Koh Chang or Koh Kood: which place suits you?
Koh Chang is Thailand’s third largest island: hilly, with rainforest and a long row of beaches. Koh Kood lies further south, is much quieter and has no 7-Eleven.
Koh Chang and Koh Kood compared
| Koh Chang | Koh Kood | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | East | East |
| Character | Green mountain island in the east | Quiet island without a 7-Eleven |
| Best time to visit | November to February, driest in December and January. | November to April is high season and mostly dry. |
| Getting there | Flight to Trat or bus from Bangkok, then car ferry from Ao Thammachat in about 25 to 40 minutes | Flight Bangkok to Trat about 1 hr, then boat from Laem Sok 45 to 90 min. Bus Bangkok to Trat 5 to 8 hrs. |
| Rain over the year | Trat station, approx. 68 km away | Trat station, approx. 37 km away |
| Highlights |
|
|
- dry under 60 mm
- changeable 60 to 150 mm
- rainy season over 150 mm
Bars: rain per month from January to December. Weather figures: Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), climate averages 1981 to 2010, rounded. All monthly figures are on the weather page: Koh Chang and Koh Kood.
How to decide
Choose Koh Chang if you …
- want to arrive by car ferry: it runs from 6:30 to 18:30 and costs 90 baht; tickets are sold only at the pier and only for cash.
- need plenty of choice and good facilities: there are cash machines at all the big beaches, and the international hospital is on White Sand Beach.
- still want bars and live music in the evening: White Sand Beach and Lonely Beach are lively in the evening.
Choose Koh Kood if you …
- are looking for peace and quiet: there is no nightlife on Koh Kood; you eat on the beach and go to bed early.
- like waterfalls and clear water: a short, level path leads to Klong Chao, where a pool for swimming awaits at the bottom.
- want to see a fishing village: Ao Yai, the largest on the island, is in the southeast, with its houses on stilts above the water.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Koh Kood?
The passenger boats leave from Laem Sok pier in Trat province; a ticket usually costs 600 baht and the crossing takes 45 to 90 minutes. The first boat leaves at 10:00, the last around 16:00. In high season there is also a direct catamaran from Bang Bao on Koh Chang, for 900 baht in around one and a half hours.
When are both islands at their best?
From November to April. On Koh Chang, December and January are the driest; from May to October it rains very heavily, most in August. On Koh Kood, April is the hottest month, and the most rain falls from July to September. In the low season only large boats go to Koh Kood.
What about cash?
On Koh Chang there are cash machines at all the big beaches; with a foreign card you pay 220 baht per withdrawal. On Koh Kood there are only three, and in high season some of them run out of money. Bring enough cash.