Koh Mak is the middle island of the three, roughly 20 kilometres south of Koh Chang and a short hop north of Koh Kood. That central position is its travel advantage: it links easily to both neighbours, so a lot of people arrive here as the second or third stop of an island-hopping trip rather than a single destination. However you come, the last leg is always a boat — there is no airport and no bridge.
From Bangkok
The mainland gateway is Trat province. From Bangkok you either take a 5 to 6 hour bus from Ekkamai or Mochit, or fly Bangkok Airways into Trat in about an hour — the only carrier on the route, so convenient but pricey. From there it is a short transfer to Laem Sok pier and a Boonsiri ferry across to Koh Mak, around 45 to 60 minutes. The simplest version is a combined ticket: a minibus picks you up in Bangkok and connects straight to the boat.
From Koh Chang
If you are coming down from Koh Chang, a seasonal speedboat runs from Bang Bao pier at the island's southern tip to Koh Mak in roughly 45 to 60 minutes. This is the natural way to chain the two, but it is a dry-season service that weather can cancel and that largely stops in the wet months — never assume it is running without checking the current timetable.
From Koh Kood
The Koh Kood link is the easiest island-to-island connection in the archipelago: a Boonsiri ferry covers it in about 30 minutes, usually with a midday departure, landing at Ao Nid pier on Koh Mak's south-east coast. This makes a Koh Kood–Koh Mak combination very simple to plan, which is why so many people do exactly that.
Which pier you arrive at
Koh Mak has more than one landing point — Ao Nid pier on the south-east and the Makathanee pier near Ao Kao among them — and which one your boat uses depends on the operator and route. It matters because the island has no taxis: your resort arranges a pickup, and that pickup needs to know the right pier. Confirm both when you book.
Getting to your resort, and around
There is no public transport on Koh Mak. Resorts meet boats with a pickup truck, usually for a small fee — arrange it in advance. Once you are settled, the island is flat and small enough that most people get around by bicycle or a scooter rather than anything motorised and metered. More on that in the things-to-do guide; the short version is that you will not need a car and there isn't one to hire anyway.
The seasonal catch
From roughly June to September the timetable contracts: some routes pause, the Koh Chang speedboat in particular, and rough days cancel sailings. A number of resorts close for the same window. Travelling then is cheaper and quieter but riskier — keep a buffer day before any onward flight and reconfirm your outbound boat the day before you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Koh Mak from Bangkok?
Get to Trat province first — a 5 to 6 hour bus from Ekkamai or Mochit, or an hour's flight on Bangkok Airways — then a Boonsiri ferry from Laem Sok pier to Koh Mak, about 45 to 60 minutes. The ferry companies sell combined bus-and-boat tickets from Bangkok that handle the whole chain.
Can you get to Koh Mak from Koh Chang?
Yes, in the dry season. A speedboat runs from Bang Bao pier on the south of Koh Chang to Koh Mak in roughly 45 to 60 minutes. Service is seasonal and weather-dependent, and largely stops during the rainy months, so confirm it is running before you rely on it.
How long is the ferry from Koh Kood to Koh Mak?
About 30 minutes. Boonsiri runs the hop, typically with departures around the middle of the day, arriving at Ao Nid pier on Koh Mak's south-east. It is the easiest island-to-island link in the archipelago.
Do boats to Koh Mak run in the rainy season?
Service thins out sharply from June to September. Some routes pause, others drop to a single daily boat, and rough seas cancel crossings. If you travel in green season, build in a buffer day and confirm your return the day before.
