I’ll never forget the first time I visited Koh Wai, in Thailand’s Trat archipelago. The journey—I’d been invited on behalf of the TAT, which was great; it also ensured a touch-and-go trajectory that barely left me time to breathe—was cumbersome and middling.
But the destination? Well, at least in the case of Koh Wai, it was nothing short of unforgettable. That was 10 years ago.
The bad news? It ended up taking me nearly a decade to get back. The good news? I now know precisely how to answer the question “is Koh Wai worth visiting?”.
Getting to (and Around) Koh Wai
Whether you take a Koh Wai day trip or choose to stay here overnight, you’ll need to get yourself to the island in the first place. For most travelers, this will involve reaching the island from one of the three other main islands of the Trat archipelago, likely Koh Chang or Koh Mak. Third-party sites like 12go.asia are best for cutting through the complicated web of speedboats that connect these islands.
Once on Koh Wai, which is an exceedingly small island, you can simply hike through the jungle to get from one beach to another. You could also go by boat if you happen to have one—some people visit the island via chartered yacht or speedboat, if you can believe it—but I find that part of why I enjoy Koh Wai so much is just how hands…er, feet on the process of exploring it is.
5 Things to Know About Koh Wai
It’s the smallest major island in Trat
Although certain islets are smaller, Koh Wai is the smallest inhabited island within the Trat archipelago. It measures less than a kilometer from north to south, and just two kilometers from east to west, meaning that it quite literally is a “little” slice of paradise. It’s even sort of shaped like a citrus slice!
(But it’s bigger than it seems)
Part of what makes Koh Wai worth visiting is that it’s larger than it seems. This is because in order to get from one beach to another, you don’t walk along a road—there are no roads—but rather, you trek through the jungle. Even to get from the “pier” (which is floating) to the beach, you have to be reeled in on a moving platform!
Living conditions are spartan
The beach where you’ll probably arrive is home to Paradise Resort, but don’t be fooled. Although the beach definitely feels paradisiacal, the place where you stay (which lacks air conditioning—and, often electricity) is about as far from a “resort” as you can get. There are also no ATMs or convenience stores on Koh Wai.
(But beaches are sublime)
Is Koh Wai worth it? Well, if you’re looking for beaches with white sand and clear waters, with virtually no other tourists on them, then there are few better places to go in Thailand. The surrounding topography isn’t quite as dramatic as what you find on the Andaman side, but this is a small price to pay.
It left—and leaves—me torn
Every time I stop on Koh Wai for a few hours, I always want to come back and stay overnight. But I never have so far, because of both the spartan accommodation (and the fact that none of them are bookable online), and because I’m afraid I’d get too bored to spend a full 24 hours there. Maybe next year?
How Long Should You Stay in Koh Wai?
Koh Wai is very small, and while all its beaches are different, they are similar enough to one another that they may seem the same to many travelers. As a result, I’d say that for a majority of potential visitors, a day trip to Koh Wai may be enough. Do note that depending upon where you originate, you may only be able to spend 3-6 hours on the island, due to boat schedules.
If an overnight stay does interest you, then I’d say the answer to how many days in Koh Wai you need to spend is pretty simple: One, two at the most. Reason being that unless you are truly content just to lounge on a beach all day—and if you really don’t mind just how few creature comforts are available on the island—you will quickly get bored, and maybe even despondent.
Other FAQ About Visiting Koh Wai
Can you stay on Koh Wai?
You can absolutely stay on Koh Wai, though you should keep in mind that most accommodation on the island is extremely spartan, with simple, fan-cooled beach huts. Additionally, since there are no ATMs on the island, you’ll want to make sure that you bring enough cash to last your entire trip.
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Wai?
Reaching Koh Wai from Bangkok will take you at least half a day. You’ll first need to take one of the 2-3 daily Bangkok Airways flights from Bangkok to Trat. You’ll then transfer to one of Trat’s piers (likely, but not necessary, Laem Ngop) and get either a speedboat or ferry from there to Koh Wai.
How do I get to Koh Wai from Koh Chang?
Several boats per day travel from Koh Chang to Koh Wai. Some of these are speedboats that make the journey less than an hour, while others are slower (but also cheaper) wooden boats. Alternatively, if you have the funds, you may opt instead to charter your own boat to travel between the islands.
The Bottom Line
Is Koh Wai worth visiting? Absolutely, though it helps if you already plan to be in Koh Mak, Koh Chang or Koh Kood. In terms of sheer natural beauty, I’d say that Koh Wai wins out (at least within the Trat archipelago), though there are definitely some disadvantages of being here for more than half a day. Namely, the fact that most of the accommodation on the island is spartan (at best), and the fact that going anywhere besides the beach where you’re staying requires a hike through the jungle. If you can get past the lack of creature comforts, however, I’d definitely suggest including Koh Wai in your custom Thailand itinerary.
