How to Travel Between Koh Chang, Koh Mak & Koh Kood: Eastern Thailand Island Hopping Guide 2026

If you are planning an island-hopping trip in Eastern Thailand, you do not have to choose only one island. Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood can be combined into one trip, allowing you to experience different beaches, landscapes and travel styles in the Trat island region.

This guide explains how to travel between Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood, how to plan a 3-day, 5-day or 7-day itinerary, where the main connections are located, and how to use Boonsiri's island transportation network to connect the mainland, piers and islands.

Why Visit Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood in One Trip?

These three islands offer different travel experiences. Koh Chang is the largest and offers a wider range of beaches, activities, accommodation and restaurants. Koh Mak has a quieter atmosphere and is suitable for travelers looking for a slower island experience. Koh Kood is known for beautiful beaches, clear water, waterfalls and a more peaceful atmosphere.

Traveling between the islands allows you to experience several sides of Eastern Thailand without returning to Bangkok between every destination.

For a broader overview of the region, see our Eastern Thailand Island Hopping Guide.

The Main Island-Hopping Routes

The three most useful connections for planning an Eastern Thailand island-hopping trip are:

• Koh Chang → Koh Mak
• Koh Mak → Koh Kood
• Koh Chang → Koh Kood

These routes allow travelers to create different combinations depending on the length of their trip and the islands they want to visit.

Koh Chang → Koh Mak

The Koh Chang to Koh Mak route is one of the key connections for travelers continuing their journey south through the Trat islands.

Instead of returning to the mainland first, travelers can check the available inter-island service for their travel date and continue directly toward Koh Mak when a suitable service operates.

Koh Mak → Koh Kood

The Koh Mak to Koh Kood route allows travelers to continue from Koh Mak to Koh Kood.

This is particularly useful for travelers who want to experience a quieter island after visiting Koh Chang and Koh Mak.

Koh Chang → Koh Kood

Travelers who prefer a shorter itinerary can also look at the Koh Chang to Koh Kood route.

This means you do not necessarily have to visit all three islands. Depending on your travel time, you can choose two islands and spend more time exploring each destination.

How to Plan a 3-Day Eastern Thailand Island Trip

With only three days, visiting all three islands can make the trip feel rushed. A two-island itinerary is usually easier to organize because you have more time for beaches, activities and relaxation.

Option 1: Koh Chang + Koh Mak

• Day 1: Arrive in Koh Chang and explore the island
• Day 2: Koh Chang → Koh Mak
• Day 3: Explore Koh Mak and continue your onward journey

Option 2: Koh Chang + Koh Kood

• Day 1: Arrive in Koh Chang
• Day 2: Koh Chang → Koh Kood
• Day 3: Explore Koh Kood and prepare for departure

For ideas about what to do on Koh Chang, read the Koh Chang Travel Guide 2026.

How to Plan a 5-Day Island-Hopping Trip

Five days gives you more flexibility and makes it possible to experience all three islands without spending the entire trip in transit.

Sample 5-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Bangkok or airport → Koh Chang
• Day 2: Explore Koh Chang
• Day 3: Koh Chang → Koh Mak
• Day 4: Koh Mak → Koh Kood
• Day 5: Explore Koh Kood and prepare for your return journey

The exact order should be adjusted according to the available ferry services on your travel date. Always check the latest timetable before booking accommodation and allow enough time between connections.

You can also compare the characteristics of the three islands in our Koh Chang vs Koh Mak vs Koh Kood guide.

How to Plan a 7-Day Eastern Thailand Island-Hopping Trip

Seven days gives you considerably more time to enjoy each destination and is suitable for travelers who want a slower island experience.

Sample 7-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Bangkok → Koh Chang
• Day 2: Explore Koh Chang
• Day 3: Explore Koh Chang and enjoy the beaches
• Day 4: Koh Chang → Koh Mak
• Day 5: Explore Koh Mak
• Day 6: Koh Mak → Koh Kood
• Day 7: Explore Koh Kood and prepare for your return journey

This type of itinerary gives you enough time to experience the character of each island rather than simply moving from one pier to another.

For travelers interested in Koh Mak specifically, see the Koh Mak Travel Guide 2026.

For Koh Kood, see the Koh Kood Travel Guide 2026.

How to Reach the Eastern Islands from Bangkok

Your island-hopping trip normally begins on the mainland. Depending on your starting point, you can connect from Bangkok, an airport or another destination in Thailand to the Eastern islands.

For travelers starting in Bangkok, see the Bangkok to Koh Chang route guide.

You can also explore:

• Bangkok to Koh Kood
• Bangkok to Koh Mak

Boonsiri's network also includes pickup points and connections from Bangkok, Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, U-Tapao and other locations depending on the service. Learn more about the Boonsiri Eastern Thailand Island Travel Network.

Laem Sok: An Important Mainland Connection

Laem Sok in Trat is an important mainland connection for travelers heading to the islands. It can be used as part of journeys toward Koh Kood and Koh Mak.

Useful route information includes:

• Laem Sok to Koh Mak
• Laem Sok to Koh Kood

If you are arranging an island-hopping itinerary, understanding where the mainland connection is located is important because ferry services, departure times and available connections can vary by travel date.

Can You Travel from One Island to Another Without Returning to the Mainland?

Yes, when an inter-island service operates on your travel date, you can plan journeys such as:

• Koh Chang → Koh Mak
• Koh Mak → Koh Kood
• Koh Chang → Koh Kood

This is one of the advantages of planning an island-hopping trip instead of booking separate mainland-to-island journeys. However, ferry schedules can change by date and operating conditions, so you should always check the current timetable before confirming hotels and onward transportation.

For the latest published information, check the Boonsiri timetable.

Should You Visit All Three Islands?

Not necessarily. The right itinerary depends on how much time you have and what kind of holiday you want.

Visiting two islands can sometimes provide a more relaxed holiday than trying to visit every destination in a short period.

What Should You Check Before Booking?

Before confirming your hotels and transportation, check the following:

1. Ferry availability for your exact travel date
2. Departure and arrival times
3. The departure pier
4. Connection time between services
5. Weather and sea conditions
6. Your final island departure plan
7. Your onward transportation after returning to the mainland

Do not plan an island-hopping itinerary based only on approximate travel times. The actual service available on your travel date should be the basis for your hotel and transportation bookings.

Eastern Thailand Island Hopping with Boonsiri

Boonsiri's Eastern Thailand network is designed around connecting the journey from the mainland to the islands and between selected islands.

Instead of thinking about the trip as only a ferry ticket, the journey can be planned as:

Origin → Mainland Connection → First Island → Next Island → Final Destination

This makes it possible to build an itinerary around destinations such as Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood while considering the transportation connection at each stage.

For a complete four-island concept including Koh Samet, read: Eastern Thailand Island Hopping: Koh Samet → Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood.

You can also learn more about the overall Boonsiri Ferry & Boonsiri Sealine network.

Eastern Thailand Island Hopping in October and High Season

October is an important period for travelers planning trips to Eastern Thailand because the travel season begins to shift toward the busier period.

Boonsiri's Thai timetable currently identifies the High Season period as October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027.

However, schedules and services can still vary by date, destination and operating conditions. Travelers should check the latest timetable before booking their trip.

Plan Your Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood Trip

Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood can be combined into a flexible Eastern Thailand island-hopping journey. You can choose two islands for a shorter trip or combine all three for a 5–7 day itinerary.

The key is to plan the transportation sequence first:

Bangkok / Airport → Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood → Mainland → Onward Destination

Once you know which connections operate on your travel dates, you can build your accommodation and activity plans around them.

When you are ready to check your journey, visit Boonsiri to check the latest available services and booking options.

For questions about routes, pickup points or travel arrangements, see the Boonsiri contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel directly from Koh Chang to Koh Mak?

Yes. An inter-island connection between Koh Chang and Koh Mak is available on selected services. Check the current schedule for your travel date before booking.

Can I travel from Koh Mak to Koh Kood?

Yes. Koh Mak to Koh Kood is one of the useful connections for an Eastern Thailand island-hopping itinerary. Service availability depends on the travel date.

Can I travel from Koh Chang directly to Koh Kood?

Yes, a Koh Chang to Koh Kood connection is available on selected services. Always check the latest timetable before planning your hotel and onward transportation.

How many days do I need for Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood?

A 5–7 day trip provides more time to experience all three islands. With only three days, choosing two islands may provide a more relaxed itinerary.

Do I have to return to the mainland between every island?

No. When an inter-island service operates on your travel date, you can travel directly between selected islands without returning to the mainland.

Where should I start an Eastern Thailand island-hopping trip?

Many travelers start from Bangkok or an airport and travel toward Koh Chang, Koh Mak or Koh Kood. The best starting point depends on your travel dates, available services and preferred itinerary.

Should I book hotels before checking ferry schedules?

It is better to check the ferry connections first, especially when visiting more than one island. Once the transportation schedule is confirmed, you can choose accommodation around your arrival and departure times.