How to get to Koh Mak from Koh Kood is really easy, because your hotel on Koh Kood books the boat for you, and you go from one hotel door to the next. We’ve just done the trip from The Beach Natural Resort Koh Kood to Lazy Day Resort on Koh Mak, where we stayed for three nights.
Below I’ll tell you how we did it, which pier the boats leave from, the boat companies and what we paid. You’ll also learn about the boats the other way, how to get to Koh Mak from Koh Chang and Bangkok, how to get around once you’re there and where to stay.
I have to say, it was super easy. We paid 450 baht each on the Boonsiri boat, and they picked us up from our hotel on Koh Kood and dropped us at our hotel on Koh Mak.
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| Koh Kood to Koh Mak | What we did |
|---|---|
| The boat | Boonsiri, 11am |
| Pickup | 10am from our hotel |
| Booked | The night before |
| What we paid | 450 baht each |
| Drop off | At our hotel on Koh Mak |
How we got from Koh Kood to Koh Mak
We went from Koh Kood to Koh Mak on the Boonsiri boat, and it cost us 450 baht each. That included pickup from The Beach Natural on Bang Bao Bay and drop off right at our hotel, Lazy Day.
It was all organised by our hotel, and that’s been like that everywhere we’ve been on this trip. We just booked it the night before, and they picked us up at 10am for the 11am boat.
We were here at the very beginning of high season, so there weren’t a lot of people around. If you’re coming in high season, which is from November to March, I’d book it a couple of days before you leave.
A lot of people do it the other way around, going to Koh Mak first and then Koh Kood. We did Koh Kood first, which was actually pretty good, because we met loads of people on Koh Kood who’d been to Koh Mak, so we knew what to expect, plus we loved Koh Mak the best so it was nice to leave it til last.
Which pier do the boats leave from on Koh Kood?
The Boonsiri boat leaves from Ao Salad Pier, in the north east of Koh Kood. It’s about half an hour in the taxi from Bang Bao Bay, which is why our pickup was an hour before the boat.
Some of the speedboats leave from other piers or pick up from resorts, but if you book through your hotel, they’ll get you to the right place, so you don’t need to worry about it.
The boats from Koh Kood to Koh Mak
Koh Mak is the next island up from Koh Kood, so the boat is quick. We went on the 11am Boonsiri boat, but the timetables change every season, so go by the times your hotel or the travel desk gives you. To be honest, we were only offered one boat to get, the Boonsiri catamaran which is the quickest service.
Boonsiri catamaran
Boonsiri is the big boat, and it’s the only one that runs all year. It goes from Ao Salad Pier to Ao Nid Pier on Koh Mak, and apparently it takes about half an hour.
The boat on its own is around 400 baht. We paid 450 baht each with the pickup and drop off included, which was so worth it. From June to September it’s down to one boat a day. It only takes 30 minutes from Koh Kood and is another 30 minutes from Koh Chang.
Koh Chang Express speedboat
Koh Chang Express is the speedboat that also runs between Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. It takes about 30 minutes from Koh Kood to Koh Mak, and it’s around 500 baht. It doesn’t run from June to September.
Kai Bae Hut speedboat
The Kai Bae Hut speedboat, also called Nor Nou, runs once a day in the morning in high season. It’s around 600 baht, and the good thing is it can drop you at your resort’s own pier. It doesn’t run in the rainy season.
Koh Kut Express
Koh Kut Express is a small catamaran, and it’s around 500 baht. The transfer to the boat on Koh Kood is included in the ticket, and it doesn’t go to Koh Mak from June to September.
Speedboat or catamaran?
The catamaran is bigger and smoother, and I’ve read it’s the better pick if you’ve got kids or heavy bags. The speedboats are quicker, but they’re smaller, so it can be a bumpy ride when it’s windy. Either way it’s a short hop, so don’t stress about it.
Where do the boats arrive on Koh Mak?
Most boats arrive at Ao Nid Pier, the main pier down in the south east of Koh Mak. It’s a little working pier with a few seafood restaurants around it, and the island’s museum is right there too.
Our drop off took us straight to Lazy Day which took about 10 minutes at the most. If yours doesn’t, tell your hotel what time you’re arriving, because the resorts on Koh Mak usually meet the boats. Otherwise, the shared taxis are meant to be about 50 baht each.
Koh Mak is small, so nowhere is far from the pier. You can drive all the way around the island in about 20 minutes.
Booking your boat to Koh Mak
The easiest way is to book through your hotel on Koh Kood, and they’ll sort the pickup and drop off for you. That’s what we did, and it was super organised. Just check the price includes both ends, so you’re not paying for a taxi when you land.
You can also book online through sites like 12Go if you’d rather have it sorted before you get there. In high season, I’d book a couple of days ahead.
When do the boats run?
The boats run all year, but you get the most choice in high season, from around November to April. In the rainy season, from around June to September, the speedboats stop and Boonsiri runs just one boat a day.
The sea can cancel boats at short notice, especially in the rainy season, so don’t book your boat on the same day as a flight home. If you’re island hopping like us, make sure your travel insurance covers delays and missed connections.If you do travel to Koh Mak in the off season, a lot of hotels and restaurants might be closed.
How to get to Koh Kood from Koh Mak
If you’re going the other way, it’s the same boats in reverse, and it’s still about half an hour. I’ve read the Boonsiri boat is around 400 baht from Koh Mak to Koh Kood, the speedboats about 500, and the Kai Bae Hut speedboat about 600. Book it through your hotel on Koh Mak, and ask for a drop off at your resort on Koh Kood.
Most people go Koh Chang, then Koh Mak, then Koh Kood. If you can, I’d save Koh Mak for last like we did, because it really is the proper disconnect island. We had three nights and could easily have done a week, so I’d give it about five.
How to get to Koh Mak from Koh Chang
The boats from Koh Chang to Koh Kood all stop at Koh Mak on the way. When we did that trip, we were dropping people off at Koh Mak after about half an hour.
So you can just get off there. I’ve read it’s around 550 to 600 baht with Boonsiri from Koh Chang to Koh Mak. I’ve written up the boats from Koh Chang, the piers and what we paid in my guide on how to get to Koh Kood from Koh Chang.
How to get to Koh Mak from Bangkok
If you’re coming straight from Bangkok, you don’t need to go through the other islands. Fly from Bangkok to Trat, or take the bus, then get a boat from one of the piers on the mainland.
I’ve read the speedboats from Laem Ngop, which you’ll also see called Krom Luang Pier, take about 50 to 60 minutes and cost around 550 baht. From Laem Sok Pier, about 50 minutes from Trat Airport, Boonsiri is around 550 baht and takes about 45 minutes.
I’ve written a full guide on how to get to Koh Chang from Bangkok, with the flights and buses to Trat, and most of it works for Koh Mak too. Have your travel insurance sorted before you set off.
Getting around Koh Mak
Getting around Koh Mak is so easy. You can hire a moped for 300 baht a day or a golf buggy for 1,000 baht a day straight from your resort, and the roads are flat, with no big hills.
We hired a moped as soon as we were happy with our room and went straight out, and we were instantly like, wow, this island’s super cool. If you do ride, check your travel insurance covers you on a moped.
Everything we got up to is in my guide to things to do in Koh Mak, from the boat to Koh Kham to sunset at Talay Time.
Where to stay on Koh Mak
We stayed at Lazy Day Resort on Ao Kao, and I’d definitely stay again. When we first arrived I thought I’d messed it up, because it’s old school Thai beach huts with no pool and no bar. But waking up literally looking at the ocean from our bed was incredible, and it felt like home within a couple of hours.
We paid just under AU$400 for three nights, and I’ve written all about it in my Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak review.
See prices and availability at Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak
There are only about 750 rooms on the whole island, and when I tried to find somewhere else on our first day, everything was booked up. So book your hotel early, especially between November and March.
Other Koh Mak resorts I’d definitely consider would be White Sands Resort next door to Lazy Day and Mira Montra which is a beautiful resort many people we met on Koh Mak stayed at and loved.
Is Koh Mak worth it from Koh Kood?
Yes, Koh Mak is so worth the trip from Koh Kood. It’s a short hop on the boat, and it feels completely different. Koh Kood has the gorgeous beaches, but Koh Mak is the rustic, authentic one, and it felt like real, old school Thailand.
I’ve compared all three islands in Koh Chang vs Koh Kood vs Koh Mak.
What is the best way to get to Koh Mak from Koh Kood?
The best way to get to Koh Mak from Koh Kood depends on what matters most to you.
The easiest route: book through your hotel on Koh Kood, with the pickup and drop off included. It’s what I’d do again.
Kids or heavy bags: the Boonsiri catamaran, because it’s bigger and smoother.
Straight to your resort’s pier: the Kai Bae Hut speedboat, in high season.
In the rainy season: Boonsiri, because it’s the only one running.
Whichever way you go, sort your travel insurance when you book your flights.
See prices and availability at Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak
Have you been to Koh Mak? Let me know how you got there in the comments below.
Travelling to Koh Kood and Koh Chang as well? Check out my other articles
I only ever write honest content that will help you plan your trip. Below are some articles that might help with the rest of yours.
My Koh Mak articles
- Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak: My Honest Review
- 16 Best Things To Do In Koh Mak, Thailand
- Koh Chang vs Koh Kood vs Koh Mak: Which Thai Island Is Best?
My Koh Kood articles
- The Beach Natural Resort Koh Kood: Thailand’s Hidden Gem
- Where To Stay On Koh Kood: My Honest Hotel Guide
- How To Get To Koh Kood From Koh Chang, ferry times included
