Ko Si Chang

Bus

The bus to Sri Racha, where the ferry leaves for Ko Si Chang, departs from Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok and takes about two hours. You can buy your tickets at booth #16 for 97 baht one way. Buses leave from 5:00 to 21:00, every 40 minutes. Due to Ekkamai bus station's close proximity to the BTS, efficiency, and small size, this is the easiest and most hassle-free option. Buses also leave every half hour from Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal, or you can take a minibus from Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bus Terminal (110 baht, 1 hour and 20 minutes, last bus leaving at 18:30) or a long series of connecting public buses from central Bangkok to central Chonburi, and from Chonburi to Sri Racha (the cheapest and longest option). Minibuses heading to Pattaya from Victory Monument often stop in Sri Racha. Sriracha is a 20-30 minute drive from Pattaya, 1 hour and 30 minutes from Ko Samet and four hours from Trat.

Keep in mind that Sri Racha is one of many stops on the bus route, so stay alert (it is after Nongmon, and before Laemchabang, if you're coming from Bangkok). Most buses will drop you off in front of Robinsons Department Store, the main shopping mall in town. If you're concerned about missing your stop, which will be easy to do as there will probably not be an announcement from the bus driver, ask a fellow passenger to give you a heads up. From Robinsons, you can take a 60 baht tuk tuk or a 30 baht motorbike ride to the Sri Racha Koh Loi Pier. The buses departing from Sri Racha back to Bangkok leave from the Sri Racha bus terminal (T: (038) 322 888, www.srctour.com), so assume you will depart in a different place than where you arrived.

Boat

Ferries leave from the main pier in Sri Racha, Koh Loi Pier, at the end of Jermjompol Road. Check out Wat Koh Loi, the floating island temple near the pier, if time permits. Ferries take 40 minutes and leave both ways every hour from 06:00-19:00, or 07:00-18:00, depending on who you ask (T: (038) 313687, (038) 216116, (038) 216237, (038) 216276 78, (081) 863 2308, (089) 2445592, (081) 6644687).

Tell your mother ferries are fully equipped with life jackets, but leave out the part that the operators do not appear to be particularly concerned with safety, and the ride comes with a lot of splashing. Ferries from Ko Si Chang typically leave from Ta Lang Pier, though during high tides they leave from Ta Bon pier. An alternative high-safety air-con ferry leaves on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays at 10:00 from Sri Racha and 16:00 from Ko Si Chang, arranged by Sichang Palace Hotel; call to confirm times. Private ferries are also available for large parties.

Other

Taxis from central Bangkok or the airport cost approximately 1,000 baht, and can take you directly to the Sri Racha Koh Loi Pier. Taxis from Pattaya to Sri Racha should cost no more than 300 baht. Book ahead of time.