Travel
Peace and nature: My relaxing stay on Koh Kood
Destinations
Joanna Horanin
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Last updated at 11/03/2025, 18:15
Hi, I'm Joanna, the author of The Blond Travels. In the worlds of Thailand and Portugal, I feel like a fish in water - and it's no coincidence! I've been exploring Thailand for over a decade, and I've settled in Portugal for 6 years now. My mission is to support Dreamers - just like you - in discovering these fascinating countries and helping those in love with them find their own place on Earth, preferably for good! Let's uncover these unique corners of the world together.
“Koh Kood wasn’t supposed to be so crowded,” I thought, riding behind on my scooter. My husband maneuvered between the speeding scooters and pick-up trucks. There seemed to be thousands of people there, and everyone decided to take to the road. It was our first evening on the island. A few hours earlier we had arrived there from Koh Wai. Perhaps it was just that the last 3 days we had spent on an almost deserted island had made Koh Kud such a shock to us. We had such an impression only for the first day. After that it only got better. I invite you today to spend time on Koh Kud, an island that is becoming increasingly popular and can compete with many other destinations.
A few years ago my husband and I were on Koh Mak. We liked it there very much. At that time, we still didn’t have time to visit the other islands. This time, after staying on Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Koh Wai, we finally decided to go to Koh Kood. The island seemed very crowded to us at first. We needed a day to get a little more used to it and find quiet places. I left there very impressed with the paradise beaches. Now I am not surprised that so many people choose this particular island.
Koh Kood will be for you if you are looking for blue water, white sand. It is also a good island to relax on if you like a little more luxury. This is because you will find many more expensive resorts on the island. The island is touristy and there is a lot of traffic here, but there are certainly fewer people than on Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, for example. Couples, families with children, but also backpackers looking for adventure and company will rest here.
How to get to Koh Kood?
Koh Kud has good connections. It lies very close to Trat, where there is a small airport.
If you’re coming from Bangkok – the cheapest option is a van from Ekkamai to the marina in Trat. There you will catch a boat to Koh Kood. Buy your ticket at the station in Ekkamai or online here. A more expensive option is by plane from Bangkok. The only airline that operates the Bangkok – Trat route is Bangkok Airways. You will buy your ticket on the carrier’s website. At the airport you will get a cab and boat ticket to Koh Kood. You can also buy it here.
From Chiang Mai you have to get to Bangkok first. This is doable in one day if you get on the plane first thing in the morning. The first flight to Bangkok is around 6am. From the airport, take a cab to Ekkamai. You’ll be there by 8 if there are no traffic jams. There you will buy your van and boat tickets. You can book everything online here.
It takes about 3 hours to get to Trat by mini van. The car stops once or twice along the way. You can then go out, buy something to eat and use the restroom. Boats depart every hour. There are stores and restaurants at the marina, too. However, there is no air conditioning, so it is sometimes very hot.
The nearby islands – Koh Mak, Koh Chang and Koh Wai have direct boats. From Koh Chang, the trip will take you about 2 hours. Buy your boat ticket on the islands or online at 12GoAsia.
The cruise between the islands is extremely pleasant. When the weather is nice, the water is green and blue. You can often see fish jumping out of the water. The views are truly amazing!
First impressions of Koh Kood
My first impressions were not so positive. It seemed to me that the island was very crowded. In the evening, the traffic on the roads was heavy. Drivers – locals as well as tourists – drove fast and brashly. I couldn’t get used to it for a long time. As we drove through the winding roads in a cab, I had the feeling that I was in a really touristy place.
Koh Kood is very green due to the frequent rains here. So you can enjoy the beauty of nature with your eyes. Just take a little detour from the main roads and turn into one of the side streets to feel the rural, peaceful atmosphere that Thailand is famous for.
The beaches on Koh Kood are very nice. Some look really paradisiacal. This is what you are definitely looking for on vacation – turquoise water, white sand and palm trees. Unfortunately, some of the beaches are by the bays, where the currents dump a lot of garbage during the day. If there happens to be a storm, you can expect some places to be impossible to swim.
There is a lot of good food on the island. You’ll find a couple of typically Thai restaurants where you’ll eat seafood and grilled fish. There are also pubs with Western food, which is also of good quality. For the food alone, it is worth coming here.
Accommodation Koh Kood
We decided to come to Koh Kood very late, almost 3 weeks before the trip. Even then, there was not much choice of accommodation on the island. Koh Kood is just developing in terms of tourism and there is not yet such a wide choice of accommodations. After much deliberation, we decided on Baan Puen Koh Kood. It was one of the cheapest options. It had good reviews, to say the least, but the photos were unlikely to encourage a visit.
The cab dropped us off in front of a small roadside building. You can tell by the signboard that it used to be a store. It was a terrible mess all around. Inside, there was a huge rottweiler lying on the ground, which quickly rose from the ground upon seeing us. Fortunately, he was tied up and didn’t look very threatening either. An elderly grandmother came out from inside and greeted us warmly. At that moment I was afraid that we would come to live in some shack at the back of this store, but the old woman took the keys and told us to follow her. We walked a bit down the street and then turned into a side road. Somewhere in the distance we could see a bungalow. We reached it surrounded by beautiful lush vegetation by a wooden bridge.
The bungalow was quite large and had a beautiful terrace. Inside the conditions were modest, but enough for a short stay. We had air-con and a private bathroom. It was tidy and clean. We didn’t need more.
Baan Puen Koh Kood isn’t located near the beach and you’d need to walk if you stay there. You can rent a scooter from the owners. They have great prices – 250 THB per day. Remember about insurance and the right driving licence.
I really recommend Baan Puen. It’s not luxurious, but it’s a lovely place with a beautiful garden.
If you’re looking for something a bit more expensive, check out these places:
The beaches and nature
Koh Kood is famous for its beaches and there are plenty of them to choose from. My favourite was Bang Bao Beach and I spent a lot of time there. The beach is narrow and it’s hard to find a good place in a shade, but it’s not impossible. The water is turquoise with soft sand. At one end of it you’ll find some small bungalows and a little bridge. Take a walk there to see huge schools of fish.
Ao Phrao Beach is also nice. It’s not as amazing as the one I mentioned earlier, but it’s worth a visit, too. The sunset from the little bridge is lovely and it is definitely something you can do on Koh Kood everyday.
Khlong Hin Beach is very popular among visitors, but this one is actually the main one that gets all the rubbish from the sea. During storms and strong currents, a lot of old shoes, plastic bottles and lighters are washed out on the sand here. The resorts try to clean it up, but sometimes it’s not possible to keep it up.
It’s really worth visiting some of the waterfalls on Koh Kood. I went to see two of them. The Khlong Chao Waterfall is hidden in the forest. From the parking lot it’s only a short walk. You can swim in the water and get to stand under the cascade. It’s a very refreshing experience.
The other one that I visited was Khlong Yai Hee. Getting there is a bit more tiring. You need to go down the steep stairs first and then walk through some huge rocks. It’s worth it, tho. Once you get there, take your shoes off and experience a free pedicure. The little fish that swim there eat dead skin off of the feet.
Except these attractions, you can also rent a kayak and a SUPa. Tourist offices and hotels organise trips as well.
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Where to eat and drink on Koh Kood?
Koh Kood has a lot of bars and restaurants with good food. As it’s the case with the islands in Thailand, the prices are a bit higher. One dish can cost between 100-200 THB. Western food is more expensive.
My recommended places:
- Nuch Luang Seafood – perfect for real Thai food. Try the grilled fish
- Big Bear’s House – really good burgers
- Chasua Seafood – for a quick lunch
- Kood Vibes Bakery – I recommend smoothie bowls
- Let’s Meat – if you dream about Western food
- Peter Pan Resort – for a sunset drink
- Koh Kood has also a night market. It’s not really that great and the food there seems not very fresh, but it’s a good place to have a drink in the evenings and listen to some live music.
On my second day I already knew that I liked Koh Kood. It’s not going to be my favourite island. I definitely prefer Koh Mak, but on Koh Kood I managed to rest and relax and charge my batteries. It’s worth going to Koh Kood for the lovely beaches. You have all the conviniences there, including ATMs, shops and good food. It’s easy to get there as well. If I had to choose between Koh Kood and Koh Samui, I’d choose the first place without even thinking. Koh Kood will be a good choice if you’re looking for something with nice beaches, a place that’s not too crowded and where you can really rest.