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By Air: Opened by Bangkok Airways, Trat Airport is on the
mainland near to Laem Ngop. Flights operated to and from Bangkok are
scheduled. The flights depart twice a day four times a week on
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The trip takes
approximately 45 minutes.
By Car: Eastern Thailand and its islands can be easily
reached by road and three regular car ferries operate to Koh Chang.
There are two main driving routes from Bangkok. The first route is to
take Highway 3, the Bangna-Trad road. But a quicker way is to use
elevated toll way running above the Highway 3. Continues until the
Chonburi Bypass, then turn off onto Highway 344 here. Follow that road
past Ban Bung and when you reach the Klaeng Crossroads, turn back onto
Highway 3 and continue onwards to Trat. The second choice is to leave
Bangkok on the Motorway that is a continuation of the Rama IX, Srinakarin
road. This road goes onwards and meets highway 344 where you can
continue to Trat as detailed above.
By Bus: A five-hour-drive by bus from the Eastern Bus
Terminal, "Ekamai" on Sukhumvit Rd. or Northern Bus
Terminal, "Mochit 2", on Kampeangpetch 2 Rd. will take you
to the Trat Bus Terminal. Alternatively, you can take minibus and full
sized bus services pickup from "Khao Sarn" road.
Koh Chang: In Laem Ngop, passenger ferries leave the main
pier hourly from 8 am. to 5 pm. for Dan Kao in Koh Chang, however it is
changed in the wet season (every 2 hour starting at 9 am. and finishing at 5
pm.). The journey takes an hour. On arrival, you can take share
taxis to various beaches, such as White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao, Klong
Phrao, Kai Bae and Hat Ta Nam (Lonely Beach).
Koh Wai: A once daily ferry to Koh Wai leaves Laem Ngop at
3 pm. The trip takes 2.5 hours.
Koh Maak & Koh Kham: A daily ferry to Koh Maak &
Koh Kham leaves Laem Ngop at 3 pm. The trip takes three hours.
But in the low season from May to October, this service runs only every
second day on the even days of the month. A new ferry to Koh Maak
leaves Laem Ngop at 8.30 am. on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, and returns
from Koh Maak at 2 pm. on Fridays, Sundays and Thursdays.
Koh Kood: A new ferry, leaving at 9 am., runs to Koh Kood
from Laem Ngop three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
It stops at Koh Chang and Koh Maak on the way.
Other Islands: The resorts on the other islands in the
archipelago are primarily based on package travel and transport to the
islands is normally arranged as part of the package. Hence, there is
no scheduled ferry service from the mainland.
Hourly share taxis on Koh Chang run between all the beaches as far as Lonely
Beach. And the ferry terminals from 6 am. to 8 pm. They can be
flagged down anywhere and used to travel around the island. You can also
use cars, motorcycles and bicycles hired from many hire firms and resorts to get
around since roads are good, but drive slowly and carefully because there can be
some dangerous hill sections. There is no public transport on the other
islands. Lifts to and from ferries can be arranged through some of the
resorts.
This article is authored and copyrighted
by
Royal Exclusive Travel
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