Koh Chang is Thailand's second-largest island and one of the least-developed large islands in the country. Getting there from Trat on the mainland takes around 30–45 minutes on a car ferry from the Laem Ngop pier area, making it one of Thailand's shorter crossings — but the road journey to Laem Ngop from Bangkok, Trat town or the local airport is the longer part of the day.
Laem Ngop: the ferry hub
The crossing to Koh Chang departs from the Laem Ngop cape, about 17 km south-west of Trat town on a narrow peninsula that juts into the sea. The cape has two main piers — Ao Thammachat and Center Point — both within a few hundred metres of each other. Songthaews and minibuses from Trat town serve both piers, typically taking 20–30 minutes. Taxis are also available from Trat.
Ferry operators: Koh Chang Ferry and Centrepoint Ferry
Two operators run the car ferry crossing:
- Koh Chang Ferry departs from Ao Thammachat pier and arrives at Ao Sapparot pier on Koh Chang's north-west corner. The crossing takes around 30–40 minutes. Ferries run frequently throughout the day from early morning to around 7–8 pm, with departures roughly every hour in peak season. Last boats are earlier in low season.
- Centrepoint Ferry departs from Center Point pier (also transliterated as Centrepoint), a short distance along the cape from Ao Thammachat. It also arrives at the north end of Koh Chang, similarly priced and a comparable crossing time. Centrepoint also operates services to the smaller nearby islands of Koh Wai and Koh Kood, making it useful if you are heading further afield.
Both operators are reliable for the main Koh Chang crossing. There is no significant difference in quality; which you use usually depends on which pier your transfer drops you at. Tickets are bought at the pier and no advance booking is needed for foot passengers. On busy weekends and Thai public holidays, the queue of cars waiting to board can be long — arrive early if you are bringing a vehicle.
Taking a car or motorbike across
One of the practical advantages of the Trat–Koh Chang route is that it is fully set up for vehicles. Both car ferries take private cars, rental cars, pickup trucks and motorbikes. The vehicle surcharge on top of the passenger fare is straightforward. Koh Chang's interior roads are paved along the west coast and rougher inland and on the east — a small car handles the main road with no difficulty, and having a vehicle gives you real freedom to explore the island beyond the main beach strip. If you are renting a car in Bangkok and driving to Koh Chang, check with your rental company that cross-island use and ferry transport are permitted under the policy, as some companies restrict this.
Driving tip: The road from Bangkok to Laem Ngop runs largely on Route 3 (Sukhumvit Road, the eastern coast highway) and takes around 4.5–5.5 hours from central Bangkok. Some rental companies flag Trat province as a restricted zone — confirm before you pick up the car.
Getting from Bangkok to Laem Ngop
If you are not driving, the most common approach is a minibus or joint bus-and-ferry ticket from Bangkok. Operators and travel agencies at Khao San Road and around Bangkok's eastern bus hub sell through-tickets that cover the coach from Bangkok to the Laem Ngop pier area and the ferry crossing. Journey time from central Bangkok is typically 5–7 hours in total, including the ferry. The minibuses pick up from Khao San Road and drop at either Ao Thammachat or Center Point pier, usually with enough time to catch the next ferry.
From the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai, public buses run towards Trat town — the journey takes 5–6 hours. From Trat bus station, songthaews connect to Laem Ngop. This route is slower but cheaper than a packaged minibus ticket. Trat Airport (TDX) is served by Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi on most days; from the airport, taxis and minibuses run to Laem Ngop pier, a journey of around 40 minutes.
Arriving on Koh Chang
Ferries arrive at Ao Sapparot pier in the north of Koh Chang. Songthaews and taxis wait to take passengers to the island's main beaches: White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is 15–20 minutes south, Klong Prao around 30 minutes, Kai Bae 35–40 minutes, and the furthest southern beaches 60+ minutes. Agree a fare before you set off, or go by the rough posted rates. On busy days the pier area is chaotic — keep hold of your luggage and step aside from the main crowd to look for the right songthaew calmly.
Koh Chang is a large island — roughly 30 km north to south — and while the west-coast road is paved and reasonably good, it becomes a single-lane road with steep bends beyond Klong Prao. A motorbike or scooter is the most practical way to explore beyond the main strip once you are there; rentals are widely available near all the main beaches.
Seasonal notes and low-season reductions
Koh Chang's high season runs roughly November to April; the rains come from May onwards and peak around September–October. In low season, some resorts close and ferry frequency is reduced. The crossing itself is short enough that it is rarely cancelled outright, but check the last departure time on the day you plan to cross — it can be earlier in low season than the schedule suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry crossing from Laem Ngop to Koh Chang?
The car ferry from Ao Thammachat or Center Point pier to Ao Sapparot on Koh Chang takes around 30–40 minutes. Both Koh Chang Ferry and Centrepoint Ferry run the same route at similar speeds.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
For foot passengers, no — tickets are bought at the pier and the crossing runs frequently. If you are bringing a car during a busy Thai public holiday weekend, arriving early is wise as the car queue can take more than one sailing to clear.
How far is it from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
The road distance from Bangkok to Laem Ngop is around 315 km, typically 4.5–5.5 hours by car. Adding the ferry and any pier waits, budget 6–7 hours door-to-door from central Bangkok. By public bus and songthaew, allow 7–8 hours.
Is there an airport near Koh Chang?
Trat Airport (TDX) is the nearest airport, served by Bangkok Airways from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The airport is roughly 40 minutes from Laem Ngop pier by taxi. The airport is small and services are limited; flying and taking a taxi to the ferry is faster than the bus but more expensive.
Sources and further reading:
- Koh Chang Ferry (kohchangferry.com) — Ao Thammachat departures and schedules.
- Centrepoint Ferry (centerpointferry.com) — Center Point pier timetables and island connections.
- Bangkok Airways (bangkokair.com) — Trat Airport (TDX) flight information.