Rent a boat in Koh Chang

Koh Chang is located approximately 350kms southeast of Bangkok in Trat province, which lies on the Thai Cambodian border. There are two car ferry services that operate between the island and the mainland from 7:00am to 7:00pm departing every 45 minutes or so for the 30-minute voyage.

Koh Chang Yacht charter base is located in the sleepy little fishing village of Salakphet on the southeast side of the island, far away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas. Although most of the taxi drivers know of Salakphet bay they may be reluctant to make the journey as the chance of a return fare is virtually none existent making the one-way trip rather expensive.

The safest and quickest way to get to Koh Chang boat base is to fly to Trat (TDX) airport. Flights are only available from Bangkok and operated by Bangkok Airways. There are three flights per day and it’ll take only one hour to get the ferry terminal from Bangkok. You may find flight schedule on the Bangkok Airways website.

From the Trat airport, you can book a taxi that will take you directly to the yacht charter base. We recommend booking taxi in advance. Trat airport is only 20 minutes away from the Koh Chang ferry. It will take you about 30 minutes by ferry long lines may add a few hours to your arrival/departure time depending on how busy it is. From the ferry terminal on Koh Chang, it's another 30 minutes to the boat charter base.

We can help you to arrange a transfer from Bangkok airport to the yacht charter base in Koh Chang.

• From Bangkok - 6-7 hours drive depending on stops and the ferry.
• From Pattaya - 5-6 hours drive depending on stops and the ferry.
• From Trat -  2 hours drive depending on stops and the ferry.

If we arrange transfers for you, mini- van driver will meet you at the airport/hotel and will board on ferry with you. Once you reach the island, he will take you directly the base in Salakphet Bay or you can make a detour for provisioning.

If you’d like to arrange transfer by yourself, please make sure that your taxi driver will board on ferry with you and don’t drop you at the terminal or upon arrival at the mainland where ferry stops, which is quite far from the yacht charter base.

Provisioning your boat with food and drinks is an important consideration before you set sail. Remember that it's cheap in Thailand to eat onshore in restaurants and it will save you time for preparation and cleaning up the boat, while give more time to enjoy your sailing vacation. Both Thai food and western foods are cheap in restaurants and you'll be surprised by the variety offered on the islands while you sail.

If this is your first sailing vacation in Gulf of Thailand, re- member that this is tropics and boat galley has very limited space, refrigerators are small and storage lockers have limited space, so you should be smart with how you’ll handle all your groceries.

For the sailing vacation on a charter boat we recommend a menu that shares many of the same base ingredients, but delivers very different tasting meals. That way you minimize the number of items you have to take on board. Keep the menu simple.

The sailing season in Koh Chang Archipelago starts mid-October just before the northeast monsoon and ends mid-April, which marks the change and the beginning of the southwest monsoon. With the winds to the north some of the very best anchorages are in the lee and provide comfort and tranquility.

• October to January the northeast winds prevail, with strongest in the beginning of the season from November to mid-January ranging from 15 to 25knots and the climate is cooler with daytime temperatures ranging from 27C in the day to 20C during the night.
• January to May onwards the temperature rises and the winds become less predictable ranging from 10 to 15 knots. However, there are very few days no wind at all and in the latter part of the season has a westerly sea breeze that offers a beam reach for the full length of the archipelago. Late in the season the winds may shift a little more south opening up some great anchorages for overnight.

Throughout the season the sailing conditions are good, the weather is warm with low chance of rain. Even if it rains it usually early in the morning before the day starts.

Koh Chang and Gulf of Thailand is a great place for your first sailing vacation.  Sailing conditions are not challenging that your crew will be hanging on white-knuckled to the rail, but adequate to allow you to sit back and indulge the view.

Ko Chang's driest months are form November to March but it might rain a little during those times which keeps the waterfalls flowing and the tropical landscape green and lush. On average, the warmest month is April and the coolest and driest month is January.