Koh Kood and Koh Yao are some of the best quiet islands in Thailand to visit and stay. If you want to escape from tourist crowds and enjoy the authentic atmosphere of undeveloped Thai islands, these are top places to look at.
I had a great time visiting both islands. I rented a scooter to explore both islands, driving around to check out most of the beaches and hidden corners of these places.
In this article, I will compare Koh Kood and Koh Yao islands, including their locations, accessibility, atmosphere, beaches, food, accommodations, and cultural attractions. If you’re wondering which island is better to visit, Koh Kood or Koh Yao, keep reading.
Koh Yao island is a group of two islands, Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. These two islands have a rural, traditional Thai lifestyle, but Koh Yao Noi is the smaller and more developed of the two. You can read more about the comparison of these two islands at Koh Yao Yai vs Koh Yao Noi.
When comparing Koh Kood and Koh Yao, I’ll likely focus on Koh Kood and Koh Yao Yai, as they are similar in size and atmosphere. Koh Yao Noi (the sister island of Koh Yao Yai) is comparable to Koh Mak (the neighboring island of Koh Kood), in terms of size and development.
Which is better, Koh Kood or Koh Yao Yai/ Noi?
Both Koh Kood and Koh Yao offer a quiet atmosphere with tranquil beaches and untouched nature. They are both ideal places to escape from tourist crowds from more popular islands like Phuket, Koh Samui, Ao Nang, Koh Tao, or Koh Phangan.
The biggest difference between two locations is perhaps the location. Koh Kood is located in South Thailand and Koh Kood is located in central Thailand.
It is better to visit Koh Yao Yai/ Noi if you’re staying in South Thailand in places like Phuket, Khao Lak, and other popular spots in Krabi Provinces like Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta. You can reach the island within a few hours of a speed boat ride.
It is better to visit Koh Kood if you’re staying in Central Bangkok in places like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Hua Hin. You will need to take a bus or flight to Trat mainland first then take a speed boat to Koh Kood.
If you’re traveling from Southern or Northern Thailand to Koh Kood, you will most likely need to transfer in Bangkok or Pattaya before continuing on to the island.
Similarly, if you’re coming from Central or Northern Thailand and heading to Koh Yao, you’ll typically need to transfer in either Phuket or Krabi before reaching the island.
Other things to consider is that Koh Kood has a wider range of attractions and activities to explore. It has several cultural attractions and waterfalls while Koh Yao is all about the beaches. So, if you want to enjoy both beaches and jungle activities, Koh Kood is a better choice.
I prefer the beaches on Koh Kood more as it has more white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. The beaches on both islands are uncrowded and ideal for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and watching the sunset. They have plenty of snorkeling and diving spots around these places.
From Koh Kood’s location, you can do island hoping to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Rang. From Koh Yao’s location, you can take boat trips to Hong islands, Phuket, and James Bond island.
My recommended Places to stay in Koh Kood:
- Luxury: High Season Pool
- Mid-range: Tinkerbell Resort
- Budget: Mangrove bungalow
My recommended hotels in Koh Yao Noi:
- Budget: Bang Mee Homestay
- Mid-range: Laguna Villas Hotel
- Luxury: Six Senses
Location and Accessibility
Koh Kood is located in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, close to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and the border with Cambodia. It has easier access from other cities in Central Bangkok like Pattaya, Bangkok, and Hua Hin.
Koh Yao is located in Phang Nga Bay, in South Thailand, midway between Phuket and Ao Nang/ Krabi. It has easier access from other cities and islands in South Thailand like Phuket, Ao Nang, and Phi Phi islands.
Both islands do not have an airport. The closest airport to Koh Yao is Phuket International Airport. The closest airport to Koh Kood is Trat Airport. Phuket airport is easier to access than Trat Airport.
Phuket airport has frequent flights from many cities in Thailand and the world, while Trat Airport has limited flights, mainly from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport via Bangkok Airways.
From Phuket airport, you will take a 30 minute taxi ride to Bang Rong Pier, and another 30 minutes speed boat ride to Koh Yao islands. From Trat Airport, you will take around a 50 minutes taxi ride to Laem Sok Pier and another 1.5-2 hours speed boat ride to Koh Kood.
In addition to combining flights and boat transfers, you can also reach these islands by combining bus/van and boat transportation. See more:
Koh Kood vs Koh Yao: Accommodations
Both islands have accommodation for all budgets and needs. There are both luxury 5-star resorts, small guest houses, and backpacker hostels. Like all other places in Thailand, it is recommended to book your hotel in advance if you are traveling in the high season.
You can often find great deals by booking accommodations well in advance. Prices usually spike during the high season for last-minute bookings. If you wait to book spontaneously during the peak season, from November to May, you might end up with limited or no availability.
For luxury stay, I recommend High Season Pool Villa & Spa and Tinkerbell Resort in Koh Kood in the Klong Chao area. This is a tourist center of the island, so you will have easy access to several amenities like restaurants, bars, and shops.
If you are looking for mid-range and budget options, I recommend Kama Siri near Ao Taphao Beach. I stayed here and love it. It is a family-run business that offers rooms with basic amenities and warm, welcoming hospitality.
In Koh Yao islands, if you are searching for a luxury stay, I suggest Six Senses Resort at Klong Jark Beach on Koh Yao Noi and Santhiya Resort at Loh Pared Beach on Koh Yao Yai. I traveled as a solo traveler on a budget and had a good stay at Backpack Hostel Kohyaoyai near Chong Lard Pier.
Whether you choose to stay on Koh Kood and Koh Yao islands, it is best to rent a scooter to get around. There is no public transport on both islands and the local taxis are limited and are often ordered through the hotels.
See more:
Koh Kood vs Koh Yao: Size and Development
Koh Kood and Koh Yao Yai have similar sizes. They are both one of the largest islands in Thailand. Koh Kood is slightly larger with 105 km². Koh Yao Yai is around 92 km². Koh Yao Noi is around half the size of Koh Yao Yai, around 45 km².
Koh Kood and Koh Yao Yai are both less developed with just a few resorts and tourist amenities scattered around the island. There is also no 7-11 on Koh Kood, just local minimarts. There are a couple of 7-Eleven stores on Koh Yao Yai and one in Koh Yao Noi.
There are ATMs on both islands, but it’s a good idea to bring enough cash with you. You know how it is in rural areas, ATMs don’t always get topped up regularly.
Restaurants are scattered around the islands, with just a few restaurants on each beach. Klong Chao is the tourist center of Koh Kood, Loh Pared Beach is the tourist center of Koh Yao Yai, so if you want to have more choices in terms of tourist amenities, book your stay in these areas.
Koh Yao Noi is smaller in size and more developed, so it is easy to find a range of tourist amenities, restaurants, and bars. It is concentrated in the south east coast of the island, in Klong Jark Beach and Pasai Beach.
See more:
- 20 Best Things to Do in Koh Kood
- 15 Best Things to Do in Koh Yao Yai
- 20 Best Things to Do in Koh Yao Noi
Getting Around and Transportation
If you can ride a scooter, it is best to rent a scooter to get around Koh Yao and Koh Kood. Public transport does not exist on these islands and taking local private songthaews can be expensive. You will have to order it through your accommodation.
Koh Yao islands have mostly flat terrain, so it is easy to get around on a scooter. Make sure to stick to the main road and avoid the small dirt tracks through the rubber plantations if you’re new to driving in Thailand.
Most parts of Koh Kood are flat with well paved roads. But there are some hilly and curvy roads in the southern part of the island, so be sure to drive carefully.
There aren’t many street lights at night, and these islands are pretty remote, so to stay safe, it’s best to avoid driving after dark.
Koh Kood or Koh Yao for Beaches?
Both islands have unspoiled beaches that never feel crowded like in Phuket or Koh Samui. The beaches are good for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and watching the sunset.
I prefer the beaches on Koh Kood more as it has more white sandy beaches with crystal turquoise water. Most beaches have at least a couple of resorts on the beachfront. Most beaches on Koh Yao Yai are undeveloped, with no resorts or just a small mobile beach bar or restaurant.
Most beaches on Koh Kood are located on the west coast of the island. Popular beaches on Koh Kood are Klong Chao, Ao Taphao, Bang Bao, Klong Hin, Klong Jark, and Ao Prao Beach. Most beaches on this island are lined with resorts and some restaurants, bars, and massage parlors on the beach.
The most popular beach on Koh Yao Yai is Loh Pared Beach. This beach is lined with several beachfront resorts and is backed by a village with several tourist amenities. Then you have Klong Hin Beach and Klong Chak Beach with a couple of resorts on the beachfront area.
There are lots of beaches on Koh Yao Yai with no resorts on it. Laem Had Beach is on the top of this list. It is a white fine sandy beach with crystal clear water and a long sandbank on the north east coast of Koh Yao Yai. Other secluded beaches are Son Bay Beach, Ao Muong Beach, and Ao Sai Beach.
Beaches on Koh Yao Noi have more upscale resorts. Popular beaches are Pasai Beach, Klong Jark beach, and Tha Khao Beach offers several restaurants, bars, and tourist amenities. If you want to explore a more secluded area with no resort, head to Long Beach and Little Long Beach on the north east coast.
Koh Kood or Koh Yao for Food and Restaurants?
About 90% of the population on Koh Yao are Muslim. A lot of the restaurants on Koh Yao Yai are run by local families and serve halal food, reflecting the island’s Muslim majority.
Restaurants are spread out around the island with a couple of restaurants in each area. I stayed in Chong Lard in koh Yao yai, and there were just a couple of local restaurants within walking distance from my hotels, Backpack Hostel Kohyaoyai.
I’m not very familiar with their food and often eat food from 7-Eleven. For more restaurants, I need to drive to other areas, but I avoided driving at night, so 7-Eleven food worked for me for a few meals.
If you have to Koh Yao Noi or stay in Loh Pared Beach of Koh Yao Yai, you will have more restaurant options. There are seafood restaurants in Koh Yao islands, but not as many as in Koh Kood.
In Koh Kood, I stayed at Kama Siri. I was lucky that the hotel is located within walking distance from The Fisherman Hut Restaurant, which is one of the best restaurants on Koh Kood, so I had a few meals here.
I also tried meals at several other local restaurants on Koh Kood like Kodmookrob and Noochy Seafood, they both served good food. In general, the food scene in Koh Kood is better for me than in Koh Yao Yai.
Fisherman Villages
Koh Kood has several fisherman Villages where you can explore local life and try delicious seafood. These are Ao Yai in the south east coast, Ao Salad on the north coast, and Klong Mad fisherman village.
You can find several good seafood restaurants overlooking the water and the mangrove forest in Ao Yai and Ao Salad. I recommend Noochy Seafood and Chonthicha Seafood in Ao Yai Village.
You can visit these restaurants during the day for lunch or around sunset. Be sure to drive back to your hotel before dark cause the road is hilly, curvy, remote and dark at night.
On Koh Yao Noi, you can visit Thatondo Fisherman Village on the west coast of the island. There are a couple of nice seafood restaurants located near Tongdo Pier where you can try good fresh seafood from the local fisherman.
Koh Kood or Koh Yao for Cultural Attractions?
Koh Yao islands are all about the beaches. Koh Kood is surrounded by both jungle and ocean. It has several beautiful cultural attractions to explore such as the two ancient trees (Sai Yai – Big Chai Tree and Giant Maca Tree), Kao Ruerob rock formation, the Big Buddha, and some local Buddhist temples.
All of these attractions are easily accessible by road. In Koh Yao Noi, you have an ancient tree, but located in a remote area, only accessible by boat.
If you want to explore the beaches with a touch of some cultural attractions, Koh Kood is better than Koh Yao island.
Koh Kood or Koh Yao for Waterfalls?
Koh Kood has three beautiful waterfalls that are easily accessible by scooter. You can swim and hike to these waterfalls, enjoying a refreshing change from the beaches. Famous waterfalls in Koh Kood are Klong Chao Waterfall, Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall, and Khlong Yai Kee Waterfall.
Koh Yao Noi has a tiny waterfall near Tha Khao Beach. I visited during the dry season, so there wasn’t much to see. It’s just a couple of minutes’ walk from the road.
Island Hopping
Koh Kood is a good base to explore the islands on the eastern Gulf of Thailand like Koh Mak and Koh Chang. Koh Rang island nearby is a great destination for snorkeling to see vibrant marine life.
Koh Yao is a great location to explore the islands of South Thailand. Popular boat trips from Koh Yao include the day trip to James Bond islands, Hong Islands, and Nok Islands. These are some of the best islands in Thailand known for its crystal clear water, white sand, and stunning limestone karts.
See more:
- Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi
- My 3-4 Days In Koh Kood Itinerary
- My 3-4 Days In Koh Yao Yai & Noi Itinerary
- 7 Quiet Islands in Thailand to Stay
Both islands offer a quiet atmosphere with secluded beaches and untouched nature. They are very quiet, slow-paced with almost no party scene; it’s all about relaxation and simplicity. They are a truly off-the-beaten-path experience with genuine local culture.