Getting to Koh Mak.
Start with the right pier.
Bus and boat, a flight to Trat or a private transfer? Here is how the pieces fit together, with the mainland piers explained and the checks to make before you book.
Which route suits your trip?
Work backwards from the boat. A cheap flight or an early bus is only useful if it gets you to the correct departure point with time to spare.
| Your starting point | A useful option | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | A combined road transfer and boat ticket | The exact pickup point, check-in time and whether the whole connection is covered by one booking. |
| Bangkok, with a family or plenty of luggage | A private car or van to the mainland pier | Agree the pier and boat departure before setting the pickup time. |
| Flying into Trat | A prearranged airport-to-pier transfer | Allow for baggage collection, the road journey and boat check-in. |
| Already on Koh Chang or Koh Kood | An inter-island boat where available | The service for your travel date and the departure pier shown on your ticket. |
From Bangkok by bus and boat
Boonsiri offers connections to Koh Mak, with pickup choices depending on the route and date. Its September 2026 pickup guide includes Khaosan Road and airport options, but not every listed pickup serves every island. Search for Koh Mak and your actual travel date before choosing where to board.
See Boonsiri’s pickup guide and check available journeys.
If you book a public bus to Trat separately, arrange the onward transfer to the pier as well. Treat these as separate connections unless the ticket seller explicitly confirms otherwise.
Flying to Trat
Check Bangkok Airways for Bangkok–Trat flights on your dates. Trat Airport is on the mainland, in Khao Saming, so you still need a road transfer and a boat to Koh Mak. Avoid relying on an old claim of a fixed number of flights each day.
Before paying for the flight, send the proposed arrival time to your transfer provider. Ask which boat it can realistically connect with and what happens if the flight is delayed. For a late arrival, an overnight stop on the mainland may be the more relaxed choice.
Laem Ngop and Laem Sok are different places
The two names are easy to muddle when booking. Copy the departure point from your boat confirmation, rather than asking a driver for “the Koh Mak pier”.
Laem Ngop / Krom Luang Chumphon pier: the mainland departure area for speedboats such as Panan and Koh Mak Ferry.
Laem Sok: the departure area for catamaran and other services, including Boonsiri and Koh Kut Express connections to Koh Mak.
Boonsiri’s current Laem Sok route guide confirms the connection but directs passengers to its booking system for the departure time and journey duration.
If driving yourself, confirm the parking location, overnight charges and check-in office with your boat company. Leave the car on the mainland unless you have specifically arranged a vehicle service.
Boat times: a planning snapshot
This table is a starting point, not a reservation. The times and adult one-way fares below were reported in Explore Koh Chang’s 1 October 2026 transport update. They have not all been independently confirmed with the operators. Check your chosen sailing before paying for connecting transport.
| Service / mainland pier | To Koh Mak | From Koh Mak | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Mak Ferry Laem Ngop | 11:30 | 08:30 | 550 baht |
| Panan Laem Ngop | 15:00 | 10:00 | 550 baht |
| Boonsiri Laem Sok | 10:30, 15:30 | 09:00, 14:00 | 550 baht |
| Koh Kut Express Laem Sok | 11:45 | 09:30 | 500 baht |
Snapshot for early October 2026. Extra departures may be added as the season changes. Child fares, transfer inclusions and cancellation terms vary. Ask for the full price for your party.
For direct checks, use Boonsiri, Koh Kut Express, or ask your accommodation to confirm the Laem Ngop speedboat that suits your arrival.
Your arrival pier on Koh Mak
Boats do not all land at the same place. Panan normally uses Koh Mak Resort’s pier, while Koh Mak Ferry uses Ao Nid. Landing points can change with sea conditions. Send your accommodation the boat company, departure time and arrival pier so it knows where to meet you.
Coming from Koh Chang or Koh Kood
Check inter-island connections before committing to your hotel dates. Boonsiri currently advertises a Koh Chang–Koh Mak route, with availability and departure points depending on the selected service. Its network also includes Koh Kood connections.
The old blanket advice that there are no inter-island services throughout the rainy season is too broad. Equally, an advertised route does not guarantee a sailing on every date. Search each leg separately, including the return, and confirm the weather arrangements with the operator.
Five checks before you set off
- Confirm the mainland pier. Match the driver’s destination to the boat ticket.
- Allow a comfortable connection. Include check-in, baggage and possible road delays.
- Arrange the island pickup. Give your accommodation the operator and arrival details.
- Keep essentials with you. Put tickets, valuables and electronics in a bag you can keep dry.
- Plan the journey home too. Avoid a tight boat-to-flight connection, especially before an international departure.
Ask about a private transfer
A car or van can make the mainland part straightforward, particularly with children or luggage. Request a current quote using the form below. The old fixed prices have been removed because they were no longer reliable.
Include your pickup location, travel date, number of passengers and luggage, plus your intended boat. Ask whether tolls, waiting time, parking and boat tickets are included. An enquiry is not a confirmed booking.
Keep planning
Next, choose your base in the beach guide, browse places to stay or find your resort on the island map.