Lonely Beach Bus information – how to get there

From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport:

Go to the ground floor, next to door 8 you will find the counter for buses to Koh Chang. They start to leave at about 7 and leaving about once an hour until noon. As times differ and change all the time it’s best to just go there and get some information, it was different every time I got there. The bus costs around 500 Baht. It’s a big bus and stops sometimes, so it will take up to 6 hours to get to the ferry point on the mainland where they drop you off. From there you need to buy a ferry ticket and ship over. Sometimes the ferry ticket is included so be sure to ask. At the pier on Koh Chang take a hop on cab to Lonely Beach (about 100 Baht).

There is also an express bus service. Ticket booth is at the same place at the airport. It’s a minibus that does not have stopovers, so it takes less time. Also it ships over to Koh Chang and brings you directly to Lonely Beach. It’s 600 Baht, but it only departs early in the morning at 08:00 am.

From Bangkok Don Mueang Airport:

Unfortunately there is no connection from Don Mueand Airport. Take the shuttle bus to Suvarnabhumi Airport or get to Ekamai Station.

From Bangkok City:

There are two main options. There is a VIP bus leaving from Khao San Road. It only departs at 08:00am takes about 6 hours and costs 550 Baht. It will take you to the pier where you have to take the ferry to Koh Chang and then cab or minibus to Lonely Beach.

Second option is to go to Bangkok Ekamai, the eastern bus terminal. The buses only leave in the morning between 07:00 and 09:00. Ticket is only 300 Baht and will take about 5 hours to the ferry point. You also need to ship over to Koh Chang from there and take an option to Lonely Beach. If you miss the bus you can always take a bus from Ekamai to Trat. Then from Trat to the ferry. You will not save money or time using this option, but buses to Trat leaving all day. Takes up to 7 hours.

Latest options

As mentioned above, if you miss the early buses from the airport or bus terminal you can always take a bus to Trat. This will take some time though. You should probably leave at 11:30 latest so you arrive in Trat around 18:00. Then get to the pier and take the last ferry which leaves 19:00. If you don’t want to stay in Bangkok you can take a later bus to Trat as well and spend a night in Trat, there are cheap options as well. Then head out early and take the first ferry at 07:00 so you will arrive at Lonely Beach around 08:30 and will have all day.

Other options

There are some other options as public transportation, cabs, private cars or self driving. But I think the options above are the best, most easy and cheapest ones you have.

Lonely Beach bus from other places

Unfortunately I don’t have information about other places. From eastern places like Koh Samet, Pattaya or Trat it is very easy to get to Lonely Beach and there are bus options everywhere. From northern places like Chang Mai or Pai or western places like Koh Samui, Phuket your best option is either to go to Bangkok and then use the information above or you take a flight to Trat and then a bus and ferry. Bus will usually be cheaper but takes much longer for sure.

Coming from or going to Cambodia is also pretty easy. There are plenty bus options from Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap to Koh Chang and Lonely Beach.

Ferry to Lonely Beach

The ferry from Ao Thammachat pier leaves from 06:45 – 19:00 every 45 minutes. It takes nearly 45 minutes and cost 80 Baht for one way.

The ferry from centre point pier leaves from 06:00 – 19:30 every hour and takes about 45 minutes as well. Cost: 80 Baht one way.