Koh Kood: Beaches & Holidays

About Koh Kood

The island of Koh Kood, Thailand, sits at the country's far-eastern edge in Trat province, close to the maritime border with Cambodia. It is the fourth-largest Thai island but among the least developed, which is exactly its draw: dense rainforest, coconut plantations, clear water and a handful of quiet beaches, with none of the neon, traffic jams or crowds of Phuket or nearby Koh Chang. There is no mass tourism here — just a scattering of resorts, fishing hamlets and jungle.

Geography and climate

Koh Kood is a hilly, forested island fringed by beaches on its western and southern shores, where the sand is at its whitest and the water calmest. Like the rest of eastern Thailand it has a tropical monsoon climate: a dry, pleasant high season from November to April, and a wet southwest-monsoon season from May to October when rain is frequent and the sea can be rough. Many resorts and restaurants close during the wettest months, so timing matters more here than on the big commercial islands.

History and character

Koh Kood was historically a remote fishing and plantation island, and that heritage still defines its unhurried mood. Coconut, rubber and small fishing villages long sustained the local community before a light touch of tourism arrived. Development has stayed deliberately low-rise and low-key, so the island retains a genuine, lived-in feel rather than a resort-strip veneer.

How to get to Koh Kood

Reaching Koh Kood takes a little effort, which is part of why it stays quiet. All boats depart from the Laem Sok pier in Trat province; the journey from the pier takes roughly 1–1.5 hours by ferry or 45 minutes to an hour by speedboat, depending on the operator and sea conditions. Most visitors combine a transfer to Trat with a boat crossing.

From Bangkok

The most common route is Bangkok to Trat by road — a private transfer or minibus of about 5 hours — then a boat from Laem Sok. Alternatively, Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Trat Airport in about an hour, from where it is a short drive to the pier; this is the fastest but priciest option. Budget travellers take a public bus from Bangkok's Ekkamai terminal to Trat, then a shared transfer to the pier.

From Pattaya

From Pattaya, the practical approach is a road transfer along the eastern seaboard to Laem Sok pier in Trat (around 4–5 hours), then the boat to the island. Booking a combined van-and-boat ticket removes the guesswork of connecting the two legs.

From Koh Chang

Koh Kood pairs naturally with neighbouring Koh Chang, and in the high season seasonal speedboats link the two islands (often via Koh Mak), taking roughly an hour or more. Services thin out or stop in the low season, so confirm the schedule before planning an island-to-island hop.

Getting around the island

Once on Koh Kood, the easiest way to explore is a rented scooter — roads are quiet but can be steep and rough in places, so ride carefully and only with a valid motorcycle licence. Resorts also arrange taxis, and many offer bicycles for short trips. There is no public bus network, so plan your transport with your accommodation.

Where to stay on Koh Kood

Accommodation on Koh Kood spans simple beach bungalows to a few luxury hideaways, but the total number of rooms is small — so book ahead in high season. The main clusters are around Klong Chao and Ao Tapao on the west coast, close to the best beaches and the island's few restaurants.

Resorts and bungalows

At the top end, boutique eco-resorts offer villas over the water or set in the jungle, with the seclusion that defines the island. Mid-range beach bungalows and guesthouses cluster near Klong Chao, offering good value and easy access to the sand. Because many places close in the low season, always confirm your resort is operating for your dates.

The beaches of Koh Kood

Koh Kood's beaches are the reason to come: soft white sand, coconut palms leaning over clear, shallow water, and — outside peak days — the feeling of having them nearly to yourself. The best lie along the west and south coasts.

The best beaches

Klong Chao is the island's signature beach and its social hub — a long, gently curving stretch of white sand with calm, swimmable water and the widest choice of places to eat and stay. Ao Tapao, just south, is quieter and equally beautiful, while Ao Phrao offers a broad, peaceful bay. These three form the classic Koh Kood beach circuit.

Secret beaches and coves

Beyond the main beaches, small coves and quiet stretches reward those who explore by scooter or boat. Snorkelling is good off several of them, and the island's shallow, clear water makes for easy swimming. Because so few people venture out, finding a near-empty patch of sand is easy here in a way it no longer is on Phuket.

Attractions and things to do

Waterfalls

Koh Kood's jungle interior hides several waterfalls. Klong Chao waterfall is the most famous and accessible, with a deep pool ideal for a cooling swim after a short walk. Huang Nam Khiao waterfall is more remote and rewarding for those who want a longer trek. Both are best in and just after the rainy season, when the flow is strongest.

Ancient nature

The island is famous for its old-growth trees, including a giant, centuries-old Makha tree deep in the forest — one of Koh Kood's natural landmarks. The dense, largely untouched rainforest is a highlight in itself, and easy to reach on foot or by scooter from the main beaches.

Fishing villages

Ban Ao Salad and Ban Ao Yai are traditional stilted fishing villages built out over the water, where wooden walkways connect homes and seafood restaurants. They offer an authentic glimpse of island life and some of the freshest seafood on Koh Kood, straight off the boats.

Active outdoors

Beyond the beaches, Koh Kood is excellent for kayaking — the mangrove-lined Klong Chao canal is a favourite paddle — as well as snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding and jungle hikes. Dive and snorkel trips run to nearby reefs and islets in the high season.

Food and dining

Local dishes and seafood

Fresh seafood is the star of Koh Kood's kitchens — grilled fish, prawns, crab and squid, often bought that morning from local fishermen. Thai staples like tom yum, green curry and som tam appear everywhere, and the fishing villages serve seafood at its freshest.

Where to eat well for less

The best value is at family-run restaurants in and around Klong Chao and at the fishing villages, where a hearty seafood meal costs a fraction of a resort menu. The unique Treepod-style dining at one riverside restaurant, where you eat in a raised bamboo pod, is a memorable splurge worth trying once.

Fruit and markets

Small local shops and roadside stalls sell tropical fruit — mango, pineapple, rambutan and coconut grown on the island. There is no big central market as on larger islands, so stock up on snacks and water when you pass a shop.

Tips and practical advice

Safety

Koh Kood is safe, with little crime, but the main hazards are practical: steep, sometimes rough roads for scooters, strong sun, and rough seas in the low season. Ride carefully, wear a helmet, watch the weather before boat trips, and heed any warning signs at waterfalls, which can flood after heavy rain.

Budget travel

You can visit Koh Kood affordably by taking the public bus and ferry, staying in a Klong Chao bungalow, renting a scooter and eating at village restaurants. The main unavoidable cost is the transfer and boat crossing; once on the island, food and simple rooms are reasonable, especially outside peak weeks.

What to bring

• Enough cash in baht, withdrawn on the mainland, as island ATMs are scarce.
• Reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent and a basic first-aid kit.
• A dry bag for boat and kayak trips, plus a power bank.
• Any personal medication, since pharmacies are limited.
• Light rain protection if travelling near the shoulder season.

Sources: Tourism Authority of Thailand (tourismthailand.org); Marine Department of Thailand (md.go.th) for ferry and pier information; Bangkok Airways / Trat Airport (bangkokairways.com) for flight details.