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⛴️ Trat Island Hopping Plan

Trat Island Hopping
Koh Chang–Koh Mak–Koh Kood

The Trat coast has far more to see than just Koh Chang. Further south sits Koh Mak, a flat, quiet island you can cycle around end to end, and Koh Kood, Thailand's fourth-largest island, with clear water and a waterfall tucked in the forest. Along the way there's also Koh Wai, a solid snorkeling stop. This plan strings the boats together so you can ride from Koh Chang down through each island in a single trip, with one block per day. Every fare and time here comes from real 2026 boat schedules, and we'll be straight with you about the single most important thing on this route: the inter-island boats only run in full during high season — in low season the options thin out and depend on the weather.

⛴️ 3 islands by boat🤿 Snorkel Koh Rang🚲 Cycle Koh Mak
Trat Island Hopping Koh Chang–Koh Mak–Koh Kood

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

A lot of people come to Trat and stop at Koh Chang, even though this little archipelago lines up to the south and the islands connect by boat in a single day. The popular route starts on Koh Chang (the big island, with all the beaches and restaurants), then takes a boat from Bang Bao pier down to Koh Wai–Koh Mak–Koh Kood in that order. Each island has a clearly different character. This plan suits anyone with 4–5 days who wants to see more of the Trat sea than just one island.

Understand the boat routes first: who runs them, and when

Island hopping here is mainly handled by three operators, and each one runs a different style of boat at a different time of year. Get this straight first and your plan won't fall apart.

  • Bangbao Boat — departs Bang Bao pier on the south side of Koh Chang. It runs wooden boats (slow but cheap), speedboats and high-speed ferries, operating in high season.
  • Kai Bae Hut Speedboat — speedboats from Kai Bae Beach pier on the west side of Koh Chang, running in high season.
  • Boonsiri Ferry — a high-speed catamaran (around 200 seats). Its big advantage is that it runs year-round, including the low season when the others stop. It's the most reliable option if you're coming in the rainy season.

The heart of Trat island hopping

The inter-island boats (Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood) only run in full during high season, roughly 1 November–30 April. Once low season starts, around May to October, most speedboats and wooden boats stop, leaving Boonsiri Ferry still running. If you're set on hopping several islands, this plan works best in high season. Come in the rainy season and you'll have to change your plan, or head back to the mainland at Laem Sok pier in Trat province and catch a new boat from there.

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Book the activities in your Koh Chang trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

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🎟️ See all Koh Chang tours & activities (Klook)

Boat schedules and fares from Bang Bao pier, Koh Chang

Here are the fares and departure times from Bang Bao pier on the south side of Koh Chang, heading down island by island (based on the 2026 high-season schedule). Prices are per person, per trip, and travel time depends on the type of boat.

  • To Koh Wai — wooden boat around 400 THB, roughly 1 hour · speedboat around 600 THB, roughly 30 min
  • To Koh Mak — wooden boat around 500 THB, roughly 2 hours · ferry around 600 THB, roughly 1 hour · speedboat around 800 THB, roughly 1 hour
  • To Koh Kood — wooden boat around 700 THB, roughly 3 hours · ferry around 900 THB, roughly 1.5 hours · speedboat around 1,200 THB, roughly 1 hour
  • Morning boats usually leave around 09:00, with another late-morning run around midday. Check the day's schedule with the pier in advance, since times shift with the season and the weather.

Pick the right boat

If you get seasick easily or you're travelling with small kids, Boonsiri's catamaran ferry is steadier and doesn't slam the way a speedboat does. The wooden boats are the cheapest but they're slow and they roll with the swell — best for travellers on a tight budget who aren't in a hurry.

Day 1 — Settle in on Koh Chang

Day 1

Travel to Koh Chang · White Sand Beach · Bang Bao at dusk

06:30
Leave Bangkok for TratDrive yourself or take a minivan/bus to the pier at Laem Ngop. It's around 5 hours to the pier, then a ferry across to Koh Chang takes another 30–45 min, around 80 THB per person.
13:00
Check in around White Sand BeachWhite Sand Beach is the most built-up stretch for accommodation and restaurants — easy to walk and find food, and a good base for the first night before you island hop.
14:00
Swim at White Sand BeachFine sand and clear water. The afternoon sun is strong, so put on sunscreen, and stay out of deep water if you're not a strong swimmer.
16:30
Head to Bang Bao for fishing-village photosBang Bao is a village of old wooden houses built out over the sea, with souvenir shops, cafés and a lighthouse at the end of the jetty. This is the pier you'll use to island hop tomorrow, so it's worth scouting now.
18:00
Seafood dinner at Bang BaoWaterfront wooden-house restaurants like Ruan Thai and Chow Lay serve steamed sea bass and soft-shell crab, priced by weight. Check the price per kilo before you order so there are no surprises.

Before bed on the first night, go ahead and book your inter-island boat ticket for the next day. Many operators take bookings at the pier or through your accommodation. On a long weekend the boats fill up fast, so booking ahead gives you more peace of mind.

Day 2 — Cross to Koh Mak, snorkel stop at Koh Wai

Day 2

Boat from Bang Bao · Koh Wai · check in on Koh Mak

08:30
Check out + head to Bang Bao pierLeave enough time to catch the morning boat, which usually departs around 09:00. Miss it and you may have to wait for the midday run.
09:00
Board the boat from Bang BaoChoose the boat by budget — a speedboat to Koh Mak is around 800 THB and fast, roughly 1 hour, while the wooden boat is cheaper but slower at about 2 hours. The route passes Koh Wai on the way.
09:30
Stop at Koh Wai (if your trip includes it)Koh Wai is a small island with clear water, a little bay and shallow coral close to shore — good for a short snorkel. Plenty of dive tours from Koh Chang land here too, so it gets crowded mid-morning.
11:00
Arrive on Koh Mak, check inKoh Mak is flat and quiet, with no big busy roads. Accommodation is spread along the west-coast beaches like Ao Suan Yai and Ao Tanid. Pick a place near the beach you most want to swim at.
13:00
Lunch break + swim at Ao Suan YaiAo Suan Yai is the island's longest beach, around 2 km, with white sand and a gentle shallow slope — easy, relaxed swimming.
16:00
Rent a bicycle or scooter and ride around the islandKoh Mak is flat, so cycling around is far easier than on Koh Chang. You'll pass rubber and coconut plantations and several quiet bays, with plenty of spots to stop for photos.
18:30
Watch the sunset on the west coast + dinner by the beachKoh Mak's west-coast beaches get a lovely sunset. There aren't many beachfront restaurants, but the atmosphere is good, and the nights are very quiet — ideal if you really want to switch off.

Day 3 — On to Koh Kood, the big island with clear water

Day 3

Koh Mak→Koh Kood boat · Klong Chao Beach · Klong Chao Waterfall

09:00
Check out + board the boat on to Koh KoodKoh Mak and Koh Kood are close together, so a speedboat between the islands doesn't take long. Several inter-island boats stop at Koh Mak before continuing to Koh Kood on the same run — check the schedule with your accommodation or the pier.
10:30
Arrive on Koh Kood, check inKoh Kood is Thailand's fourth-largest island — still green forest and clear water, with accommodation spread along the west-coast beaches. Because it's big, you'll rely on the resort's car or scooter shuttle to get around.
13:00
Swim at Klong Chao BeachKlong Chao is the famous west-coast beach, with white sand running about 600 m, clear water and a good sunset view — the beach most Koh Kood visitors stop at.
15:30
Swim at Klong Chao WaterfallKlong Chao Waterfall sits in the forest near Klong Chao Beach. You can walk in or paddle a kayak up the canal to reach it. The water is clear and cool, and you can swim in the pool below — it runs harder in the rainy season.
18:30
Sunset + dinnerKoh Kood's west coast gets a clear sunset. Many resorts have their own beachfront restaurants. The island is big and restaurants outside the resorts are far apart, so leave time to get around.

Day 4 — Dive Koh Rang, then plan the trip back

Day 4

Koh Rang snorkel tour · kayak the mangroves · travel home

08:30
Head out on the Koh Rang snorkel tourKoh Rang is the best dive spot in the Trat sea, sitting between Koh Kood and Koh Mak. It's in a national park, with clear water and healthy coral, and tours usually stop at two dive sites.
12:00
Lunch on the boat + second dive siteA Koh Rang tour runs around 1,200 THB per person, including gear and lunch, but there's an extra national park entry fee of around 200 THB paid on the day — keep some cash handy.
14:30
Back on Koh Kood, relaxIf you still have energy, kayak into the mangroves or stroll along the beach in the evening. Koh Kood has several canals and mangrove areas to paddle through.
16:00
Plan your route backThe easiest way back from Koh Kood to the mainland is a boat to Laem Sok pier in Trat province (no need to backtrack to Koh Chang), then onward transport to Bangkok. Check the afternoon–evening boat times in advance.

If you only have 4 days, you can wrap up here. But if you've got 5, add another night on Koh Kood or Koh Mak — the charm of both islands is their quiet, and the longer you stay, the more you actually unwind instead of rushing to swap islands every day.

Which island suits whom

Has it all

Koh Chang

The big island, with everything — beaches, restaurants, nightlife. Good for your first-night base and for anyone who wants convenience, but the roads are steep with plenty of curves.

Quiet, easy to cycle

Koh Mak

Flat and quiet, easy to cycle end to end, with affordable accommodation. Best for travellers who want a slow, low-key stay.

Clear water, green forest

Koh Kood

A big island with clear water, green forest and a waterfall in the jungle, resorts spread out. Good for couples and anyone who loves quiet nature — accommodation runs pricier than the first two islands.

What to check before you go (the straight talk)

Monsoon and the inter-island boats

During the monsoon, roughly May to October, the wind and waves pick up in the Trat sea. Inter-island boats become scarce and Koh Rang dive tours are cancelled on many days. If you're set on hopping several islands, the best window is around November to April. Before you go, always check that day's boat times and weather, and don't plan to cut it fine against the last boat of the day.

Island roads and low-season closures

The roads on Koh Chang and parts of Koh Kood are steep with sharp hairpins, and scooter accidents happen often on the downhills. If you don't know the roads or it's raining and the surface is slick, the resort shuttle or a songthaew is safer. Also, many places to stay, restaurants and dive shops on Koh Mak and Koh Kood close during low season — call to confirm they're actually open on your dates before you book.

Rough budget per person (4 days, 3 nights)

  • Ferry to Koh Chang, round trip — around 160 THB (80 THB per person each way)
  • Inter-island boats, Bang Bao→Koh Mak→Koh Kood — around 1,300–2,000 THB for all legs, depending on whether you pick wooden boats, ferries or speedboats
  • Boat from Koh Kood back to Laem Sok — around 350–600 THB depending on the type of boat
  • Koh Rang snorkel tour — around 1,200 THB + national park entry around 200 THB
  • 3 nights' accommodation — Koh Mak starts in the low hundreds to just over a thousand, while Koh Kood beachfront resorts usually run into the thousands. Pick to suit your budget.
  • Food and bike/scooter rental — budget around 1,500–2,500 THB across the whole trip

Want to see Koh Chang in full before island hopping?

See the Koh Chang 3-day, 2-night plan →

FAQ

Can you go straight from Koh Chang to Koh Mak and Koh Kood?

Yes, in high season, roughly November to April. Boats leave from Bang Bao pier on the south side of Koh Chang — wooden boats, ferries and speedboats — running down to Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood in that order. In low season the boats thin out, leaving mainly the Boonsiri Ferry, which runs year-round.

How much is the boat from Koh Chang to Koh Kood?

From Bang Bao pier to Koh Kood, a wooden boat is around 700 THB (about 3 hours), a ferry around 900 THB (about 1.5 hours), and a speedboat around 1,200 THB (about 1 hour). Prices are per person, per trip, and can shift with the season and the operator.

When is the best time to go island hopping in Trat?

The best window is roughly November to April — calm seas, all the inter-island boats running, and the accommodation and restaurants on Koh Mak and Koh Kood fully open. May to October is the rainy season, with strong waves, boats and dive tours cancelled on many days, and some places closed.

What's the difference between Koh Mak and Koh Kood?

Koh Mak is flat, smaller and quiet — you can cycle around the whole island, accommodation is affordable, and it suits travellers who want a slow pace. Koh Kood is Thailand's fourth-largest island, with clear water, a waterfall in the forest, and resorts spread out at higher prices — good for couples and nature lovers.

Where's the best diving on this trip?

Koh Rang, which sits between Koh Mak and Koh Kood, is the best dive spot in the Trat sea — clear water, healthy coral, and inside a national park. Tours run around 1,200 THB per person, plus a national park entry fee of around 200 THB. During the monsoon, tours may be cancelled if the weather's bad.

How many days should this trip take?

At least 4 days and 3 nights to see all three islands without rushing, but 5 days is more comfortable — add another night on Koh Mak or Koh Kood for some real downtime, since the charm of these two islands is a quiet you only feel once you've stayed a while.

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