Koh Chang island hopping guide.

A cluster of small, uninhabited islands protected within Mu Ko Chang National Park and generally regarded as the best snorkelling in the archipelago - clearer water and healthier coral than the beaches on Koh Chang itself. Reachable only as a stop on a snorkelling day tour (no scheduled ferry), with a national park entry fee of 200 THB for adults and 100 THB for children on top of the tour price.

A small, low-key island close to Koh Chang with a handful of simple bungalow resorts, calm shallow bays and reef right off the beach - a common stop on multi-island snorkelling tours, and also bookable as a quiet overnight escape for travellers who want to skip the day-tripper crowds.

A quiet, largely car-free island partway between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, popular with longer-stay visitors for its slow pace, mangrove-lined coast and clean beaches. Most Koh Chang-Koh Kood boats stop here to pick up and drop off passengers, making it an easy add-on for a multi-night island-hopping itinerary rather than a single-day visit.

The furthest and most upscale of the group, with some of the clearest water and whitest sand in the archipelago plus a growing range of boutique resorts. Best treated as a multi-night stay rather than a rushed day trip given the travel time, arriving via Ao Salad Pier on the island's northeast side.

The cheapest way to see several islands in one trip - a shared boat with a Thai lunch included, typically stopping at Koh Rang Marine Park plus two or three smaller islands such as Koh Wai. Slower and less flexible than a speedboat tour but the best value for snorkelling-focused visitors.

A faster multi-island snorkelling tour covering three to four stops, usually including Koh Rang Marine Park and Koh Wai, with more time in the water and less time travelling than the budget boat option. Snorkel gear is typically included; the 200 THB Koh Rang park fee is usually extra.

Scheduled services from Bang Bao Pier run by operators including Koh Chang Express (formerly Bang Bao Boats), Bangbao Boat and Nor Nou Kai Bae Hut Speedboat, with Boonsiri Ferry running a catamaran. High season (roughly November-April) sees the fullest schedule with multiple daily departures; from around June to September services thin out sharply - some operators pause entirely and the catamaran can drop to a single daily 13:00 departure - so this route suits overnight stops on Koh Mak or Koh Kood rather than a same-day round trip.

A private boat and driver covering Koh Kood, Koh Mak, Koh Kham and Koh Wai on a custom itinerary - the most flexible option and reasonable value once a group is three or four people, best arranged through a Bang Bao pier tour operator or hotel desk a day or two ahead.

November to April is high season - the calmest seas, clearest water and the fullest ferry/speedboat schedule to Koh Mak and Koh Kood. From roughly June to September, Koh Chang's monsoon season cuts many speedboat services and narrows inter-island ferries to a reduced schedule, so day-tour snorkelling trips (which run closer to year-round, weather permitting) are the more reliable option outside peak months.

For a single day out from Koh Chang, a snorkelling tour to Koh Rang Marine Park and Koh Wai is the simplest option and needs no advance planning beyond booking a seat. To actually stay on Koh Mak or Koh Kood, book the inter-island ferry/speedboat and treat it as a multi-night trip - the travel time and reduced low-season schedule make a same-day round trip impractical.

Koh Rang sits inside Mu Ko Chang National Park and carries a 200 THB adult / 100 THB child entry fee, usually collected by the tour operator and sometimes bundled into the ticket price - confirm whether it's included when booking. Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood themselves fall outside the park boundary and carry no separate entry fee.

Cash in small baht notes for park fees and any extras, reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard for reef protection and sun cover, a dry bag for phones and cameras on speedboat legs, and motion-sickness tablets if the crossing to Koh Kood falls on a choppier day. Bang Bao Pier is the main departure point for both day tours and inter-island ferries - confirm the exact pier and check-in time with your operator, since some routes use Ao Salad Pier at the Koh Kood end.

Snorkelling day tours from Bang Bao Pier typically visit Koh Rang Marine Park and Koh Wai, sometimes adding a third stop such as Koh Yak or Koh Wai's neighbouring reefs. Koh Mak and Koh Kood are further out and better suited to an overnight stay than a single-day round trip.

Budget snorkelling day tours run roughly 700-900 THB per person, speedboat day tours roughly 800-1,100 THB per person (both often excluding the 200 THB Koh Rang park fee), and one-way inter-island transport to Koh Mak or Koh Kood runs roughly 400-1,000 THB depending on operator and boat type. Private charters start from about 14,000 THB for up to four people.

No - Koh Rang carries a national park entry fee of 200 THB for adults and 100 THB for children, which is sometimes included in a tour's ticket price and sometimes collected separately, so confirm this when booking. Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood are outside the park boundary and have no equivalent fee.

Not on the same schedule. High season (roughly November-April) has the fullest daily departures from multiple operators. From around June to September, speedboat services thin out substantially and the catamaran can drop to a single daily departure, so always confirm current schedules directly with operators - especially outside peak season.