Getting To Koh Chang?

[jackr]

Anyone know if charter minivans run to the ferry terminals to Koh Chang from Don Muang Airport? If so, how much?

Cheers

[johnnyk]

Don't know but its easy to go from Pattaya.

Stay overnight in Pattaya and reserve a minivan at Koh Chang Travel, soi 11 (aka soi Honey Inn) just up from 2nd Road.

They will pick you up at your hotel about 7:30am and get you to the ferry terminal about 11:30am. You tell them what date you want to come back and they give you a ticket for the return.

Ferry price is separate.

[leisurely]

Sorry to barge in on your thread, but we are planning to drive to Koh Chang from Bangers and wondered about taking our car over. Is there a car ferry?

Thanks.

Leisurely

[johnnyk]

Sorry to barge in on your thread, but we are planning to drive to Koh Chang from Bangers and wondered about taking our car over. Is there a car ferry?

Thanks.

Leisurely

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes, it takes vehicles. don't know the price though.

[leisurely]

Gods teeth that was quick. Brilliant. Thanks for the reply.

[jackr]

I think it's about 150 baht return for the car plus 60 return for each passenger?

Don't fancy going via Pattaya, Johnny, but cheers anyway.

[Rinrada]

Bit of info but would imagine that some of the PRICES have changed...so for Y.I.O.

Last time i went down there wifes mate drove us and stayed with friends who own houses in both Trat and K.C....on the beach...yea man so dont know what latest ferry charges are now.

Seem to remember that the non private one was FREE but dont quote me on it....

To Ko Chang...

You always arrive at the Laem Ngop ferry terminals first.

In Laem Ngop there are 3 piers.

The oldest, directly situated at the port of Laem Ngop, is not in operation at present.

Second, Laem-Ngop-Pier (Tha-Khrom-Luang or also Tha-Laem-Ngop), is situated approx. 700 metres west of Laem Ngop.

Third, Center-Point-Pier (Tha-Center-Point) is about 3.5 kilometres in the northwest.

These piers serve both car and passenger ferries.

The mini buses from Bangkok arrive at Center-Point-Pier, also many of the individually chartered taxis from Trat arrive here, whereas the local pickup-taxis (Songthaows) head for Lsaem-Ngop-Pier.

A further pier for car ferries is in the Thaachat Bay (Aow Thaachat), approximately 15 kilometres west of Laem Ngop. However this jetty is only required for those who come with their own or a rented vehicle.

Ko Chang has various piers, which are almost all situated on the eastern side of the island. The majority of traffic is handled at the two Dan-Kao-Piers.

The boats from Laem Ngop take approximately 45 minutes to the Dan-Kao-Piers.

The car ferry takes about 50 - 60 minutes and arrives at the Dan-Kao-Ferry-Pier (Tha-Ferry-Dan-Kao), which is situated 400 metres southeast of Dan-Kao-Pier (Tha-Dan-Kao).

The car-ferry from Thaachat Bay stops at the Ko-Chang-Ferry-Pier (Tha-Ferry-Ko-Chang) in the Sapparot Bay (Aow Sapparot), 3 kilometres northwest from the Dan-Kao-Pier.

From Bangkok

In Bangkok many travel agencies offer comprehensive tickets, including mini bus and ferry fees to Ko Chang. Departure times are in the morning at 8.00 am, arrival at the jetty between 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm, so that the island can be reached on the same day (prices between 170 - 250 Baht).

Mini bus rides may not be as safe as bus rides because of the reckless driving styles of some drivers.

From the eastern bus terminal Ekamai in the Sukhumvit Road, A/C buses for about 230 Baht (Tel. 02/391 25 04) and Non A/C buses for about 150 Baht (Tel. 02/391 80 97) leave hourly between 5.00 am - 11.00 pm and at 11.30 pm.

The province capital Trat, 315 kilometres away from Bangkok, is the starting point to Ko Chang and to Cambodia.

The travel time may take between 4 and 6 hours depending on the departure time.

From Trat to Laem Ngop the journey can coence by either chartered pickup or by public pickups.

The chartered pickups take you to Center-Point-Pier (when desired also to Laem-Ngop-Pier, the price is negotiable, max. 100 Baht).

The public pickups should be available for 20 - 30 Baht/Passenger and take you in 20 minutes to the remote port Laem Ngop 17 kilometres away.

The songthaows wait at the first intersection directly behind the market, on the same side of the street.

They leave when 10 - 15 passengers are collected.

Bangkok Airways flies several times a week 3 times a day from Bangkok to Trat and back.

At the airport there are mini busses waiting, they will bring you to directly to your resort on Ko Chang (200 - 300 Baht per person including ferry, depending where your resort is located).

Even if you take the afternoon flight, you will reach Ko Chang at the same evening.

You will find the exact dates and special offers on the internet-page of Bangkok Airways.

From Pattaya or Ko Samet

From Pattaya there are daily mini buses via Baan Pae (ferry port for Ko Samet) to Center-Point-Pier in Laem Ngop.

They leave Pattaya at 8.00 am and cost 500 - 600 Baht and about 300 - 400 Baht from Baan Pae (approximately 3 to 4 hours).

However one can take the A/C- and Non A/C buses to Chantaburi, step out at the bus station and travel from there further on to Trat.

(To get from Trat to the piers in Laem Ngop, see above: 'From Bangkok').

From Laem Ngop to Ko Chang

Passenger ferries

From Center-Point-Pier to Dan-Kao-Pier

Daily 6.30, 9.00, 11.00, 13.00, 15.00 and 17.00. Prices: 80 Baht per person, 120 Baht per person for a return-ticket.

From Laem-Ngop-Pier to Dan-Kao-Pier

Daily 7.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00 and 17.00. Prices: 50 Baht per person.

From Laem-Ngop-Pier to Dan-Mai-Pier (Tha-Dan-Mai)

Daily 13.00. Prices: 30 Baht, time: 30 minutes.

From Laem-Ngop-Pier to Than-Mayom-Pier (Tha-Than-Mayom)

Daily 14.00. Prices: 50 Baht, time: 45 minutes.

There are no regular boats from Laem Ngop to Salak-Khok-Pier (Tha-Salak-Khok), Salak-Phet-Pier (Tha-Salak-Phet) and Bang-Bao-Pier (Tha-Bang-Bao). To get to Baan Salak Khok and Baan Salak Phet take the boat from Laem-Ngop-Pier either at 1.00 pm to Dan-Mai-Pier or at 2.00 pm to Than-Mayom-Pier and from there further on by taxi.

To get to Baan Bang Bao take the boat to Dan-Kao-Pier, then by public taxi at 4.00 pm to the fishing-village.

Car ferries

From Center-Point-Pier to Dan-Kao-Pier

Daily 7.00, 9.00, 11.00, 13.00, 15.00 and 17.00.

Prices: 30 Baht per person, motorcycle plus 1 person 50 Baht, car plus 1 person 150 Baht, each further passenger 30 Baht.

From Laem-Ngop-Pier to Dan-Kao-Ferry-Pier

Daily 7.00, 9.00, 11.00, 13.00, 15.00 and 17.00.

Prices: 50 Baht per person, motorcycle inclusive driver 70 Baht, car inclusive driver 125 Baht, each further passenger 30 Baht.

From Thaachat-Pier to Ko-Chang-Ferry-Pier

Daily 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00, 17.30 and 19.00. Fridays and Saturdays additional at 21.00.

The prices are identical to those of Laem-Ngop-Piers.

The departure times of the boats do not apply to the rainy season between June and October.

During the rainy season both car and passenger ferries operate on the regular timetables if the weather permits it.

Travel on Ko Chang

At Dan-Kao-Pier, public pickup taxis are waiting to take you to the locations on Ko Chang. They leave when there are enough passengers (usually it's very tight inside!).

At Dan-Kao-Ferry-Pier sometimes there may be no taxis available. Everybody who arrives without his own vehicle may have to walk the 400 metres to Dan-Kao-Pier .

Baan Khlong Son - 40 Baht

There are no taxis from the Dan-Kao-Pier to locations on the east coast.

These locations, same as Baan Salak Phet, can only be reached by taxi from Dan-Mai- or Than-Mayom-Pier.

There are daily boats to the islands Ko Wai, Ko Kham, Ko Mak, Ko Ray Ang and Ko Kood.

You find the exact time-table at the Island-Hopper-Site.

Those who have advanced bookings should tell the taxi driver the name of the Resort. However, the taxis stop at the respective beaches at least once. You can get the driver to stop anywhere you want by knocking on the car-body.

From Ko Chang to Laem Ngop

Inquiries can be made on the taxi departure times at the Resorts of the individual beaches, these times may vary.

General ferries

From Dan-Kao-Pier to Center-Point-Pier

Daily 9.00, 10,00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00 and 17.00. Prices: 80 Baht per person.

From Dan-Kao-Pier to Laem-Ngop-Pier

Daily 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10,00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00 and 17.00. Prices: 50 Baht per person.

From Dan-Mai-Pier to Laem-Ngop-Pier

Monday to Fritay 6.30 am and 4.00 pm. Prices: 30 Baht per person.

From Than-Mayom-Pier to Laem-Ngop-Pier

Monday to Fritay 6.30 am and 4.00 pm. Prices: 50 Baht per person.

From Baan Salak Khok to Laem-Ngop-Pier

Daily 7.00 pm.

Car ferries

From Dan-Kao-Pier to Center-Point-Pier

Daily 8.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00.

Prices: 30 Baht per person, motorcycle plus 1 person 50 Baht, car plus 1 person 150 Baht, each further passenger 30 Baht.

From Dan-Kao-Ferry-Pier to Laem-Ngop-Pier

Daily 8.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00 pm .

Prices: 50 Baht per person, motorcycle plus 1 person 70 Baht, car plus 1 person 125 Baht, each further passenger 30 Baht.

From Ko-Chang-Ferry-Pier to Thaachat-Pier

Daily 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00, 17.30 and 19.00. Fridays and Saturdays additional at 22.00.

The prices are identical to those of Laem-Ngop-Piers.

Specifications from 2001. Meanwhile the prices and the times may have changed slightly!

Travel from Laem Ngop

From Laem Ngop to Bangkok, Koh Samet or Pattaya

To leave from Laem Ngop to Bangkok (Khao Sarn Road), Baan Pae (port for Koh Samet) or Pattaya, it is easiest to buy combination tickets for the ferry and mini buses in advance on Ko Chang.

Meanwhile you can also travel to Bangkok by more comfortable aircon buses (400 - 500 Baht Baht including ferry).

Alternatively you can buy mini bus tickets directly at the travel agencies at the piers in Laem Ngop.

Departure times of the mini buses starting from the Center-Point-Pier (the prices include the ferry ticket from Ko Chang to the mainland.):

Bangkok 11.00 am about 300 Baht

Pattaya 11.00 pm about 400 Baht

Baan Pae (Koh Samet) 11.00 pm about 400 Baht

From Laem Ngop to Trat

From the Laem-Ngop-Pier with the public pickup taxis for 20 Baht in approximately 20 minutes to Trat.

From Trat to Bangkok

The bus station in Trat is located approximately 200 metres behind the market hall towards Bangkok, directly on the main street.

From Trat to the Eastern bus terminal Ekamai in Bangkok by A/C bus costs about 230 Baht. Telephone reservations are available, phone 039 - 51 10 62. Departure times: Hourly from 7.00 am - 4.00 pm, then at 6.00 pm, 11.00 pm and 11.30 pm.

At 8.30 am and 2.30 pm A/C buses charge about 230 Baht to the Northern bus terminal Morchit in Bangkok.

Daily at 7.30 pm a Non A/C bus drives via Pattaya for about 230 Baht to the Ekamai.

From Trat to Pattaya

There is only one direct Non AC bus daily at 7.30 am to Pattaya (about 100 Baht).

However one can take the A/C- and Non A/C buses to Bangkok, step out at the bus station in Chantaburi and travel from there further on to Pattaya.

From Trat to Cambodia

To the cambodian border at Baan Hat Lek there are mini buses every 45 minutes. (See map: Ko-Kood-Special, The exact location in the Gulf of Thailand.) The price is 110 Baht per person, travel duration is approximately 1 hour. Departure directly beside the bus terminal.

To the border crossing Poi Pet (for visiting Siam Reap and Angkor Wat) first by A/C bus in about 1.5 hours for about 70 Baht to Chantaburi.

From there by Non A/C bus for about 80 Baht in approximately 3.5 hours to Aranya Prathet and then by Tuk-Tuk in about 10 minutes for 50 Baht to the border.

[Heng]

Much easier/faster/safer to catch Bangkok Airways to Trat and have your resort send a van or car for you. Something like 3 flights a day everyday.

[Rinrada]

As they say every little bit helps......some promos from Bang air....

News and Promotions

FlyerBonus news

Bangkok Airways to launch 'FlyerBonus' program

Bangkok, November 22nd - Bangkok Airways announced today that it would launch its first-time-ever loyalty program called 'FlyerBonus' on December 1st. The announcement was made at the press conference amongst media and several corporate partners including hotels, credit cards, and travel-related businesses.

The airline, dubbed as 'ASIA'S BOUTIQUE AIRLINE,' has purposely planned for two launching phases: The soft launch on December 1st, 2005 to create awareness of the program in the market; and the official launch on January 1st, 2006 to coincide with the New Year celebration.

Mr. Prote Setsuwan, Bangkok Airways' Director of Marketing Strategy, described that this program is the airline's latest marketing strategy to capture the existing market of the airline's frequent travelers. Hence, the 'FlyerBonus' program would best suit clients who reside in and around Thailand. "This program also covers trips made on Siem Reap Airways International, which is also one of the partners," said Mr. Prote.

The FlyerBonus provides online services with the trailblazing trend from paperless members' registration to news and updates through the user-friendly web site www.bangkokair.com/flyerbonus. Tiers of membership are designed into two levels: Priority members and Premier members. With certain privileges bestowing upon, the membership status will be upgraded to higher tiers by accumulating 200 points within one calendar year.

To redeem award tickets, the program is schemed with 10:1 ratio, or in other words, qualified members will get one free one-way domestic ticket from 10 paid domestic segments flown. Other loyalty programs normally offer at a 15:1 redemption ratio. Qualified members can also be rewarded not only with air tickets, but also with customized rewards according to the member's preference, such as hotel accommodations or car rental services.

For more information, please visit www.bangkokair.com/flyerbonus.

Corporate Communications Department

Bangkok Airways Co.Ltd.

Tel: 02 265 5670-2, 02 265 5686 Fax: 02 265 5665

http://flyerbonus.bangkokair.com/ffp/ffp_news_6_en.aspx

[NguuMuu]

Semi on topic.....but is Koh Chang busy this time of year with these two holiday weekends and then christmas/new years?

[wilko]

You can get a minbus from the airport but you'll have to ask about. Don't knoe the price for a whole bus . It's about 200 - 300 baht to Pattaya = one third of the way.

As has been said there are flights to Trat from Bkk and if you're booked the hotel on Koh Chang should send a sawng taew to meet you.

I hate Koh Chang!

[jackr]

You can get a minbus from the airport but you'll have to ask about. Don't knoe the price for a whole bus . It's about 200 - 300 baht to Pattaya = one third of the way.

As has been said there are flights to Trat from Bkk and if you're booked the hotel on Koh Chang should send a sawng taew to meet you.

I hate Koh Chang!

Yeah, balls to Pattaya to be honest - it's about 2500 for the whole bus, did it last year. Could do with going fairly direct so as not to waste the whole day, but flying to Trat is a bit of a rip-off by all accounts.

What don't you like about Koh Chang, Wilko? I've never been but am thinking about taking the family when they come over next year. Was also thinking about Samet but that seems a tad underdeveloped and expensive for decent digs. Done the likes of Hua Hin, Pattaya, Jomtien, Krabi, Phuket etc. Don't fancy Phuket and Samui. May have to be HH again.

Cheers for the info guys

Edited December 10, 2005 by jackr

[wilko]

You can get a minbus from the airport but you'll have to ask about. Don't knoe the price for a whole bus . It's about 200 - 300 baht to Pattaya = one third of the way.

As has been said there are flights to Trat from Bkk and if you're booked the hotel on Koh Chang should send a sawng taew to meet you.

I hate Koh Chang!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, balls to Pattaya to be honest - it's about 2500 for the whole bus, did it last year. Could do with going fairly direct so as not to waste the whole day, but flying to Trat is a bit of a rip-off by all accounts.

What don't you like about Koh Chang, Wilko? I've never been but am thinking about taking the family when they come over next year. Was also thinking about Samet but that seems a tad underdeveloped and expensive for decent digs. Done the likes of Hua Hin, Pattaya, Jomtien, Krabi, Phuket etc. Don't fancy Phuket and Samui. May have to be HH again.

Cheers for the info guys

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm still a fan of Samui myself although all the islands are getting pricey and overdeveloped. If you thinl Samet is underdeveloped, you should have seen it in 1992! Many of my friends think Samet is too pricey and you can,t take a car (good thing/badthing?)

Here are my views on Koh Changh...I've pulled them off another posting...

This is a quick overview of the state of Koh Chang, the second largest island in Thailand. Now with the sudden unpopularity of the west coast (i.e. Phuket) there is an ever increasing number of western tourists heading for this island...here is my polemic on why this is not so good....

I've been to Koh Chang many times over the past three years, largely because it's near to Sri Racha where I live, and every time a friend comes to stay this is the most convenient "paradise island to take them to". My brother even got married there in March.

So why can I not recommend this slice of bounty advert?

(Deep breath)

Koh Chang is a dull, badly developed, overpriced pit of a place and it's going down hill at a rate of knots......

Why? The land for development was all bought up by bigwig friends of the "great and powerful" and now anyone who wants to set up a business there has to pay through the nose for it. All the hotels are overpriced especially when you compare with Phuket and Samui.

Almost all the west coast is now covered with these awful self-contained resorts, which are for the most part badly designed and ill finished. Frequently you can find your room is on a building site. Health and safety is simply not addressed - some of the pool designs look positively lethal.

If you're coming from Europe or the States you'll find that the cost of living and rooms is cheap but not compared to elsewhere in Thailand. You'll love the sunsets and the white sand, you won't wonder where all the sewage is going and what happened to the mangroves or the fishing industry that gets smaller catches every year, or the fishing villages being turned into a souvenir arcade-cum-hotel.

The centre of Koh Chang is a national park , but unlike all of Thailand's other National Parks, apart from the odd waterfall, no-one is allowed inside, you can get a guide who will take you in but strictly speaking that's against the law. There is virtually no effort made to set up a good system of eco-tourism in the park as you might find in Australia.

There is only one road around KC and it doesn't go all the way round, it's a horse-shoe affair. There is a motorbike track that connects the two ends but it's not for the faint of heart! The road is barely more than single track (asphalted) but cannot cope with the ever increasing load of traffic pouring onto the island.

KC is the second biggest island in Thailand and walking around it in a day is not an option, KC is also very mountainous and the roads are very windy and hilly and as the resorts are all a long way from any shops etc its essential to hire a motorbike or car. These of course are about 50 to 100 % more than on the mainland. The baht taxi service is very patchy. Any where you want to go is further than you want to walk.

The main town, if you could call it that is White Sands a long strip of hotels ,resorts and motley bars about 3 km long. If you arrive on foot a baht taxi will take you from the ferry to Whitesands and drop you there. (So long as he has a full load or he'll want you to foot the extra money) You will then have to find somewhere to stay this is impossible on foot and with luggage So book in advance at least for the first night. Then get some wheels.

There is no airport on KC itself, if you go by plane you'll land at Trat airport which is on the mainland quite near to the ferries to KC. Get a taxi to the ferry - only a few baht. There are several ferries across, the crossing takes 45 to 90 min, depending on which ferry you take. On one ferry I paid 30 e/w for me and my car, on another I paid 360 baht for my car an five people return.

Now you may think I hate the place, well I don't, I just get very disappointed in the direction the powers-that-be have taken KC, it's lack of infrastructure and any forward planning will mean that sooner rather than later this place will become a collection of overprice resorts and nothing else.

Where to stay? - Klong Prao Beach is probably as good as it gets, there are about 4 resorts there actually with beach frontage, The Paradise is all nicely built new bungalows, Coconut and Royal Coconut are next to that and Klong Prao resort has a long beach front and good pool beside the sea.

However the last time I stayed at Klong Prao Resort in August the place was a building site. They didn't tell me until the day I arrived even though I was a regular guest there. If you do book in advance you must ask about this sort of thing because you will very likely not be told by the staff. Building also precedes a hike in prices. I used to pay 1800 baht to stay there. That time I paid 1750, a discount of 50 baht (just over a dollar) because it was the wet season and there was building going on! I was told the new price is 3500 baht and that was what they would still charge whilst the building was continuing.

The problem with Koh Chang is that it is changing and changing rapidly for the worse. Hotels are constantly building and encroaching on the environment. Prices are rising and beach access is getting more and more taken over by private resorts. The days of a hut on the beach for 200 baht are virtually gone. The scuba divers are going further and further a field in search of clear water and fish, and don’t be kidded that so long as the hotel claims to be by the sea that it has a beach!

Remember that it is now high season and what with the tsunami still driving many extra visitors over from thee west coast, you may find many places fully booked.

PS – I cannot recommend the Ramayana and Boutique and Klong Prao Resorts!

If you want up to date local info on KC, try this site - IamKohChang.com -

Good site for info on Koh Chang and sounds like a good place to stay too!