Getting to Koh Kood: A Travel Guide Based on Recent Information

Planning a trip to the beautiful island of Koh Kood? This guide compiles information from recent sources to help you understand your travel options, focusing on routes from Bangkok and Trat, ferry services, and important tips for your journey.

Travel Options from Bangkok to Koh Kood

Getting to Koh Kood from Bangkok involves a journey to the mainland pier (Laem Sok Pier) followed by a ferry ride. There are a few ways to make this trip:

Fly to Trat then Ferry: The fastest way to reach Koh Kood is by flying from Bangkok to Trat Airport with Bangkok Airways. Upon arrival, you take a van or taxi to Laem Sok Pier. This option reduces the overall travel time significantly compared to overland travel. Bangkok Airways flights PG301 or PG305 arriving in Trat allow you to potentially reach Laem Sok and continue to Koh Kood the same day.
Bus + Ferry Combo: A more cost-effective way (Bangkok to Koh kood) is taking a bus from Bangkok to Trat, then a van to Laem Sok Pier, and finally a ferry to Koh Kood. Public buses depart from terminals like Ekkamai in Bangkok. The bus journey alone takes around 5–6 hours. The overall journey time for this option is about 7-8 hours. Boonsiri Ferry offers its own bus service from Khao San Road in Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier specifically for their passengers, guaranteeing you won’t miss the boat. A combined bus and boat ticket with Boonsiri costs 1,100 Baht per person (as of 2023/2024 price mentioned). The Boonsiri bus service also operates in reverse, from Laem Sok to Bangkok, with a drop-off at Latkrabang airport link train station for those heading to Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can book the Boonsiri bus and boat ticket through their website. If taking a public bus, it is recommended to book a bus departing at 5 am or earlier and a ferry after 12 pm.
Private Transfers: Private car or minivan transfers can be arranged from Suvarnabhumi Airport or a hotel in Bangkok directly to the mainland pier. This is a convenient option if you want to travel the same day but requires leaving Bangkok early (before 08:00) to catch the last boat.

Koh Kood is located about 322 kilometers from Bangkok. The total travel time can vary between 3-4 hours (flying) and 7-8 hours (bus+ferry), depending on your chosen mode of transport and budget.

Getting to Laem Sok Pier

Laem Sok Pier is the main mainland port for boats heading to Koh Kood. It is located at the southern tip of a peninsula, about 20 minutes drive from Trat town. Trat Airport is about an hour away from Laem Sok Pier.

From Trat Airport: Minibuses or private taxis are available from Trat Airport to Laem Sok Pier, taking around 40-45 minutes. Most transportation options from the airport offer direct transfer services to the pier. Bangkok Airways operates a shared minibus service from Trat Airport to Laem Sok pier for 700 Baht per person. Private transport can also be booked from 1,500 Baht.
From Trat Town/Bus Station: If arriving in Trat by public bus, you will need to take a van to Laem Sok Pier. Shuttle service by ‘songtaew’ (local pickup truck taxi) from Trat for Koh Kood Express passengers costs 40 Baht per person and is paid directly to the driver.

There are limited facilities directly at Laem Sok Pier itself (it’s described as ‘no frills’), but the boat companies provide comfortable waiting areas with toilets, coffee shops, simple restaurants, and car parks.

Ferry Services from Laem Sok Pier to Koh Kood

Several ferry operators run services between Laem Sok Pier and Koh Kood. Some major operators include Boonsiri Ferry, Koh Kood Express (formerly Ko Kut Express), Seudamgo, and Koh Kood Princess.

Boonsiri Ferry: Known for comfortable, air-conditioned travel. Boonsiri uses a high-speed catamaran. They offer multiple departures daily during the high season (October 1 – May 31). Ticket prices from Laem Sok to Koh Kood are typically 600 Baht. The ferry journey takes about 1 hour. Boonsiri’s catamaran has a capacity of 150 passengers on the lower deck and 50 on the upper deck, with amenities like reclining seats, tinted windows, a small shop, big screen TVs, and free wi-fi onboard. Note that there is no WiFi on the Boonsiri bus between Bangkok and Laem Sok pier.
Koh Kood Express: Operates large passenger boats, catamarans, and speedboats. Free transport from the pier at Ao Salat, Koh Kood, to hotels on the island is included in the ticket price for the passenger ferry. Their speedboat service drops off passengers at resort piers on the west coast, as far south as Bangbao Bay. For the return trip, the speedboat will pick you up from your resort pier.
Seudamgo: A newer service popular for having the fastest ferries, claiming to make the journey in just 40 minutes, significantly faster than other operators. Their boats are smaller, modern, and streamlined.
Koh Kood Princess: This ferry is slower than other services but is well-established, offering a more relaxed journey. They offer a once-daily departure from Laem Sok Pier. Koh Kood Princess sometimes takes motorbikes, with space for two, but you need to contact them in advance.

Ferry journey times from Laem Sok Pier to Koh Kood range from around 40 minutes (Seudamgo) to 1.5-2 hours (other operators).

It is generally recommended to pre-book your ferry tickets as they can get fully booked. Booking platforms like smartenplus.co.th are mentioned as reliable options. Some platforms allow booking the minibus transfer from Trat Airport and the ferry together. You should arrive at the boat office at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before departure time.

The boats to Koh Kood generally stop running in the mid-afternoon, even during High Season. From November to May, the last scheduled departures on Koh Kood Express and Seudamgo are at 16:00. If you arrive after this time and wish to travel the same day, the only option is a private speedboat, which is expensive (around 15,000 – 20,000 Baht one way).

There are no vehicle ferries to Koh Kood. However, all boat companies provide secure, covered parking at their offices in Laem Sok for passengers arriving by car. Parking costs 50 Baht per night/day.

Upon arrival on Koh Kood, all boat services include transport from the pier to your resort. Similarly, when returning to the mainland, transport from your hotel to the pier is included in the ticket price, except possibly for certain speedboat pick-ups.

Inter-Island Travel

Boonsiri Ferry runs a daily inter-island service between Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood year-round, including the low season. This offers an air-conditioned alternative to speedboats. Other operators like Kai Bae Hut Speedboat and Bangbao Boat also offer services between Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood during the high season (November 1 – April 30). Travel from Koh Chang to Koh Kood in mid-October is usually possible, with Boonsiri running daily and Bangbao Boat potentially starting their wooden boat service. Travel directly between the islands is possible in early May, though most services stop mid-May depending on demand and weather. Boonsiri Ferry continues to run its inter-island route throughout the low season.

Boonsiri also offers routes connecting the Trat islands (including Koh Kood) to Hat Lek on the Cambodian border, as well as onward connections to places like Koh Kong, Koh Rong, Pattaya, and Bangkok.

Traveling with Bicycles and Pets

You can take bicycles on the larger ferries but not speedboats. Boonsiri charges 200 Baht for a bicycle. For pets, speedboats are not allowed. Ferries may allow pets in outdoor areas, with service charges paid at the port, but they are not permitted in the air-conditioned room.

Booking, Cancellations, and Conditions

Booking ferry tickets in advance is important due to limited capacity. Our Platform is available for booking.

Bookings are generally non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. However, you can usually postpone a booking. For ferry-only bookings, you need to notify the company at least 3 days before the departure date and specify the new date. For combined bus and ferry bookings, the same 3-day notification applies; if less than 3 days notice is given, you may have to pay for a new ticket. Postponements are not possible for bookings on public holidays or if the boat is full. You can change the travel date only once for free; further changes require paying for a new ticket. Postponed dates can only be within 1 month of the original itinerary and cannot be used on public holidays. If you do not notify the company of postponement as per their rules, the ticket will be used automatically for the original date. For urgent bookings within 24 hours of departure, changes are not possible. If you cannot travel, you may change the passenger name instead.

Ferry schedules can change due to weather and sea conditions. If a speedboat service is cancelled due to weather, passengers who booked the speedboat may be transferred to a ferry on the same schedule, but no refund for the price difference will be given as safety is the priority. It is advised for passengers planning to catch a flight after arriving from Koh Kood to allow 2-3 hours buffer time from the scheduled arrival at the pier due to potential weather delays.

Pregnant women should check with a doctor before booking a speedboat. Alcohol is not allowed on the ferry. Children must be supervised by parents.

Exploring Koh Kood

Koh Kood is described as one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands, known for white sand beaches, clear water, and a laid-back atmosphere. It is less touristy and largely undeveloped compared to islands like Koh Samui or Phuket. The island offers activities like hiking to waterfalls (e.g., Klong Chao, Huang Nam Khiao), kayaking or paddleboarding through mangrove forests, diving, snorkeling, and visiting fishing villages.

The best way to get around Koh Kood is by renting a scooter, as there is one paved road connecting most hotels and beaches. Scooter rentals cost around 300-350 THB per day, with discounts for multiple days.

Some resorts on Koh Kood mentioned include Koh Kood Resort (Bang Bao Beach), Rest Sea Resort Koh Kood (Ao Phrao Beach), and Tinkerbell Resort (Klong Chao Beach).

Best Time to Visit

The high season for visiting Koh Kood is generally from late November into early April. From May onwards, Koh Kood can be quite rainy, and many ferries may be cancelled, leading to longer journey times.

Getting to Koh Kood requires planning, especially booking transportation in advance during peak season, but the effort is considered well worth it for the island’s unspoilt beauty and peaceful retreat atmosphere.