Koh Chang – the must-see elephant island
Koh Chang is more than worth it. It is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand and the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket. It is beautiful and largely unspoilt with long white Sandy beaches, crystal clear water, forests and waterfalls. There are more than 50 large and small islands nearby.
About 300 kilometers east of Bangkok and not far from the Cambodian border Koh Chang part of Trat province. The island is 70% covered with rainforest and this paradise can only be reached by ferry. Koh Chang is about 30 km long and 14 km wide: a total area of about 217 km². The Koh Chang National Marine Park covers an area of 650 km², 70% of which is offshore.
In addition to natural beauty, the island is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including native birds, snakes, deer, and even a number of elephants. As for activities, Koh Chang and the nearby islands that are part of the national park are great for snorkeling, diving, camping and jungle trekking.
Most tourists stay in Hat Sai Khao, Hat Kai Muk, Hat Ta Nam and Laem Bang Bao, all of which are connected by a single road along the west coast.
How do you get to Koh Chang?
There are several options to travel to Koh Chang, such as the bus or the plane.
Bus Charter
There are standard and air-conditioned buses that depart from Bangkok to Trat and are operated by The Transport Company Limited or private bus companies. Most depart every day from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) on Sukhumvit Road and from the North and Northeast Bus Terminal (Mochit 2) on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road. Travel time is approximately 5 hours. For more information call The Transport Company Limited call center 1490 or www.transport.co.th
You can also book bus tickets online at www.busticket.in.th or www.thaiticketmajor.com or www.thairoute.com
Plane
Bangkok Airways operates three daily flights from Bangkok to Trat. The flight takes about 1 hour. For more information and to book a ticket, call 0 2270 6699 (Bangkok Office) or 0 3952 5299-300 (Trat Office) or 0 3955 1654-5 (Ko Chang Office) or visit www.bangkokair.com
Been to Koh Chang from Bangkok countless times, but never by bus or plane, but always private transport (has nothing to do with fat neck, but price / quality comparison).
No idea what the bus costs, but never heard of many again! I'll leave it at this.
Plane: as far as I know the price is around 150 usd round trip p/p.
Additional: transport costs to the airport in BKK, nerve-racking baggage and other checks, transport from Trat airport to pier, ferry fee, and then another transport from pier KC to hotel = ttl price ?
I pay hotel BKK / hotel KC 4.600 thb (€ 125,00) there and 4.100 thb (€ 110,00) back all in for car with driver, regardless of whether alone or with 2 or 3 people!
So if you are with two then it costs +/- € 120,00 p / p!
Driver will stop whenever you want (to eat, pee or whatever..).
Travel time approx. 5 hours .. all in all not much longer than by plane I think.
So cheaper with 2 or more people and no stress. You pay the driver in cash on arrival.
Just let me know, you do what you want with it.
And as for Koh Chang, beautiful island indeed (at least for me) .. others will prefer Koh Samui which is supposedly more “developed”.
You say"about transport by bus:""heard of many but never again"
I would like to give a different opinion on that. I have lived in pattya/huay yai and koh chang for many years and travel many times a year from koh chang to pattaya and to subarnabumi airport. Both by private transport (car) and by bus. The government bus, number 99, departs from laem ngob via arrival koh chiang ferry to subarnabumi airport and finally to bangkok.
Can only report experience koh chang to subarnabumi airport. departs only twice a day but is simply excellent. Departs from ferry arrival point on mainland . Only stops in chanthaburi and short stopover for food/pee about two hours before arrival at airport. Costs little faith 200 THB and is excellent.
I have never used the private bus carriers from koh chang.