How to get from Koh Kood to Bangkok
Travelling from Koh Kood to Bangkok inevitably involves ferry plus bus combination. You can opt for a ready-made solution or buy separate trips from Koh Kood to Laem Sok Pier on the mainland and then jump onto a bus or van to Bangkok from Trat. You may find the latter useful only in case you are planning to hang out in Trat for a day or two savouring the atmosphere of a charming provincial capital unspoiled by mass tourism.
From Koh Kood to Bangkok by ferry and van
Boonsiri High Speed Ferries Co., Ltd. offers two departures a day (9am and noon) from Koh Kood to Bangkok. Boonsiri ferries depart from Nam Luek Pier on the Western side of Koh Kood, just below Shantaa Resort Koh Kood, and bring you directly to Laem Sok Pier, some 30 km from Trat. In Laem Sok you then board the van heading to Boonsiri’s ticket office in Bangkok in Thanion Tanee, in Khao San Road area. Travel time of both morning and noon departures is under eight hours totally, but note that 9am ferry goes directly to Laem Sok, while 12pm ferry calls to Koh Mak en route, thus the sea travel of the afternoon ferry is longer – 1 hour 50 minutes compared to 1 hour 20 minutes. Tickets cost THB850 in both cases.Note that Boonsiri high speed ferries are large enough not to make you suffer seasickness too much, but they are still not as big and stable as car ferries plying the route between Trat and Koh Chang.
Be ready to reach Bangkok by late afternoon (4.30pm) or in the evening (8pm). If your plan is to stay for the night in Bangkok, you are in the right area for budget digs. You may, of course, book your guesthouse or hotel room in advance, but normally you are not going to encounter any difficulties to find a place to your liking right on the spot – even during the most busy pick season periods. Shop for rooms in Soi Rambuttri, Phra Athit Road, Khao San Road or, if you need some more peace and quiet, explore side sois off Samsen Road on the other side of the Khlong Banglamphu.
From Koh Kood to Trat and Bangkok
Though from the point of view of time and money it may seem illogical to buy separate tickets from Koh Kood to Laem Sok, get to Trat and then continue your journey from Trat to Bangkok by bus or van, there is still some sense in doing it.Make a stopover in Trat and enjoy a quiet charm of this underappreciated provincial capital. There is an absolutely amazing district filled with traditional wooden shophouses – with elaborate carving, flowers in flowerpots, small businesses selling very useful stuff and children playing in the streets – which oozes that nostalgic air of the times gone. There is a choice of very nice and moderately priced guesthouses, a couple of wats to explore and the riverfront to go for an evening stroll.
If you want to see something special, check out swiftlets farms in Trat or take a motorbike to find your way to the narrowest part of Thailand and surprisingly good coastal beaches. There are massage shops around, too, and it is a good idea to pop in to experience it the way the locals do, without usual somewhat negligent attitude which has unfortunately become characteristic to many popular tourist destinations. Trat is famous for its yellow liquid balm which promises to cure pain in joints and muscles; even if it does not fulfill its promises to the fullest, it is still a good remedy for your legs and feet to relieve fatigue after a long day of sightseeing.
Boonsiri ferry from Koh Kood to Laem Sok leaves at 12pm and takes 1 hour 50 minutes to get to the mainland. Tickets cost THB550.
Note that ferries moor at Laem Sok Pier. Laem Sok is located about 30 km south of Trat. Songthaews from Laem Sok to Trat depart regularly and take from half an hour to one hour to arrive. Buses and vans for Bangkok leave throughout the day from Trat Transport Station.
T.T.T. company operates hourly vans from Trat to Bangkok from 8am till 7pm. Vans take about 4½–5 hours to reach the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, Morchit. It is located in the northern part of the capital, far from the centre and accommodation options. Put in at least an hour to get from Morchit to Siam, or more for Khao San Road area. The best way is to take a taxi which will cost you insignificantly more than bus+BTS combo, but levies a lot of headache.
Other islands to visit from Koh Kood
There is an inter-island ferry which connects the islands of the archipelago: Koh Kood, Koh Rayang, Koh Mak, Koh Kham, Koh Wai and Koh Chang. Tickets to the first three islands cost THB400 with travel time from 50 minutes to one hour and one hour and 10 minutes respectively; THB700 to Koh Wai (1½ hour) and THB900 to Koh Chang (two hours).
Once a day at 9am Boonsiri high speed ferry takes passengers from Koh Kood on its way to Koh Mak. The journey takes 50 minutes and tickets cost THB300.