Koh Kood

Contents of this article8 sections

1. Getting there
2. Getting around
3. Where to stay
4. Sights
5. Food
6. Evenings
7. Tips for travellers over 50
8. Best time to visit

Koh Kood lies in the east of the Gulf of Thailand, south of Koh Chang and not far from the Cambodian border. The island is green, hilly and much quieter than the well-known holiday islands. It has deliberately kept 7-Eleven out, and there are no beer bars either. If you want clear water, waterfalls and plenty of peace, you are in the right place. If you want to go out in the evening, probably not.

Getting there

There is no car ferry. The passenger boats leave from Laem Sok pier in Trat province. Several operators share the route, including Boonsiri and Koh Kood Express. A ticket usually costs 600 baht, and the trip takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the boat. The first boat leaves at 10 am, the last around 4 pm (2025/26 timetable). The ticket usually includes the shared transfer from Ao Salad pier to your hotel.

The fastest way is by plane. Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi to Trat, and the flight takes about an hour. To catch the boat on the same day, take the morning flight or the one around midday. It is about 60 kilometres from the airport to Laem Sok, and a private car for two people costs from about 1,500 baht. A combined ticket with transfer and boat is cheaper.

By bus, you travel from Ekkamai or Mo Chit to Trat in five to just over eight hours, for 316 to 700 baht depending on the operator.

From Koh Chang you can cross directly in high season, from about November to April. The Boonsiri catamaran leaves from Bang Bao and takes around an hour and a half, for 900 baht.

Getting around

One paved main road runs along the west coast. The side roads are often gravel or sand, steep and slippery after rain. There are hardly any street lights. So avoid driving in the dark.

There are no public taxis, and shared taxis do not run on fixed routes. A private ride costs 300 to 500 baht, often more. Many people rent a scooter for 300 to 350 baht a day. For that you need a licence with a motorcycle class, otherwise the insurance may not pay if something goes wrong. More in the guide Riding a scooter in Thailand.

Where to stay

Klong Chao has the most restaurants and shops. You can get by here without a scooter. Places to stay include the High Season Pool Villa and the Tinkerbell.

Ao Tapao is the longest beach and good for swimming. The hospital is nearby. The Shantaa and the Koh Kood Paradise Beach Resort are here.

Bang Bao is a sheltered bay, good for families. Names that come up here include The Beach Natural Resort and the Siam Beach Resort.

A basic room costs 1,000 to 1,800 baht, mid-range 2,500 to 6,500 baht. From December to April it is best to book months ahead.

Sights

Waterfalls

The best known is Klong Chao. A short, flat path leads there, only the last stretch goes over rocks, and a natural pool for swimming waits at the bottom. Huang Nam Khiao is harder to reach: you go about 100 metres steeply downhill and then over stones in the riverbed. From February the waterfalls carry much less water.

Beaches

The best-known beaches are Klong Chao, Ao Tapao, Bang Bao, Ao Phrao and Klong Hin. The tides are strong, and at low tide some beaches become very shallow.

Fishing villages

The boats dock at Ao Salad. At the temple Wat Ao Salad there is a large golden Buddha, and a viewing tower with a narrow, steep staircase is free. In the southeast lies Ao Yai, the island’s largest fishing village, with houses on stilts above the water.

Makka tree

In the island’s interior stands a huge old tree, about 500 years old. Follow the signs, not the satnav. The last stretch is unpaved.

Food

A Thai dish costs 80 to 160 baht, seafood 180 to 250 baht, at a resort 300 to 900 baht. Many places take cash only and close early. Everything is a little more expensive than on the mainland because goods arrive by boat.

Evenings

There is no nightlife. You eat on the beach, watch the sunset and go to bed early. On some evenings a small night market is open.

Tips for travellers over 50

Since the start of 2026, Bangkok Hospital Trat has run the Koh Kood Medical Link station at Ao Salad pier. A nurse is there around the clock, there is a rescue boat, and doctors give advice over a remote link. There is also the Koh Kood Hospital near Ao Tapao. Serious cases go to the mainland, to Trat or Chanthaburi. Bring enough of your medication.

There are only three ATMs, which are sometimes empty in high season. Bring enough cash.

A mosquito repellent with DEET helps against sandflies. Do not lie directly on the sand.

On the border: The German Federal Foreign Office has a partial travel warning in place for a 20-kilometre-wide strip along the border with Cambodia. There has been a ceasefire since the end of December 2025, but all border crossings are closed. There was no fighting on Koh Kood itself, and boats and flights ran normally (as of December 2025). Check the current advice from the Federal Foreign Office before you travel and ask your travel insurer whether it covers the area.

Best time to visit

High season runs from about November to April, when it is mostly dry. April is the hottest month, and July to September are the wettest. In the low season only the large boats run from Laem Sok, no speedboats, and hardly anything between the islands. Some places to stay close then. You can see the monthly figures on the weather page for Koh Kood.

What you need before you fly is explained in Entering Thailand in 2026. What a day costs is covered in Costs in Thailand per day.

Comparison

Not sure whether this place is the right one? Here are the differences side by side:

• Koh Chang or Koh KoodBest time to visit, getting there and character

Continuing by ferry? In the island hopping planner you can see which boats leave from Koh Kood, how long they take and what they cost.