Bangkok
For a hassle free and faster trip, fly Bangkok
Airways from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi
Airport to Trat (www.bangkokair.com,
e-mail: reservation@bangkokair.com, Tel.1771 or 02- 265-8777, 039-551-654 to 5). The flight time is 60 minutes and costs about 2,590 - 3,435 Baht per person, one-way, including the 475 Baht airport tax and surcharge. The airline transfers their passengers from Trat Airport to all beaches on the west coast of Koh Chang at 470 Baht per trip inclusive of ferry tickets. Transfers to the east coast are either by chartered vehicle or serviced by the resorts there. The airline’s flight to Trat airport serves to provide business link to the Eastern province. “Friendly service with a smile” is the airlines’ mantra, and a comfortable flight is ensured with the help of its boutique lounges and boutique airports.
Bangkok Airways Timetable |
Schedule |
Flight Code |
Time |
| Bangkok - Trat |
Daily |
PG 301
PG 307
|
08.30 - 09.30
17.10 - 18.10
|
| Trat - Bangkok |
Daily |
PG 302
PG 308
|
10.15 - 11.15
18.40 - 19.40
|
You can also take the air-conditioned bus to Koh Chang but the trip takes about 5 hours. The Ekamai Bus Terminal is the main terminal for the eastern provinces, which can be reached by the BTS Skytrain (Ekamai Station). The other station is at the Northern Bus Terminal (New Morchit), on Kampaeng Petch Road. Air-conditioned and ordinary buses depart almost every hour.
During high and peak season, there is also a VIP bus (Suvarnabhumi Burapa Co., Ltd.) that travels to Suvarnabhumi airport directly. It leaves Koh Chang at 1:30 p.m. daily, and the bus from Suvarnabhumi airport leaves at 7:30 a.m. daily. For those in Koh Chang you can call 66 8 1660 5926, and those in Bangkok, you can call 66 8 3794 2122.
There are many vans plying between Bangkok and Ao Thammachat, Centre Point and Laem Ngob piers. Just currently made available are van transfers from the Victory Monument in Bangkok to Ao Thammachat ferry pier, and vice versa. The first trip from both venues leave at 07:00 a.m. and the last trip is at 07:00 p.m. The van leaves every 2 hours and costs THB 300/person. For those in Koh Chang (66 8 7833 7696), you can buy tickets at Ao Sapparos pier. For those in Bangkok (66 8 7833 8985), you can proceed to the parking lot for vans at the northeast corner of the Victory Monument. The same company that operates VIP buses, the Suvarnabhumi Burapa Co., Ltd., also has a fleet of vans that travel to Suvarnabhumi airport daily. It leaves Koh Chang at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. Vans from the airport park at 1st floor, Exit 8 and leaves at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.
Bangkok - Koh Chang Map (Courtesy of www.amari.com/emeraldcove)
For the more adventurous, why not rent a car and drive around according to your own leisurely pace? Budget World Class Rent-a-Car has offices in major cities and provinces in Thailand where you can avail of a car rental service. You can also book online through their website. The company has a wide range of vehicles from 4-seater hatchback cars to 12-seater commuter vans, with a choice of automatic or manual gear. A 20-point safety check is performed before every rental with vehicles having an average age of less than 18 months. You can find them at the Suvarnabhumi Airport (66 2 134 4006-7), Pattaya (66 38 710 717-8), Rayong (66 38 954 352) and other provinces. The drive-time is 4 to 4 1/2 hours, and car ferries are available at the two ferry piers.
Route 1 : Bangna - Chonburi - Ban Bung - Klaeng - Chantaburi - Trat. Distance: 315 km.
- Head out of Bangkok on the Bangna Trad Road.
- At kilometre 59, turn left onto the Chonburi bypass.
- Drive 8 kilometres and turn left again onto the Ban Bueng - Klaeng (Highway 344).
- Highway 344 is 103 kilometres long. When it ends, turn left to Chantaburi at the Klaeng intersection.
- Drive approximately 112 kilometres from Klaeng and at the 376 kilometre milestone marker you will pass over a bridge (across the Waru River). Here you will see a Khao Saming District Police check point.
- About 2 kilometres past this point, turn right to Laem Ngob at the Ban Saen Toong intersection (opposite a P.T.T Petrol Station).
- Follow the road for 24 kilometres to the 11 kilometre milestone, which is just before Laem Ngob.
- Here turn right into a small road leading the Naval base.
- On your right, you will find the Ao Thammachat pier which services both the Koh Chang Ferry and Ferry Koh Chang. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes during the high season and every hour during the low season.
- Please note that there is also a car ferry service at Center Point but this takes longer and goes to a pier on the east of the island.
- There is also a passenger only service from Laem Ngob (but this is also quite slow and also goes to Centre Point Pier on Koh Chang).
(Route instructions courtesy of Amari Emerald Cove Koh Chang)
Fares from Ao Sapparos Pier / Centre Point Pier to the beaches |
White Sand
Klong Prao
Kai Bae
Lonely
Bang Bao
|
50 Baht
60 Baht
80 Baht
100 Baht
150 Baht
|
Route 2 : (Motorway Route): Rama IX or Srinakarin - Ban Bung - Klaeng - Chantaburi - Trat.
Exit after paying the second toll that leads to Ban Bung, Klaeng, Chantaburi and finally Trat. The total toll fee is 60 Baht.
Route 3 : Bangna - Chonburi - Rayong - Chantaburi - Trat. Distance: 385 km.
This route using Highway No.3 takes longer, passing through Chonburi and Rayong provinces.
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