Travel advisory · ThailandSome governments advise against travel to parts of Thailand.The warnings cover only these areas: 50 km strip along the Cambodian border, Narathiwat, Pattani, Southern Songkhla (Chana, Na Thawi, Thepha and Saba Yoi districts), Thailand-Cambodia border region (entire length), Yala, 20 km strip along the Cambodian border.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 50 km strip along the Cambodian border · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
- Narathiwat · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Pattani · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Southern Songkhla (Chana, Na Thawi, Thepha and Saba Yoi districts) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Thailand-Cambodia border region (entire length) · avoid all travel · Spain, Ireland, Italy
- Yala · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- 20 km strip along the Cambodian border · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, UK
Also named by one government: Border zones of Buriram province (Spain), Border zones of Sisaket province (Spain), Border zones of Surin province (Spain), Border zones of Ubon Ratchathani province (Spain), East of Highways 408 and 4113, including Sakom (Canada), Entire Myanmar border (except Mae Sot) (France), Hat Yai city (Canada), Areas near the Thai-Malaysia border (Ireland), Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line (UK), Myanmar border in Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces (Italy), Myanmar border in Tak and Chiang Mai provinces (Spain), Phatthalung province (France), Preah Vihear Temple zone (Sisaket) (Italy), Satun province (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise Normal Precautions | Jul 7, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country; partial warnings for border and southern areas (regional advisories) | Oct 26, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | Normal Precautions (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Increased vigilance across the country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang is a mountainous island in the Gulf of Thailand where waterfalls, rainforest and coral reefs sit close to the coast.
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Koh Chang, also spelled Ko Chang, is an island in Trat province on Thailand's eastern Gulf of Thailand coast, near the Cambodian border and about 300 km from Bangkok. At 210 square km, it is Thailand's third-largest island, after Phuket and Ko Samui. Its name means 'Elephant Island,' after an elephant-shaped headland. Most of the island lies inside Mu Ko Chang National Park, so forest, waterfalls and reefs are close at hand.
The island is mountainous, with Khao Salak Phet at 744 m as its highest peak, and it belongs to an archipelago of 52 islands. Fishing villages, coconut plantations and lychee orchards still sit alongside tourism, now the island's largest source of income. Koh Chang has no airport, so travelers reach it by ferry from the mainland. High season runs November to May, when boats also run to the outlying islands. Rain is heavy in Trat province, one of the two wettest provinces in Thailand. The island suits travelers who want beaches, forest walks and short boat trips.
Koh Chang in five
- Get to Trat, then take the ferryKo Chang has no airport, so you arrive by boat. Vehicle and passenger ferries run from the mainland, and each operator publishes its timetable online.Getting around
- Plan the bus to Trat townTrat town is the nearest long-distance bus hub, about five hours by bus from Bangkok. Trat Airport is about 17 km from the Ao Thammachat ferry terminal, so budget time for that transfer.
- Check the outlying island boats by seasonPassenger boats run from Ko Chang to Ko Wai, Ko Mak and Ko Kut during high season, November to May. Boats stop in August and September because of big seas.
- Follow the national park rulesMost of the island lies in Mu Ko Chang National Park, home to stump-tailed macaques, civets, deer, snakes and 61 bird species. Respect the wildlife and follow the park's rules.
- Think before posting a negative reviewIn 2020 an American tourist was arrested after posting negative online feedback about a Ko Chang hotel. He was released after apologizing, so raise a complaint with the hotel first.
Need to know
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the Thai eVisa site before flying Read more
- Emergency
- Police 191, fire 199; the island has a tourist police office
- Tipping
- Not required; rounding up the bill is common
- Time
- UTC+7, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry, coolJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry, boats runFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, boats run
- MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotMarchRain
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Hot, dryAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rains startMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 386 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 477 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rainy seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 577 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Boats stopAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 551 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Boats stop
- SeptemberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Wettest, boats stopSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 609 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest, boats stop
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Rainy, wetOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 325 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, wet
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Boats resumeNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Boats resume
- DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°Dry, busyDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
Average daily high and low in Ko Chang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Koh Chang
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 2 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Koh Chang
03:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed29°24°88%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Thu29°23°96%Thursday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Fri30°24°92%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Sat29°23°78%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sun30°23°45%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 45%.
Updated 01:13 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ko MakPassenger boat, Nov to May onlyOne of the outlying islands served by passenger boat from Ko Chang.
- Ko KutPassenger boat, Nov to May onlyAn outlying island reached by passenger boat in high season.
- Ko WaiPassenger boat, Nov to May onlyOne of the three outlying islands on the high-season boat route.
Before you go to Koh Chang
Rules for Koh Chang, checked
- Many nationalities enter Thailand visa-free, but check the entry rules on the official Thai eVisa site before you fly.Source
- Check the Thai Customs site for items that are restricted before you travel.Source
- Thai law is strict on drugs and on insulting the monarchy, so check the rules with the Thai embassy before you travel.
- Most of the island is Mu Ko Chang National Park, so follow the park's rules on wildlife, litter and camping.Source
- Think before posting negative hotel reviews online; a 2020 case led to an arrest and an apology.
Plan around Koh Chang
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Thailand trip
Read the guideGetting around Ko ChangFerries, buses and island roads from the mainland to the island
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the west coast, the south coast and village bases
Read the guideMoney and costsBaht, cards and cash for a trip to Ko Chang
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Thailand and how to check
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile data and offline maps for the island
Read the guideKoh Chang FAQ
How do you get to Ko Chang from Bangkok?
Take a bus to Trat town, which takes about five hours, then a ferry from the Ao Thammachat Ko Chang ferry terminal on the mainland. Check the ferry timetables with each operator before you travel.
Does Ko Chang have an airport?
No. Trat Airport is the nearest, about 17 km from the Ao Thammachat ferry terminal, so you need a transfer before the ferry.
How many days do you need on Ko Chang?
Two main roads run the length of the east and west coasts, and shorter roads reach several waterfalls. Plan extra time for waterfall walks and boat trips.
When is the best time to visit Ko Chang?
November to May, when passenger boats run to the outlying islands. Boats stop in August and September, and Trat province is one of Thailand's wettest, with over 4,500 mm of rain a year.
Can you visit Ko Wai, Ko Mak and Ko Kut from Ko Chang?
Yes, by passenger-only boat in high season, November to May. Those boats do not run in August and September because of big seas.
Can you get in trouble for a bad review in Thailand?
Yes. In 2020 an American tourist was arrested after posting negative online feedback about a Ko Chang hotel, and he was released after apologizing. Raise problems with the hotel first.