Koh Chang by Bus
From Bangkok
Bus services run from Ekamai (Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal) direct to the departure point of the Koh Chang ferry in Laem Ngop. This service costs around 250 Baht and saves time since you don’t need to get a taxi from Trat to the ferry. At the moment these run at 7AM and 9AM. Here are detailed timetables and contact numbers.
With the opening of the new airport, bus travel is changing quickly. Some buses from Bangkok now route via the airport on their way to Trat. It's worth checking at the airport bus terminal if you are planning on traveling down direct from the airport.
Frequent buses also leave for Trat town from Ekamai and the Northern Bus Terminal (Mor Chit). Ekamai is located on the route of the Bangkok Skytrain whilst Morchit is slightly closer to Khao San road. The journey takes 4-6 hours & costs around 250 Baht. Buses run frequently both day and night so you should have no problem just arriving and buying a ticket for the next one.
From Trat town you can easily get a taxi going to the ferry terminals to Koh Chang for 150 Baht. We strongly suggest that you avoid the small fishing boat from Leam Ngob but stay on the songtow all the way to the Center Point Ferry. It's more frequent and easier to get local transport when you get to Koh Chang.
Minibus and full-sized bus services pick up from guesthouses around Khao San Road and other Bangkok locations on request and travel directly to ferry departure points at Laem Ngop. Bookings can be made from any of the scores of travel agents in this area. The buses leave at 7-8am taking 5-6 hours and cost around 180-250B for a single trip including ferry crossing.
From Pattaya/Koh Samet
Daily minibus services operate from Pattaya via Ban Pae (the ferry port for Koh Samet) to the Koh Chang ferry departure point at Laem Ngop. The cost is around 500B from Pattaya or 400B from Ban Pae and the journey takes 4 or 2.5 hours respectively. Check at any travel agent there for times and to arrange a ticket. You can, in theory, get a government bus from Pattaya to Trat. But don't. The bus is old and slow, it stops everywhere and a foul days travel is guaranteed.
From Cambodia
Koh Chang is close to the Cambodian border at Hat Lek (known as Cham Yeam on the Cambodian side) and is a convenient stop for people having just arrived in Thailand from Cambodia.
Minibuses run from Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh to the Thai border at daily. Ask at your guesthouse or hotel for details.
Boat departures from Sihanoukville to Koh Kong (the closest Cambodian town to the border) are at 12pm each day. On arrival at Koh Kong either stay the night or get a taxi or motorcycle to the Thai border before the 9pm close.
One month Thai visas can be obtained for free at the border. After crossing to Thailand a regular 100B minibus to Trat leaves every 45 minutes and takes just over an hour. From there take a taxi to the Koh Chang ferry pier.
