I had a wonderful time in Koh Kood exploring its beautiful beach, waterfalls, ancient trees, and fishing villages. In this article, I will share with you my itinerary on how to spend 3-4 days on Koh Kood and my opinion on how many days in Koh Kood is enough.
Koh Kood is a big island located in the Gulf of Thailand close to the border of Cambodia. It is also a short boat ride from other popular islands such as Koh Chang and Koh Mak.
If you are looking for a laid-back beach holiday, Koh Kood is a great place to visit. It is the 4th largest island in Thailand, but it is less touristy compared to the more popular Phuket or Koh Samui.
How many days in Koh Kood is enough?
In my opinion, 3-5 days is a good amount of time to explore the main beaches and attractions on Koh Kood. I spent 3 nights on the island and was able to see most beaches, waterfalls, fisherman villages, and ancient trees. You can consider taking one-day snorkeling/diving trips around Koh Kood or to Koh Rang.
Koh Kood is a relatively big island and to minimize time driving, I divided it into two: the northern part and southern part. I explore each part in one day.
Here are my recommendations on things to do and how long I spend on each activities on Koh Kood:
#1. Beach hopping and sightseeing. If you rent a scooter or a car, you can easily explore all major attractions and beaches on Koh Kood within two days.
- Best Beaches: Ao Tapao, Klong Chao, Bang Bao, and Ao Phrao.
- Best Waterfalls: Klong Yai Kee, Klong Chao, and Huang Nam Kaew.
- Ancient Trees: Big Chai Tree and 550 Years Makka tree.
- Fisherman Villages: Ao Yai and Ao Salad.
If you don’t plan to rent a vehicle, you can ask your hotel for songthaew/taxi services or hire a private driver. These services are quite expensive on Koh Kood, around 500 baht for one location. I recommend booking a hotel within a short walking distance to the beach, so you don’t have to walk too far.
#2. Snorkeling and Diving. If you like snorkeling and diving, you can take a day snorkeling trip to Koh Rang Marine Park, or the trip to different sites around Koh Kood. These trips usually take you to three snorkeling sites and spend around 45 minutes on each site.
See more: 20 Awesome Things to Do in Koh Kood
Getting to Koh Kood:
To reach Koh Kood, you need to take a boat from Laem Sok Pier on mainland Trat or from nearby islands such as Koh Mak or Koh Chang.
The most popular way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok is by taking a bus to Laem Sok Pier, then boat to the island. It is around 5-5.5 hours on the bus and 1.5-2 hours on the ferry.
Another way to get to Koh Kooh is by taking flights from Bangkok to Trat Airport (1 hour), then another 45 minutes on a minibus/taxi to Laem Sok Pier, and finally boats to Koh Kood.
Getting around Koh Kood:
This is a big island and the best way to explore Koh Kood is perhaps renting a scooter. You can easily follow the main road that connects many beaches and villages together.
There are no public Songthaew services on Koh Kood, and taxis are expensive. You can ask your hotel for the private songthaew or taxi. You can consider hiring a private driver or taking tours.
Best time to visit Koh Kood:
Koh Kood has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons, the dry season (November to April) and rainy season (May to October). The best time to visit Koh Kood is from November to May when there is little to no rain and the beaches are calm, which are perfect for swimming and water activities.
I traveled to Koh Kood mid December, the weather was in very good condition. There was no rain and lots of sunshine, which is ideal for sightseeing and swimming.
See more: How to get to Koh Kood & Get Around
Top areas to stay in Koh Kood:
If you don’t plan to rent a scooter, I recommend staying somewhere close to the beach and within walking distance to restaurants, and shops.
Klong Chao Beach is the most popular place to stay on Koh Kood. For a quieter atmosphere heading to the far north or far south of the island. See more Where to Stay in Koh Kood.
Here are the brief of my itinerary for 3-4 days in Koh Kood:
How to spend 3-4 Days In Koh Kood Itinerary?
Day 1: Arrival and Ao Taphao Beach
I came to Koh Kood from Koh Mak. The Boonsiri speed boat departed at Ao Nid Pier on Koh Mak at 1.30 and arrived at Ao Salat Pier on Koh Kood at 2.15pm. From the pier, we were transferred to a songthaew to get to my hotel in Ao Tapao Beach.
Ao Tapao Beach
After checking in the hotel, I walked to Ao Tapao Beach. It was a 30 minute walk from my hotel to the beach. It was a bit far but I personally think that it is a good way to experience local life along the way.
Ao Tapao Beach is a long beach on the central west coast of Koh Kood. It is lined with several resorts such as Sea Far Resort, Meedee, Cabana Resort, Paradise Beach Resort, and Shantaa.
I walked to Ao Tapao Beach through the Sea Far resort. At the entrance, there is a sign saying that if you are not staying at the resort, you need to park the vehicle at the parking area, then walk to the beach (50m away).
The beach has fine soft sand, crystal clear water, with lots of palm trees and several swings on its shore. There were just a few people on the beach, making it a great place to chill, sunbathe, swim, kayak, or paddle boarding.
You can have the whole beach for yourself if you walk further south from the Sea Far resort.
If you walk toward Nam Leuk Pier then head to the paved road, you can do some shopping at the Goods Market minimart. I recommend buying some snacks and drinks from this shop to bring to the beach. Ao Taphao is also one of the best places to watch the sunset on the island.
Continue walking on the same road from Good Markets, you can have a look at the local Wat Rat Bamrung. It is a small, nice, and quiet temple.
Dinner at The Fisherman Hut
I walked back to my hotel and had dinner at the nearby restaurant, the Fisherman Hut. This is one of the best restaurants on Koh Kood. They served authentic Thai food, seafood. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, the staff is friendly, and they offer live music on certain evenings.
Day 2: South Koh Kood
I rented a scooter on my 2nd and 3rd day in Koh Kood. On the 2nd day on Koh Koods, I explored waterfalls and beaches on the south side of the island. Attractions in South Koh Kood are Khong Chao Waterfall, Klong Chao Beach, Bang Bao Beach, Klong Hin Beach, Ao Jark Beach, and Ao Phrao Beach.
Klong Chao Waterfall
My first stop on my second day is Klong Chao Waterfall. This is one of the most popular waterfalls on Koh Kood, along with Klong Yai Kee Waterfall and Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall.
I parked my scooter at the parking lot area then followed the track to the waterfall. It was an easy walk, around 10 minutes. I visited the waterfall mid December, there was still lots of water at the natural pool.
You can swim here, take photos, rest, or walk to the top of the waterfall. Many people have fun with a rope swing on the tree at the pool. They use it to swing to dive into the pool.
I looked at Google maps and believed that I could walk to Huang Thap Kwang Waterfall from the sign to Klong Chao Waterfall. I walked for around an hour until I couldn’t find any path to walk and return back. It was a nice trek though, passing through rubber farms, bamboo forest, and the jungle.
Klong Chao Beach
Klong Chao Beach is located around 2 km from Klong Chao Waterfall. I parked my motorbike on the main road near Tinkerbell Resort, then walked to the beach.
This is a beautiful beach with white fine sand, crystal clear and calm water. It is a breathtaking place to take photos and swim. It is more beautiful at sunset.
Chaiyo Restaurant
I continued to follow the main road toward the south and had lunch at Chaiyo Restaurant. There are several good review restaurants nearby such as JK Khao Kaeng and TumKorat.
Khao Rearub – Battleship Mountain
Khao Rearub is a historical place located not far from Klong Chao Beach. From the parking area, you take a short walk on the paved trail to a rock formation and a shrine. The shrine is home to a statue of prince Chumphon and a lot of roadster statues. The rocks have the shape like the bow of a ship.
You can spend 10-15 minutes walking around the area. There are lots of mosquitos, so I recommend bringing insect spray with you. There are ropes and a staircase to the top of the shrine. It is quite old so be careful when stepping on it.
Bang Bao Beach
Bang Bao Beach is one of the top beaches located on the south west coast of Koh Kood. This beach is lined with beach resorts such as Koh Kood resort, The Beach Natural Resort, To The Sea The Resort, Siam Beach Resort, And Sand & Sea Hotel.
I followed the sign to The Deck Bar to access Bang Bao beach. You can have great drink and meal here while enjoying the beach. The water is crystal clear and calm, which is ideal for swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
They have many seating areas with comfortable chairs and tables as well as nets over the water where you can lay on and sunbath.
Back to the road toward Jasmine Garden resort, you will see the path to a rocky beach called หาดบางเบา. This is a good spot for snorkeling. You can park a scooter on the side of the road and follow the path to the beach.
I drove to Siam Beach Resort, which is another section of Bang Bao Beach. I parked my scooter at the parking area near BB Divers shop, and walked through the resort to the beach.
The beach here has crystal clear calm water, white fine sand, with swings and palm trees along the shore. There are kayak rentals on the beach as well as a massage shop, restaurant, and bar.
Klong Hin Beach
Klong Hin is another beautiful beach in south Koh Kood. I access this beach through Klong Hin Beach Resort. The beach is clean and is lined with palm trees. The water is clear and calm, great for swimming and kayaking.
You can have a massage or order a cold beer from the beach bar and massage shop at Klong Hin Beach resort. You can check out the beach at The Hideout resort nearby.
Ao Jark Beach
Ao Jark Beach is a serene beach located on the south west coast of Koh Kood. I accessed this beach through the dirt road near the Neverland Resort.
This is a beautiful quiet beach with tranquil waters and white fine sand. The beach is kid-friendly with shallow water. There are sunbeds, umbrellas, and bean bags on the beach. You can find a cafe, restaurant, and beach bar that belong to nearby resorts such as Rimlay or Neverland.
Ao Phrao Beach
Ao Phrao Beach is the long beach on the south part of Koh Kood. I followed the sign to the I-Lay House hotel to reach the beach. This is another beautiful and quiet beach on the island, which is ideal for relaxing on the beach.
You can take a long walk along the beach, swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and have a nice massage. There is a nice bar called Sea Thru Beach Club at one end of the beach, which is a great place to sit for a drink, especially at sunset.
From Ao Phrao Beach, I wanted to head to Ao Yai Fisherman, but it is getting dark and the road is getting more hilly, so I decided to come back to my hotel in the Ao Taphao area.
On the way back, I stopped at Klong Chao Beach near Tinkerbell Resort, to watch the beautiful sunset. This is one of the best sunsets that I have seen in my life. Lots of people are around the beach at this time, but you still have enough space to enjoy it.
Day 3: North Koh Kood Itinerary
On my third day in Koh Kood, I explored ancient trees, waterfalls, Big Buddha temple, and fishing villages in North Koh Kood. I also have time to explore Ao Yai Fisherman Village in the South that I didn’t have enough time to explore on the previous day.
Big Chai Tree
Big Chai Tree is an ancient tree located within a short drive from the Ao Taphao Beach area. It is on the same road to the ancient Makka Tree and Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall. There is a sign along the road to show you direction to the Big Chai Tree.
The last part of the road to the Big Chai Tree is the red dirt road. You can ride the scooter at the end of the road and follow the short trail to the tree. You can spend around 10 minutes here wandering around and taking photos.
500 years Makka Tree
Makka Tree is another huge ancient tree located very close to the Big Chai Tree. You park the scooter at the Makka sign on the main road then walk through the short wooden path to the tree.
You can spend 5-10 minutes here admiring the tree and taking photos. I prefer this tree over the Big Chai Tree. The Chai Tree is located a bit deeper inside the jungle and it made me feel a bit scared visiting it alone in the morning.
Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall
Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall is located on the same road as the ancient trees. Continue driving on the road from the Makka tree, you will reach this waterfall within a few minutes. Google Maps does not have the path to this waterfall, so use the Paper map to guess which road to go.
The waterfall is free to enter. I parked my scooter at the parking area then followed the short trail to the waterfall. I visited in mid December which is the dry season, so there was not much water. I climbed over several big rocks to have the best views.
If you are lucky, you can see hornbills in the surrounding forest. I didn’t see anyone swim here. Maybe it is the dry season, no water so no one swam.
There is a small shop/restaurant, farm in the parking lot, you can look around.
Lunch at Kodmookrob restaurant
I got back to the main road, and stopped at a local restaurant for lunch. The restaurant had a nice view, and they served local Thai food such as noodle soup and crispy pork. The price is reasonable.
Klong Yai Kee Waterfall
Klong Yai Kee Waterfall is one of the three main waterfalls on Koh Kood. Similar to Klong Chao Waterfall, you can swim here, even in mid December (beginning of the dry season).
Klong Yai Kee Waterfall is free to enter. You park your vehicle at the parking area, then walk down to the waterfall.
You can swim here and enjoy a free fish massage. There are lots of shades here, so if you don’t like the sun, you can chill under the shade of the trees.
Klong Han Beach/ Secret Sunset Beach
From the Klong Yai Kee Waterfall I drove all the way to the beach at Soneva Kiri, passing the wooden bridge. I was hoping to see the beach on this side, but the guard stopped me from coming in at the entrance because the access is only for guests staying at the hotel.
Klong Han Beach/ Secret Sunset Beach is accessible from the road to Seacret Resort. You need to be the guest of the resort or use the services at the bar to be able to access it.
This is another quiet white sandy beach on Koh Kood. If you don’t feel comfortable accessing the beach though private property or being the guest at the bar, you can skip this one. There are many other more beautiful beaches on the island and are free to access.
Klong Mad Fisherman Village
Klong Mad Fisherman Village is a vibrant area located just a short drive from Klong Yai Kee Waterfall. This area is home to a pier, and a nice fishing village with several guest houses, hostels, cafes, and restaurants.
You can spend around 30 minutes walking around the harbor, the jetty, the village, and enjoy the stunning views of the sea. You can see some fishes through the crystal clear water.
Big Buddha Statue at Ao Salat Pier
Wat Ao Salat is just one of the few temples on Koh Kood. This temple is located near Ao Salat Pier and is home to the Big Buddha. You can see the Big Buddha when you arrive in Koh Kood by boat to Ao Salat Pier.
The temple is free to enter. It is small, you can walk around the temple for 20-30 minutes. There are some viewpoints where you can have a nice ocean view.
Ao Salad Fisherman Village
From The Big Buddha, I walked down to Ao Salad Pier and Ao Salad Fisherman Village. There is one main road running though the village, around 500 m. It is lined with floating houses, homestay, seafood restaurants, and some convenient stores.
It was nice to see fishermen preparing the nets for their fishing. You can have a meal at one of the several seafood restaurants in the village. It has a nice setting with views over the sea and mountains.
Ao Yai Fisherman Village
Ao Yai Fisherman Village is a popular place to try fresh seafood meals on Koh Kood. You find several popular seafood restaurants in this village including Noochy Seafood and Chonthicha Seafood.
I had a mixed seafood fried rice at Noochy Seafood then took a walk around the village. It was a nice walk with beautiful views of the surrounding mangrove village.
At the end of the village lies the Ao Yai Pier. It seems like a busy pier with lots of cars lining the pier. From here I drove back to my hotel in the Ao Taphao area.
On the way back to the north of Koh Kood, you can stop at the “Scenic Lookout”, located around 800m from Noochy Seafood. This viewpoint has beautiful views of Ao Yai Fisherman Village.
Day 4: Back to Bangkok/ Other things to do in Koh Kood
I traveled to Bangkok from Koh Kood on my 4th day on the island. My hotel booked a combo ticket to Bangkok for me. It included a pick up from my hotel to Ao Salad Pier, a speed boat ride to Laem Sok in the mainland, and a bus ride to Khao San Road in Bangkok.
It took me the whole day to travel from Koh Kood to Bangkok, departing at 8am in Koh Kood and arriving at 7pm in Bangkok.
If you still have time on Koh Kood, you can take a Snorkeling and diving trip. Koh Kood has vibrant coral reefs, making it a great destination for snorkeling and diving. You can take a snorkeling trip around the island to Koh Rang Marine Park. You can join a diving course here too.
Check out: Is it better to visit Koh Kood or Koh Mak?
These are my suggestions of how to spend 3-4 days in Koh Kood. I personally think this is a good amount of time to explore the beaches, waterfalls, and fisherman villages. You can enjoy beach activities such as swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling, as well as doing some trekking and eating local food.