Koh Chang From Bangkok: Ferry, Park Fee and Best Season
Take a bus from Ekkamai to Trat, then ride on to Ao Thammachat pier, where the ferry leaves. Ferries run from 06:30 to 18:30 and leave when full. Bring cash for the ticket. A foreign adult pays THB 200 for the national park under the 2022 schedule.
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Getting to Koh Chang from Bangkok
Go by bus to Trat, then to the pier and across by ferry, because the island sits about 8 km off the Trat coast. The ferries run from 06:30 to 18:30.
By bus
Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal is the main hub for buses to Trat. Buses to Laem Ngop now drop you at Ao Thammachat pier only. If you start from Trat town, shared songtaews run to the piers for around THB 80 per person.
By car
Highway 3 runs 312 km to Trat town, then 17 km on to Laem Ngop Pier. Read the queue warning below before you drive.
The ferry: times, tickets and fares
Ferries run every day of the year, Sundays and public holidays included. They are timetabled hourly but leave only when the boat is full. On busy days they go about every 20 to 30 minutes. The crossing to Ao Sapporot pier takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
Bring cash. You cannot buy tickets online, and the ticket offices take no cards or QR codes. Each ticket is one way and valid for the day of travel.
| Passenger or vehicle | Fare since 10 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adult or child | THB 90 |
| 4-wheel vehicle | THB 200 |
| Motorcycle under 150cc | THB 90 |
| Motorcycle over 150cc | THB 150 |
Driving? In May 2026 car queues stretched several kilometres, with waits of four to six hours. Arrive before 08:00, travel off-peak or leave the car on the mainland. Trat Ferry, formerly Centrepoint Ferry, suspended its services in July 2024 and has not resumed.
National park fee
Mu Ko Chang is a Group 2 park, so a foreign adult pays THB 200 and a foreign child THB 100. Keep the receipt, because it can be inspected. The park covers more than 40 islands and islets, but not every part of Ko Chang itself, since some areas are lived in.
For other park groups, see national park fees for foreigners.
What to do there
The park lists Khlong Plu Waterfall, Than Mayom Waterfall, Kai Bae Viewpoint and Sai Khao Beach among its spots. Snorkelling is a listed activity, and some islands such as Ko Wai and Mu Ko Rang have intact coral reefs.
When to go
The rainy season runs from May to October. Winter, from November to February, is cooler under the northeast monsoon. The strait is sheltered, so cancellations are extremely rare even in the rains. It turns choppy only in November and December, when strong northerly winds sometimes blow.
Before you go
- Take cash for the ferry ticket.
- Drive early, before 08:00.
- Carry the park fee receipt.
- Check other islands in best Thai islands by month.
- Read the Thailand islands guide for the rest of the coast.
Step by step
- Get to TratEkkamai Eastern Bus Terminal is the main Bangkok hub for buses to Trat.
- Reach Ao Thammachat pierBuses from Bangkok to Laem Ngop stop at Ao Thammachat pier. Songtaews from Trat cost around THB 80.
- Buy a cash ticket at the pierTickets are sold at the pier ticket office, cash only. They are one way and valid for the day of travel.
- Cross to Ao SapporotThe crossing takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Keep the park receiptAfter you pay the park fee, carry the receipt for inspection.
Not confirmed: Bangkok to Trat: bus and flight timetables and fares were not confirmed; check the operator before you travel. Park fee: THB 200 is the 2022 schedule; read the amount on your receipt.
Common questions
How do you get from Bangkok to Koh Chang?
Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal is the main hub for buses to Trat. Buses to Laem Ngop now stop at Ao Thammachat pier. The ferry crosses in about 25 to 30 minutes.
Can you buy Koh Chang ferry tickets online?
No. You buy them with cash at the pier on the day of travel. Cards and QR codes are not accepted.
How much is the Koh Chang ferry?
An adult pays THB 90 and a car THB 200 since 10 April 2026. A motorcycle under 150cc pays THB 90.
Is the Centrepoint ferry still running?
No. Trat Ferry, formerly Centrepoint Ferry, suspended its services in July 2024 and has not resumed.
When is the rainy season on Koh Chang?
It runs from May to October.
Is the sea between Koh Chang and the mainland rough?
The strait is sheltered, and it turns choppy only in November and December when strong northerly winds sometimes blow.
Read next
Sources and reader comments
Official sources:
- DNP news, 2 Jun 2022: national park fee rates by group (four groups), summarising the Gazette regulation (opens in a new tab)
- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration - Invest Bangkok: Transportation (archived copy of invest.bangkok.go.th/transportation) (opens in a new tab)
- DNP portal, park page: Mu Ko Chang National Park (English) (opens in a new tab)
Company and press pages (not official sources):
Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.
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