Koh Chang & Trat Travel Guide 2026: Ferry, Beaches, 3-Day Plan
Koh Chang is Thailand's second-largest island, in Trat province — close enough to Bangkok for a weekend, yet with rainforest, waterfalls and long beaches to fill several days. What makes or breaks the trip is rarely the island itself; it is three decisions: when you go, when you reach the ferry, and which beach you pick. This guide covers all three, with costs and a 3-day plan you can copy.
Volatile facts such as fares and room prices are stated as of October 2026. Numbers I could not trace to a source are left out rather than guessed.
Who Koh Chang suits
- Families and first-timers: White Sand Beach is easy to reach with food and lodging at every level
- Quiet couples: Klong Prao is calmer with a long beach
- Budget backpackers: Lonely Beach has small bars and a relaxed feel
- Nature lovers: Klong Plu and Than Mayom waterfalls, in Mu Ko Chang National Park
- Seafood fans: the fishing village of Bang Bao on the east side
If you prefer old towns or mountains, see our Nan guide or Sukhothai guide instead.
When to go: season matters more than you think
| Period | Conditions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nov-Feb | Good weather, little rain, clear sea | Peak crowds, especially New Year |
| Mar-May | Hot but fewer people | Early-May long weekend saw very heavy ferry queues |
| Jun-Oct | Rainy, green, quiet | Trat gets over 1,000 mm in July; some boats and beach bars cut back Jun-Sep |
If you can choose, go late November to early December: the island is still green after the rains, showers have eased, and the New Year rush has not started. Going in the rains is fine, but expect some boat activities not to run — ask your lodging before paying a deposit.
Getting there from Bangkok
| Option | Approx. time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Own car | about 5 h to the pier + ferry | fuel/tolls + ferry fare |
| 999 bus (Ekkamai 07:45 / Suvarnabhumi 08:20) | reaches pier about 13:30 | 329 baht + ferry |
| Minivan from Suvarnabhumi incl. ferry | departs 07:00 and 11:00 | about 700 baht to Kai Bae, more beyond |
| Fly Bangkok-Trat (Bangkok Airways) | about 1 h | from about 2,800 baht one way + about 1,000 baht transfer and boat |
For a group of 3-4, driving is usually cheapest and most flexible. Map your route and stops with our trip planner, and read the road-trip tips.
The ferry: what to know
The working crossing is Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot, about 25-40 minutes. The Centrepoint crossing is currently not operating.
- Hours: roughly 06:30-18:30; since April 2026 boats between the first and last sailing reportedly leave when full rather than on the hour, so quiet periods can mean a wait.
- Fares: Thai Post reports that Trat's provincial meeting raised fares with the diesel price, effective 10 April 2026:
| Type | Old (baht) | New (baht) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 80 | 130 |
| Child/student/monk | 30 | 70 |
| Motorbike | 40 | 130 |
| 4-wheel car | 120 | 280 |
Note: some English guides updated in October 2026 still show adult 90 and car 200, which does not match the news report. I found no official notice of a cut, so I use the news figures and suggest carrying spare cash and checking the fare board at the pier.
- Holidays: on 1 May 2026, 2,315 vehicles and 24,001 passengers crossed in 69 trips; the queue passed 7 km at one point and some people waited over 6 hours. If you must travel on a long weekend, reach the pier before dawn or go a day early. Check dates in our holiday calendar and 2027 long weekends.
West-coast beaches: pick by personality
Most lodging sits along the west-coast road. Songthaew fares per person from the island pier: White Sand about 50 baht, Klong Prao 70, Kai Bae 80, Lonely Beach 100, Bailan 120, Bang Bao 150.
- White Sand Beach: popular, easy access, food and rooms at every level — best for first-timers
- Klong Prao: quieter, long beach — couples and slow holidays
- Kai Bae: a viewpoint over the bay and small islets
- Lonely Beach: chilled, with small bars and restaurants at night
Bang Bao and the east side: seafood and quiet
Photo: Bang Bao Pier, Koh Chang — CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bang Bao is a quiet fishing village with seafood restaurants over the water and a departure point for nearby islands. Long Beach (Hat Sai Yao) on the east side is among the quietest on the island, good for privacy. If you order seafood by weight, always ask the price per kilo first.
Waterfalls in the national park
Photo: Sapin — CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Klong Plu has a large pool for swimming and a short walk in; Than Mayom is quieter and multi-tiered, with a short hike. One guide reports a 200-baht fee at the waterfalls, but that figure may be the foreign rate — check the Thai rate with the park on site. Wear shoes with grip and avoid going right after heavy rain.
Snorkelling and nearby islands
Photo: Koh Wai, Thailand, Pier — CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Day trips to "4 islands" typically visit Koh Yak Lek, Koh Yak Yai, Koh Rang and Koh Wai, usually including snorkel gear, lunch and a guide. Prices vary by operator and trips may be cancelled in the rains, so compare at least two and ask whether park fees are included.
3-day, 2-night plan
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leave Bangkok about 05:00, reach pier before noon | Ferry, check in, swim at your beach | Beach walk, dinner |
| 2 | 4-island snorkel tour or Klong Plu waterfall | Swim, rest | Seafood at Bang Bao |
| 3 | Kai Bae viewpoint, pack up | Leave the island before 14:00 to beat the return queue | Back in Bangkok by evening |
Budget
The guide I relied on puts a 3-day, 2-night trip at roughly 3,000-10,000+ baht per person — wide because rooms range from fan bungalows to beachfront resorts. One verifiable line item: a car round trip on the ferry is 560 baht at the new rate (280×2), plus 260 baht per passenger. For rooms, tours and food, check current prices directly with providers; I do not print numbers without a source.
Common mistakes
- Reaching the pier late on a long weekend — multi-kilometre queues and hours of waiting.
- Trusting old ferry prices — fares rose in April 2026; carry spare cash.
- Booking far from the beach you want — the west-coast road is long and songthaews charge by distance.
- Booking island tours in the rains without asking about cancellation — some boat services shrink from June to September.
- Leaving late on the way back — return queues can be as bad as the outbound ones.
Verdict
Koh Chang remains one of the best returns on travel time from Bangkok. Go from late November to January outside long weekends, choose a beach that fits your style, and leave slack at the pier. I give it 4.5/5, half a star off for the single-pier ferry bottleneck and festival-season room prices. More ideas in cool-season trips 2026.
Heading east via Chanthaburi first? See the Chanthaburi travel guide, on the way to Trat.
Sources
- Thai Post — Koh Chang ferry fare increase (April 2026): https://www.thaipost.net/district-news/976573/
- Thai Post — holiday ferry queue, 1 May 2026: https://www.thaipost.net/district-news/989452/
- Visit Thailand Today — Bangkok to Koh Chang: https://www.visitthailandtoday.com/guides/bangkok-to-koh-chang
- Trip.com — Koh Chang guide: https://th.trip.com/guide/destination/travel-to-koh-chang.html
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Koh Chang?
- November to February: good weather, little rain and calm seas. March-May is hot but less crowded; June-October is the green rainy season, when some boat trips and beach bars scale back and rooms are cheaper.
- How long does it take to get from Bangkok?
- About 5 hours by car to Ao Thammachat pier plus 25-40 minutes on the ferry. The 999 bus leaves Ekkamai at 07:45 and reaches the pier around 13:30, or fly Bangkok-Trat in about an hour and take a shared transfer and boat.
- How much is the ferry and do I need to book?
- Per Thai Post, fares effective 10 April 2026 are adult 130 baht, child/student 70, motorbike 130 and 4-wheel car 280. No booking — pay at the pier, preferably in cash. The Centrepoint pier is currently not operating; use Ao Thammachat.
- Do I need my own vehicle?
- No. Songthaews run along the west-coast road. Per-person fares from the island pier are about 50 baht to White Sand, 70 Klong Prao, 80 Kai Bae, 100 Lonely Beach and 150 Bang Bao. For groups of 3-4, bringing a car across can be easier.
- Which beach should I stay on?
- White Sand for first-timers and families (easy access, lots of food). Klong Prao for quiet couples. Lonely Beach for a relaxed backpacker vibe. Bang Bao is a fishing village best for seafood and boat departures.
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