How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Kood (Without Flying!)
If you’re craving a real off-the-beaten-path feeling island getaway from Bangkok — without hopping on a plane! — Koh Kood is one of your best options.
Honestly, it just may be my favorite island in Thailand, and that’s saying something. The island is more remote and low-key than Koh Chang, which gets quite a bit of backpacker buzz. Despite that, it’s still reachable from Bangkok with a pretty easy-to-navigate combination of bus and ferry.
| ⌛ Planning your trip last-minute? Here are my quick Koh Kood tips! 🏝️ Best Places to Stay in Koh Kood – Budget: The Mermaid House (where I stayed!) – Mid-Range: Seafar Resort (on the best beach in Koh Kood!) – Luxury: Soneva Kiri (the only 5-star option on the island and absolutely exquisite!) … or read a full guide to Koh Kood resorts here 🤿 Top Activities in Koh Kood – Koh Kood snorkeling day trip in Koh Rang Marine Park – Discover Scuba diving (for not-yet-certified divers) experience (excellent dive shop!) – Fun dives (for already-certified divers) in Koh Kood and Koh Rang (two fun dives!) ⛴️ How to Get to Koh Kood: I use the website 12go to book all my overland travels in Southeast Asia. If coming from Bangkok, check prices and schedules here. |
That said, Koh Kood is further away from Bangkok, and therefore it takes longer to reach Koh Kood than Koh Chang — which is part of why it feels so untouched, that extra bit of transportation that gives it a bit more of an elusive nature.
For that reason, I wouldn’t recommend trying to squeeze it into a quick weekend. Give it the time it really warrants and deserves. I recommend spending at least 3 nights (better yet, 4–5 — I ended up spending 5 there) so you’re not spending half your trip in transit!
Getting to Koh Kood from Bangkok: Comparison Chart
| Option | Cost (THB) | Time (Hours) | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boonsiri (Bus + Ferry) | ~1,150-1,200 per person | ~7–8 hours | High: One ticket and easy ferry access |
| Private Transfer + DIY Ferry | 3,000-5,400 for groups of 2-9 people plus 600 per person for ferry | ~6 hours | Very High: Pick-up directly to pier |
| DIY Bus + Ferry | ~1,150-1,250 per person | ~8–9 hours | Medium: Requires changing buses & ferry |
Getting to Koh Kood: Boonsiri Bus + Ferry
The easiest way is with a bus + ferry combo ticket booked on 12Go Asia. Operators like Boonsiri run joint transfers that leave Bangkok in the morning and get you all the way to Koh Kood by afternoon — no stressful changes, no scrambling for the right pier.
Personally, when I traveled this route, I booked a transfer through 12Go Asia from Bangkok (Khao San Road) to Koh Chang. Then, from there, I island-hopped using the Boonsiri ferries and fast boats, eventually making my way to Koh Kood. I did, however, take the Boonsiri bus and ferry all the way back from Koh Kood, so I have done this in reverse and can speak highly to it.
I really liked the whole Boonsiri experience as it made everything so simple and stress-free so I didn’t have to worry about a single hitch in the schedule. It included everything: the bus, ferry, and even pick-up/drop-off service on the island.
If you leave Bangkok around 8 AM, you can expect to arrive in Koh Kood around 3:20 PM, for a total travel time of about 7 hours and 20 minutes, which includes some bathroom stops.
The cost of this particular transfer is 1,200 THB but it sometimes can be discounted to 1,150 THB ($36-37 USD).
Private Transfer to Koh Kood: Private Transfer to Laem Sok + Ferry
You can get a private transfer from Bangkok (pick-up anywhere in the city) all the way to Laem Sok pier in Trat, which will bring you to Koh Kood. However, this is not a car ferry, so the private transfer will stop here (as opposed to Koh Chang, which has a car ferry).
It’s still a lot more convenient than getting yourself to Khao San or BKK and then taking the Boonsiri shared bus, so it may be a good option if you are traveling with young family, have a lot of luggage, or just don’t want the hassle of sharing transit with others. It’s not that much more expensive if you book online.
You can book a transfer (which takes 5 hours) for a variety of prices depending on how many people are in your party as that will dictate the size of car needed. A 2-person transfer can be as low as 3,200 baht, a 4-person SUV can cost as little as 4,255 baht, and a luxury 9-person van can be as low as 5,400 baht. Not bad! Just check all the options on 12Go Asia from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier.
Just be sure you plan your arrival properly, as the last ferry of the day is at 4 PM. Pre-book your tickets or make sure you arrive well before that so you have a few options, especially in high season (Nov-March).
Check out the taxi options from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier here!
DIY Bus + Ferry: Not Actually Cheaper
If you want to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok in a DIY fashion rather than booking a combo ticket, you can do it by booking a ticket to Laem Sok Pier… but it won’t actually save you any money, surprisingly.
However, since you don’t have to go to an inconvenient place for pick-up (like Khao San Road or BKK airport), it can be worth it if you feel confident navigating the system, so you can save money by not having to go all the way to Khao San Road or BKK to start your journey.
To get to Koh Kood independently, you can start by taking a public bus from Mo Chit, Ekkamai, or Bang Na in Bangkok to Laem Sok in Trat province (this takes about 6.5 hours).
Then you can arrange your own transfer to Laem Sok Pier, where ferries depart for Koh Kood. From there, catch the ferry (~1 hour) and then a songthaew on arrival to your resort.
This is the cheapest option but also the least seamless. You’ll need to coordinate your own schedules and pay separately:
- Bus to Laem Sok Pier: ฿500
- Ferry to Koh Kood: ฿600
- Songthaew to hotel: ฿50–150
Total: ~฿1150–1250 depending on where your hotel is
Expect this to take about 8–9 hours door-to-door, depending on if you can make your transfers or if you have to wait a while between ferries, as well as how far away your hotel is from the pier you arrive at on Koh Kood.
My Take?
- If you want ease and reliability, the bus + ferry combo with Boonsiri is a no-brainer.
- If you’re in a group or with family, a private transfer is worth the splurge, and honestly, for a group of three or more people it isn’t really that much more expensive than booking a combo ticket.
- If you’re a savvy traveler who lives in Bangkok, the DIY bus + ferry route doesn’t save you any money, but keeps you from having to transit via Khao San or BKK airports, which aren’t as convenient for most Bangkok locals.
