About Koh Chang, Trat province, Thailand

Trat is Thailand's eastern-most province, located about 315 kilometers from Bangkok. This small province borders on Cambodia with the Khao Banthat mountain range forming a natural demarcation. With 52 large and small offshore islands, long white sandy beaches and unspoiled coral reefs, Trat offers delightful scenery and a tranquil hideout for nature-lovers. The province also serves as a major fruit-growing and fishing area.

The city of Trat is a starting point for Ko Chang island group or forays into outlying gem and Cambodian markets. Those enthralled by shopping will be delighted as Trat has more markets for its size than almost any other town in Thailand due to Cambodian coastal trade.

Like Chanthaburi, Trat is a very important ruby-mining province, with the most famous gem market located in Bo Rai District, some 50 kilometers north of the Cambodian border.

With an area of 2,819 square kilometers, the province is administratively divided into the districts of Muang, Khao Saming, Laem Ngop, Khlong Yai and Bo Rai, and the sub-districts of Ko Chang and Ko Kut.


The weather in and around Trat is very comfortable with warm temperatures throughout the year. The region is influenced by the northeastern and southwestern winds, which sometimes limit sea transport to a group of islands particularly from May to October when the southwest monsoon blows. During this period the western coast can be wet and stormy and occasionally unsafe for ferries and smaller boats to lift anchor. However, visitors can still visit the islands via the normally more popular routes, most of which are to the northeast of Ko Chang, anyway.

Koh Chang is a thriving community. Koh Chang is a marine national park and an increasingly popular exotic tourist destination. For sure it depends almost entirely on visitors, both Thai and from overseas, to survive. It's economy is 95% driven by tourism. But as Koh Chang develops, so too is the local community. In years gone by that was local fishermen and farmers. Today it is becoming far more cosmopolitan with business owners, entrepreneurs and retirees making Koh Chang both their homes and place of business.

This makes Koh Chang an ideal place for you to take a well earned rest. The blend of the Tropicana service and the variety of things to see and do, makes us your ideal destination and we sincerely look forward to seeing you here.

Although Koh Chang is the major destination in the area there are a wealth of other interesting and beautiful places to explore. The other islands in the Koh Chang archipelago of 52 islands, while much less developed than Koh Chang, are well worth a visit as too is Trat town and some of the other places around Trat Province.

Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

GETTING TO KOH CHANG

A 5 hours bus trip from the Eastern Bus Terminal will take visitors to the Trat Province Bus Terminal (departures between 06.00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m.). From there continue by Song Taew transport to Laem Ngop, which is 17 kilometers from town, or the ferry landings at Ao Thammachat and Koh Chang Centre Point where services are operated all day.

Passenger boats usually leave from Laem Ngop to Ao Sapparot on Koh Chang every hour from 8.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. The trip takes 45 minutes and the fare is 50 baht per person. Visitors can continue to White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao), Hat Khlong Phrao Beach and Hat Kai Bae Beach by local bus which charges 30 baht per person. The schedules and fares are subject to change without notice due to climate condition. For current information, please contact Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Trat Province office, Tel: Tel: 0-3959-7255, 0-3959-7259-60 Fax: 0-3959-7255.

By Air
Bangkok Airways; direct flight leaves to Trat Province everyday. Booking in Koh Chang may be made by telephoning Bangkok Airways Bangkok or Trat Province Office. Bangkok Airways operates three daily non-stop flights from Bangkok to Trat and vice versa with the 70-seat ATR72-500. Bangkok - Trat a total distance of some 385 kilometers, has reduced travel time from 4-5 hours to just 45 minutes.

Ferry Services
Ferries depart either from Ao Thammachat or Koh Chang Center Point Landings between 7.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. with a traveling time of 30 minutes. Private vehicles can be loaded onto the ferry. Please note that vehicles used on the island should be the 4-wheel drive types as road conditions are bumpy and there are steep slopes to be negotiated. From the landing on Koh Chang are Song Taew services to various points. Fares should be settled beforehand.

Naval Battle Monument Pier (Krom Luang Pier)
Wooden boats depart every hour from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The passenger fare for a round trip costs approximately 100 baht. Call tel. 039 538 084 for more details.

Center Point Pier
Ferries leave hourly from 6.00 a.m. until 7.00p.m. Call 039 538196 for more information.

Rates for round trip:
4-wheel vehicles, 60 baht/passenger
6-wheel vehicles, 250 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger
10-wheel vehicles, 500 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger

Ao Thammachat Pier
Ferries leave every hour from 6.30 a.m. to 7.15 p.m. Contact 039 528288-9 for more details.

Rates for round trip:
4-wheel vehicle, 60 baht/passenger, no charge for driver
6-wheel vehicle, 500 baht, no charge for driver but 60 baht fee is applied for any passenger
10-wheel vehicle, 1,000 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger

Ko Chang Ferry
Ferries depart every 45 minutes from 6.30 a.m. until 7.15 p.m. For more information call tel. 039 597143.

Rates for round trip:(* subject to change without prior notice)
4-wheel vehicle 150 baht, no charge for driver, but a fee of 60 baht/passenger is applied
6-wheel vehicle, 500 baht, no charge for driver but 60 baht fee is applied for any passenger
10-wheel vehicle, 1,000 baht, no charge for driver and one passenger.

For visitors planning to stay at Koh Wai there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Koh Wai at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 120 baht/person/one way.

For visitors planning to stay at Koh Kham there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Koh Kham at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 170 baht/person/one way.

For visitors planning to stay at Koh Mak there is a ferry service from Laem Ngob to Koh Mak at around 3:00 p.m. with a fare of 150 baht/person/one way.

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