So as to trial the new Boonsiri Catamaran service between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, I decided to make a day trip to Koh Kood. I was booked on the 10am Catamaran from Bang Bao which is scheduled to return to Koh Chang at 12:15 which would only give me a few minutes on koh Kood. So as to have time for lunch in Ao Salad I booked the return with the Bang Bao Boat wooden boat, scheduled to depart Koh Kood for Koh Chang at 13:00.
The day - I was picked up from home in Chai Chet at 08:45 and the taxi made a couple of stops on the way to Bang Bao, arriving there at 09:30. A very nice greeting from the Boonsiri reps at the office at the top of the pier. We were then guided the 15 minute walk to the catamaran moored at the end of the pier. The 200+ seater catamaran easily carries the 20 or so passengers. There's at least 200 seats in the air-conditioned cabin, with a few outside deck seats available also.
The trip is very comfortable, there's a couple of toilets and snacks are on sale. We arrived at Ao Nid on Koh Mak by 11:10am, so the crossing time is the same as by speedboat. A few passengers got on and got off here, then after 5 minutes we departed to Koh Kood, arriving at Ao Salad on Koh Kood by 11:45, so just beating the running time of the speedboats.
As I wanted to take lunch in Ao Salad I took the Bang Bao wooden Boat back to Koh Chang. This left Ao Salad from a another jetty close-by at 1pm and is surprisingly fast, taking about 2 hours 45 minutes to get back to Bang Bao with stops at Koh Mak and Koh Wai.
Verdict - at 750 baht one-way for a modern, comfortable and fast transfer I think the speedboat companies offering the same trip in the same time for 900 baht (810 if booked on this website) have some serious competition. Boonsiri are also planning to run this route during the low season (but without stopping at Koh Mak). Of course the Bang Bao boat's wooden boat is still the cheapest at 700 baht (630 if booked on this website) but that does take more than 2.5 hours. Other prices by Boonsiri - Koh Chang to Koh Mak is 500 baht and Koh Mak to Koh Kood is 300 baht.
Book the Boonsiri Catamaran from Koh Chang to Koh Kood
Book the Bang Bao Boat back from Koh Kood to Koh Chang
Boonsiri Office in Bang Bao - report here after arriving by taxi.
Boonsiri Catamaran docked at Bang Bao and ready to depart for Koh Mak and Koh Kood
Boonsiri Catamaran - clean western toilets on board
Boonsiri Catamaran - seating available outside too
Boonsiri Catamaran - spacious air-conditioned cabin
Boonsiri Catamaran - kiosk selling snacks and drinks
Boonsiri Catamaran - High speed service
Boonsiri Catamaran - Calling at Ao Nid in Koh Mak on the way to Koh Kood
Boonsiri Catamaran - seating available outside too
Boonsiri Catamaran - Coming in to Ao Salad in Koh Kood - Star High Speed ferry in dock, ready to return to Laem Sok
Boonsiri Office in Ao Salad in Koh Kood - where you arrive, or check in for your return
Taxis waiting outside the Boonsiri office in Koh Kood - ready to take you to your hotel on the island, included in the ticket price
Bang Bao Wooden Boat - waiting at Ao Salad in Koh Kood for departure back to Koh Chang at 13:00.
Bang Bao Wooden boat - going banck to Koh Chang via Koh Mak and Koh Wai, 2.5 hours trip.
Bang Bao Wooden boat stops at Koh Mak Resort on the way back to Koh Chang. Nor Nou Speedboat is moored up off the beach.