The content of this page is predominantly about getting to Koh Chang from Pattaya, but will also plan your travel itinerary and get you to Koh Chang no matter where you are in Thailand. Simply type your departure location into the search box (below) to find possible routes and modes of transport including mini van, taxi, bus, train, flight and joint bus and ferry combinations to Koh Chang.
Should you book a hotel before arranging transport to Koh Chang ?. Transport to Koh Chang may be more difficult to arrange at short notice, especially if you want to travel cheaply. In such a case I would book transport to Koh Chang first, but be sure to check via Agoda that sufficient rooms and suitable hotels are available on Koh Chang for your approximate travel dates.
Getting to Koh Chang from Pattaya is easy, but the options are limited due to there being no direct Pattaya to Koh Chang bus service. The cheapest mode of transport to Koh Chang from Pattaya is by mini-bus/van. The most convenient, but more expensive option is to take a taxi.
Transfer From the Airport to Koh Chang
Check the rates for transfers to Koh Chang on Klook.com. To me they seem very reasonable. If you want to know what sort of service they offer, there are over 400 reviews on site.
Pattaya and Bangkok to Koh Chang Minibus
You can book mini van, bus, taxi, and combination bus and ferry tickets very cheaply and efficiently through 12go.asia (search form below). You will find 12go more useful if you are traveling from Bangkok to Koh Chang, and mini van tickets from Morchit can be booked in advance for as little as 350 baht.
12go Offered a cheap mini van from Pattaya to Koh Chang (Burapha mini van) which no longer seems to be available but there are still alternative services from Pattaya to Koh Chang available through 12go.
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Pattaya Tour Agents
You are never far from a tour agent/shop in downtown Pattaya, and most will provide a booking service for transport (typically a minivan) to Koh Chang. For the regularly scheduled minivan services, expect to pay between 500 to 700 baht per person.
35 Group Pattaya
The 35 Tour Group minibus departs Pattaya 3 times every day, you can book 1 way or a return journey in advance. Please call them for departure/arrival schedule and fare costs.
Address: 313/39 Moo 10, Pattaya 3rd Road, (close to the junction of South Pattaya Road)
Telephone: 038-423-447.
Mobile: 080-070-3341, 086-366-3894.
A taxi from Pattaya to Koh Chang will cost between 3000 to 5000 baht, dependent on final destination being the Koh Chang ferry terminal, or your hotel on Koh Chang.
Book a ride to Koh Chang through a Pattaya travel agent: There’s an abundance of travel agents on the streets (sois) of downtown Pattaya. Many of them have their own minibus service to Koh Chang, or can otherwise arrange a trip with a local minibus/minivan operator.
Drive to Koh Chang: If you have a car or you can afford the luxury of hiring a car, driving to Koh Chang and using the car to get around Koh Chang is a great idea, especially if you are traveling as a group or family.
Koh Chang Ferry Services
Unless you are driving to Koh Chang yourself there is no reason to worry about which ferry you will use. Scheduled minibus services use the 2 main passenger and vehicle ferries to Koh Chang, which are Centre Point and Thammachat. Your minibus will drop you off at the ferry pier, or transport you to your hotel or a drop-off point on Koh Chang. There are various ferry – minivan – taxi joint ticket options available through 12go.Asia.
Buying Koh Chang ferry tickets: Tickets can be bought for foot passengers and vehicles from ticket booths at Centre Point and Thammachat ferry terminals.
Taxis to a hotel on Koh Chang: If you’re taking the ferry as a foot passenger there are always taxis (songthaews or trucks) waiting at the ferry terminal. The price varies according to your destination on Koh Chang, but expect to pay a maximum of 200 baht per person.
Taking a car on the Koh Chang ferry: I prefer to take the ferry from Thammachat (mainland) to Ao Sapparot (Koh Chang) because it’s a shorter route, the terminal on Koh Chang is closer to the west side of the island. And it’s often not nearly as busy as Centre Point. You will buy a ticket for the car and each passenger. Don’t worry about arriving early, you can park your car in line and get refreshments at the ferry terminal.
Thammachat Ferry to Koh Chang: The ferry operates between 6:30AM and 7PM and departs approximately every 45 minutes. Prices are around 80 baht per adult, 30 baht per child, and 120 baht for a car.
Centre Point ferry to Koh Chang: Operates between 6AM and 7.30PM and departs every hour on the hour. Prices are 80 baht per adult (9 years and above), children under 9 years are free, cars 100 baht.
Getting Around Koh Chang
Apart from minor roads to beaches, villages, temples, waterfalls etc, there is only 1 proper road on Koh Chang, there’s no other roads crossing the island from east to west. The road almost completes a circuit around the island, but unfortunately there is a section at the southern end of the island where the road is a dead end, so you must go back the way you came.
You can’t fail to notice the abundance of motorcycles for hire on Koh Chang. Not only are motorcycles the most convenient way to get around Koh Chang, it’s actually great fun as well. If you are a competent motorcycle rider I highly recommend you try it, but if you are not competent please ride with caution. The roads around Koh Chang are often steep and winding, and a small mistake could leave you nursing a serious injury.
Car hire on Koh Chang: I take my own car these days, it’s much more convenient when you have a young family. There are cars available for hire on Koh Chang, but if you are going to hire one for the duration of your stay I would seriously consider hiring one for the journey to Koh Chang as well.
Taxis on Koh Chang are usually the songthaew style you see elsewhere in Thailand, similar to the baht buses used in Pattaya. And you ride them in the same “hop on, hop off” way.
Where to Stay on Koh Chang
Koh Chang is a large island, the second largest in Thailand, it is approximately 28 kilometers in length, and 12 kilometers in width at its widest point. The most popular beaches are on the west side, and that is where me and the family always head. There is a popular saying “to each his own” which means everyone has their own preference. Koh Chang has a beach for just about about everyone’s preference, large, small, remote, busy, or with hardly a soul to be seen.
My own personal favorite at the moment is Klong Prao Beach, in my opinion it’s the most beautiful beach on Koh Chang. By far the most popular beach on Koh Chang is White Sands Beach, this area is also popular for nightlife, dining and shopping. You might say it’s the epicenter of Koh Chang. No matter what your preference, the real secret to having a fantastic holiday on Koh Chang is to choose a resort right on the beach-front.