Planning a tranquil escape to one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands? Koh Kood, often referred to as Koh Kut, is a stunning and less commercialized destination known for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, lush jungles, and serene waterfalls. It offers a peaceful retreat from the bustling city life of Bangkok and provides a glimpse into Thailand before mass tourism. While it requires some planning, the journey to this unspoiled paradise is widely considered worthwhile.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various travel options from Bangkok to Koh Kood, providing essential details, tips, and booking information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Why Visit Koh Kood?
Koh Kood is ideal for nature lovers seeking a tranquil holiday. Unlike more developed islands, it remains largely untouched by mass tourism, offering a laid-back atmosphere perfect for relaxation and unwinding. The island boasts incredible beaches, hidden waterfalls, and opportunities for kayaking through mangrove forests, diving, and snorkeling in rich marine life.
Getting to Koh Kood: An Overview of Your Options
As there is no airport on Koh Kood, all journeys conclude with a boat trip to the island. There are two primary ways to travel from Bangkok to Koh Kood, along with private transfer options:
- Joint Bus and Ferry Service: A cost-effective and popular choice combining land and sea travel.
- Flight to Trat, then Ferry: The fastest option, significantly reducing overall travel time.
- Private Transfers: Offering door-to-door convenience and flexibility.
Detailed Travel Options from Bangkok to Koh Kood
1. Joint Bus and Ferry Combo
This is often the most cost-effective way to reach Koh Kood. It typically involves a bus journey from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier in Trat, followed by a ferry to Koh Kood.
- Total Journey Duration: Approximately 7-8 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.
- Land Journey (Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier): Takes about 6-7 hours. Transport types can vary from minivans to larger buses, generally being comfortable, clean, and air-conditioned.
- Sea Journey (Laem Sok Pier to Ao Salad Pier, Koh Kood): Takes about 1.5 hours. High-speed catamarans or ferries are used.
- Reputable Operator: Boonsiri High-Speed Catamaran is a widely recognized service provider for this joint journey. Their catamarans are equipped with amenities like TV, WC, snacks, and Wi-Fi. However, note that Wi-Fi is generally not available on the bus portion between Bangkok and Laem Sok Pier.
- Boarding Point in Bangkok: Usually from the Boonsiri Office in Khao San Road (a well-known backpacker area). The Koh Kood Express also offers a combined service from Khao San Road and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- Arrival Point in Koh Kood: Ao Salad Pier.
- Fare: Ranges from ฿900 to ฿1,000, depending on the season. Boonsiri’s combined bus and boat ticket is approximately ฿1,100 per person (as of 2023/2024). Koh Kood Express’s combined service is ฿1,000 per person.
- Recommendation: For public buses, it is advisable to book a bus departing at 5:00 AM or earlier, and make a ferry reservation for after 12:00 PM.
2. Flight and Ferry Combo
For those prioritizing speed, flying is the fastest way to reach Koh Kood.
- Flight Route: Fly from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport – BKK) to Trat Airport (TDX) with Bangkok Airways. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour.
- Post-Flight Transfer: Upon arrival at Trat Airport, you will take a van or taxi to Laem Sok Pier. This typically takes around 40-50 minutes. Bangkok Airways offers a shared minibus service from Trat Airport to Laem Sok Pier for ฿700 per person. Private transport can also be booked starting from ฿1,500.
- Ferry to Koh Kood: From Laem Sok Pier, you will board a ferry to Koh Kood, which takes 1-2 hours.
- Total Journey Duration: Approximately 3-4 hours (flying portion), or a total of 6 hours including airport time and transfers. This is significantly shorter than overland travel.
- Cost: Around £90 (approx. ฿4,150, note exchange rate fluctuations). This option is generally triple or more the cost of the bus+ferry option.
- Same-Day Connection: Bangkok Airways flights like PG301 or PG305 arriving in Trat may allow for same-day onward travel to Koh Kood.
3. Private Transfers
For maximum comfort and convenience, private car or minivan transfers can be arranged from Bangkok directly to Laem Sok Pier. This is a door-to-door service that offers flexibility.
- Pickup Locations: Easily arranged from major tourist areas in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Don Mueang Airport (DMK), and even other locations like Pattaya or Koh Chang.
- Travel Time: Around 4.5 to 5 hours from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier, including short stops for refreshments and breaks.
- Vehicle Types: SUVs (e.g., Fortuner, Pajero) are suitable for up to 3 adults or 2 adults with 2 small children. For larger groups (4-7 people), a private minibus (e.g., Ventury, Toyota Commuter) is used. All vehicles are fitted with seatbelts. Child seats or booster cushions can be supplied for an additional ฿200 per item.
- Pricing (to/from Laem Sok Pier, excluding boat tickets):
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Bangkok Hotel: ฿4,000 for SUV, ฿4,800 for Minibus.
- Don Mueang Airport (DMK): ฿4,200 for SUV, ฿5,000 for Minibus.
- Note: Additional charges may apply for hotels in specific areas of Bangkok.
- Booking and Payment: Bookings can be made via email. An initial deposit is required, with the balance paid in Thai Baht (THB) cash on the day of travel. Various payment methods are accepted for the deposit, including Wise, Revolut, PayPal, or bank transfer. It is highly recommended to book private transfers in advance, especially during peak season, to ensure availability.
Getting to Laem Sok Pier: Your Mainland Gateway
Laem Sok Pier is the main departure point for all boats heading to Koh Kood. It is located approximately 20 minutes from Trat town and about an hour from Trat Airport.
- Pier Facilities: While the pier itself is described as ‘no frills,’ boat companies provide comfortable waiting areas with amenities such as toilets, coffee shops, simple restaurants, and car parks.
- Parking: Secure, covered parking is available at the boat companies’ offices at Laem Sok for passengers arriving by car, costing ฿50 per night/day.
- From Trat Town/Bus Station: If you arrive in Trat by public bus, you will need to take a van or a ‘songtaew’ (local pickup truck taxi) to Laem Sok Pier. A shuttle service via ‘songtaew’ for Koh Kood Express passengers costs ฿40 per person, paid directly to the driver.
Ferry Services from Laem Sok Pier to Koh Kood
Several operators provide ferry services, each with slightly different characteristics and schedules. Ferry journey times from Laem Sok Pier to Koh Kood typically range from 40 minutes to 2 hours.
- Boonsiri Ferry:
- Known for its comfortable, air-conditioned high-speed catamarans.
- Offers multiple daily departures during the high season (October 1 – May 31).
- Ticket Price: ฿600 per person from Laem Sok to Koh Kood.
- Journey Time: Approximately 1 hour.
- Catamarans have amenities like reclining seats, tinted windows, a small shop, big screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi onboard.
- Arrives at Ao Salad Pier, Koh Kood.
- Koh Kood Express:
- Operates large passenger boats, catamarans, and speedboats.
- Provides service year-round.
- Ticket Price: ฿600 per person one way for all boat types during the 2024-25 high season.
- Journey Time: Express boat is 85-90 minutes, speedboat is about 1 hour. Note that the speedboat service often goes via Koh Mak.
- Included Transport: Free transport from Ao Salat Pier on Koh Kood to your hotel is included in the ticket price. The speedboat service also drops off and picks up passengers directly at resort piers on the west coast.
- Offers combined bus and boat service from Bangkok.
- Seudamgo:
- Popular for having the fastest ferries, with claims of making the journey in just 40 minutes.
- Their boats are smaller, modern, and streamlined. Vessels are clean, air-conditioned, and known for punctual departures and safety.
- Ticket Price: ฿600 per person for the mini catamaran.
- Offers an all-in-one transfer service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Kood, combining a van pickup from the airport (Gate 10, Level 2, 05:00 AM departure) with a high-speed catamaran. The total journey for this service is around 6.5 to 7.5 hours, and includes hotel drop-off on Koh Kood. Pricing for this direct airport transfer ranges from ฿1,100–฿1,300.
- Koh Kood Princess:
- A slower, more relaxed journey compared to other services.
- Offers a once-daily departure from Laem Sok Pier.
- Ticket Price: ฿400 per person one way. Children aged 2-8 pay half price, and those 1 and under are free.
- This ferry may sometimes accommodate motorbikes, but advance contact is required.
Important Note on Last Departures: Boats to Koh Kood generally cease operations in the mid-afternoon, even during high season. For instance, the last scheduled departures on Koh Kood Express and Seudamgo from November to May are at 4:00 PM. If you arrive after this time and wish to travel the same day, a private speedboat (approximately ฿15,000 – ฿20,000 one way) is typically the only option.
Key Travel Tips for Your Journey to Koh Kood
- Book in Advance: It is highly recommended to pre-book your ferry tickets and combined services, especially during peak season, as they can get fully booked due to limited capacity. Online booking platforms like smartenplus.co.th is available.
- Best Time to Visit: The high season for Koh Kood is from late November to early April. During these months, you can expect minimal rainfall, temperatures around 30°C, and more frequent ferry crossings. From May onwards, Koh Kood can experience significant rain, and ferry services may be reduced or cancelled, leading to longer journey times.
- Arrival on Koh Kood: All boat services include complimentary transport from the pier to your resort upon arrival on Koh Kood. Similarly, for your return journey, transport from your hotel to the pier is usually included in the ticket price.
- Traveling with Bicycles and Pets:
- Bicycles: You can generally take bicycles on the larger ferries, but not on speedboats. Boonsiri charges ฿200 for a bicycle.
- Pets: Pets are not allowed on speedboats. On ferries, they may be permitted in outdoor areas with service charges paid at the port, but they are not allowed in air-conditioned rooms.
- Booking Changes and Cancellations: Bookings are typically non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. However, you can usually postpone a booking. For ferry-only or combined bus and ferry bookings, you generally need to notify the company at least 3 days before the departure date. Less than 3 days’ notice for combined bookings may require purchasing a new ticket. Postponements are not possible on public holidays or if the boat is full. You are usually allowed one free date change, with subsequent changes requiring a new ticket. Postponed dates must be within 1 month of the original itinerary and cannot be used on public holidays. For urgent bookings within 24 hours of departure, changes are usually not possible. You may, however, change the passenger name.
- Weather and Delays: Ferry schedules can change due to weather and sea conditions. If a speedboat service is cancelled due to weather, passengers who booked it may be transferred to a ferry on the same schedule, with no refund for any price difference as safety is the priority. If you plan to catch a flight after arriving from Koh Kood, it is advised to allow a 2-3 hour buffer time from the scheduled pier arrival to account for potential weather delays.
Getting Around Koh Kood
Once you’ve arrived, the best way to explore Koh Kood is by renting a scooter. The island has one main paved road connecting most hotels and beaches. Scooter rentals typically cost around ฿300-฿350 per day, with discounts available for multiple days. It is recommended to research rental shops and check reviews to ensure safety and bike quality.
Exploring Koh Kood: Activities and Beaches
Koh Kood is a destination for relaxation and natural beauty rather than endless activities.
- Waterfalls: Hike to picturesque waterfalls like Khlong Chao Waterfall (with a deep swimming pool), Khlong Yai Kee, and Huang Khiao.
- Mangrove Kayaking: Explore the island’s rivers and mangrove forests by hiring a kayak, with some hotels offering free kayaks for guests.
- Diving and Snorkeling: The island offers incredible dive sites rich in marine life, suitable for both beginners and certified divers. Koh Kood Divers is a highly-rated PADI diving center.
- Ao Yai Fisherman Village: Visit this traditional village built on stilts on the southeast of the island, home to seafood restaurants serving fresh local catches.
- Beautiful Beaches: Koh Kood boasts numerous stunning beaches, with many of the most beautiful located on the west side, perfect for sunset views.
- Bang Bao Beach: A highly praised beach with shallow water, suitable for families, and scattered with resorts and bars.
- Ao Noi Beach: Accessible through Ao Noi Resort, a beautiful beach that visitors can enter despite resort signs.
- Khlong Hin Beach: A wide, sandy beach lined with palm trees, typically quiet as it’s accessible through resorts.
Conclusion
Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Kood requires a bit of planning, but the effort is genuinely rewarded by the island’s unspoiled beauty and tranquil atmosphere. Whether you choose the cost-effective bus and ferry, the speedy flight option, or the convenience of a private transfer, Koh Kood promises a memorable escape. To fully appreciate its charm, consider spending at least 3 full days on the island. With its incredible scenery and fewer crowds, Koh Kood truly feels like a hidden paradise, and it is advisable to visit sooner rather than later as its popularity is likely to grow.
Your Complete Guide to Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Kood
For a seamless journey to Thailand’s beautiful and less crowded island paradise of Koh Kood, our comprehensive guide provides all the details you need