Tips for transport and activities in Koh Chang

Hi there,

I booked on 12go Asia for the trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang with the company: Boonsiri High Speed Ferries, departing from "Boonsiri Khao San office" Has anyone already tried this company?

Happy you paid twice as much for no reason? If you had asked BEFORE, we would’ve told you that booking—especially with a private company and even more so online—is completely unnecessary because it’s super easy to get to Koh Chang using public transport with frequent departures. So, unless you’re one of those struck with acute "reservation-itis," I don’t think many people will have feedback on this company. Oh, and one more thing: in a private bus from Khao San Road, you’ll be packed in with other tourists, whereas with public transport, you travel... with Thais too.

And finally, I need to make the return trip from Koh Chang to Bangkok to catch my flight back to France. What’s the best option?

Out of the 4 times I’ve gone to the beach in 40+ trips to Thailand—Koh Chang being my destination—I can actually answer this one:

On Koh Chang, you take the regular ferry to the mainland (departures all day), and once you arrive, you have a few options: - Find a direct bus to Bangkok - Take a songthaew to Trat and from there a public bus to Bangkok (frequent departures for both). In Bangkok, the buses go to Ekamai bus terminal, and some, though fewer, go to Mo Chit. Some even stop at Suvarnabhumi Airport. NO, you don’t need to book these buses or songthaews in advance. All buses are air-conditioned. This is also how you could’ve done it the other way around, and it’s easy: at Ekamai (served by the BTS Skytrain), just say "Koh Chang" right away, and they’ll direct you to the right bus—no need to search.

So, you’re not heading south after all?

Thanks for your reply! Yeah, you're right—stress makes me want to book everything to avoid panicking or struggling. You’ve traveled a lot in Thailand, so for you it’s definitely easier than it will be for me—this is my first time! 🙂

That said, I have free cancellation, so nothing’s lost yet 😉

The other advantage of booking is knowing the schedules. Do you happen to know where to find the public bus timetables, by any chance?

About the itinerary, yeah, we decided to change it. The weather in Koh Samui isn’t great, and Phuket’s too crowded.

for me it’ll be my first, so you’re naturally more comfortable

I was comfortable from my very first trip to Thailand. I hadn’t booked anything at all—not even the first night in Bangkok, even though I arrived in the evening. Right after leaving Don Muang Airport (Suvarnabhumi didn’t exist yet), I didn’t take a taxi* but a regular city bus ("thamada," non-air-conditioned) to the Hualamphong area, where I stayed at the first guesthouse I found. The bus ride was long, so I used the time to learn how to count in Thai. All the travel info I needed was in the LP guidebook (which, back then, made *excellent* guides). These days, sites like Booking, 12Go, and others pressure you to book everything in advance, but the reality on the ground is totally different and easy—there are so many options (accommodations, buses) that traveling in Southeast Asia is super simple, even for beginners.

*Back then, taximeters didn’t exist. There were taxis, but nothing to distinguish them—it was a bit chaotic and risky in terms of scams.

The other advantage of booking is knowing the schedules. Do you know where to find public bus schedules, by the way?

Most of the time, you don’t even need to know the schedules because departures to every destination are so frequent. On top of the blue-and-white state buses, there are also private company buses you can take from the bus terminals. All in all, there’s usually an air-conditioned bus leaving at least every hour between Bangkok and most major cities, or every 3 hours for cross-country routes between the North and Northeast (Isan). So in 90% of cases, booking a bus is completely unnecessary—just show up at the bus terminal an hour* before departure and buy your ticket then. Over the past 15 years or so, minivans have also become popular (if you’re traveling light) for short and medium distances up to about 250 km. And I’m not even counting the thamada buses here...

Exceptions: - The direct Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai route, where Greenbus now seems to have a monopoly. Even though departures are fairly frequent, it’s better to book because this route is *very* busy. Luckily, there are some great indirect alternatives between these two cities (Tha Ton, Mae Salong, Phayao...). - During festival periods (Songkran, Loy Krathong...), book ahead. - A few days before and after an election day—book, because Thais travel even more than during festivals.

*Much less time if buses leave 3 or 4 times an hour.

State bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, photographed at the bus terminal in the latter. Frequency: every 20 minutes (and that’s not counting the minivans leaving every 20-30 minutes from two different Bangkok bus terminals):

Hi there, You’re among the travelers who aren’t used to taking trips. This isn’t a criticism—just an observation. Asking for opinions on something you’ve already booked? You’ll definitely get more negative feedback than positive. On this forum, tons of members ask for advice or info about flights or hotel bookings *after* they’ve already bought their flight tickets and paid for their hotels.

Going forward, it’s pretty simple: if you’re planning to visit somewhere on this planet, do some research on your destination first. Forum members will be happy to help—it’s what a travel forum (especially this one) is for!

That’s absolutely right, especially since there are quite a few people here sharing info and details, which helps get the full picture.

When leaving Koh Chang, there’s no need to book anything in advance except your flight ticket if that’s your chosen option. Local agencies offer all the options below:

Either a minivan: a cheap option, but I hate minivans—they’re often dangerous. Or the bus: the cheapest option, best booked on the spot. Or a private car: I paid 3,700 baht all-inclusive from my hotel in KC to my hotel in Bangkok. Or a flight: get to the airport either by minivan or private car.

Another option: spend a night in Trat—the town is interesting, with a typical market—then take a local bus to Bangkok.

Another option: spend a night in Trat, the town is interesting

Yeah, it's a nice town for an overnight stop or even a bit longer if you've got the time. I also had the chance to check out their public hospital (not for an issue that happened in the town itself or on Koh Chang): same deal, nice (and efficient), so if you need to, go with confidence 😜.

Hi

Thanks to all of you for your replies. Okay, I’ve noted that there’s no need to rush EXCEPT for Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai. So to avoid mistakes: how do I do this route?

Thanks

Hello,

How much total time are you planning to spend visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?

Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai. So, to avoid mistakes: how do I make this trip?

Either you book at the Greenbus counter at the bus station on the day you arrive in Chiang Mai if you're spending a few days there (November isn’t peak tourist season). Or you book on their website (which I’ve never used): https://web.greenbusthailand.com/en Allow for a 3h30 journey.

- I’ve already used Greenbus from several cities; the comfort and onboard service are good, but I’ve never found the staff at bus stations to be friendly. - When arriving in Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, Greenbus may serve both terminals in this order: terminal 2* first, then terminal 1**.

* Terminal 2, on the southern outskirts of the city, for buses and minivans to/from other provinces. ** Terminal 1, in the city center (the most convenient if you’re staying in town, for example in the Wat Jet Yot area), for buses to/from Chiang Rai province.

Greenbus counter at Chiang Rai bus station terminal 1:

Regular bus (thamada) at the same bus station:



Minivan to Phayao and Phrae at Chiang Rai bus station terminal 2:

Thanks for the info. I’ll check out the Greenbus website.

How much time overall do you plan to spend visiting Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?

I’m planning 2 full days in Chiang Mai: November 4th and 5th (to see the Chiang Mai Authentic Sky Lantern event). Then on November 6th, I’ll transfer to Chiang Rai. And two days (November 7th and 8th) in Chiang Rai, with a flight to Bangkok on November 9th.

Only 5 days for these 2 cities?? Unreasonable.

But ultimately, what’s your itinerary and how long are you staying?