How to get from Koh Chang to Bangkok

Why visit Bangkok?

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is one of the most visited cities in the world. There’s something about the constant buzz and energy floating through its streets at all hours of the day, giving it the name of the city that never sleeps!

Its main attractions include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. But ancient temples aren’t the only reason people flock to this vibrant city. From jam-packed shopping areas to mouthwatering street food and the wild nightlife of Khao San Road, there are so many things you can do in Bangkok.

There are 4 ways to travel the 350 kilometres (217 miles) from Koh Chang to Bangkok. You can choose between the bus + ferry, van + ferry, private transport and flight from Trat. The journey takes 2 hours to 8 hours 50 minutes and the quickest way is by flight from trat. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus + ferry with tickets starting at 388 THB ($11.90).

We recommend travelling by bus and ferry from Koh Chang to Bangkok. The first part of the journey is a 45-minute ferry from Koh Chang to Trat. Then from Trat, you can take the bus to Bangkok.

You can book combined bus and ferry tickets online for 939 THB ($29), including pick up from your hotel in Koh Chang. If you want to go straight to Bangkok Airport, you can book your tickets for as low as 734 THB ($22.50).

Alternatively, you can also book your tickets separately. This might save you some money, but it also comes with more hassle. With a combined ticket, you don’t need to worry about the transfer and also don’t need to buy separate tickets.

Below we will present first the combined options from Koh Chang to Bangkok. After the table, you will find the info on how to make the trip with two separate bookings.

Departure and arrival station

There are four well-known companies operating on this route: Suvarnabhumi Burapha Bus, Boonsiri High Speed Ferries, Ferry Koh Chang and Kohchang Bangkok Transport.

Suvarnabhumi Burapha bus departs from Koh Chang Bus Station. It’s close to the most popular areas to stay in Koh Chang.

Boonsiri High-Speed Ferries offers a pick-up service from any hotel along White Sand Beach to Bangbao Beach.

Both buses departing from these points will head to the pier. From there, a ferry transfer will take place to reach Trat in about 45 minutes. This ride is already included in the ticket cost.

Another option is to book your bus and tickets from Koh Chang to Bangkok separately. This method is cheaper, but it won’t give you the same level of comfort and convenience when booking online. The total cost of booking tickets separately starts at 400 THB ($12.30).

See the step-by-step guide on how to book your tickets from Koh Chang to Bangkok below.

From your hotel, you’ll first need to head to the pier in Koh Chang. You can catch a local songthaew or motorbike taxi along the main road for about 60 THB ($1.80).

The primary main ferry companies operating on this route are Ferry Koh Chang and Centerpoint Ferry. Both depart from different piers which are about 3 km (2 miles) from each other.

• Koh Chang ferry departs from Ao Sapparot Pier
• Centerpoint Ferry departs from Center Point Ferry Pier (Koh Chang Island)

While there are different speedboat ferries that used to go to Koh Chang, these two car ferry companies are the only choice for now. Luckily they have both many departures per day.

From the piers, you can ride a songthaew (local taxi) to Trat Bus Terminal for about 60 THB ($1.80). The ride will take around 30-40 minutes.

Kohchang Bangkok Transport is a popular bus operator for the Trat to Bangkok route, offering several departures daily. Bus fares start from 310 THB ($9.50) on BookAway.

You can book a bus arriving at either Eastern Bus Terminal or Bangkok Bus Terminal.

A minivan ride from Koh Chang to Bangkok costs around 854 THB ($26). The minivan journey takes about 7 hours 40 minutes to 8 hours 50 minutes, depending on traffic.

Koh Chang Transport operates on this route.

Van + Ferry options from Koh Chang to Bangkok

If you want to travel by plane from Koh Chang to Bangkok, you’ll first have to take a ferry ride. Check the section above for the details on how to take the ferry.

Trat Airport is about a 20-30 minute drive away from the ports you will arrive at in Koh Chang. You can either go there by songthaew or by taxi.

If you buy a round-trip mini-bus transfer, they will take care of your transfer from Koh Chang to the airport. If you haven’t bought it yet, ask your hotel or a local travel agent for a shared shuttle from Koh Chang to the airport.

Bangkok Airways is the only airline operating along this route. The airline used to have four flights daily but the last time we checked (April 2022), they offer only one flight per day.

The flight to Bangkok departs from Trat Airport at 1:10. After a 1-hour flight, you will land at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The cost of one-way airfares starts from 1,400 THB ($43) excl. ferry. Book early for the best fares.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

If you are travelling in a group, it will be more convenient to take private transportation from Koh Chang to Bangkok.

The best thing about booking a private transport is that it can pick you up from any hotel in Koh Chang, bring you to the pier, board the car ferry, and from there, continue to Bangkok.

When splitting the costs, it can even be cheaper than booking tickets on a shared transfer. Online, you can book as cheap as 4,794 THB ($145). This price excludes the fee for the ferry tickets for the passengers.

Also, note that this is the price when booking online. When you book a private transport with your hotel, it’s likely more expensive.