Eastern Thailand Travel Guide 2026: Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Kood & Koh Samet

Eastern Thailand is one of Thailand's most attractive regions for travelers looking for beaches, islands, nature and a slower pace of travel. From the easily accessible Koh Samet to the larger and more diverse Koh Chang, the relaxed atmosphere of Koh Mak and the peaceful beaches of Koh Kood, travelers can choose an island based on the type of holiday they want.

This Eastern Thailand Travel Guide 2026 explains where to go, how the islands are connected and how to travel from Bangkok, airports and Pattaya to the Eastern Thailand islands with Boonsiri.

Which Eastern Thailand Island Should You Visit?

The four islands are different enough that choosing the right destination can make a big difference to your trip.

• Koh Samet – a convenient island for a short beach getaway, especially from Bangkok.
• Koh Chang – a larger island combining beaches, mountains, waterfalls, viewpoints and nature.
• Koh Mak – a quieter island suited to travelers looking for a relaxed atmosphere and slow travel.
• Koh Kood – known for beautiful beaches, clear water, forests and a peaceful island atmosphere.

If you want to visit more than one island, you can also plan an Eastern Thailand island-hopping trip combining Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood.

Koh Samet: A Convenient Eastern Thailand Beach Escape

Koh Samet is one of the more convenient island destinations for travelers starting in Bangkok. Its relatively short travel distance makes it suitable for weekend trips and short beach holidays.

Travelers can also connect to Koh Samet through Boonsiri's integrated land and sea transportation network. The High Season 2026–2027 contract table includes a Bangkok-to-Koh Samet service with a departure at 09:00 and an arrival at approximately 14:25.

Because the service combines different types of transportation, travelers should always check the latest departure information before traveling.

Koh Chang: Beaches, Nature and Island Activities

Koh Chang is one of the largest islands in Eastern Thailand and offers much more than beaches. Travelers can explore waterfalls, viewpoints, forests, local communities, beaches and surrounding islands.

For travelers coming from Bangkok, Boonsiri provides several transportation options depending on the selected departure point and destination. The network can connect Bangkok pickup locations with Koh Chang's ferry and island transportation services.

For a route-specific guide, see Bangkok to Koh Chang.

Bangkok to Koh Chang Pickup Examples

The High Season 2026–2027 contract table includes several Bangkok departure points, including:

• Khaosan Road
• Rama 9
• Don Mueang International Airport
• Victory Monument
• Lumphini Park
• Suvarnabhumi Airport
• selected Bangkok hotel transfer areas

Example services from the attached High Season table include morning departures from Bangkok to Koh Chang, with different arrival times depending on whether the destination is Ao Sapparot Pier, Bang Bao or a hotel-transfer area.

Travelers should select the exact pickup point and destination when booking because travel time can vary depending on the transportation combination.

Koh Mak: Slow Travel in Eastern Thailand

Koh Mak is a good option for travelers who want a quieter island experience. Compared with larger destinations, Koh Mak has a more relaxed atmosphere and is often associated with slow travel, beaches, cycling and enjoying island life without a busy schedule.

Travelers can reach Koh Mak from the mainland through Laem Sok to Koh Mak, while travelers already staying on Koh Chang can continue their journey using the Koh Chang to Koh Mak connection.

Koh Mak can also be combined with Koh Kood as part of an Eastern Thailand island-hopping itinerary. See the Koh Mak to Koh Kood route guide for the next part of the journey.

Koh Kood: Beaches, Clear Water and a Peaceful Island Atmosphere

Koh Kood is located in Trat Province and is one of the southernmost islands in the Koh Chang island group. It is especially attractive to travelers looking for beaches, clear water, nature and a quieter island environment.

Travelers from Bangkok can use the Bangkok to Koh Kood service, while travelers already in Trat can travel from Laem Sok to Koh Kood.

Koh Kood can also be connected with Koh Chang and Koh Mak, making it possible to build a multi-island journey instead of returning to Bangkok between destinations.

How to Travel to Eastern Thailand Islands from Bangkok

One of the biggest advantages of traveling with Boonsiri is that travelers do not necessarily need to arrange every part of the journey separately.

Depending on the route, the journey can combine:

1. Bangkok pickup
2. Bus, van or other land transfer
3. Ferry pier connection
4. High-speed catamaran or ferry
5. Island transfer or shuttle service where applicable

This creates a connected transportation network from the mainland to the islands rather than treating each ferry trip as a separate journey.

You can check the latest Boonsiri timetable before planning your trip.

Bangkok Pickup Points for Eastern Thailand

Boonsiri's Eastern Thailand transportation network includes several pickup areas in Bangkok. Depending on the service, travelers may be able to start their journey from:

Pickup points, departure times and transportation combinations depend on the selected service. The attached High Season 2026–2027 contract table includes different departure and arrival combinations for Bangkok, airport and Pattaya-area services, so travelers should confirm the exact service when booking.

Example High Season Travel Times

The following are examples from the High Season 2026–2027 transportation table, rather than a guarantee that every service operates at the same time every day.

Travel times can change because of traffic, weather, ferry operations, transfer arrangements and seasonal schedules. Always check the latest timetable before departure.

Eastern Thailand Island Hopping: Koh Samet → Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood

Travelers who have more time can turn an Eastern Thailand beach trip into an island-hopping journey.

A possible route is:

1. Koh Samet – start with a short beach escape.
2. Koh Chang – continue to a larger island with beaches and nature.
3. Koh Mak – slow down and enjoy a quieter island.
4. Koh Kood – finish with beaches, clear water and a peaceful atmosphere.

These islands are not connected by one single ferry journey. The trip is made up of several transportation segments, so travelers should allow enough time between connections and confirm the departure pier for each leg.

Read the full Eastern Thailand Island Hopping Guide for a more detailed route-planning example.

How Boonsiri Connects Eastern Thailand

Boonsiri's role in Eastern Thailand is not limited to operating individual ferry trips. The network connects Bangkok pickup points, airports, mainland transfer points, ferry piers and multiple islands.

This means travelers can plan their journey around the destination they want to visit instead of having to organize every transportation segment independently.

The network currently covers major Eastern Thailand destinations including Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood.

For more information about the expanded network, see Boonsiri's Eastern Thailand island transportation network.

How to Plan Your Eastern Thailand Trip

A simple way to plan your trip is to start with the island rather than the transportation.

1. Choose the island that matches your travel style.
2. Decide how many nights you want to stay.
3. Choose your Bangkok, airport or Pattaya pickup point.
4. Check the available transportation and departure time.
5. If island hopping, check each connection separately.
6. Leave enough time between transportation segments.
7. Confirm the latest timetable before traveling.

If your trip starts in Bangkok, you can also compare the different Bangkok to Koh Kood, Bangkok to Koh Chang and island-to-island routes before choosing your itinerary.

Book Your Eastern Thailand Island Journey with Boonsiri

Whether you are planning a short trip to Koh Samet, a nature-focused holiday in Koh Chang, a slow island escape in Koh Mak or a relaxing beach trip to Koh Kood, Boonsiri can help connect the mainland and the islands through one integrated transportation network.

Check the latest schedule and choose your departure point before traveling.

Book your Eastern Thailand island journey with Boonsiri

For questions about pickup points, routes or travel arrangements, visit the Boonsiri Contact page.