Boonsiri High Speed Ferries

Boonsiri High Speed Ferries run high-speed catamaran services and started operations out of Trat in November 2013. It also offer bus services to and from the ferry terminal. Primarily connecting the islands of Koh Kood and Koh Mak with Bangkok, Pattaya and Trat, Boonsiri High Speed Ferries allows you to travel on high quality boats that will get you to your destination as quickly as possible.

From Bangkok it is possible to book a direct ticket through Boonsiri Ferries taking you all the way to either Koh Kood or Koh Mak, with a ticket that includes bus and ferry.

There are two departures each day to both destinations, leaving at 05.00 (arriving at 12.00 and 15.40 at Koh Kood and Koh Mak respectively) and 08.00 (12.50 and 16.00 arrivals). It's worth noting that during the low season (16 May – 15 October) there are no services to Koh Mak from the capital and just one per day to Koh Kood, leaving Bangkok at 07.00 and arriving at 14.30. Tickets are priced at THB850 for the seven-hour journey to Koh Kood and the trip to Koh Mak costs THB750.

If you're leaving the islands to head back to Bangkok there are two options from Koh Kood each day at 09.00 and 12.00 (arriving at 16.30 and 20.00 respectively) but just one departure at 09.00 during the low season. There is one service leaving Koh Mak for Bangkok each day throughout the year at 12.50, getting to the capital for around 20.30. The journey times and ticket prices are the same in either direction.

If you're already as far south as Pattaya but still want to check out one or both of these islands, Boonsiri Ferries can arrange for this transfer. There is one departure a day from Pattaya between 07-08.00 heading to both islands, with tickets to Koh Kood and Koh Mak priced at THB850 and THB750 respectively, with both trips taking around 8 hours.

If you're heading from Koh Kood to Pattaya, there are two services each day at 09.00 and 12.00 (only the 09.00 ferry will be running during low season). Similarly, there is one ferry a day from Koh Mak to Pattaya at 12.50, arriving at 20.00. Ticket prices to and from Pattaya remain the same regardless of the direction.

Anyone interested in island hopping can make the hour trip between Koh Kood and Koh Mak once a day. Ferries depart Koh Kood at 12.00 and leave Koh Mak at 15.00 with tickets priced at THB300 for either journey.

As it can be a long journey from Bangkok to these islands, some visitors prefer to stay in Trat for a night to break up the journey and see a typical Thai town in action. If you're in Trat you can book a ticket to either island from around THB500, with two ferries each day making the 1 ½ hour trip. Departures to both islands are at 10.45 or 14.20 (scheduled to arrive at around 12.50 and 15.40 respectively). There are two ferries per day from Koh Kood to Trat (09.00 and 12.00) and one departing from Koh Mak at 12.50.

Boonsiri Ferries offers a reliable service with several options each day along this popular route. The boats that are used on these trips tend to be new and in good condition so the company offers good value for money.

The operator can also offer additional drop-offs such as to Trat airport or to Lad Krabang station, just 15 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is ideal if you are catching an international flight as you won't have to stay overnight in Bangkok. It's even possible to arrange transfers to Aranyaprathet to cross the border into Cambodia, just a few hours from Siem Reap and the world-famous Angkor Wat.

It can be hectic trying to figure out what is happening when you're transferring from the bus to a ferry or a taxi. But rest assured, there is a system in place, even if it doesn't look as though that's the case!

If you're heading from Bangkok directly to either Koh Kood or Koh Mak, be aware that this is a very long and tiring journey. If you do not wish to fly to Trat, whether that's down to your budget or you just wish to see as much of the country as possible, you may want to consider breaking up the journey. Delays are fairly common and there can often be quite a lot of waiting around when you are changing vehicles so the journey can sometimes feel never-ending!

On Boonsiri Ferries, children under five years old can travel for free and those aged above 5 years old have to pay adult fare. Prices do not change whether it is high or low season but the departure times do, so bear this in mind.

Boonsiri Ferries class 16 October – 15 May as high season and 16 May – 15 October as low season.

If you're travelling from Bangkok to either Koh Kood or Koh Mak you will need to catch a bus at the Boonsiri Ferries office in the city centre. This is located on Tanee Road, close to Khao San Road, it's worth arriving at least 30 minutes before the bus leaves.

The range of services and destinations offered by Boonsiri Ferries is valued highly by travellers.

There are many extra services offered by the operator such as drop-offs at Lad Krabang, invaluable if you have a flight to catch or would rather avoid having to pay extra for a hotel in Bangkok.

Overall, most customers felt that Boonsiri Ferries offered excellent value for money, with perks including free shuttle buses to resorts on Koh Kood waiting at the ferry terminal, a particularly welcome sight if you've travelled all the way from Bangkok that day and can't face haggling for a taxi for the final stage of your journey.

The package tickets from Bangkok and Pattaya to either island are very well-priced at THB750 to Koh Mak and THB850 to Koh Kood. Ferry tickets alone from Trat to Koh Kood cost THB500 so you are travelling from Bangkok to the ferry terminal for just THB350, that's excellent value!