{"id":24001,"date":"2026-06-10T06:44:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/?st-import=d9e3292afb2e6b584a8c90a1a20d2d84"},"modified":"2026-07-24T00:52:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T00:52:58","slug":"ko-chang-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/ko-chang-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Ko Chang Thailand: Complete Travel Guide (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ko Chang is Thailand\\&#8217;s third largest island \u2014 wild, mountainous, and largely undeveloped compared to Phuket or Koh Samui. Dense jungle covers 70% of the island, waterfalls tumble into freshwater pools, and the west coast has a string of beaches ranging from busy to almost deserted. Located in Trat province near the Cambodian border, Ko Chang attracts travelers looking for a genuine Thai island experience without the party infrastructure of the southern islands. This guide covers every way to get there and what to do when you arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n<script src=\"https:\/\/agent.12go.asia\/tools\/widget\/country_widget.js\"><\/script>\n<onetwogo-country-widget\n  country=\"TH\"\n   width=\"400\" agent=\"16173966\" lang=\"en\" fxcode=\"USD\" wl=\"12go.asia\">\n<\/onetwogo-country-widget>\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/en\/travel\/Bangkok\/Ko-Chang\/?z=16173966&#038;sub_id=bangkok-ko-chang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">&#x1f39f;&#xfe0f; Search Bangkok \u2192 Ko Chang tickets on 12Go \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#x2139;&#xfe0f; Status update (June 2026): Centerpoint Ferry (Laem Ngop pier) has been suspended since mid-2024 and remains out of service. Use the Ferry Ko Chang route from Ao Thammachat pier only. No advance booking for car ferries \u2014 buy tickets at the pier, cash only.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get to Ko Chang from Bangkok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option A: Bus + Ferry (Most Popular)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The standard route \u2014 a combined bus and ferry ticket from Bangkok to Ko Chang in one booking. Boonsiri Ferry runs the most popular service with departures from Khao San Road and Rama 9 area around 08:00, arriving at Ao Thammachat pier around 13:30, then ferry to Ko Chang arriving at your hotel by approximately 14:30. The journey takes about 6\u20137 hours total including the road segment and ferry crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Departure:<\/strong> ~08:00 from Khao San Road area<\/li>\n<li><strong>Total time:<\/strong> ~6\u20137 hours<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> ~$15\u201320 USD including ferry and optional hotel drop-off<\/li>\n<li><strong>Includes:<\/strong> Snack box, drinking water, comfortable seating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alternatively, take a public bus from Bangkok\\&#8217;s Ekkamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal to Trat (~5\u20136 hours, ~$7\u201310 USD), then a songthaew or minibus to Ao Thammachat pier (~40 minutes), then the car ferry to Ko Chang (~30\u201340 minutes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/en\/travel\/Bangkok\/Ko-Chang\/?z=16173966&#038;sub_id=bangkok-ko-chang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">&#x1f39f;&#xfe0f; Search Bangkok \u2192 Ko Chang tickets on 12Go \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option B: Fly Bangkok to Trat + Ferry (Fastest)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Trat Airport (TDX) \u2014 approximately 1 hour. From Trat Airport, take a songthaew taxi to Ao Thammachat pier \u2014 280 THB per person, which includes the ferry ticket to Ko Chang. Last ferry is at 18:30. Flight prices range 2,000\u20134,000 THB (~$55\u2013110 USD) depending on season and booking time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#x2708;&#xfe0f; <strong>[Travelpayouts Kiwi widget: Flights Bangkok \u2192 Trat (TDX)]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Car Ferry: Ao Thammachat \u2192 Ko Chang<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only operating car ferry route is <strong>Ao Thammachat pier \u2192 Ao Sapparot pier<\/strong> on Ko Chang, operated by Ferry Ko Chang. The ferry runs daily <strong>06:30 to 18:30<\/strong>, roughly every 30 minutes during busy periods and every hour at quieter times. Journey time 30\u201340 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Foot passenger fare:<\/strong> ~80 THB (~$2 USD)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motorbike + rider:<\/strong> ~150\u2013200 THB<\/li>\n<li><strong>Car:<\/strong> ~300\u2013400 THB for vehicle + passengers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tickets:<\/strong> Buy at pier, cash only \u2014 no advance booking for car ferries<\/li>\n<li><strong>Last ferry:<\/strong> 18:30 from mainland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/en\/travel\/Ao-Thammachat\/Ko-Chang\/?z=16173966&#038;sub_id=ao-thammachat-ko-chang\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">&#x1f39f;&#xfe0f; Search Ao Thammachat \u2192 Ko Chang tickets on 12Go \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ko Chang\\&#8217;s Beaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All main beaches are on the west coast \u2014 the east coast is mostly mangroves and fishing villages. From north to south:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao):<\/strong> The most developed beach \u2014 long, white sand, good infrastructure, resort hotels, restaurants and beach bars. Most convenient for first-timers arriving by ferry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Klong Prao Beach:<\/strong> A quieter, longer beach backed by coconut palms and a river estuary. More upscale resorts, beautiful at sunrise.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kai Bae Beach:<\/strong> Mid-range guesthouses and restaurants, laid-back vibe, good for families. Rocky sections at low tide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam):<\/strong> Once the backpacker enclave \u2014 still the most social and budget-friendly beach, with a small nightlife scene.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bang Bao:<\/strong> A traditional fishing village on stilts at the southern tip \u2014 good seafood restaurants, diving operator hub, departure point for island-hopping day trips.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Do on Ko Chang<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Klong Plu Waterfall:<\/strong> The island\\&#8217;s most spectacular waterfall, 45 minutes by motorbike from White Sand Beach. National park entry fee ~200 THB. Best in wet season (June\u2013October) when flow is strongest.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snorkeling and diving:<\/strong> Ko Chang has decent reef diving \u2014 best sites around Ko Wai (1.5 hours south by speedboat). Visibility is better November\u2013May. Several dive shops at Bang Bao village.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Island hopping (Ko Wai, Ko Mak, Ko Kood):<\/strong> Day trips and overnight packages to the quieter islands south of Ko Chang. Ko Kood is the most pristine \u2014 jungle waterfalls, empty beaches, very limited development. Boonsiri Ferry connects all islands.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kayaking:<\/strong> Rent kayaks and explore the mangrove-lined rivers and lagoons near Klong Prao. Several operators offer guided tours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Elephant sanctuaries:<\/strong> Ko Chang has ethical elephant experience operators in the jungle interior \u2014 bathing and feeding without riding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Time to Visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>November\u2013May (high season):<\/strong> Dry, sunny, calm sea. November\u2013February is peak \u2014 book ahead for long weekends and Thai holidays.<\/li>\n<li><strong>June\u2013October (wet season):<\/strong> Waterfalls at full flow, lush jungle, lower prices. Rain is common but rarely all day. Rough seas can limit diving.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid Thai public holidays:<\/strong> Ko Chang is a major domestic tourism destination \u2014 ferries and beaches get very crowded on Thai long weekends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Stay on Ko Chang<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#x1f3e8; <strong>[Travelpayouts Hotellook\/Agoda widget: Hotels on Ko Chang \u2014 White Sand Beach]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#x1f3e8; <strong>[Travelpayouts Hotellook\/Agoda widget: Hotels on Ko Chang \u2014 Klong Prao Beach]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#x1f3e8; <strong>[Travelpayouts Hotellook\/Agoda widget: Hotels on Ko Chang \u2014 Lonely Beach]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Guides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/gulf-islands-island-hopping\/\">Gulf of Thailand Island Hopping<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/koh-samui-to-koh-phangan\/\">Koh Samui to Koh Phangan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/bangkok-to-siem-reap\/\">Bangkok to Siem Reap (Cambodia)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This post contains affiliate links. When you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Complete Ko Chang guide \u2014 combined bus + ferry from Bangkok ~6\u20137 hours from $15 USD. Centerpoint ferry suspended since 2024, use Ao Thammachat only. White Sand Beach, Klong Plu waterfall.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-thailand"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand.jpg",940,627,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand.jpg",940,627,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand.jpg",940,627,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand.jpg",940,627,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thailand.jpg",18,12,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"markylipu","author_link":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/author\/markylipu\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Complete Ko Chang guide \u2014 combined bus + ferry from Bangkok ~6\u20137 hours from $15 USD. Centerpoint ferry suspended since 2024, use Ao Thammachat only. White Sand Beach, Klong Plu waterfall.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24001"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37705,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24001\/revisions\/37705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bordertobeach.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}