Koh Chang is one of the easiest island weekends from Bangkok with a dog: no flights, no boat transfers with a carrier on your lap, just a long drive and a car ferry you never have to leave your seat for. This guide comes from a real three-day, self-drive trip in August 2026 with Kathi, a West Highland White Terrier on his third visit to the island.
The trip tester
Meet Kathi
Kathi is a Westie living in Bangkok with his owner Eunice, who is on her second stint in Thailand and decided the country is best explored with a dog finding new places to sniff. He has now stayed on Koh Chang three times. Follow him at @kathi_the_westie.
Driving from Bangkok to Koh Chang with a dog
The route at a glance
Bangkok → Trat → Aow Thammachat Pier → Koh Chang, and back the same way. Leave at 6:00 AM on the Rama 9 route toward Suvarnabhumi and traffic is light. Trat is about 4.5 hours, the pier another 40 minutes, the crossing 45 minutes.
There are petrol stations the whole way, so a water-and-sniff stop every couple of hours is easy. Budget around ฿4,000–5,000 for petrol, tolls and the ferry, return. With two nights at the hotel, the whole trip comes to roughly ฿15,000–16,000.
Featured gear · In partnership with KONG
KONG Single Seat Cover
Five hours in the car each way, and a beach weekend means sand, salt water and wet paws on the drive home. The KONG Single Seat Cover takes all of it so the back seat doesn’t: a waterproof, quilted cotton cover that straps to the headrest and sits across one seat.
After the trip it goes straight into the washing machine, then zips back into its own pouch until the next drive. Kathi took to it immediately.
Sold via Pawducts on Shopee
The lunch stop in Trat
Kiew Nong Bua
The well-known seafood noodle place in Trat, about 40 minutes before the pier and the natural lunch stop after the long first leg. Dogs are welcome with one rule: they stay in a stroller or carrier at the table.
Kathi’s takeSupervised lunch from his carrier without complaint.
Dog-friendly tips
- Bring a stroller or carrier; dogs don’t sit on the floor here
- Give your dog a walk and water before you sit down
The Koh Chang ferry with a dog
Aow Thammachat Pier
Drive up to the cashier, pay per vehicle plus passengers (dogs ride free) and follow staff to the waiting lane. Ferries leave roughly every 45 minutes; miss one and you wait for the next. Once on board, get out of the car quickly because they park bumper to bumper, then head upstairs. Dogs are allowed on the passenger deck on a leash or carried. There are toilets, and most boats have a small snack shop. The crossing is 45 minutes.
Kathi’s takeOut of the car, up the stairs, and 45 minutes of sea air.
Dog-friendly tips
- Have the leash on before you open the car door
- Carry small dogs between the tightly parked cars
- In peak season the queue builds early; aim for a morning crossing
Where to stay: a pet-friendly hotel in Koh Chang
Dinso Resort & Villas Koh Chang, Vignette Collection by IHG
The staff greet Kathi by name now. Dogs are allowed in the restaurants, which are all outdoor, and everywhere on the grounds; only the pool is off limits. The grounds are big enough for a proper daily walk and a lot of sniffing, rooms are large with a balcony, and the big bathroom makes showering a sandy dog easy. Shops and small restaurants sit just outside the gate.
- ฿5,250 nett / night on a pet-specific promotion the resort runs from time to time
- Dog fee included
- Breakfast for 2 included
- Pool · gym · private beach
Kathi’s amenities
- “Welcome back” in rose petals on the bed
- Welcome kit with treats and a toy
- Curated pet menu, one meal a day, served at his own feeding stand
Good to know
- All restaurants are outdoor and dog-friendly
- Pool is the only off-limits area
- The woven welcome-kit bag stays with the hotel
The dog-friendly beach
Dinso’s private beach, and the stretch to the right
The point of the whole drive. The resort has its own small private beach straight out of the room, where Kathi ran, rolled in the sand and made an honest attempt at swimming. The local tip: turn right and the beach opens onto a much longer stretch lined with small hotels and restaurants. Walk it early and it’s empty. Eunice saw no stray dogs here, which made it a calmer walk; still, check for yourself and only go off leash if your dog has a solid recall.
Kathi’s takeRun, roll, swim attempt, repeat. Every morning.
Dog-friendly tips
- Go early, before the heat and before anyone else is up
- Rinse off sand and salt water afterwards; the room’s big bathroom is built for it
- Off leash only with a reliable recall, and keep an eye out for local dogs
Heading home
In peak season the ferry queue builds early on the way back, so be at the pier before 9:00 AM. From there it’s 45 minutes across and about five hours to Bangkok with pit stops. For a weekend getaway from Bangkok with your dog, that’s very doable.
The return
Ferry to Aow Thammachat, then the same road back. Petrol stations the whole way make a stop every two hours simple.
Quick links: every stop
Maps and Instagram for each place in this guide.
FAQ: Koh Chang with a dog
How long is the drive from Bangkok to Koh Chang with a dog?
About 4.5 hours to Trat on the Rama 9 route toward Suvarnabhumi, 40 minutes on to Aow Thammachat Pier and a 45-minute car ferry. Leave at 6:00 AM for light traffic and stop every couple of hours at a petrol station for water and a sniff.
Can dogs go on the Koh Chang ferry?
Yes. It’s a drive-on car ferry; you pay per vehicle plus passengers and dogs are free. Dogs can stay in the car or come up to the passenger deck on a leash or carried.
Which hotel in Koh Chang accepts dogs?
Dinso Resort & Villas Koh Chang, Vignette Collection by IHG, allows dogs in all outdoor restaurants and across the grounds; only the pool is off limits. The resort runs pet-specific promotions from time to time; Kathi’s stay was ฿5,250 nett a night for a Premium room including the dog fee, breakfast for two, a pet menu and a welcome kit.
Is there a dog-friendly beach in Koh Chang?
Dinso has a small private beach, and turning right from it opens onto a long stretch that is empty in the mornings. Check for stray dogs yourself and only go off leash with a reliable recall.
How much does a Koh Chang weekend with a dog cost?
Around ฿4,000–5,000 for petrol, tolls and the ferry, return. With two nights at Dinso at the promotional rate, plan on roughly ฿15,000–16,000 for the whole trip.
About this guide
Travel With Your Dog is a Pup Cities Bangkok series in partnership with KONG, part of the Pup Cities Contributor Network. This guide was written with Eunice Koh, owner of Kathi the Westie (@kathi_the_westie), who drove the route in August 2026. Policies, fees and prices were verified during the trip and are subject to change; always confirm directly with the venue before you go.
Dog Park
Transportation