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Ideal duration: 2-3 days
Best Time: November to March Read More
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Koh Kood, commonly spelt as Koh Kut, is one of the few islands in Thailand that is not overrun by tourists and is increasingly becoming popular among people looking for a peaceful getaway to beautiful islands. Housing a population of fewer than 2000 people, this island stands to be the sixth-largest in Thailand; encompassing an area of around 105 square kilometres. The history of the island traces back to the time when Khmers and Thais settled down here in 1904 and built a living from scratch by fishing, harvesting coconuts, and tapping trees. Furthermore, Koh Kood island is best known for its clear waters and white sand beaches that are often compared to the beaches of Maldives.
Koh Kood is something one would find in a fairytale. There are even resorts on the island named Peter Pan and Tinkerbell to support that notion. Don't expect to find anything remotely resembling a nightlife. Once the sun sets, the waves, moonlight and your drinks of choice are what keep you company. During the good days, Ko Kut has some of the best snorkelling and Scuba Diving experiences to offer.
It is best to rent a scooter (mostly Yamaha automatics and 125cc Honda motors are available) since there aren’t many public transport facilities around Koh Kood and the public taxis are usually only for people going for day tours. Having a scooter will make it easy for you to maneuver your way through the island and make the most out of your trip. The rent charges are somewhere between 250 to 500 THB (depending on the condition and age of the scooter). Also, note that it is cheaper to get fuel from the gas station (located north to the hospital) than to buy bottles from the stalls on the roadside.
The island has limited shops; therefore if there is something that you think you would definitely need during your stay at the island, it is best to carry it with you than to rely on shops from the island. This will prevent you from getting annoyed and frustrated if the item ends up not being available at Koh Kood.
Visitors should definitely bring in cash with them in advance when they visit the island as there is only one bank and three ATMs here and ones not carrying cash may be forced to go out of their way to get it. That being said, one of these ATMs along with the Bank is situated adjacent to the Koh Kood Hospital, the second ATM is located on the roadside on Klong Chao Beach, just south of the High Season Resort. The third ATM is located on the roadside of a minimart which is situated near the Fisherman’s Hut restaurant and falls in the middle of the other two ATMs. Also, while some resorts do offer cash advances to their non-guests at a 5 percent commission rate and people can get GBP, USD, and EUR exchanged at some shops and resorts, the exchange rate is not that great.
There is a lack of proper street lighting in Koh Kood so you should bring some flashlights or head torches with you if the idea of manoeuvring the streets in the darkness doesn’t sound appealing to you. Also, though some people do make do with the flashlights on their mobile phones, carrying an extra torch might be a good idea to be on the safe side in case your mobile runs out of battery.
Sandflies may be seen in abundance around the quieter beaches in Koh Kood; therefore it is a good idea to pack some hydrocortisone cream or coconut oil or buy some local ‘Yellow oil’ from the shops and the resort on the island to be safe. This locally made oil helps to reduce swelling and stop the itchiness that often occurs due to an insect bite.
The Fisherman Hut: This upbeat and popular steak, barbeque and seafood restaurant is a great place for some good seafood, and great drinks, and live music during the night time.
View Point Cafe: An awesome place to enjoy cake, coffee, and drinks with a breathtaking view of the bay.
Pizza & Pasta: If you are missing Western food, then this Italian food-joint is a great place to go and have some delicious pizza, and wine at reasonable prices.
Noochy Seafood: One of the best seafood restaurants at the Ao Yai fishing village that is known for its friendly and attentive staff and delicious seafood dishes including shrimp, scallops, flathead lobster, squid, and crab.
Chiang Mai Restaurant: An excellent place to try large portions of Thai cuisine items at fair prices.
Tawan Eco Bar: A chill place to enjoy great food, drinks, and live music in the evening. If you want, you can even whip up a drink for yourself here but don’t forget to leave a tip in their ‘honesty jar’ if you liked the place.