mind.
4:30 PM
Reach the mainland, drive back to Bangkok or on to ChanthaburiIf you're not rushing home, you can stop off in Chanthaburi — the riverside old community, the gem market, and the cafés all sit conveniently along the way back.
Rough budget per person (3 days, 2 nights)
- Round-trip ferry — about 160 THB per person (add roughly 240 THB per car, round trip)
- 2 nights' lodging — from about 1,200-1,800 THB for a mid-range guesthouse/resort, split in two if there are 2 of you
- 6-7 meals — about 900-1,500 THB depending on how hard you go on the seafood
- 1-day snorkeling tour — about 1,000-1,400 THB including lunch and snorkel gear
- Waterfall entry + island transport — Klong Plu Waterfall is around 40 THB; songthaew rides run about 50-100 THB per trip if you don't have a car
- A mid-range total lands around 3,500-5,000 THB per person (not counting fuel from Bangkok)
🎟️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.
🎟️ See all Trat tours & activities (Klook) Can you do it without your own car?
Yes. Take a minivan or bus from Bangkok to Trat town, then a songthaew to the Laem Ngop pier, where you buy a walk-on passenger ferry ticket (no car needed). Once on Koh Chang, red songthaews run a shuttle service between the various beaches, and the day-three snorkeling tour usually picks you up at your hotel. The trade-off is keeping a close eye on the last songthaew of the evening, since they thin out a lot after dark — so if you're carless, it's best to stay at White Sand Beach where you can walk to the shops.
Times to avoid
In the rainy season (May-October) Koh Chang gets strong waves, many snorkeling boats stop running, and the water turns cloudy. If you want clear water and sharp coral views, aim for November-April. Klong Plu Waterfall, on the other hand, is at its fullest and prettiest at the end of the rains — so choose based on whether you're prioritizing the sea or the waterfall.
