Ekamai Bus Terminal

When you want to travel to eastern part of Thailand to the popular tourist sites like Pattaya, Koh Chang or Koh Samet, come to this Eastern bus terminal or Ekamai bus terminal.




You can also get the buses to those tourist spots in the east from Morchit bus teminal  but as Ekamai is located just next to the BTS station, getting the bus here may be more comfortable.

As mentioned above that you can take BTS to Ekamai station, then use the exit no.2 and walk for this Ekamai bus terminal.

At the terminal building.

When you walk in, you'll first found ticket window from the Transport company, the government bus.

Other windows are buses from private company that get licenses from the Transport Co.

At Ekamai, the Tranport Co. mostly offer 2nd class buses on eastern route which is not recommended to use as these kind of buses will stop to pickup passenger all along their routes which mean it might take much longer time to get to your destination!!

You can distinguish 2nd class buses by their orange stripe on the bus body.

Also, keep in mind that when you get to the station you might be asked for your destination and call to take these kind of buses- the orange stripe one.  Avoid them,  though, it's cheaper but remember it gonna take longer time,too.

So, buy the ticket from the ticket windows and ask for 1st class bus or "Rod Por Nueng" (in Thai).

The transport company offer 1st class bus only for Trat route. If you want to go for Koh Chang, it's a good choice because it will end its route at the ferry pier so you can get the ferry from there.

The weak point is they have only 3 buses a day (6.30, 7.45, 9.45)

Another choice for Trat is bus from Cherdchai Tour, which have bus to Trat all day from 6.00 - 23.30. (6.00, 7.00, 9.30, 11.00, 12.30, 13.15, 14.00, 15.30, 17.30, 19.30, 20.30, 22.00, 23.30)

So booking in advance is unnecessary unless you plan to travel on long weekend or public holidays.

If you plan to go to Pattaya, get the ticket from the window on the right when you get to the terminal.

It's the bus from Roong Reuang Coach company which is only provider for Pattaya route and have bus leaving for Pattaya from every bus terminals in Bangkok.

From Ekamai, bus for Pattaya leaves every 30 minutes from 5.00-23.00 and bring  passengers to its own bus terminal on North Pattaya road.

For Koh Samet, get the ticket from window no.5.  Bus will bring you to Baan Phe in Rayong province. There, you can walk to get the boat to Koh Samet.

The famous pier to Koh Samet is Nuan Thip pier which is just opposite to the bus stop in Baan Phe.

But if you just want to go to Rayong province, bus from Nakornchai which well known for its quality of service is recommended.

Waiting area inside the terminal.

Left baggage is private-run and open for service between 6.00 - 18.00 at the price of 30 bath per piece.

Toilets here are clean and well maintained with 3 baht fee.

Food stall is in front of the terminal with English menu.

If you need a cup of good coffee to fresh yourself up or an internet connection to search for more information while waiting for the bus to leave, there is an internet cafe just in front of the terminal by the street.

Inside the café

Drinks cost between 40 - 55 baht.

Internet service is just 30 baht per hour with minimum charge of 10 baht. The machine equipped with headphone, microphone and webcam so you can easily make a internet phone call here.

Opposite to the left of the terminal is Major Cineplex - the cinema complex. You certainly don't have time to watch a movie but there are some western fast food restaurants here if you care for.

Even you're full, visiting here may be neccesary as going to beaches without sun lotion is disaster. 

Go for Boots at the ground floor of this cinema complex if you need one.

On your return trip to Ekamai from other provinces, there are taxis waiting in the parking lot in front of the terminal. As common practice, insist with the taxi driver to turn the meter on. If they don't, just flag one from the street, they are a lot of taxis in that area.

For public buses, the bus stop is on the left when you walk to the street. 

To go to Khao Sarn area you can take bus no.2 to Ratchadamnern Ave.

Anyway, the traffic on Sukhumvit road is always jammed. You'd better use BTS for your first hop and then change to taxi or bus somewhere else.

For example, to go to Khao Sarn road, take BTS to National Stadium station and wait for bus no.47 at the bus stop in front of the stadium for Ratchadamnern Ave.

BTS station is just next to the terminal, walk out and turn right at the street then you will see the entrance.