To go from Bangkok to Koh Chang and vice versa is actually easy even though it might take around 7 hours, the trip is worth it because the island is beautiful and very peaceful.
To go from Bangkok to Koh Chang I bought my ticket online. – You can also buy your HERE– As I searched, I discovered that it is possible to go directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang Island but I guess there is only one departure a day and it would be early in the morning.
From Bangkok to the ferry port
I departed from Khao San Road, but surely it is possible to depart from many other places. Online the options weren’t that many so I decided to stick with Khao San Road, a spot that I know from previous trips. I decided to stay in a hostel not that from the chaotic road, about 15-minute walk away, so that early in the morning, I could make my way to the bus stop on my own. The bus, which is actually a minivan, starts its trip at Starbucks near Khao San Road and doesn’t pick up any other clients along the way. There were only 5 on board that minivan from Bangkok to Koh Chang and all foreigners. Some of them were 15 min late, so instead of departing at 8 am, we departed at 8.15 am. The driver was there before 8 am.
The trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang was smooth and it actually didn’t take that long. We made several short stops along the way and at 13.45 pm we were already at the pier to board the ferry. The transport included it all, from Khao San Road to my hotel in Koh Chang. I decided to choose this option because I’m not traveling for a long time, it is just a short holiday so losing time looking for the cheapest option wasn’t something I was willing to do.
Ferry trip to Koh Chang
Depending on your luck, you can be in Koh Chang earlier or later. If the van that came from Bangkok to Koh Chang has to wait for the ferry longer, then the trip will take longer too. We caught our ferry at 14.20 pm but at 14.50 pm we were already in Koh Chang. The ferry takes only 30 min to reach the island from the mainland and it is a pleasant ride as you can sit outside and enjoy the beautiful views along the way.
I saw some people doing the ferry boarding on their own. That’s because you can also book a minivan from Bangkok to Koh Chang without a hotel drop-off on the island, which will be cheaper. But you still have to pay for a means of transport from the pier to your accommodation which can be far. Mine was about 30 min away. There is also a motorbike rental place not that far from the pier, maybe a 10-minute walk. I met a guy who rented a motorbike there once he left the ferry. It will be an option to explore the island. You will surely need a means of transport to explore Koh Chang.
I departed at 8 am and at 3 pm I was in Koh Chang.
From Koh Chang to Bangkok
To get back from Koh Chang to Bangkok I opted for the same: pick-up from the hotel and then I could go to different drop-off points: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chinatown, Victory Monument, or Mochit. I bought the ticket on one of the tour agents in the street and it cost me 750 bh which was cheaper than buying it online.
On the way back there were Thai people on board and I could switch my drop-off point from Victory Monument to Mochit bus station because I heard them asking the driver to do so. The trip back was way longer as we dropped passengers close to the airport, and at the airport itself, which added extra time to the trip. Also, the traffic in Bangkok didn’t help. So on this trip, I boarded the minivan at 8.30 am from Lonely Beach, and only at 5 pm I was back in Bangkok. They said I would be in Bangkok at 4 pm, but anyway.
Then I spent 4 nights in Koh Chang and explored some beautiful spots. You can check it all in my next posts.
