In a way, it’s a relief to be back on one of Thailand’s 1430 islands. Bangkok has been fabulous, but noisy and busy, and hot! This time we’ve headed south, again, but we’re in the gulf of Thailand and we’re exploring the three islands here in the southeast of the gulf. Koh Kood is the last island before you reach Cambodia and is part of the islands known as the Koh Chang cluster. The closest mainland Thai town to Koh Kood is Trat, but it’s not on the coast, you need to journey further on to get to the island. Koh Kood, sometimes, Koh Kut, is known for its laidback, quiet island life. There are beautiful beaches here, jungle and waterfalls (in season!). This guide covers you whether you’re going from Bangkok to Koh Kood or Koh Kood to Bangkok as you’ll need to know the best way to travel between these two destinations. There are several options for transport between Bangkok and Koh Kood, but what’s the best way to go from Bangkok to Koh Kood? And what are the options for traveling to Koh Kood from Bangkok? Here’s our guide on how to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok.
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THE EASIEST WAY TO GO FROM BANGKOK TO KOH KOOD
COMBO BUS + FERRY TICKET
CHECK DATES, TIMES + BOOK TICKETS HERE
Where is Koh Kood?
Koh Kood is off the coast of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand, in the Trat Sea. Koh Kood is about 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Bangkok and only 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Cambodia. Koh Kood is in the Koh Chang Island chain and is the most southerly of these islands. Quiet beaches, snorkeling, and diving are the order of the day here. There are resorts (some super expensive ones) and some great local places to stay. Out of season, there’s not a whole lot of anything going on here and ferry services are more limited.
The ferry pier for Koh Kood is Ao Salad, also sometimes Ao Salat, but you can only get a ferry service to the Thai mainland or the other islands in this group. It is not possible to get a ferry from Koh Kood to Cambodia.
TLDR: The easiest and cheapest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok is to book a combined bus+transfer+ferry+transfer ticket > see the prices and book here.
Where to Stay on Koh Kood
Koh Kood is a popular island with Thais from the cities at weekends. If you’re going to be here over the weekend you’ll want to book ahead of time. There are some great fancy pants places to stay here, but you can also find good accommodation on a budget.
Chor Chaba is a great budget place to stay on Koh Kood. It’s run by Chris (an Aussie from Melbourne) and his Thai wife Cherry. There are private doubles (with A/C as an option, but we didn’t need it), and there are also dorms here. The cafe serves great Thai and western options, the press coffee is fabulous and the beer is very cold. It’s 2 minute walk to the beach. Great all round. Check rates and book a room here.
How to Go from Bangkok to Koh Kood – Transport Options
In this guide on how to go from Bangkok to Koh Kood, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel go from Bangkok to Koh Kood, the easiest way to go to Koh Kood from Bangkok, and the cheapest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok. Our guide on Koh Kood is here.
We’re visiting the other islands in this group on this trip – so will be going to Koh Mak and Koh Chang too. We’re heading onward to Cambodia and our route has been driven by the onward journey too. It’s feasible to get to Koh Rong, Cambodia from Koh Chang on the same day, so we’ve come to Koh Kood first. However, in the course of figuring all of this out, of course, we looked at how to get to Koh Chang from Bangkok – and you can read about that here.
How to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok
For transport from Koh Kood to Bangkok, then you have several options. There is no airport in Koh Kood, the closest airport is at Trat, 52 kilometers (32 miles) from the ferry pier that goes to Koh Kood. It’s possible to fly to Trat from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK), and then take a transfer to the ferry pier, but you’ll need to carefully read the ferry times as you might end up spending the night in Trat if you time it wrong.
There are no trains in this part of Thailand, so there’s no train from Bangkok to Koh Kood, which leaves either a bus and ferry to Koh Kood or a private transfer from Bangkok to Koh Kood.
You can book through trips overland from Bangkok to Koh Kood here. If you book a through ticket from Bangkok to Koh Kood then the connections are guaranteed. This is the simplest, easiest (and cheapest) way to go to Koh Kood from Bangkok, the only challenge is the early start. Read on to find out more about that.
If you want to look at the individual parts of the overland trip to Koh Kood from Bangkok then keep reading. Traveling independently means that you’ll be able to have a little more of a lie-in than the early morning bus departures, but check the times carefully as the ferry from Laem Sok to Koh Kood is the choke point on time. The last ferry to Koh Kood from Laem Sok is at 14:20. You are very, very unlikely to save money by booking individual parts of the trip, but I’ve detailed it anyways so that you can make your own mind up.
You can see the various bus and train stations as well as the ferry ports at Trat and on Koh Kood in the map later in this article.
Buying a Combined Bus + Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Kood
The easiest (and cheapest) way to go to Koh Kood from Bangkok is to take a bus and ferry combination ticket. The most popular combination ticket is also the easiest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok. You can book that here.
There are FOUR different options when it comes to bus and ferry combinations from Bangkok to Koh Kood. The main differences are the departure time and location, although check if your ticket includes a transfer to your hotel, as not all do
05:00 Khao San Boonsiri arrives at Koh Kood 12:15 (includes hotel transfer) > book it here
05:00 Ekkamai arrives at Koh Kood at 15:00 (includes hotel transfer) > check costs and book here here
05:00 Mochit New Van Terminal arrives at Koh Kood 15:00 (includes hotel transfer) > book here
07:00 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) arrives at Koh Kood 15:00 (no transfer included) > book here
The only downside is that the buses leave Bangkok early
Actually, it’s not that much of a downside. At that time in the morning, Bangkok is fabulous. It’s quiet (well mostly), and it’s easy for the bus to get out of the city with no traffic. It’s also the best time to take a tuk-tuk ride through the city to get to where the bus leaves from!
The Boonsiri Bus leaves from 62 Tanee Rd, which is right next to Khao San Road. (see the map for the exact location). There’s a small office there and the buses pull up outside about 15 minutes before departure time. You can book tickets at their offices, or save the walk and book here.
The Boonsiri ticket from Bangkok to Koh Kood includes:
- Bus from Khao San to their depot near Laem Sok Pier
- Snack and Bottle of Water on the Bus
- Breakfast at their Laem Sok depot
- Transfer from their depot to the Laem Sok ferry pier
- Ferry from Laem Sok to Koh Kood
- Transfer from Koh Kood ferry pier to your hotel or resort on Koh Kood.
The benefits of a through ticket to Koh Kood from Bangkok are that you can’t miss the ferry. All your transfers are included. At both ends. You get a snack, water, and breakfast/lunch at the stop before you get on the ferry. It’s easy and far faster than trying to do this independently unless, of course, you’re going for a private transfer!
There are no stops on the Boonsiri bus until you get to their transfer station at Trat. Once you’re at the transfer station you’ll get the meal that you preordered (either by booking online here, or by buying tickets at their offices or from one of their agents). The meals we had were really tasty!
This is also the cheapest option for going to Koh Kood from Bangkok.
You’ll get about 50 minutes from arriving at the transfer station until the transport to the ferry itself takes you to the ferry pier. Simply load up your big bag and join the “Disneyland like” seating on trucks.
The ferry from Laeng Sok to Koh Kood is really comfortable, mainly inside seating – your big bags are stored at the back and there is some outside seating too.
Once the ferry arrives on Koh Kood, you’ll walk up the hill (its not a big one) and there are folks with clipboards asking for where you’re staying, you jump in the assigned songthaew and are dropped off at your accommodation. Easy peasy.
The bus + ferry from Bangkok to Koh Kood leaves at 0500 and arrives at the Koh Kood ferry pier at 11:45 – 12:15. You’re then transferred to your hotel and your arrival at your hotel depends on where it is and where others are being dropped off.
You’ll need to check in for your bus at least 15 minutes before bus departure time in Bangkok.
There’s also a bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang departing at the same time. They have different colored neck tags, so make sure you get on the correct bus!
Seats are numbered and are allocated when you check-in. We arrived at 4 am (having managed a tuk-tuk rather than walking 45 minutes from our apartment near Hua Lamphong) and got second-row seats. You’ll be handed your two-part tickets and a colored and numbered (your seat number) neck tag. Seat numbers are on the back of the seats.
Seats on the Boonsiri bus to Koh Kood are comfortable. There’s plenty of legroom and little recline, but not enough to land you in the lap of the person behind. The bus has good (but not overly fierce) air conditioning and there are curtains for when the sun comes up. There are also seat belts.
Check availability, prices, and book seats on buses+ferries from Bangkok to Koh Kood here.
Bangkok to Koh Kood – Independent Travel Options
Here are the options for getting to Koh Kood from Bangkok by NOT taking a through ticketed bus+transfer+ferry+transfer. As there is no airport on Koh Kood, you need to get to the ferry pier called Laem Sok. The Laem Sok ferry pier is 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Trat bus station and 52 kilometers (32 miles) from Trat airport.
Bangkok to Trat by Bus
You can take a bus from Bangkok to Trat. Buses and minivans run from either Ekkamai or Mochit Bus Terminals in Bangkok. You can take a minivan from Ekkamai to Trat at 05:00 or 07:15 and arrive at Trat Bus Terminal in time to get a taxi or a songthaew to the ferry terminal.
Check times, dates, and prices for vans from Ekkamai to Trat here
From Mochit there is a single bus and a single minivan each day from Bangkok to Trat. The bus to Trat from Bangkok leaves at 07:30 and the minivans leave at 05:00. You can book tickets online for this bus here.
Trat to Laem Sok Ferry Pier
From Trat Bus station you can then take a songthaew or a taxi to the ferry pier at Laem Sok. Expect to pay about 900 THB for a taxi, or 80 THB for a songthaew to go to Laem Sok from Trat. You’ll pay more if the truck is not full. The journey from Trat bus station to Laem Sok pier is 45 kilometers and it takes about an hour. Check the price of a rebooked transfer to Laem Sok from Trat here.
Laem Sok Ferry Pier to Koh Kood
There are currently four ferry companies that have a service to Koh Kood from Laem Sok. The companies that run ferries to Koh Kood are Boonsiri Ferry, SuperJet Ferry, Ko Kut Express, and Koh Kood Princess. You can check the rates and current times for ferries here.
Ferry times to Koh Kood from Laem Sok are:
- 10:00 – 11:30
- 10:45 – 12:15
- 11:30 – 13:00
- 13:30 – 15:00
- 14:20 – 15:50
The ferry pier in Koh Kood is called Ao Salad.
Bangkok to Trat by Plane
The airport at Trat means that you can fly down from Bangkok to Trat. The flight takes about an hour and flights to Trat from Bangkok are from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Flights tend to be expensive and are limited. Normally I’d say that flying to Koh Kood from Bangkok is the quickest way to get to the island, but you’ll have to factor in getting to BKK and check-in times. The second flight of the day will NOT catch any of the ferries to Koh Kood, so you will end up spending the night in Trat.
In 2023 there is just one airline that flies from Bangkok to Trat – Bangkok Air
- Check prices for the 11:40 flight from Bangkok to Trat here
- Check prices for the 15:00 flight from Bangkok to Trat here
Trat Airport to Laem Sok Ferry Pier
From the airport, you’ll need to take a taxi to Laem Sok Ferry Pier. It’s 52 kilometers to Laem Sok Ferry Pier from Trat Airport and it will take about 30 minutes. A taxi will cost around 1400 THB from Trat Airport to Laem Sok Ferry Pier.
Ferries from Laem Sok to Koh Kood
The ferry from Laem Sok to Koh Kood takes about 90 minutes, as Koh Kood is only 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Laem Sok ferry pier. Ferries are limited and if you’re making the trip independently, you’ll need to book as soon as possible. Check availability on your ferry times here.
The first ferry to Koh Kood from Laem Sok is at 1000 and the last ferry each day from Laem Sok to Koh Kood is at 14:20
As I mentioned above there are several ferry companies that run this route and the ferry times are:
Leave Laem Sok – Arrive Ao Salad
- 10:00 – 11:30
- 10:45 – 12:15
- 11:30 – 13:00
- 13:30 – 15:00
- 14:20 – 15:50
You can book the ferry to Koh Kood from Laem Sok here.
Private Speedboats from Laem Sok to Koh Kood
If you miss the ferries for the day, want to treat yourself, or simply don’t want to mix with the hoi polloi, then you can always take a private speedboat to Koh Kood from Laem Sok. This will cost you about 16,500 THB. You’ll need to arrange this locally.
Taxi from Bangkok to Koh Kood Private Transfer
Taking a private taxi to Koh Kood from Bangkok is the most comfortable way of getting to the island. You’ll need to time your private transfer to Koh Kood to arrive in time for one of the ferries. This is the way to avoid the really early start, but you’ll still want to be out of Bangkok sooner rather than later to avoid the traffic.
A private transfer from Bangkok to Laem Sok takes about 4-5 hours.
Private transfers to Laem Sok pier from Bangkok cost 4100 in 2023. You can check current rates and book a taxi here.
Map of Bus Stops, Airports, and Ferry Piers for going from Bangkok to Koh Kood
You can also see the train station and bus stops from Bangkok to Koh Kood here
The quickest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Kood
The quickest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok is to take a private transfer, which takes 4-5 hours. However, it’s also the most expensive way to go to Koh Kood. You can check private transfer prices from Bangkok to Koh Kood here.
The easiest way to go to Koh Kood from Bangkok
The easiest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Kood is to take a bus+ferry+transfer. You’ll just need to decide what time you want to leave Bangkok. Boonsiri Ferry offers a great service and you can book a ticket that leaves Bangkok at 05:00 and arrives at Koh Kood at 11:45-12:00 > we did this trip and it was easy, excellent and comfortable. Book your ticket here.
The cheapest way to go from Bangkok to Koh Kood
The cheapest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok is to take the bus and ferry – reserve your seats here.
The best way to go from Bangkok to Koh Kood
If you have the money then a private transfer would be awesome. Otherwise. Get the combined ticket. We shared a bus with backpackers in their teens and travelers in their 60’s. It’s easy.
Popular Routes in Thailand
Want to know more about different forms of transport in Thailand? Our guide to Thailand transport is here. And here’s how to travel some of the popular routes around Thailand, your options, and how we did it.
- How to go from Bangkok to Pakse (Laos)
- Going from Langkawi (Malaysia) to Koh Lipe
- How to go from Koh Tao to Krabi
- How to go from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Tao
- Koh Tao to Phuket
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
- Bangkok to Koh Kood and back
- Go from Bangkok to Koh Chang
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Samui
- How to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
- How to go from Bangkok to Sukhothai
- How to go from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
- How to travel from Krabi to Langkawi (Malaysia)
- How to go from Cambodia to Thailand
Travel Tips for Exploring Thailand
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- Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Thailand > discount coupon here
- Book the best Thailand tours and guides on Klook or Get YourGuide
- Save money in Thailand with a Wise debit card
- Book Buses in Thailand with 12goAsia
- Book accommodation in Thailand with Booking
Final Words on How to Go from Bangkok to Koh Kood
Going to Koh Kood from Bangkok is easy. It’s made even easier by being able to book through tickets that include a bus, a transfer to the boat, a fast boat, and a transfer on the island. The best through tickets also include a snack, water, and your breakfast while you wait for the transfer to the boat. It’s a very slick operation. If you leave Bangkok at 5 am you’ll be on the beach in Koh Kood by lunchtime!
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