Koh Kood ( sometimes spelled Ko Kut ) is a great island to visit and probably the best in Thailand for lovers of beaches, jungles, waterfalls and deserted roads – which are ideal for cruising along on on your rental scooter. As with Koh Mak there isn’t a vehicle ferry to the island. So, along with the stunning scenery and crystal clear water, expect it to be quiet, even in High Season.
Koh Kood is far too large for you to be able to walk from beach to beach easily, it’s around 25 Kms long and 12 Kms wide, making it the fifth largest island in Thailand.
It’s appearance is that of a smaller less developed Koh Chang. With jungle clad mountains inland and beaches dotted along the west coast. But despite the size, there isn’t much in the way of public transport. Many resorts are located down dirt tracks, well off the main road and when you get to the main road you’ll find there are very few shops, bars or restaurants anywhere. You won’t find any 7-eleven minimarts, beer bars, tailors shops or other trappings of mass tourism here.
So you can find yourself spending most of your holiday in and around the same beach if you don’t have your own transport. For some visitors, that’s ideal – just kick back and enjoy the sun for a week or two. There are pick up truck taxis but these mainly run island tours, taking families and groups, who don’t rent scooters on a day trip around the main beaches and sights. So if you’re used to the conveniences of other islands then Koh Kood might not be for you.
In 2014, The Guardian called Koh Kood ‘Thailand’s Last Unspoilt Island‘ and it still is as you can see from this video of some of the highlights that was taken in mid 2017.
The local population is estimated at under 2,500, so there aren’t any towns on the island. But there are four main built up areas. These are the fishing communities in Ao Salat, in the northeast and Ao Noi, in the south east. The hospital, police and local government offices are all located in the Klong Hin Dam area, on the west coast. The east of the island is inaccessible and inhabited. Dotted around the centre of the island are a handful of waterfalls which are all free to visit and great for a cooling dip.
The main beaches are spread out along the west and south coasts of the island and there are now over 50 places to stay. These range from Soneva Kiri, a super luxury 100,000 Baht/ night six star resort to homestays in fishing communities.
The area around Klong Chao beach and river estuary has become one of the busiest on the island for visitors. There’s a good choice of locally owned, mid-price bungalows by the river here. Plus mini-marts and cheap restaurants etc nearby. And it’s only 5 minutes walk to the beach which is home to some of the island’s high end resorts Tinkerbell, High Season, Wendy The Pool Resort and Peter Pan. It’s my prefered area to stay when I visit.
How Clear is the Sea?
If you have been researching Koh Kood then you’ll no doubt have heard how clear the brilliant blue water is. But a video is worth a thousand words and this was made by a couple of our guests who also stayed on Koh Kood in early 2017. Filmed by Marc and his drone and edited by his daughter Dominique . . .
How to Get to Koh Kood
Ferries to Koh Kood depart from the mainland pier at Laem Sok, Trat. There aren’t any vehicle ferries, just passenger-only boats. These are run by three companies – Boonsiri Ferry, Koh kood Princess and Ko Kut Express. They all their their own ticket offices near the pier.
During the High Season, the first boat of the day is at 09:00 and the last at 14:20. Therefore if you are coming from Bangkok you will need to make an early start. Most people opt to stay a night in Trat and then the next morning come to Koh Kood. The boat companies all provide free transport from hotels in Trat to the ferry pier. Likewise, transport form the pier on the island to resorts is also included in the cost of the boat ticket.
Boats run daily all year round, but there is a reduced service from mid-May to mid-October. And all hotels can book boat tickets for you. Ticket price ranges from 350 to 600 Baht per person.
If you are coming from Koh Chang, both Bangbao boat and Kai Bae Hut speedboat run speedboat services from Koh Chang to Koh Mak to Koh Kood during the high Season. These usually start running on 1 November and stop on 30 April. Buy tickets from any tour agent on Koh Chang. The one way price is 900 Baht per person.
Island map
This is a rough map of the Koh Kood. Not all the resorts are on it but enough for you to see the layout of the island. You can download a much more detailed print map, which you’ll find available at resorts on the island here: Koh Kood Map PDF.
Credit: https://iamkohchang.com/guide/koh-kood-island.html
