GETTING THERE & MOVING AROUND
To reach the KOH CHANG MARINE NATIONAL PARK you need to travel eastbound
to Trat, the easternmost province in the Gulf of Thailand that borders Kampuchea.This
is the jumping-off point to the islands.
Most visitors take the Bangna-Trat
route. However,visitors who are already in Pattaya, Rayong or Koh Samet can conveniently
link to Trat as well,either by road or by sea.
FROM
BANGKOK TO TRAT
BY Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways (Tel. 0 2265 5678) flies from Bangkok to Trat (2,150
Baht one-way and 4,250 Baht Round-trip, 50 minutes) twice daily PG310(9.00 am
- 9.50 am) and PG316(3.40 pm - 4.30 pm) and from Trat to Bangkok PG311(10.20 am
- 11.10 am) and PG317(5.00 pm - 5.50 pm). From Trat airport, limousine transfer
to Koh Chang is available at 200-250 Baht per trip depending on the hotel you
stay on the island.
From neighbouring Chantaburi Province, you may take a
share taxi with 5-6 passengers (about 1 ½ hours) to Trat . Taxis leave
from Nampu roundabout and the municipal market in town. Ordinary buses also run
between Chantaburi and Trat (nearly 2 hours).
Bangkok
Airways |
Time |
Rates/pax
(Baht) |
Bangkok
to Trat or
Trat to Bangkok
(One Way)
50 Min / Trip |
PG310
(9.00 am - 9.50 am)
PG316
(3.40 pm - 4.30 pm)
PG311
(10.20 am - 11.10 am)
PG317
(5.00 pm - 5.50 pm) |
2,150
(exclude provincial tax : 200 baht) |
Bangkok
to Trat and
Trat to Bangkok
(Round Trip)
50 Min / Trip |
PG310
(9.00 am - 9.50 am)
PG316
(3.40 pm - 4.30 pm)
PG311
(10.20 am - 11.10 am)
PG317
(5.00 pm - 5.50 pm) |
4,250
(exclude provincial tax : 200 baht) |
BY
PRIVATE CAR
Trat
is accessible by three main routes from Bangkok.
Travelling time is about
4 hours.For convenience and better road surface use the elevated BANGKOK-CHONBURI
TOLLWAY until its final exit or the BANGKOK-CHONBURI MOTORWAY and exit for BAN
BUNG-KLAENG-CHANTHABURI.
ROUTE
1
BANGNA-CHONBURI-BAN BUNG-KLAENG-CHANTHABURI-TRAT
DISTANCE
: 315 KILOMETERS
This is the more preferred route with
the following details:
(a)
Take highway No.3 ( BANGNA-TRAT ROAD) until you reach
the Chonburi by-pass.
You can either take the normal road or the new elevated BANGKOK-CHONBURI TOLLWAY
which is right above it.
Toll fee is 55 Baht.
(b) Exit from the main road,head to the left and follow the Chonburi by-pass that
reads Pattaya-Rayong.
(c)
Head for Rayong until you see the BAN BUNG-KLAENG-CHANTHABURI and the BANG SAEN-PATTAYA
signboards.
(d)
Take the BAN BUNG-KLAENG-CHANTHABURI route on your left.
You are now on highway
no.344
(e)
Turn right at the BAN BUNG-KLAENG intersection and head for KLAENG only until
you reach the CHANTHABURI-RAYONG junction.Take the left route to CHANTHABURI but
do not enter the town which is on your right. This is again highway No.3. Instead
go forward until you
reach the SA KAEW-TRAT junction.
(f)
Take the right turn and go all the way to the town of Trat.
(g)
Alternatively, you can head directly to the three piers without passing through
Trat town.Look for the signboard Laem Ngop at the LAEM NGOB-TRAT junction.Notice
there is a PTT petrol station to your left before the junction.Turn right to LAEM
NGOB.This is Highway no. 3156 (LAEM NGOB-SAEN TUNG ROAD).You will reach AO THAMMACHAT
followed by CENTRE POINT and KROMALUANG CHUMPORN Piers.
ROUTE
2
The
Motorway is another alternative. Starting from Rama IX Road and onto Srinakarin
Road, exit after paying the second toll that leads to Ban Bung, Klaeng, Chanthaburi
and finally Trat. The total toll fee is
60 Baht.
ROUTE
3
BANGNA-CHONBURI-RAYONG-CHANTHABURI-TRAT
DISTANCE
: 385 KILOMETERS
This
is the other route using the same highway no.3 but takes longer as you need to
pass through the province of Chonburi.
BY
AIR-CONDITIONED BUS
1)
The Ekamai Bus Terminal is the main terminal for the eastern provinces. It
is located at the Ekamai section of Sukhumvit Road which is also easily accessible
by the BTS Skytrain. Air-conditioned and ordinary buses depart almost every hour
as shown in the timetable here. The trip is about 5 hours.
2)
The Northern Bus Terminal (New Morchid) is the other route.It is located at
New Morchid of Kampaeng Petch Road.Air-conditioned buses depart as shown in the
timetable. The trip is also about 5 hours.
TIMETABLE
Eastern
Bus Terminal (Ekamai) - Trat
|
Air-Conditioned
Buses |
Tel. |
Bangkok-Trat
Time (hrs) |
Trat-Bangkok
Time (hrs) |
Cherdchai
Tour
(First Class Air-con)
42 Seat
One way 189 Baht
Roundtrip 357 Baht |
Bangkok
Office :
(02) 391-2237
(02) 391-4164
Trat Office :
(039)
511-062 |
06.00
, 07.00 , 09.30 , 11.00 , 12.30 , 14.00 ,
15.30 , 17.30 , 19.30 , 20.30 ,
22.00 , 23.30 |
07.00
, 08.00 , 09.00 , 10.00 , 11.00 , 12.00 , 13.00 , 14.00 , 16.00 , 18.00 ,
23.00 , 23.30 |
Suparat
Tour
(VIP Air-con)
32 Seat
One
way 189 Baht
Roundtrip 359 Baht |
Bangkok
Office :
(02) 391-2331
Trat Office :
(01) 820-6838
(039)
511-481
|
08.30
, 10.30 , 12.00, 16.40 , 18.30 , 22.30 |
08.30
, 10.30 , 11.00 , 14.00 , 17.00 , 23.00 |
Chokanukul Tour (First
Class Air-con)
42
Seat
One
way 189 Baht
Roundtrip 357 Baht |
Bangkok
Office :
(02) 392-7680
Trat
Office :
(039) 511-208 |
14.00,
23.30 |
|
State-owned Transport Co.,Ltd
(Bor Kor Sor)
(Second Class Air-con)
One way 147 Baht |
Bangkok Office :
(02) 391-8097
(02) 391-2504
Trat
Office :
(039) 511-986
|
06.00
, 07.00 , 08.00 , 09.00 , 11.00 , 12.30 , 14.30 , 16.30 , 17.30 , 24.00 |
06.30
, 07.30 , 08.30 , 09.30 , 11.30 , 13.00 , 15.00 , 17.00 , 23.30 |
TIMETABLE
Northern Bus Terminal (New Morchid)-Trat
|
Air-Conditioned
Buses |
Tel. |
Bangkok-Trat
Time (hrs) |
Trat-Bangkok
Time (hrs) |
Suparat
Tour
(First Class Air-con) 57 Seat
One way 194 Baht
Roundtrip 388 Baht
|
Bangkok
Office :
(02)936-3939
Trat Office :
(039) 511-481
|
15.30
18.30
23.30 |
07.30
09.30
12.30
16.00
23.30
|
TIMETABLE
Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) – Center Point Ferry
|
Air-Conditioned
Buses |
Tel. |
Bangkok-Trat
Time (hrs) |
Trat-Bangkok
Time (hrs) |
99 Tour
(Ninety-nine Tour)
(First Class 40 Seat
)
One way 216 Baht
Roundtrip 408
Baht
|
Bangkok Office
:
(02) 391 6846
|
07.45
09.45
|
14.00
16.00
|
BY
VAN
There are many vans
plying between Bangkok and Laem Ngob. They are found on Khao San Road near the
Vieng Tai Hotel, departing at 8:00 a.m. daily and leaving Laem Ngob at 11:00 a.m.
daily. The one-way fare is 500 Baht / person depending on the season.
MOVING
AROUND TRAT
The main transportation in Trat is by Songthaew
which literally means two rows. Songthaews are pick-up trucks modified for public
transportation.Essentially they have two rows of seats at the back of the truck
where passengers sit face to face.They can accommodate up to 8 or 10 people depending,
of course, on the size of the passengers.
The
following serves as a guideline on the route and approximate costs
|
From
Trat |
Distance |
Located
at |
Cost/
Baht |
To
Laem Ngob
|
17
Kms |
|
Baht
20 |
To
Laem Sok |
|
Front
of the Municipal Central Market of Trat |
|
To
Klong Yai |
75
Kms |
Behind
the Municipal Central Market |
Baht
50
|
To
Had Lek |
90
Kms |
In
front of the Sri Trat Rama Theatre |
Baht
110 |
FROM
TRAT TO PIERS
THERE ARE 3 PIERS SERVICING KOH CHANG. All of them are located in the Amphur (district) of Laem Ngob.To go to these piers take one
of the Songthaews in Trat. They can be easily found around the municipal market
from as early as 6.00 am. The fare is about 20 Baht per person. Vehicle-carrying
ferries and taxi or chartered boats are ready to take you to Koh Chang.
THA
LAEM NGOB(LAEM NGOB PIER) - ALSO CALLED KROMALUANG CHUMPORN PIER
This
is the main pier at Laem Ngob. Ferries from this pier land at Tha Dan Kao (meaning
Old Post Pier). The ferries depart every hour during the high season (November
to April)and long weekends starting from 7.30 am till 5.00 pm. The frequency is
less during other times of the year depending on the crowd, and the weather. However,
you can expect a ferry to depart at least every 2 hours. Travelling time is about
30 to 45 minutes and the cost is 60 Baht for each return ticket and 150 Baht per
vehicle inclusive of the driver.Other passengers in the same vehicle are charged
60 Baht per person. It is worth noting that all ferry fares should be the same
no matter which pier you go to, a legacy of open competition! On arrival at Koh
Chang you will find some Songthaews ready to take you to anywhere in Koh Chang.
The fare ranges from 40,60 to 80 Baht per person depending on the distance. This
applies to other piers as well.
As
the main pier, Laem Ngob has a good supply of boats to different parts of Koh
Chang and other islands especially Koh Wai, Koh Mak, and Koh Kham. Taxi boats
leave for Tha Dan Kao every hour during the high season from November to April
and 5 times a day during the low season.There are taxi boats leaving for Tha Dan
Mai (New Post pier) and Tha Than Mayom as well but with less frequency. Chartered
boats are also available.
Ferry
Koh Chang and Koh Chang Ferry
Tha
Thammachat (Natural Pier) at Ao Thammachat (Natural Bay) serves 7 daily ferry
trips to Ao Sapparos. Travel time is about 25-30 minutes.
Ao
Thammachat Pier |
Time |
Rates/pax
(Baht) |
Travelling
Time |
Mainland
to
Koh Chang
(Ao Sapparos) |
06.30, 07.00, 07.30, 08.00, 08.30, 09.00, 09.30, 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 11.30, 12.00,
12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.30, 18.00,
18.30, 19.00 |
30 |
25-30
Min Trip |
Koh
Chang
(Ao Sapparos)
to Mainland |
06.30,
07.00, 07.30, 08.00, 08.30, 09.00, 09.30, 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 11.30, 12.00, 12.30,
13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.30, 18.00, 18.30,
19.00 |
30 |
25-30
Min Trip |
Ferry
Koh Chang Tel : 039-597143
Koh Chang Ferry Tel : 039-528288
It
is advisable to check the rate and schedule of the ferry services before embarking
on the trip because of possible changes due to the season, passenger load and
competition amongst the ferry and boat operators.The rates and schedules supplied
here is effective at the time of writing and should serve as a guide only.
Tha Centre Point (Centre Point Pier) has 6
ferry departures. All land
at another part of the Tha Dan Kao.Travelling
time is about 45 minutes.Free for vehicle.
Centre
Point Pier |
Time |
Rates/pax
(Baht) |
Travelling
Time |
Mainland
to Koh Chang (Cabana Pier) |
6.00,
7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00,
19.00 |
30 |
45
Min. Trip |
Koh
Chang (Dan KAO) to Mainland |
6.00, 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00,
18.00, 19.00 |
30 |
45
Min. Trip |
Centre
Point Ferry Tel. 039-538-196
|
|
