About the ride from Koh Kood to Koh Chang
After spending a few days in Koh Kood, you might be convinced that you’ve found the most beautiful island in Thailand. But, with long strips of soft sand, tree-covered mountains, and gushing waterfalls, Koh Chang gives Koh Kood a run for its money.
Koh Chang, Thailand’s third-biggest island, has incredible beauty to discover.
Start by spending a day at White Sands Beach, one of the most popular waterfront spots on the island.
The waters off Koh Chang are also known for their spectacular coral gardens. All you have to do is sign up with one of the many day tours that start from Bang Bao pier. The boats take you to multiple snorkeling and diving spots and are the best way to explore Koh Chang’s fascinating underwater world.
The Bang Bao pier is also the location of the island’s floating village, which is worth a tour. Grab lunch and watch the hustle and bustle of the local lifestyle.
Further inland, there are plenty of treks to go on. With the island’s dense jungles and mountainous landscape, jungle trekking is gaining popularity. The Klong Son Trek takes you through some fruit plantations, while the Salakphet Trek takes you on a circular path. All of the treks offer the best top-down views of the island.
Koh Chang’s hilly terrain is also home to many refreshing waterfalls. Most of them are located inside Mu Koh Chang National Park and require a small fee to visit. The most popular is the Kong Plu waterfall, an impressive cascade that offers large pools of cool water for swimming.
The best sunset spots on Koh Chang are found on the west side of the island. Head to Klong Prao Beach and Lonely Beach for the most unforgettable sunsets. Grab a beer and watch the sky change colors as the sun sinks into the shimmering waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
The distance from Koh Kood to Koh Chang is 31 miles (50 km). Travelers can take a high-speed ferry, a speed boat, or a catamaran to get to Koh Chang. If you choose the high-speed options, travel time is around one and a half to two hours.
Do note that direct ferry services from Koh Kood to Koh Chang are only available during the peak tourist season from November to April. If you are traveling during the off-season, you will have to go back to the mainland and catch another ferry from there.
Neither island has an airport.
What to see when traveling from Koh Kood to Koh Chang
As you set sail to the beautiful island of Koh Chang, expect to see more ocean blues and greens than you could dream up. The Gulf of Thailand is known for displaying every shade of blue under the sun. So, find an outdoor seat and relish the beauty as the salty breeze blows through your hair.
How to get from Koh Kood to Koh Chang
Taking a ferry from Koh Kood to Koh Chang
During high season (November to April) -
It’s pretty easy to travel from Koh Kood to Koh Chang during the high season.
Options for transport from Koh Kood to Koh Chang are all via water – speedboat, high-speed ferry, or wooden catamaran.
The boats depart four to five times per day, with the earliest leaving Koh Kood at about 9 am and the last one departing at 1 pm.
Three companies operate boats on this route — Boonsiri High-Speed Ferries, Bang Bao Boat, and Kai Bae Hut Speedboat. Ferries and speed boats from Koh Kood to Koh Chang take around an hour and forty-five minutes to two hours.
The slower catamarans take around three hours to get from Koh Kood to Koh Chang.
The High-Speed Ferry service is one of the best ways to get from Koh Kood to Koh Chang.
The faster Koh Kood to Koh Chang ferries cost around $24-$30 per person, while the slower catamarans cost about $22 per passenger.
The ferries depart from Ao Salad Pier in Koh Kood and drop off passengers at the Bang Bao Pier in Koh Chang. Some ferries have a short stopover at Koh Mak island.
Seating capacity is up to 200 passengers. The ferries have indoor as well as outdoor seating, are air-conditioned and have washrooms.
Passengers can even pick up a drink or snack from the concession stand on the ferry.
The luggage allowance on the bigger boats is up to 30 kg per person.
Bangbao and Kai Bae run speed boat services on this route. These boats have a much smaller seating capacity and semi-covered seating. Due to the smaller size boat, luggage allowance is only one hand luggage per passenger.
Most operators offer pick-up and drop-off services from and to the pier.
Most ferry routes cover the Koh Kood to Koh Chang distance from November 1st to April 30th. However, the Boonsiri Catamaran runs from November 1st to March 31st.
During low season
Ferries stop running from Koh Kood to Koh Chang during the low tourist season of May to October. So, the only way to get to Koh Chang is to take a ferry from Koh Kood to the mainland and then hop another one from the mainland to Koh Chang.
This involves taking a ferry from Ao Salad Pier in Koh Kood to the Laem Sok pier, in the mainland, 20 mins from Trat town. From there, travelers will transfer to another ferry that is heading towards the Bang Bao pier in Koh Chang.
Do note that the frequency of ferries is lower during the off-season. Usually only one to two ferries a day, so plan your travel in advance and according to the revised schedule.