Friday, May 24, 2019

Ko Kood/Ko Kut เกาะกูด - a Paradise going upmarket

See the locations on Ko Kood Google Map by #treasuresofthailand


Picture by Sam@flickr

Picture by marco bono
Fishing boats at Ao Yai

Picture by marco bono
Klong Chao Waterfall

What you discover
The New York Times has put Ko Kood as number 6 on its list of 31 places to travel in 2010. Ko Kood has wunderful white sandy beaches (Ta Pho Beach, Khlong Chao Beach, Thakian Beach, Phrao Beach), its less than 2000 inhabitants live from rubber tree and coconut plantation as well as fishing, and of course from tourism. Huge parts of the island rest undevelopped, the entire East side has just 2 fishing villages: Ao Yai and Ao Salat. They support the island with fresh seafood. Ko Kood has hideaways for the mega-rich as well as places for modest budgets (at Klong Chao).

"Scanning the shorelines of Koh Kood as our ferry approached, I was delighted by what I saw: the coastline around Ao Salad Bay was almost pristine, with gentle hills covered entirely in jungle", writes indietraveller.co. Around the wooden pier there are just a few dozen houses and fishermen’s huts on stilts. From behind a golden Buddha is looking across the roofs.






Picture by Giladr

Read the guide by travelfish.org. Koh Kood "is reputed to be untouched", notes Jewie. He adds: "And so it is with only one main dirt road on the island. It is an island with only the occasional Farang spotted, it is an island full of Thai tourists. It is, their land, their playground and I could see they prefer to keep it that way. Though the island is truly backwards, there are hints that points to another making of Phuket, that which is the ever strong GSM signal on the island." There is a trend towards upmarket-developing, also Ian notes, who points out: "The island is already a lost paradise for backpackers". The room-rates go up. The hotel group Sixth Senses Resorts & Spas has bought a 150-hectare-plot of land in Yai Ke Bay, where they just opened Soneva Kiri. And they have built a small airstrip on nearby Mai Sii Island. They fly guests with a 12-seater Cessna plane from Bangkok directly to Koh Kood. But still there is no ATM on the island, so you have to take your money with you. Many resorts don't take credit cards.
"Walkers will enjoy the old coastal road now closed to vehicle traffic but that still connects the villages of Ao Phrao, Ao Jak and Khlong Hin. It’s a pleasant hour-long stroll", writes theguardian.


Ao Salad fishing village on Koh Kood, picture by Hanoix

Snorkeling at Koh Kood is average, means Ashley, a good site is Tapao Beach.



Ao Noi อ่าวน้อย





Ao Noi Resort: Huts from 1000 Baht, with fan and with aircon. "A very basic resort with a fantastic beach", comments TicinoMoLo on tripadvisor.com. And he adds: "It's quite normal to share the hut with wildlife; so if you are afraid of ants, geckos or even rats, you should choose another resort".


Aow Noi Resort, picture by flyvorbei


Bungalow, picture by flyvorbei


Aow Noi Beach, picture by zindysocool




Hat Ngam Kho อ่าวง่ามโข่


Analay Resort: From 1400 Baht. Sai Dang Beach. Shuttle boat from Trat to the resort.


Picture by AeY


Analai Resort, picture by pandanoi


Happy Days South of Klong Chao. A few minutes walk to the beach. Basisc rooms, good review on tripadvisor.com.


Bungalows at Happy Days


Ko Kood Dusita Resort: Palmgarden in front of the bungalows and seaview, white sand beach. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.








Ko Kood Far East Resort:


Koh Kood Horizon Resort: From 2000 Baht. Ao Ngarm Ko.


Bungalow, picture by beejung




Ao Phrao อ่าวพร้าว


One kilometre long beach, once crowded by Russians, now quieter again.



Ko Kut Ao Phrao Beach Resort:






Ao Phrao Beach Resort, pictures by a-nopparat.blogspot.com





Hat Klong Chao ดคลองเจ้า


A 500 metre long white sand beach in the centre of the island, shops and restaurants are nearby.

Away Resort: For the lowest rate you get a tent. The beach is located opposite the resort, you get there swimming (two minutes) or paddling by boat. But swimming is not so easy, because there are rocks. "If you walk past the activity center and carry on down the paved road for 2 minutes, you can get a massage for 200 baht and there is a nice small restaraunt doing lovely food", recommends nealphillipsLondon on tripadvisor.com, where the reviews are mixed. There is Airconditioning only during the night.












Pictures by Astudothailand


Picture by marco bono
Klong Chao Beach

At Ao Klong Chao you find a river, that is navigable and leads to Khlong Chao waterfall, famous because of a visit by King Rama VI in 1911. "The last 800m must by done on foot", writes Tezza. You can also follow a road and then walk 600m.




Mark House Bungalow:




Peter Pan Resort




Peter Pan Resort, picture by Perayut
See more pictures on instagram


Tinkerbell Resort:

Picture by marco bono




Baan Klong Jao Homestay บ้านคลองเจ้า โฮมสเตย์ เกาะกูด: Guestrooms with aircon, restaurant, View Point Cafe, Good View Cafe or The Pink Kangaroo Cafe nearby, 10 minutes walk to the beach, Khlong Chao Waterfalls and Klong Jao Waterfall are within walking distance. Kayaks for the Klong available. According to the reviews on tripadvisor.com the rooms and the food are okay, service could be better.











Ao Yai Kee or Ao Yai Ki คลองยายกี๋


Ao Yai Kee with Ko Rat

Captain Hook Resort: From 4700 Baht. Located on the cape between Klong Yai Kee stream and the beach. By the stream you find Deluxe rooms with private balconies. By the cliff there are Pool Suite Villas and Mini Pool Villas.

Picture by Tom Puchner


Deluxe Villa




Khlong Hin Beach คลองหิน


Khlong Hin Beach Resort:


Khlong Hin Beach, picture by I am Kat


Neverland Beach Resort:


Neverland, picture by Marco


Picture by Marco




Ban Klong Mat หมู่บ้านคลองมาด


Ko Kood Beach Resort: From 2200 Baht. Quite good review on tripadvisor.com. See video on youtube.com




Bali Bungalow


Thai Twin House with Jacuzzi


Picture by cp_6000





Hat Taphao or Tapao อ่าวตะเภา


Ko Kood Cabana






Shantaa Kood Resort: From 3500 Baht. On a small hill by the main pier (where cars can go on land), with a small beach and another one beyond the pier. "Idyllic getaway", means acbw_8 on tripöadvisor.com. "The most attractive and elegant resort on Ko Kut", comments travelfish.org. Aircon only during the night.

Secret room






Shantaa room, all pictures by sOmSiLp



Hat Bang Bao หาดบางเบ้า


Bang Bao beach is very scenic, there are good snorkelling opportunities nearby.

Ko Kood Resort: Bang Bao Bai. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




The Beach Natural Resort: From 1200 Baht.








Siam Beach Resort: Read the review by Tezza.

Picture by tokyofortwo

Picture by tokyofortwo


Siam Beach Resort, picture by Wimbledonian


Siam Beach, picture by I am Kat


Ko Kood Beds: Not far from Bang Bao beach, bed and breakfast in a modern style bulding with four courtyard rooms.








Ao Yai Koet อ่าวยายเกิด


Kood Island Resort


Ngam Klo: From 650 Baht. Klong Chao. Bungalows. Good reviews on travelfish.org.



Ao Ta Tin ตาติ้น


Soneva Kiri. See photogallery by lentexx. This brand new luxury resort of the Six Senses Group is promoted as eco-resort, there is rainwater harvesting and solar power. And there are special attractions as Tree-tops Dining: You board a pod, then you are elevated 5 metres above the ground, food and beverages are brought by a flying waiter. Soneva Kiri also offers an observatory for stargazing. Then there is the Eco Villa. Read more about the founders Sonu and Eva Shivdasani

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Earth (@earth) am

Tree top dining at Soneva Kiri










Pictures by Dennis


Suanya Kohkood Resort And Spa:


Cheap stay on Ko Kood
Its not so easy anymore to find huts for 300 Baht. But some hare listed on thorntree forum.


Onlinebookings are possible on kokood.com (with map of locations) and on kohkood.com



Ao Yai Koet อ่าวยายเกิด


Koh Kood Island Resort: This resort on the East cost of Ko Kood is very secluded, you can just arrive by boat, there is no way to restaurants or a village.






How you arrive on Ko Kood


From Laem Sok Pier: Siri White Speedboat departs at 13.00 daily, stopping at Koh Maak and continuing to Klong Mat Pier on Koh Kood. It takes 1-2 hours (for 500-600 Baht). Nilmungkorn ferry goes from Coral Beach Pier to Ao Salad on Koh Kood at 12.00 and takes around two hours. Leaves at Ao Salad at 10.00.

From Dan Khao Pier: A slow boat operated by War Choke Wuttichai, departs at 10.00 am on Tuesday and Friday and takes 4-5 hours (for 200-300 Baht). A speed boat operated by Ao Phrao Speed Boats departs at 9.00 am daily and takes 1-2 hours (for 500-600 Baht). A boat operated by Mark House leaves at Mark House Pier to Klong Chao Pier daily at 9.00 and 13.00 taking one to two hours /for around 600 Baht).

From Laem Ngob Pier: A ferry run by Koh Kood Seatrans departs at 9.00 am on Friday and Saturday and takes 2-3 hours (for 500-600 Baht).

From Kai Bae Hut on Ko Chang: In High Season Kai Bae Hut Speedboat leaves in Ko Chang at 11 am and goes to Ko Wai, Ko Kham, Ko Rayang and Ko Mak before arriving at Ko Kood at 13 pm.

From Bang Bao on Ko Chang: Bang Bao Boat goes to Ko Mak, where you can change to another boat to Ko Kood.

From Had Leck (Cambodian Border): A Thai Marine Express runs a speedboat leaving Had Leck Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 4 pm and arriving at Ko Kood at 5 pm. Departure from Ko Kood the same days on 13 pm.


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