I’ve never been one to believe the hype, but have become especially skeptical in the era of Instagram reels, Snapchat stories and TikTok. Drone-flying dudebros latch onto some topic (or, in this case, some destination) and present it as if it’s nothing less than paradise.
They’re targeted at least a dozen places in Thailand, which makes sense. While I don’t have an exact percentage, a large and visible percentage of male tourists in Thailand are drone-flying dudebros, a fact that’s even more noticeable the longer you spend in the islands.
During the pandemic, the hype around Trat province’s Koh Kood reached fever pitch. Which I found interesting, having been there many times in years prior (and also since, if you’re curious). Is Koh Kood worth visiting? Yes, though that answer comes with some caveats.
Getting to Koh Kood is a Pain in the Ass
Whether Koh Kood is worth visiting is a complex calculation. It isn’t just about what you find once you get there, but how to get there as well. The bad news? Reaching Koh Kood is a slog, and that’s the nice way to describe. You’ll first need to reach Trat province, either via the Trat Airport (a short, but expensive Bangkok Airways flight from BKK) or Trat Bus Station, a five-hour ride from Ekkamai in Bangkok.
Once you’re there, you’ll need to reach Laem Sok Pier. Although this isn’t especially far from either the airport or the bus station, it will cost 1,000 Baht, on account of the fact that Grab isn’t ubiquitous in rural Trat province, and taxis (er…songthaew) form a de-facto mafia. From here you’ll need to ride a ferry to the island. These come several times per day, but not hourly, so the journey does require pre-planning.
Why Foreigners Love Koh Kood
It’s uncrowded
Koh Kood is a pain to reach, and the reality is that most foreigners simply aren’t willing to make that journey. As a result, even during peak season, you won’t see anywhere near the crowds you do on other Thai islands, not even in relatively isolated ones like the Trang archipelago.
It’s huge
Another reason you may come to believe that Koh Kood is worth visiting? It’s absolutely massive, with a land area exceeding that of nearby Koh Wai and Koh Mak combined, and nearly the same size as much more popular (and crowded) Koh Chang.
It’s beautiful (enough)
I don’t think anywhere in the eastern Gulf of Thailand matches the beauty of Thailand’s Andaman Sea islands, even if Koh Tao (much further west, near Koh Samui) comes close. If you can let go of the lack of dramatic limestone karsts, however, the white sand beaches and tropical scenery on Koh Kood are pretty nice.
It’s wild
They’re also largely undeveloped, at least once you get away from popular beaches like Bang Bao. Discovery is a big part of what makes Koh Kood worth visiting, even if the more rural parts of the island can feel so remote and undeveloped they’re almost unwelcoming.
It’s not mainstream (yet)
Try as they might, drone-flying dudebros (and their yoga babe girlfriends) have not yet turned Koh Kood into Bali. In fact, Koh Kood is probably the least mainstream of Thailand’s large islands, even compared to nearby Koh Chang. You might not love Koh Kood, but you’ll definitely get some street cred for coming here.
How Many Days Do You Need in Koh Kood?
Given what a pain it is to reach Koh Kood and how big the island is, I’d recommend spending at least 3-5 days there. This will give you time both to explore the island (to the extent that there are “attractions” here), but also to relax and actually enjoy yourself, which can be surprisingly difficult if you’ve been traveling in the rest of Thailand at any kind of fast pace.
Separately from the discussion of how many days in Koh Kood you should spend is the total amount of time you need in Trat more broadly. Unfortunately, unless you’re fine hiring a private speedboat, Koh Kood isn’t the best base for island hopping in Trat—that would be the main island of Koh Chang. In this case, you might spend 2-3 days on Koh Kood before or after a longer stay on Koh Chang (and Koh Mak and/or Koh Wai).
Other FAQ About Visiting Koh Kood
Is Koh Kood overrated?
Koh Kood is a beautiful island—don’t get me wrong. On the other hand, I’d say it’s slightly overrated. The beaches are great, but I’m not sure they compensate for what a pain it is to reach the island. Moreover, the island is huge, which means getting around it can be a hassle, unless you plan to rent a motorbike or are comfortable piggy-backing someone else who’s done so.
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Kood?
To get from Bangkok to Koh Kood, you first need to get to Trat province, either by flight (~1 hour) or bus (~5 hours). You’ll then need to go by songthaew to Laem Sok pier, and from then take a ferry to Koh Kood. Once you arrive, you’ll need to get another songthaew to whichever part of the island you’ll be staying in.
How long to spend on Koh Kood?
If you do decide that Koh Kood is worth visiting, I recommend spending at least three days there. This is the minimum amount you’ll need to offset the long and complicated journey to the island, to be able to explore it deeply enough to satisfy your curiosity.
The Bottom Line
Is Koh Kood worth visiting? Well, that depends. If you plan to be in the Trat archipelago anyway, or simply want to explore Thailand’s islands in a comprehensive way, the journey required to get here can be worthwhile. Being able and willing to ride a motorbike (which is the best way to get around Koh Kood) also maximizes the chances of getting what you need out of your trip. On the other hand, I don’t consider Koh Kood to be the paradise that many TikTok dudebros and yoga babes depict it to be. It’s a beautiful island, far better than average, but it may or may not change your life. What will change you life, however, is hiring me to plan your Thailand trip.
