How do you get to Koh Kood?

Koh Kood is accessible by ferry from Laem Ngop pier near Trat, in eastern Thailand. The crossing takes approximately 2 hours. Speedboat transfers are also available. The nearest airport is in Trat, served by domestic flights from Bangkok.

Is Koh Kood better than Koh Chang?

Many visitors consider Koh Kood significantly better than the more developed Koh Chang for its unspoiled beaches, cleaner water, and quieter atmosphere. Koh Kood has fewer tourist facilities but much more natural beauty and tranquility.

Koh Kood: Thailand’s Most Beautiful Undiscovered Island

Thailand has no shortage of beautiful islands, but most of the famous ones — Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi — have been developed far beyond their natural carrying capacity. Koh Kood (also spelled Ko Kut) is something different: one of Thailand’s largest islands, fourth in size nationally, with extraordinarily beautiful beaches and jungle interior — and a fraction of the tourist infrastructure of its more famous neighbors.

I made the trip from Korat to Koh Kood, which involves heading east through the provinces to the Gulf coast. It takes time but is absolutely worth it.

What Makes Koh Kood Special

Koh Kood’s beaches are genuinely among the most beautiful in Thailand. The water is clear and shallow over the reef, fading from pale turquoise to deep blue. The sand is white and fine. And unlike Ko Samet or Ko Chang, you are not competing for a patch of beach with hundreds of other tourists.

The interior of the island is largely intact jungle — waterfalls, rubber plantations, small Khmer and Thai communities. The main settlement is a genuine fishing village, not a tourist strip. Koh Kood feels like what Thailand’s islands were 20 years ago.

The Best Beaches

Ao Khlong Chao: The longest beach on the island, with a beautiful lagoon at its northern end fed by the Khlong Chao waterfall. Walking up the river to the falls through the jungle is one of the island’s highlights.
Hat Tapho: A quieter stretch with excellent snorkeling offshore.
Ao Bang Bao: On the southwest coast, with particularly clear water and a handful of excellent small resorts nearby.

Khlong Chao Waterfall

The island’s signature inland attraction is the Khlong Chao waterfall — a series of cascades accessible by a short walk through the jungle from the beach. Swimming in the pools below the falls is excellent. The river running to the sea forms a beautiful estuary with calm, clear water ideal for kayaking.

Getting There from Eastern Thailand

From Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima), the journey to Koh Kood involves driving east to Trat province (approximately 4-5 hours) and then taking a ferry from Laem Ngop pier (approximately 2 hours to the island). The drive through the eastern provinces — Nakhon Ratchasima → Sa Kaeo → Chanthaburi → Trat — passes through interesting countryside, including Thailand’s gemstone trading heartland in Chanthaburi.

Practical Tips

Best season: November to April. The island faces the Gulf of Thailand and is affected by the northeast monsoon from November, but conditions are generally better than the Andaman coast during this period.
Getting around: Rent a motorbike — the island is large and accommodation is spread out along the coast. Roads are good.
Where to stay: A range of options from basic bungalows to luxury eco-resorts. Book in advance for high season (December-January).
Food: Fresh seafood is excellent and cheap — the fishing village has proper seafood restaurants that supply Bangkok.

Conclusion

Koh Kood is what you look for when the famous Thai islands have started to feel like theme parks. It offers genuine natural beauty, real tranquility, excellent snorkeling, and the feeling that you have found something still relatively unmarked on the tourist map. From Korat, it is a worthwhile long-weekend destination. Highly recommended.

A trip in Koh Kood.