Best Boat Trips & Island Tours from Koh Chang
Snorkel the Koh Rang reefs, hop to Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood, and explore the east-coast mangroves by longtail and kayak. Compare ferries, piers, park fees and seasons.
Browse & book tours ↓Compare trips ↓Plan your boat trip ↓Koh Chang, the "elephant island" of Trat province, is the mountainous heart of Mu Ko Chang National Park in the eastern Gulf of Thailand. Its boat trips are quieter and gentler than those on the Andaman coast. From the stilted fishing village of Bang Bao, wooden boats and speedboats head south to snorkel the reefs of the Koh Rang group and the shallow coral of Koh Wai, while a catamaran links the island with the slow-paced islands of Koh Mak and Koh Kood. On the sheltered east coast, boardwalks, longtails and kayaks wind through some of the best-preserved mangroves in the region.
This guide explains how to reach the island on the car ferry and what it costs since the April 2026 fare change, which trips run from which pier, what the national-park fees are, and how the long rainy season from May to October shapes what you can do. It also covers the waterfalls, viewpoints and villages worth seeing on land. Prices and timetables are taken from dated 2026 sources and are indicative only.
Make your day on the water count.
Reef snorkelling, island hopping, mangrove kayaking and private boats — the right choice starts with your time, your budget and the sea conditions.
Find & book your Koh Chang boat trip
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Which Koh Chang boat trip is right for you?
Koh Chang sits in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, close to the Cambodian border, at the heart of Mu Ko Chang National Park. Its boat trips are slower-paced and less crowded than those around Phuket or Krabi. Most leave from Bang Bao in the south of the island, head for the reefs of the Koh Rang group and the small islands of Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood, or explore the mangroves of the east coast by kayak and longtail. The choice comes down to how much snorkelling you want, whether you want to stay on another island, and the time of year.
| Trip | Best for | Typical format | Consider before booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Rang snorkelling day | The best reefs near Koh Chang | Big wooden boat or speedboat from Bang Bao, with lunch | Mainly November – April; 200-baht park fee usually extra |
| Koh Wai | Easy snorkelling from the beach, a quiet day | Stop on a Koh Rang tour, or a speedboat drop | Outside the national park; few facilities |
| Koh Mak | Flat, quiet island, cycling and beaches | Boonsiri catamaran from Bang Bao (about 1 hour) | Better as an overnight stay than a day trip |
| Koh Kood | Clear water, waterfalls, a slower island | Catamaran or high-season speedboat | Inter-island speedboats run only in high season |
| East-coast mangroves | Wildlife, kayaking, a rainy-season option | Boardwalk walks, longtail or kayak at Salak Phet and Salak Khok | Sheltered water; runs most of the year |
| Kayak to nearby islands | Active travellers | Kayak hire from Kai Bae or the east coast | Calm conditions only; know your limits |
| Private longtail or speedboat | Groups, families, flexible timing | Half or full day from Bang Bao or a beach | Agree the route, time and park fees in writing |
Our planning advice: if you have one boat day, take the Koh Rang snorkelling trip from Bang Bao in the dry season. If you have longer, spend a night or two on Koh Mak or Koh Kood rather than rushing a day trip. In the rainy season, when many sea trips stop, the east-coast mangroves are the best boat experience on the island.
Where can you go by boat from Koh Chang?
1. Koh Rang and its reefs
The Koh Rang group is a cluster of small, uninhabited islands and rocky islets inside Mu Ko Chang National Park, lying between Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. It holds the best coral within easy reach of Koh Chang. Snorkelling stops vary with the wind, but often include Koh Yak Yai, known for its staghorn coral, Koh Yak Lek, a reliable spot for sea turtles, and Koh Mapring, with larger plate corals (Thai Holiday Guide, July 2026). Expect typical Gulf of Thailand reef life such as parrotfish and snapper; big animals are possible but never guaranteed.
A typical Koh Rang day leaves Bang Bao around 09:30, stops at three reefs and finishes at Koh Wai. According to visitThailandToday's October 2026 Koh Chang guide, trips cost about 800–900 baht on the big wooden boats and about 800–1,100 baht by speedboat, including hotel pickup and lunch. The national-park fee of 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children is usually paid separately in cash. The islands have no facilities, food or fresh water, so everything comes from the boat. The season runs roughly from November to April; in the rainy season trips are reduced and are cancelled when strong wind or swell is forecast, so confirm the day before.
2. Koh Wai
Koh Wai is a small island south of Koh Chang with a long wooden pier and reefs close to the shore, which makes it one of the easiest places in the area to snorkel straight from the beach. It lies outside the national park, so no park fee applies. Most visitors arrive as the last stop on a Koh Rang tour. A few simple bungalows let you stay overnight, and some high-season speedboats between Koh Chang and Koh Kood will stop on request.
3. Koh Mak
Koh Mak is a small, flat island south of Koh Chang, known for coconut and rubber plantations, quiet beaches and a relaxed pace; many visitors explore it by bicycle. The Boonsiri catamaran from Bang Bao takes about an hour and costs 550 baht, landing at Ao Nid pier (visitThailandToday, 2026). There is not enough time to do Koh Mak justice on a day trip, so plan at least one night.
4. Koh Kood
Koh Kood (also written Koh Kut), close to the Cambodian border, has clear water, long empty beaches and jungle waterfalls. From Bang Bao, the Boonsiri catamaran leaves at 09:00 and 13:00, calls at Koh Mak and reaches Ao Salad on Koh Kood about 90 minutes later. The fare is 900 baht, or 950 baht with a drop at your Koh Kood hotel. From June to September there is only the 13:00 sailing. In the high season, roughly mid-November to mid-May, Koh Chang Speedboat runs from Kai Bae beach at 09:00, reaching Koh Kood's resort piers at about 11:00 for 1,200 baht, with stops at Koh Wai and Koh Mak on request (visitThailandToday, 2026). When the Bang Bao boats are not running, Boonsiri also sails to Koh Kood from Laem Sok on the mainland.
5. The east-coast mangroves: Salak Phet and Salak Khok
Koh Chang's quiet south-east coast is lined with mangrove forest around the bays of Salak Phet and Salak Khok, and it offers the island's most dependable boat trips. At Salak Phet, a free boardwalk of about 500 metres winds through the mangroves; parking costs about 10 baht for a scooter and 20 baht for a car. At Salak Khok, a longer boardwalk of about 860 metres leads to a community boat station, open 08:00–16:00, where a 40-minute longtail trip for up to four people costs about 800 baht (visitThailandToday, October 2026). Because the water is sheltered, these trips run on days when the open sea is too rough.
6. Kayaking to the nearby islands
From Kai Bae, sea kayaks can be rented for about 100 baht an hour or 300 baht for four hours, and the little island of Koh Man Nai lies just offshore. On the east coast, kayak trips cross to Koh Ngam, whose resort has been closed since 2019; a national-park fee applies. Only paddle in calm conditions, tell someone where you are going, and wear a buoyancy aid.
7. The islands off Kai Bae
From the Kai Bae viewpoint you can see four small islands strung out to sea: Koh Yuak, Koh Man Noi, Koh Pli and Koh Man Nok. They are popular stops for private longtails and snorkelling trips, and make a good half-day outing from the west-coast beaches.
Big wooden boat, speedboat, catamaran or kayak?
Big wooden boats
The traditional way to see Koh Rang is on one of Bang Bao's large wooden boats. They are slower than speedboats but stable, shaded and spacious, with room to move around, toilets and lunch served on board. They suit families and anyone prone to seasickness, and they are usually the cheaper option.
Speedboats
Speedboats reach the reefs faster and leave more time in the water, and they are the only boats running the high-season shuttle to Koh Kood from Kai Bae. The ride is harder and wetter in a chop, and there is less shade.
Catamaran ferries
Boonsiri's catamaran from Bang Bao to Koh Mak and Koh Kood is a scheduled transfer, not a tour. It is the most comfortable way to move between the islands with luggage.
Longtails and kayaks
Longtails are used for mangrove trips at Salak Khok and for private hops to the islands off Kai Bae. Sea kayaks are available on the west-coast beaches. Both suit calm, sheltered water rather than open crossings.
Whatever you choose, check that there are life jackets in the right sizes, ask how many passengers the boat will carry and what happens if the weather turns.
Ferries to Koh Chang and where boat trips depart
The car ferry: Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot
Every visitor's first boat is the car ferry from the mainland. Ferry Koh Chang runs the only current crossing, from Ao Thammachat pier at Laem Ngop in Trat province to Ao Sapparot on Koh Chang's north-west coast. The rival Centrepoint ferry has been suspended since July 2024, and no passenger speedboat runs from the mainland. The crossing takes 25–35 minutes. Boats run from 06:30 to 18:30, and since April 2026 sailings other than the first and last leave once they are full, so expect roughly one boat an hour in the high season and fewer off-peak (visitThailandToday, October 2026).
| Ticket (one way, cash) | Fare since April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adult | 90 baht |
| Child 110–150 cm | 40 baht |
| Child under 110 cm | Free |
| Motorbike up to 125 cc | 90 baht |
| Motorbike 150 cc and over | 150 baht |
| Car (plus passengers) | 200 baht |
Trat province approved higher fares of 130 baht per passenger and 280 baht per car on 7 April 2026, after diesel reached about 50 baht a litre (Nation Thailand). The operator adopted the lower fares above instead, and fares may change again with fuel prices, so take cash and check the board at the pier. On Thai long weekends and at New Year, queues of cars can stretch for kilometres; travel midweek or take the first boat.
Getting to the pier from Bangkok
Buses and minivans from Bangkok to Trat take about five to six hours, and combined bus-and-ferry tickets are sold at Ekkamai bus station. Bangkok Airways flies to Trat airport in about an hour. From Trat town, shared songthaews run to the pier for about 60 baht per person (visitThailandToday, October 2026).
Bang Bao Pier
Bang Bao, a stilted fishing village at the southern end of the island's west-coast road, is the departure point for Koh Rang snorkelling trips and the Boonsiri catamaran to Koh Mak and Koh Kood. The long pier is lined with seafood restaurants and shops and is free to walk. Most tours include pickup from the west-coast beaches.
Kai Bae beach and the east coast
High-season speedboats to Koh Kood board from Kai Bae beach, and kayaks are rented there too. Mangrove trips start from Salak Phet and Salak Khok on the south-east coast.
Use the Koh Chang 3D departure map on this page to see each pier against your hotel.
How much do Koh Chang boat trips cost?
The figures below are indicative 2026 prices from published sources, not live quotes. Prices change with the season and the operator, and park fees are usually paid separately in cash.
| Trip or fee | Indicative 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car ferry, adult | 90 baht one way | Ao Thammachat – Ao Sapparot |
| Koh Rang tour, big wooden boat | About 800–900 baht | With pickup and lunch |
| Koh Rang tour, speedboat | About 800–1,100 baht | With pickup and lunch |
| Koh Rang park fee | 200 baht adult / 100 baht child | Cash, usually not included |
| Boonsiri to Koh Mak / Koh Kood | 550 / 900 baht | From Bang Bao |
| Speedboat to Koh Kood | 1,200 baht | From Kai Bae, high season only |
| Salak Khok mangrove longtail | About 800 baht for up to four | About 40 minutes |
| Kayak hire, Kai Bae | About 100 baht an hour / 300 baht for four hours | Calm conditions only |
Sources: visitThailandToday Koh Chang guides (October 2026); Thai Holiday Guide (July 2026). When comparing Koh Rang tours, check whether the park fee, snorkel gear, lunch and pickup from your beach are included, and how many reef stops are planned.
Best time of year for Koh Chang boat trips
Koh Chang is one of the wettest places in Thailand, with around 3,000 mm of rain a year, almost all of it in the south-west monsoon from about May to October. The island has no long-term weather station of its own, but averages for nearby Chanthaburi for 1991–2020 show the pattern: June is usually the wettest month at about 515 mm, August and September have about 25 rainy days each, and December is almost dry at about 7 mm (Climates to Travel). The sea stays warm all year, at about 28–30.5°C.
| Period | Sea conditions | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| December – February | Calmest and driest | Best for Koh Rang and island hopping; busiest period |
| March – April | Mostly calm, hotter | Good; pre-monsoon showers become more frequent |
| May – October | Rough at times, rainy | Fewer sea trips; inter-island speedboats stop; mangroves and waterfalls at their best |
| November | Improving | Season restarts; occasional storms |
In the rainy season the rain often falls overnight or early in the morning, with drier spells later in the day, and many snorkelling and dive boats still run on most days, stopping only when a storm or strong waves are forecast (I Am Koh Chang). The car ferry runs as normal. The inter-island speedboats, however, stop from about May to mid-October, and the Boonsiri catamaran drops to one sailing a day from June to September. Rip currents can occur on the west-coast beaches even on calm-looking days, so respect red flags.
Snorkelling, diving and fishing from Koh Chang
Snorkelling
The reefs of the Koh Rang group are the area's best, with Koh Wai a close second for easy snorkelling from the shore. Visibility is best in the dry season and can drop after heavy rain. Bring a well-fitting mask if you can, use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
Scuba diving
Dive centres on Koh Chang run day trips to the Koh Rang reefs and to the wreck of the HTMS Chang, a former Royal Thai Navy ship sunk as an artificial reef off Koh Rang. A dive day is a different purchase from a snorkelling tour, with its own questions about certification and supervision. Start with the JLIT Diving Hub.
Fishing
Fishing trips run from Bang Bao, from evening squid fishing to day trips on local boats. Fishing is restricted in the national park, so ask the operator where you will fish and what is targeted. See Fishing in Thailand.
Families, accessibility and comfort on Koh Chang boats
The big wooden boats from Bang Bao are the most family-friendly way to see Koh Rang: stable, shaded, with toilets and space for children to move around. Ask for child-size life jackets and flotation aids before departure. For young children or anyone nervous about the sea, the Salak Phet boardwalk and a short mangrove longtail at Salak Khok are a gentle introduction. Klong Prao and Klong Kloi are the calmest beaches for swimming.
Boarding at Bang Bao is from a pier, which is easier than wading out to a boat. Island stops may involve climbing down a ladder into the water. Travellers with limited mobility should ask the operator how passengers board and land at each stop, and may prefer the big boats to speedboats.
How to book a Koh Chang boat trip without unpleasant surprises
Most hotels and tour desks on Koh Chang sell the same handful of Koh Rang trips. Before you pay, ask:
- Is it a big wooden boat or a speedboat, and how many passengers does it carry?
- Which reefs are planned, and how long is each stop?
- Is the 200-baht park fee included?
- What time is pickup, and is your beach included?
- Are lunch, drinking water, snorkel gear and fins included?
- What happens if the trip is cancelled for weather?
For island transfers, book the Boonsiri catamaran or the high-season speedboat a day or two ahead in peak periods and confirm the departure time the evening before. The tour finder at the top of this page lists bookable Koh Chang boat trips with their current prices.
Suggested Koh Chang boat-trip itineraries
The classic: Koh Rang and Koh Wai
Take a dry-season big-boat or speedboat tour from Bang Bao, snorkel three reefs in the national park and finish with a swim at Koh Wai. Back in Bang Bao, eat seafood on the pier before heading back to your beach.
Mangroves and a waterfall
Walk the Salak Phet boardwalk in the morning, take a longtail through the Salak Khok mangroves, and finish at Than Mayom waterfall on the east coast. This works in any season.
Island hopping south
Take the Boonsiri catamaran from Bang Bao to Koh Mak for a night or two, then continue to Koh Kood. Return the same way, or to the mainland via Laem Sok.
A paddle and a sunset
Rent a kayak at Kai Bae in the morning and paddle to Koh Man Nai, then watch the sunset over the islands from the Kai Bae viewpoint.
Plan your Koh Chang day on the water
Compare island trips, or explore specialist diving and fishing using JLIT's dedicated guides.
Where you stay on Koh Chang changes the best boat trip
Nearly all of Koh Chang's beaches and hotels are on the west coast, linked by a single winding road. The east coast is quiet and largely undeveloped.
White Sand Beach
The busiest beach and the closest main beach to the ferry, with the most restaurants, bars and a night market. Tours pick up here, but Bang Bao is at the far southern end of the coast road.
Klong Prao
A long, quieter beach in the middle of the west coast, popular with families and close to Klong Plu waterfall.
Kai Bae
A smaller beach with views of the offshore islands, kayak rental, the high-season Koh Kood speedboat and the island's best sunset viewpoint.
Lonely Beach and Bailan
Further south, Lonely Beach is the island's nightlife strip, while Bailan is quieter. Both are closer to Bang Bao.
Bang Bao and Klong Kloi
The southern tip of the island is the most convenient base for boat trips, with the pier on your doorstep and Klong Kloi, the most sheltered beach, nearby. For hotels across the island, see the picks below or JLIT's hotel discovery tools.
Find your Koh Chang departure pier
Explore Koh Chang in 3D. Use Show all hotels & piers for an overview, select a hotel and pier for directions, or choose Show on Koh Chang map on any of the nine hotels to focus its approximate location on the same interactive map. Confirm the exact address and boat meeting point before travel.
Hotel and pier markers are approximate. Confirm the operator’s actual departure point before travelling; many island tours collect you from your hotel and some speedboats board from the beach.
Recommended Koh Chang hotels for boat-trip travellers
These nine Koh Chang hotels come from JLIT’s existing hotel database. Most boat trips leave from Bang Bao in the south, so compare each location with your departure pier before booking. Prices, availability and hotel details must be checked on the booking provider’s current listing.
Budget hotels
Kai Bae area · good value for west-coast pickups
View on Booking.com ↗
Klong Prao · relaxed, budget-friendly base
View on Booking.com ↗
Chai Chet cape · between White Sand and Klong Prao
View on Booking.com ↗Comfort hotels
Klong Prao – Kai Bae · beachfront resort
View on Booking.com ↗
Kai Bae · close to the Koh Kood speedboat and kayaks
View on Booking.com ↗
Bailan · nearest of the nine to Bang Bao pier
View on Booking.com ↗Premium hotels
White Sand Beach · closest of the nine to the ferry
View on Booking.com ↗
Klong Prao · secluded luxury resort
View on Booking.com ↗
Kai Bae · contemporary beachfront resort
View on Booking.com ↗Private Koh Chang charters: what you can customise
Private longtailsPrivate speedboatsCatamarans
Sailing yachtsPrivate longtails
A private longtail from Bang Bao or one of the west-coast beaches is the simplest way to visit the islands off Kai Bae or to snorkel at your own pace. Agree the route, the time and the price before you leave, and confirm whether park fees are included.
Private speedboats
A private speedboat lets you reach the Koh Rang reefs before the tour boats, combine Koh Rang with Koh Wai or Koh Mak, or take a group to Koh Kood. The quote normally covers the boat, crew and fuel; lunch, drinks, snorkel gear and the 200-baht park fee may be extra.
Catamarans and sailing yachts
Koh Chang is one of the Gulf's yacht-charter bases, with bareboat and crewed boats for exploring the islands of Trat province. Expect to pay separately for fuel, provisioning and park fees. See our sailing and yachting guide for charter types and costs.
A private boat still has to follow national-park rules, and no boat should set out when the skipper judges the sea unsafe.
Sightseeing on Koh Chang: what to see on land
Most of Koh Chang is mountainous rainforest inside the national park, and the island is as rewarding on land as on the water. Hours and fees below are from visitThailandToday's October 2026 guide and can change on public holidays and in the low season.
Khlong Phlu waterfall
The island's best-known waterfall, inland from Klong Prao, with a pool for swimming at its base. Open 08:30–16:30; entry is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. Arrive early, as it gets busy by the afternoon. Alcohol is not allowed.
Than Mayom waterfall
On the quieter east coast, Than Mayom is a series of cascades with historical inscriptions carved by Thai kings who visited. Open 09:00–16:30; entry is 200 baht for adults. The smaller Kai Bae and Khlong Nonsi waterfalls are free.
Bang Bao fishing village
Bang Bao's stilted village stretches along a long wooden pier lined with seafood restaurants and shops, with a lighthouse at its end. It is free to visit and liveliest in the late afternoon.
Kai Bae viewpoint
A free roadside viewpoint, open at all hours, looking over Kai Bae bay and the four small islands offshore. It is best at sunset.
Salak Phet and the east coast
The fishing communities of the south-east coast, with their boardwalks, mangroves and seafood restaurants over the water, show a very different Koh Chang from the west-coast resorts.
Elephant camps
visitThailandToday's guide advises avoiding the island's elephant camps, some of which bring elephants onto Kai Bae beach and into the sea for photographs. If you care about animal welfare, do not ride, bathe or pose with elephants.
Responsible island visits in Mu Ko Chang National Park
Most of Koh Chang and the Koh Rang islands are protected national park, and the reefs are fragile. Small actions add up when thousands of snorkellers visit in a season.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen; sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben are banned in Thai national parks.
- Never stand on, touch or collect coral, and keep fins away from the reef.
- Do not feed fish or chase turtles.
- Take all rubbish back to Koh Chang; the Koh Rang islands have no facilities.
- Stay on the boardwalks in the mangroves.
- Pay the park fee and keep your ticket; it funds protection of the park.
Before departure: a practical Koh Chang boat-trip checklist
- Cash for the ferry, the park fee and drinks; card machines are rare on boats and piers.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a rash top.
- A dry bag for phones and documents.
- Your own mask if you are serious about snorkelling.
- Seasickness tablets, taken before you board.
- Drinking water; the Koh Rang islands have none.
- Your booking confirmation, pickup time and the operator's phone number.
In an emergency, Thailand's Tourist Police can be reached on 1155. Tell your hotel which trip you are on and when you expect to return.
Frequently asked questions about Koh Chang boat trips
What is the best boat trip from Koh Chang?
The Koh Rang snorkelling day from Bang Bao, which visits three reefs in the national park and finishes at Koh Wai. It runs mainly from November to April.
How much is the ferry to Koh Chang?
Since April 2026 the car ferry from Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot costs 90 baht per adult, 40 baht for children 110–150 cm and 200 baht for a car, paid in cash. The crossing takes 25–35 minutes, with boats from 06:30 to 18:30.
Is the Centrepoint ferry still running?
No. The Centrepoint ferry from Laem Ngop to Dan Kao has been suspended since July 2024. Ferry Koh Chang from Ao Thammachat is the only current crossing.
How much is the Koh Rang national-park fee?
200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children, paid in cash and usually not included in the tour price.
How do I get from Koh Chang to Koh Kood?
Take the Boonsiri catamaran from Bang Bao at 09:00 or 13:00 (900 baht, via Koh Mak), or in high season the 09:00 speedboat from Kai Bae (1,200 baht). From June to September only the 13:00 catamaran runs.
Can I do Koh Mak as a day trip?
It is possible on the morning catamaran, but Koh Mak is best enjoyed with at least one night. The crossing from Bang Bao takes about an hour and costs 550 baht.
When is the best time for boat trips on Koh Chang?
December to February usually has the calmest, driest weather. The rainy season runs from about May to October, when inter-island speedboats stop and sea trips are cancelled on rough days.
What can I do on Koh Chang when the sea is rough?
Walk the mangrove boardwalks at Salak Phet and Salak Khok, take a longtail through the mangroves, or visit Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom waterfalls.
Scenes from the eastern Gulf
Forested islands, quiet reefs and the boats that link them.
