Hello everyone. Today I want to share our visit to a paradise-like island. We set off for Koh Kood. We arrived at the Laem Sok pier in the city, located in a different part of the city from where ferries to Ko Chang depart. From the ticket office or where your transfer drops you off, you take a tuk-tuk to the end of the pier since it’s quite long. There are several ferry companies here.
We chose a company called Princess. We arrived around 12:00 and their ferry was scheduled to depart at 12:30. The ticket price was 400 Baht per person and 200 Baht for children. The ferry was a bit old and they mentioned the journey would take approximately 1.5 hours. There was another faster option costing 600 Baht per person, taking just an hour, but it departed at 13:00. Considering both options, we realized we’d reach Koh Kood around 14:00 either way.
Parking prices also vary. The 400 Baht ferry offers parking at 50 Baht per day, while the 600 Baht ferry charges 100 Baht. Keeping the parking fees in mind, we opted for the more economical option, even though it took an additional 30 minutes.
The ferry isn’t like the ones going to Ko Lan or Ko Samet. It’s more enclosed, with air conditioning and fans running inside. The waves and wind were noticeable during the journey, but since the ferry was half-empty, we had plenty of space and traveled comfortably. The ticket included a tuk-tuk transfer from the ferry to the hotel. The ferry staff assisted us by guiding us to the right tuk-tuk, which was very convenient.
Our hotel was located on the island's farthest beach. The tuk-tuk ride took about 30 minutes. I had come across this hotel recommendation in a blog and booked it in June or July. The price was 2,200 Baht per night. It wasn’t the cheapest option. We initially chose a beachfront house, but the reservation details were later updated to a garden view instead of a sea view.
When we arrived at our hotel Rim Lay, the staff greeted us warmly, took our luggage and guided us to our room. The hotel is in a quiet corner, offering a peaceful and beautiful location. The rooms are clean, modern and equipped with everything you need: a kettle, refrigerator, TV and a small seating area. As is common on islands, the bathrooms were concrete-built. After settling in, we explored the beach. The hotel surroundings were compact but generally satisfying.
The hotel offers a variety of accommodation options, but the beach is the highlight, providing a well-maintained, serene and relaxing environment. It’s the perfect place to unwind. Feeling hungry, we headed to the restaurant. It’s open for breakfast from 8:00-11:00 and for lunch and dinner from 11:30-20:00, but it’s closed from 11:00-11:30 for unknown reasons. Breakfast isn’t included, but there are reasonably priced continental breakfast options.
The weather was slightly cloudy, so the sea wasn’t sparkling, but the sand was fine, light-colored and had a wonderful texture. The palm trees along the shore added a unique charm to the scenery. Koh Kood’s greatest appeal is its unspoiled and natural environment. There are no crowded bars, big markets or bustling nightlife here. It’s an ideal place to connect with nature and relax. Even conversations are kept quiet to avoid disturbing other visitors.
The next day we planned to rent a motorbike and explore other beaches on the island. We heard there were even more beautiful beaches, but the atmosphere of our location was already quite appealing. We accidentally went to the restaurant during its closed hours, so we visited a nearby hotel’s restaurant instead. Koh Kood is quite far from Pattaya. It took us a total of 7 hours to get here: 4-5 hours by car to the ferry pier, a 30-minute wait for the ferry, a 1.5-hour ferry ride and a 30-minute tuk-tuk ride to the hotel. Despite feeling tired, we managed to rest a bit on the ferry.
Prices are generally not very cheap. For instance, fried rice at our hotel’s restaurant costs between 70-100 Baht. Even seafood dishes are reasonably priced. The food portions are large and delicious. After dinner, we moved to the terrace, enjoying nature and chatting. This peaceful atmosphere allowed us to completely relax.
The next day after breakfast, we planned to visit a waterfall with our daughter. There’s an easily accessible waterfall on the island that we didn’t want to miss. The hotel also provided useful information about ferry schedules and transportation. Motorbike rentals cost 250 Baht per day and the tank comes empty, so you have to refuel yourself. We were ready to rent a motorbike and discover new places. 🌴😊
Our fuel situation wasn’t great. The gauge showed just one bar. We decided to look for a gas station or buy bottled gasoline from a store. Shortly after setting off, we found a small shop just 30 seconds away. We had walked here the previous day when it was completely dark and quiet, with no lights around. Luckily, we had a flashlight, but the stillness made us uneasy, thinking a monkey might suddenly attack. However, there don’t seem to be any monkeys here. It was just a lingering fear from a past beach experience. At the shop, there was no attendant, so we had to wait.
Inside there are chips, instant noodles, cola and some snacks. All the shops on the island are like this. There are no big chain stores (such as 7-Eleven, Big C). You can find soap, cream, drinks and a few cleaning products. Gasoline is sold in bottles here and it costs 50 Baht per liter. We bought two liters. The motorcycles on the island are generally old and worn out, so you need to be very careful while driving, especially paying attention to the brakes.
The island's roads are mostly flat, with no steep hills or sharp turns. The sky is a bit cloudy, so the sea isn't sparkling, but it's still beautiful. At our first stop, we reached a beach next to an older hotel. The sand isn't pure white, but the atmosphere is calm and peaceful. The beach is large, with palm trees on the sides. After leaving here, we decided to explore the other beaches of the island.
In the south of the island, we reached a quieter, more rugged beach. Gasoline is also sold at the same price here (50 Baht per liter). Be careful while walking under the palm trees, as coconuts may fall on you. This beach has whiter sand and a cleaner environment compared to the ones we saw earlier. The waters are very clear and warm. The beach is regularly cleaned and the staff inspects every detail, keeping it very tidy.
The clarity of the sea is excellent due to the island's distance from the mainland. Swimming here is very enjoyable. The water is clean and there are no rocks or garbage at the bottom. The atmosphere is truly paradise. Compared to other islands we visited (Koh Larn, Samet, Chang), this is the most pristine and natural place. It has a peaceful island vibe.
Being here makes you feel like you're part of a story. It's like we're in the wild, just like Robinson Crusoe. It's a wonderful experience to see the natural beauty and rest in peace.
Walking along the edges of the beach is really amazing. Especially compared to the central areas with hotels, the palm trees and nature along the beach are much more impressive. It seemed like there was a path leading to our beach from here as well. There are stones along the shore and it's possible to swim with the fish. I tried snorkeling.
The atmosphere of this beach really impressed us. We hadn't felt such peace in a long time. As I walked to the left of the beach, I discovered a completely calm, secluded area surrounded by palm trees. Swimming here could have been even more enjoyable. Places like this are hard to find on islands like Koh Chang or Koh Samet. The natural beauty of Koh Kood is the island's biggest attraction. Moreover it's very family-friendly. The area is spacious and there are places where kids can run and play. There's also a small shop.
Tours to Koh Kood usually include stays at these hotels. If you’re thinking about joining such a tour, I recommend staying for two nights. The journey takes a bit of time and you need time to get used to the atmosphere and enjoy it. The tour also includes a waterfall trip, but the waterfall is usually dry outside the rainy season. It’s possible to rent a motorcycle here. If you have driving experience, you can explore the island's other beaches.
About 2 kilometers from the hotel there’s a main road where barbecue, fruit and drinks are sold. However, fruit stalls are usually not found near the hotels, so it's a good idea to bring some with you. Fruit prices are generally a bit higher than on the mainland. For example, passion fruit (maracuya) costs 100 Baht per kilogram, mangoes are 60 Baht, avocados are 100 Baht and papaya is around 70 Baht.
According to Koh Kood's map, the main pier is located in the north of the island. From here you can reach the beaches going south. Some beaches have very luxurious hotels and they usually have private beaches. Further south, there are more affordable, public beaches. For example, beaches like Ao Phrao are both tranquil and surrounded by nature. Also, most of these beaches, especially as you go south are less crowded.
We visited several beaches to watch the sunset. Each beach on Koh Kood offers a different kind of beauty. The more secluded ones are generally further south. Some beaches have slightly lost some of their natural beauty, but they still offer a pleasant atmosphere. We had dinner by the beach. Eating in an open-air restaurant under the stars was an unforgettable experience.
The next morning our plan was to visit the waterfall. We walked on a stone-paved trail to reach the waterfall. The surrounding sounds of nature, birds and insects made this place very peaceful. The waterfall path is safe and well-marked, so it's almost impossible to get lost. There are three waterfalls on Koh Kood and we headed towards the easiest one to reach. For nature lovers, this is definitely a must-see place.
This is Khlong Chao waterfall. Our child’s dream came true. She saw a waterfall. She had previously seen a small waterfall in Altay, but they were too young at that time and don’t remember it. The waterfall is not very large and it dries up constantly because the rains have ended. But there is still some water left. You can swim here. The water is very clean. While standing in the water, fish come near you and lightly nibble on you. These are probably the same fish found in spa aquariums in Thailand. It’s a great experience and the water is really refreshing. We were used to salty water, as we are always in the sea and the pool is salty as well, but the difference in freshwater here is immediately noticeable. Swimming is a bit harder.
We decided to stop by another beach on the way. The beach is visible from the road, called Tinker Bell. There’s a hotel with the same name. The water is really incredible, turquoise in color. It’s probably one of the most stunning beaches in terms of beauty. However, there is a tide right now and most of the beach is underwater. It’s hard to find a place to put your belongings. It was better when the tide receded the previous evening. We entered the water. It was wonderful, warm and gentle. The beach itself is very beautiful, with palm trees, white sand and clear water. However, there’s no sense of privacy here like at our beach because it’s right next to the road. But the water is definitely amazing. The seabed is clean, with no stones or sea urchins, just fish.
After touring the beaches we decided the best thing was to relax at the hotel. We could directly order food from the hotel restaurant to our sunbeds. We really enjoyed it. By the way, we were fully equipped with fruit, masks and phones in our bag.
At the end of our beach there are no hotels, just palm trees. The sea here is magnificent, with the palm trees leaning towards the shore and the view is wonderful. Our daughter was constantly swimming and burning energy, so she needed to snack constantly.
We visited all the popular beaches on the island. There are smaller coves as well, but there’s nothing remarkable about them. It’s said that there’s a hidden beach in the north of the island, but we decided not to go there. The main reason we came here was to stay at the hotel and relax on the beach. Our hotel has a very beautiful beach, with a quiet and peaceful environment. There’s almost no one around in the evenings.
Among the beaches we visited, we liked our beach and the nearby Khlong Hill beach the most. These places are really peaceful. Other beaches, especially the ones along the road, can't even come close to the atmosphere of our beach.
The most beautiful road on the island is the one leading to our hotel and the nearby beach. It's surrounded by palm trees. The views are not as impressive when going to other places. So, we recommend these two beaches in the south. If you are here just to relax, there’s no need to rent a motorcycle. If you're staying for a week, you might get bored and want to visit other beaches. However, the real enjoyment comes from spending time peacefully where you are.
If you want to visit the waterfall on the island, you can either go on your own or join a tour. However, there isn’t much to see in other parts of the island. The best thing when you come here is to enjoy the water and the fish.
Although we had to leave the hotel, we extended our time a bit, swimming in the mornings and resting until noon. We chose the more expensive transfer for our return since the departure time suited us better. Our journey was very comfortable. If we plan again next time, we might consider staying an extra night. But the best way to enjoy this island is to relax on the beach and enjoy the water.