Koh Kood is a big island located in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, close to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Cambodia. It is known for its laid-back atmosphere, and tranquil beaches, making it an ideal place for a relaxing beach holiday.
In this article, I will cover the best things to do and see in Koh Kood, Thailand. These include the best beaches, top waterfalls, popular cultural attractions, famous fisherman villages, and good places to eat.
Most of the beaches in Koh Kood are located on the west coast of the island. Popular beaches from north to south include Ao Tapao, Klong Chao, Bang Bao, Klong Hin, Ao Jark, and Ao Phrao. Most beaches offer a quiet atmosphere with fine white sand, super clear water, and stunning sunset views.
Koh Kood is not just about dreamy beaches, it also has lush forest and some beautiful waterfalls to explore. Famous waterfalls are Klong Chao Waterfall, Klong Yai Kee, and Huang Nam Kaew. On the way to waterfalls, you can enjoy a little hiking and visiting ancient trees.
The island is also home to several authentic fishing villages where you can eat fresh seafood and experience local life. I recommend visiting Ao Yai, Ao Salad, and Klong Mad Fisherman Villages. I had a nice seafood fried rice meal at Noochy Seafood in Ao Yai fishing village.
The waters around Koh Kood are crystal-clear and teeming with untouched coral reefs, which is ideal for snorkeling, or diving. You can take a boat trip to different snorkeling spots on the island or to the nearby Koh Rang Marine Park.
You can check my itinerary and how I get around Koh Kood in these articles:
I explore all the attractions and beaches on Koh Kood on a scooter. If you don’t plan to rent a scooter or a car, you can take a guided tour, or hire a private driver for a few hours to see around the island.
There aren’t many Songthaews pick up truck taxis on the island, you need to ask for your accommodation to book it for you. Songthaew is generally expensive in Koh Kood.
When you book a boat ticket from/ to Koh Kood, most boat companies include a transfer between the piers and your hotel, so you don’t have to worry about traveling from the pier to your hotel.
Here are my favorites attractions and activities in Koh Kood:
20 Best Things to Do & See in Koh Kood
Beaches
Koh Kood has many beautiful pristine beaches, stretching on the west coast from north to south. Most popular beaches are open to the public, and some beaches on the northwest are private. You can easily reach beaches by scooter.
Some of the roads to the beaches are dirt paths and pretty narrow. The beaches in Ko Kut never feel too crowded, even at popular spots like Klong Chao Beach during sunset, when many people stop by to take pictures.
#1. Ao Tapao Beach
Ao Tapao is a beautiful beach located on the west coast of Koh Kood. The beachfront is lined with resorts and palm trees. You can get to the beach walking through one of these resorts or on the road to Nam Leuk Pier.
Ao Tapao is a quiet beach with clean turquoise water and fine sand. There are wooden piers on the beach, as well as several bars, restaurants, and beach swings. You buy snacks and drinks from the minimart near the piers, and bring it to the beach with your beach mat.
The beach is ideal for swimming, chilling, and watching the sunset. The sunset at any beaches on Koh Kood is magnificent. The sunset time was around 6pm when I visited in mid December.
#2. Klong Chao Beach
Klong Chao is one of the most picturesque and popular beaches located on the west coast of Koh Kood. The beach has white powder sand and clean crystal turquoise water. The beach is ideal for swimming, kayaking, chilling, and enjoying the stunning sunset views.
The beachfront is lined with luxury resorts such as Peter Pan, High Season, and Tinkerbell. There are several bars and restaurants on the beach that belong to the resorts.
The main roads running parallel with the beach also have numerous restaurants, bars, and minimarts. You can easily access the beach from the main road.
#3. Bang Bao Beach
Bang Bao Beach is a beautiful beach on the west coast of Koh Kood. The beachfront is lined with resorts, so you need to access the beach through resorts such as Koh Kood resort or Siam Beach Resort.
This beach has soft, fine sand, crystal clear water, and stunning palm trees. There are lots of shade areas at the beach. It is a perfect place to chill, swim, paddle boarding, and kayak. There are beach bars, restaurants, and massage shops from the resorts along the beach.
You can find several wooden piers on the beach, creating a nice background for taking photos, especially at sunset. You can walk on the piers or jump from piers.
#4. Klong Hin Beach
Klong Hin is a beautiful peaceful beach located at the southwest coast of Koh Kood. You can access the beach by walking though Klong Hin Beach Resort. You can use the services at this resort such as the beach bar, restaurant, and massage place.
The beach has powdery soft sand, calm water, and lots of shades from palm and coconut trees. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy water activities such as swimming, kayaking.
#5. Ao Jark Beach
Ao Jark Beach is a beautiful beach located next to Klong Hin Beach. It is easily accessible from the road to Neverland Resort. The beach has fine sandwith shady palm trees on the shore. The water is clear, calm, and shallow, which is suitable for kids.
It is a quiet spot for relaxing and unwind. You can find several beach bars, restaurants with sunbeds and massage shops on the beach.
#6. Ao Phrao Beach
Ao Phrao is a long and secluded beach on the southwest coast of Koh Kood. The beachfront is home to several resorts and hotels. You can easily reach the beach by following the sign to the beach from Ao Phrao village.
You can take a long walk along the sand, swim, kayak, or grab a cold beer at one of the beach bars and chill. Like all other beaches on Koh Kood, Ao Phrao is at its best during sunset.
Waterfalls
Koh Kood has some beautiful waterfalls, including Klong Chao Waterfalls, Klong Yai Kee, and Huang Nam Kaew. All of them are great places to swim in the jungle setting. They are easily accessible by scooter and with a short walk from the parking area.
#7. Klong Chao Waterfall
Klong Chao Waterfall is the most popular waterfall in Koh Kood. It is located within a short scooter ride from Klong Chao Beach. I visited the waterfall in mid December and there was still lots of water at the pool.
I saw some people swim and swing into the pool from a rope from a nearby tree. You can find the way to the top of the waterfall. I just sit on the rock, chill, and take some photos.
There was no admission free and it was around 10 minutes easy walk from the parking area to reach the fall. After the Klong Chao Waterfall, I went for a walk for around 1 hour in the jungle.
#8. Klong Yai Kee Waterfall
Klong Yai Kee is a beautiful spot to swim in the middle of the jungle in Koh Kood. I visited in the dry season in December but the pool still has full of water to dip in. It is located on the northwest part of the island and easily accessible by scooter from the main road.
Admission is free. You can enjoy swimming, chilling, and having free fish massage here. At many places in Thailand, you need to pay 100 baht for a 30 minute fish massage on the tank. At Klong Yai Kee, you can have a free one in a beautiful forest-setting location.
#9. Huang Nam Kaew Waterfall
Huang Nam Kaew is located in the deep jungle, accessible from the dirt narrow road, passing through the ancient trees. It is free to enter. I visited in mid December and there was not much water at the pool. You can easily climb on the big rocks to reach the pool and have beautiful views of the stream below.
The waterfall is a short walk down the stairs with rope from the parking area. Things get pretty slippery in the rainy season. If you are lucky, you can spot hornbills in this forest. There is a nice garden and little place to eat near the parking area.
Fisherman Villages
Koh Kood is home to several beautiful fishing villages, including Ao Yai, Ao Salad, and Klong Mad. These are great places to have a glimpse into traditional island life, and try fresh seafood.
#10. Ao Yai Fisherman Village
Ao Yai is a seafood heaven and quaint fishing village located at the southeastern coast of Koh Kood. The village is easily accessible by scooter.
The road at the southern part of the island is quite hilly with some sharp curves. It is quite isolated and there is no light on the road, so I recommend avoiding driving when it gets dark.
Along the way, you’ll encounter a hilltop lookout offering beautiful views of the bay and the village. There are monkeys around the viewpoint, so take care of your belongings and dont feed them.
I walked my scooter on the side of the paved road near Noochy Seafood and walked down to the fishing village through the narrow wooden walkways. The area has calm water and stunning views of the mangrove forests.
There are several cafes, massage shops, and seafood restaurants with river views at the village. I had a meal at Noochy Seafood. It was quite expensive for a plate of seafood fried rice but it was delicious with fresh shrimp and had a nice view.
I walked all the way to Ao Yai Pier and walked back to the parking area. It is a nice place to observe local fishermen’s life. Lots of houses near Ao Yai Pier are empty.
#11. Ao Salad Fisherman Village
Ao Salad is a small Fisherman Village located on the north coast of Koh Kood. It is right next to Ao Salad Pier, which is the first arrival point of many visitors to the island. You can combine a visit to Ao Salad Fisherman Village with a visit to the nearby Wat Ao Salad and its Big Buddha.
Ao Salad is where local fishmend live. The village is centered around one main wooden walkway. It is lined with stilted houses, mini-marts, restaurants, and colorful fishing boats. You can see locals making the fish nests at their houses.
In the village, there are also facilities for tourists such as guest houses, hostels, Dive Center, seafood restaurants, and souvenir shops. It takes 20-30 minutes wandering around the area.
#12. Klong Mad Fisherman Village
Klong Mad is a small and lesser-known Fisherman Village, located close to Klong Yai Kee Waterfall. There are several resorts and hotels in this area. You can explore the beautiful jetty and take a walk around the village with a network of crescent narrow streets and stilt houses.
In between local houses, you can see some cafes, restaurants, hostels, and homestays. Locals drive their scooters on these tiny roads on the water and it looks quite dangerous to me.
Ancient Trees
In addition to the beaches, Koh Kood has several ancient trees, including the Makka and Sai Yai trees, which are estimated to be between 200 and 500 years old. These trees are located close to each other and are great places to experience the island’s tranquil jungle landscapes.
#13. Sai Yai – Big Chai Tree
This is a beautiful tree located on the same road to the Makkah Tree and Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall. You can combine a visit to the Big Tree with the Makka tree and the waterfall.
Google Maps didn’t give me the right direction, but some ideas where to go. Pay attention to the sign along the road that said “Sai Yai”. From the small paved road, you’ll need to turn to the small dirt road and drive for a few minutes to reach the tree.
There is a short trail from the parking area to the tree. It is easy to spot, because of the huge tree. I came early in the morning, and had the whole place to myself.
#14. Makka Tree
Makka Tree is one of the most popular ancient trees in Koh Kood. It is located within a short drive from the Big Chai Tree and Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall. There is a clear sign on the road that says “Makayuk”.
You can park your scooter at the sign and walk to the tree. The tree is wrapped with orange Buddha clothes and is a spiritual place. You can pause for a moment and offer your gratitude to this magnificent tree.
Cultural attractions
In addition to the ancient trees, Koh Kood is home to some cultural attractions, such as Khao Rearub – Battleship Mountain and Wat Ao Salad.
#15. Khao Rearub
Khao Rearub, also spelled Kao Ruerob, is a historical attraction located close to Klong Chao Beach. If you rent a scooter, you can take a look at this one. Otherwise, skip it.
It is a small mountain with the shape of the bow of a ship. On the mountain, you can see a small shrine and the statue of prince Chumphon.
From the parking area, you will walk for a few minutes on a brick-paved path to reach the area. The wooden ladder to the top is quite old and broken, so be careful stepping on it. It is free to enter, there are toilets at the entrance but they look abandoned.
#16. Wat Ao Salad & Big Buddha
This is a peaceful temple, located on the northeast coast of Koh Kood. It is right next to the Ao Salad Pier and the fishing village. You can combine visits to these places into a single trip.
The admission to the temple is free. You can walk around, explore the temple’s ground and enjoy the views of the sea and the Big Buddha Statue. You might spot this huge statue when on the boat to Ao Salad Pier.
Island Hopping, Snorkeling and Diving
The underwater life around Koh Kood is vibrant, which is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. You can easily book an organised snorkeling or diving around the island with your accommodation or local dive center such as BB Divers, Paradise Divers, or Koh Kood Divers.
Additionally, Koh Kood is surrounded by a cluster of small, untouched islets perfect for half-day or full-day hopping trips. I recommend taking a trip to Koh Rang Marine Park.
#17. Koh Rang Marine Park
Koh Rang Marine National Park is a protected marine area close to Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood. You can easily book tours to Koh Rang from one of those islands.
The park encompasses several islands, including Koh Rang Yai, Koh Yak, and Koh Thian. It is famous for its vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and clear waters, making it a popular destination for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.
Restaurants and Beach Bars
There are many delicious restaurants and beach bars all around Koh Kood. They all have good reviews from Google and the food is really tasty. I’ve tried and can personally recommend Fisherman Hut, Kodmookrob, and JK Khao Kaeng Restaurant.
#18. Fisherman Hut Restaurant
I had a few dinner at the Fisherman Hut because it is located within walking distance to my guest house. I tried stir fried beef with rice, and beef salad with rice. It was tasty. They have a seafood area where you can choose a fresh one and cook it for you. There is live music some nights.
If you come to a restaurant for dinner, I recommend you follow the 4107 road then turn into the small road to the restaurant. Avoid the other direction because it passes through the rubber plantation and it looks quite isolated and dark in the evening. There is almost no street light on that road.
#19. Kodmookrob Restaurant
I had lunch at this restaurant, when I came back to the main road from the ancient trees and Huang Nam Khiao Waterfall. They served nice Thai food, noodle soup, and crispy pork.
#20. JK Khao Kaeng Restaurant
This is another popular restaurant located near Klong Chao beach. It always has lots of customers and is easily accessed from the main road. You can try steamed fish with lemon, chicken rice curry, pad thai, and many other Thai foods.
See more: Should You Stay Koh Kood or Koh Mak?
These are my suggestions on the best things to do and see in Koh Kood. From the top beaches, to best cultural attractions, waterfalls, local fisherman villages, and beautiful beach bars and restaurants, Koh Kood has it all. I hope you will have a wonderful visit to this laid-back island in south Thailand.