My first glimpse of Koh Kood was of turquoise waters, dense forests and endless stretches of pristine beach minus any signs of modern resort life. Located about 325 km from Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Kood is a proverbial hidden gem—an antithesis to Thailand’s much-visited islands of Phuket, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Although Koh Kood is the fourth biggest island in Thailand, it remains largely untouched by modernity thanks to its remote location. Here, life moves slowly for the island’s 1000 odd residents and everything has its own rhythm. There are no 7-elevens or supermarkets and you can pick up essentials at the small grocery shops attached to local homes. Whether you are Entertainment options come by way of gorgeous sunsets, boat rides and swims. And if that catches your fancy, expect to fall in love with Koh Kood, the original tropical paradise with its age-old fishing villages, near-deserted beaches, swaying coconut palms, hidden waterfalls and magical forest trails. 🌼Beach time in Koh Kood
Although the eastern coast is a tropical jungle with rocky shores, the island’s west coast hosts several beautiful beaches to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. Khlong Chao beach with its long stretch of powdery white sand is the most popular beach on the island and is dotted with several resorts and a handful of cafes and restaurants. This is the perfect place to spend the day sunbathing with a book or to enjoy a sundowner by the sea.
If you love chasing sunsets, make your way further north from Khlong Chao to Ao Tapao beach. Take a motorbike to enjoy the drive which winds past a picture-perfect bay with wooden piers. Apart from a couple of charming bungalows that blend in with the surroundings, you’ll have the beach all to yourself. Get your insta moment on the rope swings installed here and remember to carry a picnic hamper and a bottle of bubbly while you enjoy the great gig in the sky. On the southernmost tip of the island, you will find Ao Phrao beach, a secluded pocket of white sand and shallow blue waters with a dense forest and rocky shores beyond. There aren’t many accommodation options here apart from a couple of local homestays, and if you are here for the day, you can grab something to eat from one of the restaurants at the nearby fishing village. And remember to take a picture on its beautiful pier. Beyond these, there are other beaches like Ao Takhian and Khlong Hin which are well worth exploring if you have the time. 🌼 Waterfalls, diving and fishing villages If you are looking for some adventure, hike through the forest and cool off at one of the many waterfalls on the island. Behind Khlong Chao Beach, backwaters connect to the Khlong Chao waterfall; you can get here by riding a motorbike and hiking for about 15 minutes. The large, freshwater pool of the waterfall is the ideal location to take a dip in the tropical heat. There are a few other cascades in Koh Kood like the Khlong Yai Kee waterfall and Huang Nam Kaew waterfall, but keep in mind that waterfalls are best viewed in October right after the rains. If you love the underwater world, Koh Kood Divers offers plenty of marine expeditions to choose from. Apart from multi-day scuba diving and open water diving courses, there are also snorkelling trips to nearby islands like Koh Chang and Koh Rang. While you are in Koh Kood, don’t forget to visit Ao Salat fishing village for a taste of the local life. With small overwater houses built on wooden stilts, this village is home to a mix of Thai and Cambodian residents. Go during the day to see colourful boats lining the waterfront, and fishermen loading off their day’s catch. You can also dine in at one of the restaurants offering local seafood dishes, and visit a crab farm. Visit the local Buddhist temple on a hilltop and take in views across the island. On a clear day, you can see Cambodia from here. 🌼Where to stay in Koh Kood The many charms of this sleepy island has made it a draw for travellers looking for an off-the-grid experience. Koh Kood offers homestays, budget hotels, serene beachfront wooden bungalows as well as luxury resorts nestled around its beachfronts. In recent times, several long-stay rental options have also popped up, complete with high-speed wifi to cater to digital nomads and WFH folks. Shantaa Located on Ao Taopao beach, this is a sprawling family-run place with 25 villas and suites, a marble swimming pool, two cafes and an excellent restaurant serving local Thai cuisine. Fringed by two beaches and adjoining a pier this is a place to hang out and enjoy a slice of local life or simply retreat to a quiet corner of the property to enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea. Website; doubles from Rs40,200 Koh Kood Beach Resort With its charming cabanas, coconut gardens and stunning sunsets, this is a popular option among many travellers and is located on Ao Yai Ki Beach. Room styles range from the Bali House, set among coconut trees, the Thai Twin House with a terrace and jacuzzi and the Sunset House which is a whole apartment with a balcony. Website; doubles from Rs10,300 High Season Pool Villa & Spa Each of the 21 thatched roof villas come with their own plunge pools. The property is on the Khlong Chao Beach and has a beachfront restaurant, a seaside bar and a romantic pod-style private dining option for couples. The onsite spa offers a range of treatments and massages and is a great way to unwind after a day spent in the sun. Website; doubles from Rs36,700Soneva Kiri If you are looking for an idyllic beach vacation coupled with luxury, opt for Soneva Kiri located in the northern part of Koh Kood. With 33 individual villas (with one-to-five bedrooms) and large, private pools, the resort comes with its own private beach. There’s a private cinema that shows classics, and Soneva’s charming barefoot policy encourages guests to reconnect with nature while providing top-of-the-line comfort. Its dining experiences are superlative. At Kruaa Mae Tuk, local chef Tuk dishes up a feast for the resort's guests in a lagoon-front restaurant with stunning sunset views. Some of her standout dishes include locally sourced crabs cooked with garlic and black pepper, and appetizers from central Thailand like tod man hua plee (deep fried banana blossom) and minced pork cakes served with chilli sauce. You can also book a cooking class with the chef, and explore the fishing village Ao Salat to source local ingredients. Guests can opt to dine in a tree pod and take part in medicinal mixology sessions in the resort’s onsite garden dotted with Thai herbs and vegetables. Website; doubles from Rs1,15,600 🌼How to get to Koh Kood The nearest airport to Koh Kood is Trat on the mainland which is about 64 km away. This is a tiny airport with 3-4 daily flights operated by Bangkok Air. Many travellers opt for a taxi, bus or a minivan from the Thai capital and jump on a ferry to Koh Kood. For visitors staying at resorts like Soneva Kiri, you can fly directly to the island in a private six-seater plane from Bangkok. 🌼When to visit Koh Kood Koh Kood shuts down in the typhoon season between June to September, and ferries and speedboats between the islands do not operate during the off-season. This means that the best months to visit the island are from October until May when the sunny weather and calmer sea allow uninterrupted beach time. Cre: cntraveller