Ko Sichang
Discover Ko Sichang
Ko Si Chang (เกาะสีชัง) is a small island, population 4,500, near Si Racha. It is notable for being the closest island to Bangkok. In the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Sichang's proximity to the shipping lanes has made it a convenient anchorage for dozens of barges which transship their cargoes to lighters for the trip up the Chao Phraya to Bangkok. Ko Si Chang makes a nice weekend outing for local tourists.
Taste of Ko Sichang...
The cafe on the beach is very good, with reasonable prices. Be careful at night. As you move away from the more popular areas, the street lighting is poor or non-existent. If you are planning on walking around the island, a torch would be helpful. Be careful when leaving the island. Your departure pier may not be the same as your arrival pier.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBy bus You can catch a government bus from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) or Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai). Both stations have buses that leave everyday, on the hour. The trip to Si Racha takes about 2 hours. At Mo Chit, go to Window 54 to purchase your ticket. Tickets are 92 baht from Mo Chit, 88 baht one-way from Ekamai and there is no discount for buying a return fare. By boat Upon arrival in Si Racha, take a tuk-tuk for 50 baht to the pier. Boats to Ko Sichang leave hourly (every two hours in low season) from the pier on Ko Loy. The ferry takes about 40 minutes and is 50 baht per person each way (July 2019). The information counter at the pier in Ko Sichang provides useful information and a brochure identifying five important locations on the island, written in Thai and English. This counter may not be open in low-season. When leaving the island, be careful. The ferry may leave from a pier different from the one you came in on (eg....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
By tuk-tuk Motorcycle buffs will be intrigued by the strange motorcycle samlors peculiar to Ko Sichang, three-wheeled motorized rickshaws with outrageously powerful engines taken from Harley Davidson morotcycles or even from cars. These once roamed the streets of Bangkok, but were banished to Si Racha years ago. They can be hired for about 60 baht an hour to take visitors on a tour of the island. For groups of tourists, a one-day around-the-island transport package can be arranged at the pier. The charge for the three-wheeled motorized tuk-tuk, which can accommodate 5 persons, is around 250 baht, and the pick-up truck, which can accommodate 10 persons, is around 500 baht. Tourists can spend however long they wish at each location, and the pick-up time for the next location can be agreed as you get off at each location or you can call the driver's mobile phone when needing pick-up.
Where to Stay
Be careful at night. As you move away from the more popular areas, the street lighting is poor or non-existent. If you are planning on walking around the island, a torch would be helpful. Be careful when leaving the island. Your departure pier may not be the same as your arrival pier.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Be careful at night. As you move away from the more popular areas, the street lighting is poor or non-existent. If you are planning on walking around the island, a torch would be helpful. Be careful when leaving the island. Your departure pier may not be the same as your arrival pier.