Distance from Bangkok to Laem Ngop pier
The Laem Ngop pier at Ao Thammachat is 320 km from Bangkok by road, and the drive takes about 4 h 20 min. This is the mainland part of the trip to Koh Chang and Koh Mak: the eastern motorways, Highway 3 through Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi, and a turn to the coast in Trat province.
Out of Bangkok
From a central hotel the car joins an expressway and then the eastern motorway. The ring of the city is where time is lost: a pick-up at 06:30 reaches the open road in 20 minutes, while the same pick-up at 08:30 may need an hour.
A hotel near Bang Na or Ramkhamhaeng is on the road already.
Down the coast and east
Beyond the city the road crosses flat country, with industrial estates and fruit stalls beside it. It passes Chon Buri and Rayong and continues on Highway 3 to Chanthaburi, where it turns east again. Trucks are the usual slowdown, and fuel stations with shops and restaurants are spaced along the way.
The driver pays the tolls from the fare.
The last 20 minutes
In Trat province the car turns off Highway 3 on the road to the coast. Laem Ngop has several piers along the shore: Ao Thammachat for the ferry to Koh Chang, Center Point a few kilometres on, and Krom Luang for boats to Koh Mak. The form asks which one you want.
A wrong turn here costs time. A driver who has the pier in the booking goes to the right one.
Timing
The best departure from Bangkok is between 05:30 and 07:00, or after 09:30. Boats and ferries stop in the early evening, so a pick-up after about 13:00 puts the last crossing at risk. The fare is on the price page, and the service page describes the pier transfer. The ferry and the boat are not included in the price: plus ferry and boat tickets.
Questions and answers
How far is the Laem Ngop pier from Bangkok?
320 km by road.
How long is the drive?
About 4 h 20 min in normal traffic.
Is the ferry crossing in that time?
No. The time covers the road to the pier. The ferry to Koh Chang takes about 30 minutes more.
Which road is the route?
The eastern motorways, then Highway 3 through Chon Buri, Rayong and Chanthaburi, with a turn to the coast near Trat.
Can I stop on the way?
Yes. Any stop on the way is agreed with the driver on the spot, usually at a fuel station.
Book Bangkok to Laem Ngop
Cancellation is free. Pay the driver in cash, or by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, transfer by QR code or bank transfer to a Thai account if you prefer.
More about this trip
- Taxi Bangkok to Laem Ngop: route and price
- Price list for the trip
- How to get there: taxi, bus and van
- The same trip the other way: Laem Ngop to Bangkok
- To your hotel on the island: Bangkok to Koh Chang
- Ferries to Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood: which pier
- Koh Chang ferry access
- All prices and the calculator
- Frequently asked questions