Probably the best value way to travel between Bangkok and Koh Chang is by private transfer by car or minivan.
This is a door to door service from hotels in central Bangkok areas, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport to your resort on Koh Chang. Or if you are heading to Koh Mak or Koh Kood, you’d be dropped off at Laem Ngop or Laem Sok, the piers for passenger boats to those islands.
Why Choose a Private Transfer?
Flying to Trat Airport takes under an hour from Suvarnabhumi and is the quickest way to get to Koh Chang. However, as Bangkok Airways own the airport and operate all the flights, prices tend to expensive. Especially when compared to the prices for budget flights from Bangkok to the north and south of Thailand. Expect to pay 2,500 – 4,500 Baht per person during High Season. Plus transport from central Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi and transport from Trat Airport to Koh Chang.
The cheapest options are buses and minibuses, but they can be slow. These services are reliable but are best suited for people who are on a tight budget or aren’t in a hurry to get to the island.
A private transfer by car or minibus, is door to door, and is only for you and your partner or friends and family. You can choose the time the driver picks you up and you can choose when you stop on the way for a coffee or snack. Far more convenient than taking the bus and far cheaper than flying.
But . . . not everyone reading this will want to pay for a private transfer. Some will be on a smaller budget and many people simply enjoy bus travel. In which case schedules and online booking for tickets for buses and minibuses from Bangkok to Koh Chang are below. Click the links for more detailed timetables and ticket fares.
| Flight Bangkok - Trat ฿ 3,890 1h | |
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| Bus Bangkok - Koh Chang ฿ 750–850 6h – 10h | |
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| Taxi Bangkok - Koh Chang ฿ 4,070–9,680 5h – 7h | |
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| Ferry Bangkok - Koh Chang ฿ 950–1,150 7h 30m – 10h 30m | |
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| Van Bangkok - Koh Chang ฿ 850–950 4h 30m – 11h | |
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| Taxi Suvarnabhumi Airport - Koh Chang ฿ 3,650–8,228 4h 15m – 7h | |
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| Taxi Don Mueang Airport - Koh Chang ฿ 3,550–8,228 4h 25m – 7h | |
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How Long Does It Take to Get to Koh Chang?
From the centre of Bangkok to the mainland pier is around 5 hours. 30 minutes less if you are coming from Suvarnabhumi. About an hour longer if you are coming from Don Meuang. However, this does depend on traffic in Bangkok and road conditions on the way. Plus how often you decide to stop for a break during the journey.
Koh Chang ferries depart around every 30 minutes in high season. The crossing time is around 30 minutes. Once you reach Koh Chang it will be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour drive to your hotel, depending on where you are staying on the island.
At peak times, such as New Year , Thai New Year (Songkran, long weekend holidays, the ferries can be very busy. Extra time will be required to allow for any delays, especially if you are leaving the island and have a flight to catch in Bangkok.
Who provides the transfer service?
In the past I used to arrange transfers for readers of this site and others. But I retired last year. However I was getting a lot of messages from people looking for a more personal service than transport booking sites such as 12go.com can offer.
So, the good news is that from 2025 onwards Miss ‘Koi’ who helped us organise the drivers ,and who has had a tour agency on the island for many years, is now handling bookings.
You can send her the details using the form below and she will reply to you.
Private Transfer Prices to / from Koh Chang
The prices are per vehicle NOT per person. Prices are fixed, so everyone pays the same. No advance payment is required. Payment is to the driver, in cash, when you arrive safely at your destination.
Prices include tax, driver, gasoline, expressway tolls and ferry tickets to Koh Chang. ( Tickets to Koh Mak or Koh Kood aren’t included. These can be bought when you arrive at the mainland pier.
For transfers by minivan, additional passengers are charged 100 Baht per person, to a maximum of 7 passengers per minibus.
| To / From Koh Chang | By Car/Van* (Max 2 People)
Price THB |
By Van (3-4 People)
Price THB |
| Hotel in Bangkok or Suvarnabhumi Airport – Koh Chang | 4,600 | 5,100 |
| Don Meuang Airport, Bangkok – Koh Chang | 4,800 | 5,300 |
| Hotel in Bangkok or Suvarnabhumi Airport – Laem Sok or Laem Ngop (Koh Kood or Koh Mak boats) | 4,400 | 4,900 |
| Trat Airport – Koh Chang | 1,900 | 2,500 |
| Trat Airport – Laem Sok or Laem Ngop (Koh Kood or Koh Mak boats | 1,500 | 1,800 |
| Hotel on Koh Chang – Hotel in Pattaya / Utapao Airport | 3,900 | 4,200 |
| Hotel on Koh Chang – Ban Phe Pier (For Koh Samet) | 3,700 | 4,100 |
| Hotel on Koh Chang – Border at Hat Lek (For Phnom Penh or S’ville) | 3,400 | 3,600 |
| Hotel on Koh Chang – Aranyaprathet Border (For Siem Reap) | 3,600 | 4,100 |
| Hotel on Koh Chang – Pailin Border (For Battambang) | 3,400 | 3,600 |
* Infant’s or Children’s car seats can also be pre-arranged online. There will be an additional charge of 200 Baht for a car seat.