It’s hard to find a decent travel guide on Koh Kood online. This stunning Thai island seems to be shrouded in mystery. We recently visited Koh Kood for four days and must say that this place is a pure untouched paradise. You simply have to include Koh Kood on your Thailand itinerary.
My name’s Matea Senjak and I come from Croatia. I work as an architect and interior designer. My job is very creative and exciting, but every spare time I get I use it for travel and outdoor activities. When I think of the reason why I actually started travelling – I remember Paris in 2015.
During my Erasmus student internship in Paris, I fell in love with the idea of travelling, exploring and meeting the world around me. Since then, I try to travel as much as possible. It just makes me alive, grateful and happy.
Recently I was playing with the idea of visiting the Philippines. My boyfriend Josip, however, was cheering for Thailand. He showed me some amazing photos and videos – done, we had a deal.
It was enough for me to fall in love with the country. So we decided to come here. The first stop was Bangkok, which is pretty common for tourists visiting this country. The city was exciting and dynamic, but the moment we came to Koh Kood – we knew we were finally at the right place.
Our Incredible Trip to Thailand
We started our Thailand adventure in Bangkok where we spent three days. Temples, architecture, city walks, food, roof tops, markets, you name it. There are so many possibilities and things to do in Bangkok.
I’ll never forget our hotel rooftop pool with an amazing view of the city. The next three days we spent in Chiang Mai. During our stay there, we had the opportunity to see the famous Lantern Festival, which was spectacular.
Besides the city’s old town, there are many day-trips around to experience. We really loved Thai food, so we were considering going to a cooking class. Due to lack of time, we chose to go to an elephant sanctuary instead.
Before we got to Thailand, I was familiar with some of the terrible tourism practices with elephants. I recommend doing your research before heading to an elephant sanctuary to ensure you find an ethical one.
It’s important not to support activities like riding elephants that cause pain to these gentle giants. They deserve our respect, love and compassion.
Seeing those beautiful creatures freely roaming around was an unforgettable experience. It was definitely the best decision. After exploring Bangkok and Chiang Mai it was about time to visit the coast line and get some tan at the beach.
So just before we came to Koh Kood, we spent some time in Krabi. Craggy seaside cliffs draped with lush green vegetation, fresh salty air, turquoise ocean water, exquisite marine life, and exotic palm trees – Krabi is a true island paradise.
Koh Kood: The Highlight of our Thailand Trip
We stayed in Koh Kood for four days. It was the highlight of our entire Thailand trip. That unspoiled landscape, perfect beaches, peaceful sunny days without the traffic or crowds, palm trees and extremely nice people were exactly what we were looking for.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore the other islands. I’m sure that next time we get there – Koh Kood and the surrounding islands of the Trat archipelago will be our first stop.
Favourite Places and Memories on Koh Kood
It’s hard to single only one place out, but let’s say that Ao Tapao Beach was our favourite spot on Koh Kood. It should be included in every Koh Kood travel guide. The speed boat from Trat left us just in front of the resort, on the beach.
We jumped onto the soft white sand and were just a few steps away from our room. How insane is that?! From that moment I knew that I would miss this beautiful one of a kind place.
Also, there was one dock with cute ambient lighting which made our sunsets and evenings so romantic and dreamy. I don’t even have to mention those perfect rope swings. Local people were friendly, warm and kind, some of their smiles I will never forget.
Another fantastic experience was riding scooters. I’ve never ridden a scooter until then. Koh Kood practically has no traffic, which was perfect. The best way to explore the island is to rent a motorbike. The freedom of moving around on a scooter helps you make the most of your time.
It’s very easy and safe to drive around and personally – riding a scooter on the island was the most fun part during our first time on Koh Kood. I remember a path to Ao Phrao Beach, passing by hundreds of palm trees under the sun. It was like something out of a movie set!
Koh Kood Travel Guide: Where to Find the Best Beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches on Koh Kood, each one better than the next. Ao Tapao Beach was the first we visited and it was located just in front of our resort. This beach is what we consider to be the best beach in Koh Kood.
Just imagine waking up and having breakfast there. The water was divine, turquoise and crystal clear, while the sand was so white and soft. Oh, and did I mention there are loads of awesome rope swings to hang from?
We loved this quiet and happy place. The only bars and restaurants you will find here are owned by the resorts, and the prices are quite reasonable.
Another perfect beach was the popular Klong Chao, located down the west coast of the island. Here you’ll find another awesome rope swing, just between two palm trees. It’s perfect for couples and golden hours.
As you can see, I love hunting out and having fun on rope swings. Besides these beaches, I would also recommend Ao Noi Beach (at Ao Noi Resort) and Ao Phrao Beach.
The last one is the southernmost beach on Koh Kood’s west coast and beyond this, the island is a largely inaccessible jungle and rocky shores. Ao Phrao Beach has a wide white sandy beach with only a few guesthouses. It feels totally secluded from the tourist hub.
And, of course, there are three swings. But this time – you can find them in the shallow blue waters of the bay. Just perfect!
Koh Kood Travel Guide: Top 5 Experiences
Koh Kood is a beautiful destination just waiting to be explored. From pristine beaches, to majestic waterfalls, to colourful sunsets – Koh Kood has it all. I recommend the following five experiences for first time visitors:
- Explore the island and beaches by scooter.
- Watch the sunset on the west coast, a rope swing would be ideal.
- Book a resort with an outdoor lounge at the beach.
- Visit one of the three Koh Kood waterfalls, or even better – all of them.
- Enjoy Thai food and cocktails (especially after sunset, since the sun sets pretty early there).
Koh Kood Travel Guide: Tips for your Visit
Honestly, we almost gave up on going to Koh Kood because it was a little bit out of the way on our travel route.
Another thing was matching the flight from Krabi to Trat with a ferry from there to Koh Kood, without losing much time. The same for going to Bangkok. But somehow, I knew it was going to be worth it. And it was!
I recommend planning your trip to Koh Kood in advance so you won’t encounter any troubles. From the beaches to the waterfalls and the small fishing villages, there are plenty of amazing things to do on Koh Kood.
While there isn’t that much information online about Koh Kood, I guarantee you can stay busy exploring this discrete island for at least a week. Rent a scooter and explore the west coast of the island and never miss a sunset there – they are just amazing.
In between, take a break for brunch/lunch and try some traditional Thai dishes such as tasty Pad Thai (my favourite) or lovely Mango Sticky Rice. We had awesome food at the restaurant of a guest resort on Ao Phrao Beach. You can’t miss it – just next to those three popular swings.
I’ve already mentioned how this paradise island was our favourite place in Thailand. Koh Kood has captured many hearts worldwide and it’s easy to see why. Everyone who visits this enchanting part of the world leaves with unforgettable memories, a relaxed spirit and a big smile on their face.
Thanks for reading my Koh Kood travel guide. Hopefully it has inspired you to come out here one day and experience this island paradise for yourself.
