Ko Kut

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We're going to go out on a limb and declare Ko Kut (also spelt Ko Kood) to be the most beautiful island we've seen in Thailand over two decades of travel to the kingdom. There. We said it. It really is just drop dead gorgeous. And we strongly recommend you add it to your itinerary the next time you holiday in Thailand.

Set to the south of better known Ko Chang and Ko Maak, Ko Kut is a large, mountainous island whose interior remains largely jungle covered and whose western and southern coasts are dotted with glorious white-sand beaches. The waters surrounding the island are crystal clear and some beaches have an other-worldly Maldivian appearance. It's beautiful.

There is a good all-weather sealed road that runs much of the island's length from Ao Salad in the north to Ao Yai in the south and almost all of the accommodation can be reached by road (albeit sometimes a very rocky, rutted, hilly trail).

Ko Kut has in the past primarily been mostly visited by organised tours but that has not been the case for a few years now and while some resorts remain totally tour-group focused, others welcome independent travellers with open arms. Perhaps in a throwback to its tour-group heritage, despite the roads being good there is nothing in the way of regular public transport -- you'll need to either hire your own motorbike or bicycle or charter a songthaew (or hitch a ride on one) to get around -- this can make exploring the beaches a little more tedious, but believe us it is worth the effort.

Accommodation-wise, budget digs can be found, primarily back off Khlong Chao Beach, but this is not a 250 baht beach shack destination. If you want to be on the beach you'll be paying perhaps a little more than you're used to, but we'd say the beaches are worth it. The midrange is a mixed bag of standouts and tour-group flophouses, while for those accustomed to spending more, there are some very special places on the island.

Most of the eateries, cafes, bars and shops of interest to tourists are gathered around the Khlong Chao area but most resorts have their own restaurant so you'll not have trouble being fed. Ko Kut is not a nightlife destination -- yes, a couple of places stay open late, but you may well be the only one in them.

Ko Kut is a seasonal destination and while many of the hotels now remain open year round, most of the cafes, restaurants and bars close and the weather can get pretty horrendous during the monsoon from May through to October.

In high season though, especially over Christmas, New Year and Songkran, the island can get very busy and making a reservation in advance can be a good idea for those not keen on walking hut to hut.

Orientation
There are no ATMs on Ko Kut. Bring enough cash to last your trip with you.

Internet access via 3G is okay on the main beaches, though can be very patchy. Many resorts advertise free WiFi but in our experience it often doesn't work. There is an internet cafe on the north side of Khlong Chao in the "Tourist Office".

Getting phone recharges can be difficult as there are no 7-elevens on the island -- we had luck at Baan Phor Coffee Koh Kood about three kilometres north of Khlong Chao.

The main tourist centre is at Khlong Chao. Here you'll find the largest concentration of budget accommodation, restaurants, bars, cafes and sunset views. The far southern beaches (Ao Jak, Ao Phrao and Khlong Hin) are primarily popular with Russian tour groups out of Pattaya and have a very different vibe to that found on the other beaches on the island.

Get orientated with a map of Ko Kut, Thailand

Ko Kut reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

It felt Koh Kood

Landed here after a recommendation from the owner of the Ban Jaidee hostel in Trat. He very kindly rang ahead and arranged our accomodation in the Cozy Backpacker Hostel. Myself, my wife and four children (aged 4 - 12) stayed for about a week on the island.

The island is an incredible place and has accommodation to suit all wallets. Lots of nice beaches, kayaking, hill-walking and general adventuring with children. The waterfall and lagoon were where we ended up spending most of our time. The kids loved it there and it was sufficiently covered so we didn't have to endure any crazy heat/sunshine.

The Tawan Eco Bar was a bit of a revelation. Drinks, food and music all provided by the owner. If you can play an instrument you'll probably end up jamming with him as I did. That is, until he has to make the next customer some noodles.

A big drawback with Koh Kood was in terms of getting around the island. Despite our best efforts to replicate the South East Asian method of transporting the entire family around on one moto-scooter, we never really managed it successfully. The older kids would walk but only so far plus its hard to get a 4 year old to keep moving in 30+ degree heat. The only other drawback was the lack of eating options available during the low-season but this may not be as big an issus for the rest of the year.
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- Romance
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- I'll be back (or not)
By goldenmaverick (dabbler)
Written on 31st January, 2013 after a visit to Ko Kut in August, 2012
Away Resort was Hive of activities

In fact this was my second stop at Away Koh Kood having stayed there almost exactly the same time the year before, but boy had they made some changes.

New activities centre with stacks of Kayaks, dive stuff and PADI instructor, games, pool table, internet stations, cafe serving snacks and drinks....you get the idea. You can hire scooters here to get around and explore the island on your own, something i cannot recommend highly enough.

Then there was the new, somewhat small, but very nice beachfront resort swimming pool, salt water natural jobby, so in keeping with the resorts general eco and sustainability theme.

They had also built some new bungalows on top of the hill where last year i had stayed in one of their island tents. These new 'Duplex Bungalows' as they call them are awesome value for money being that they are twice the size of a normal hotel room, have sea views and terrace.

As ever, the food at their restaurant was brillo...breakfast buffet also very good especially when you take into consideration the location and the hassle they must have in getting certain things shipped over.

As i mentioned earlier, hire a scooter or get them to take you out in the pick up bus thing. This island is a must see in terms of sites and exploration. I have lived in many parts of Thailand in my years working here and had no idea such an undeveloped island existed. I stopped to take piccies of a young lady with her daughter doing their laundry in the stream next to their home, just as it was 100 years ago.

Never stayed in any of the other resorts but walked through the one opposite, peter pan and tinker bell i think they are. They seem OK but no where near as good in terms of value and then if you want to do anything you have to go over to Away and use their activities centre anyway, so if you want to adventure and do water stuff, diving and the likes you may as well stay at Away.
- Sights & activities
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- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By st_bangkok (dabbler)
Written on 9th August, 2012 after a visit to Ko Kut in March, 2012
So Much Better than Ko Chang

Ko Kut (Kud, Kood) is a fairly big, hilly island in the far eastern Gulf south of Ko Chang and Ko Mak. Like Chang, it has a string of beaches along its west coast with one or a few tourist operations. Most are midrange places but there is budget accommodation. In general Kood’s beaches are much better than Chang and the water way clearer.
Unlike Chang, Kut is largely undeveloped away from these beaches - we are talking mostly deserted (but now, very well paved) roads through hilly rainforests with the very occasional small village or gathering of a few huts - and very laid back, both on and off the beaches. Two waterfalls with nice pools for swimming are easy to access.

I visited all 11 beaches accessible by road (some by boat) except the very flash Soneva resort where gate security frowns on stickybeaks. I would be perfectly happy staying at any of these with maybe the exception of Ngam Kho because of the lack of sand which was way down on the amount when I called in in 2008.
I would also caution bite-sensitive people about the southern-most beach, Ao Phrao - sand flies got me. I’d personally stay there because otherwise it’s very nice - but I’d take the coconut oil.

If pushed I have to say Bang Bao seemed nicest to me. I don't think any beach I visited was cleaner, the water more pristine and had more sand at high tide. 3 resorts at Bang Bao - all nice. Siam Beach Resort has the best beach out front, a short rock-hop from the others.

Ao Baan Chao (Jao) comes close and would suit people wanting a good variety of services - and is the standout for budget accommodation. A fine beach runs maybe 500m with the entrance to a klong (river) at the northern end . Two midrange resorts are on the beach, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell (Peter Pan has some fairly inexpensive bungalows along with things like pool villas). Away Resort is on the northern side of the klong entrance with no direct beach access.
The klong runs for another km or so inland - on the southern bank the first 500m stretch has a string of budget/flashpacker resorts with appealing restaurants on stilts over the water. Klong Jao Resort, Crazy House and Mark House are some. Look on travelfish for details of these and others.
Kayaking seems to be the most popular mode of accessing the beach from these places. In the opposite direction it is possible to kayak to within about 1km of Klong Chao waterfall from where a rainforest path continues.

Having praised Ao Bang Bao and Ao Baan Chao, I've stayed at both so next visit I'm aiming for Ban Makok 500m up on Klong Yai Kee further north. That place and the general area looked so tropically isolated when our speedboat dropped guests on arrival at Kood. If only I can convince Lady Tezza about my kayaking skills because this is the only way to access the rather nice beach at the mouth of the klong.
But if I go budget without The Bride those backpacker places up the alongside the river at Klong Chao look the down-price equivalent of Baan Makok. That's where I was heading my first visit to Kood in '08 - still haven't stayed there.
- Sights & activities
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- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By tezza (dabbler)
Written on 18th March, 2012 after a visit to Ko Kut in February, 2012

Also reviewed by tezza: Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park, Coral and Raya Islands, Haad Nopphara Thara, Haad Sai Khao, Kanchanaburi, Khao Lak, Ko Bulon Lae, Ko Kho Khao, Ko Lipe, Ko Maak,
The Best Island of the East

Ko Kut was the first island I visited in Thailand, and all other islands in the Chang area are not even close to this one. Clear waters, perfect white-sand beaches, not even one pushy street-vendor or tuk-tuk driver, secluded bays, clear green-water rives to so some kayaking, a couple of waterfalls, an authentic fishing village, resorts that do not care if you stay the day in "their" beach (they are open), the perfect tropical island.
There is a good budget option (Cozy Backpackers,on the river in Klong Chao) with rooms between 150-350 Baht and very friendly management (call them before to be sure that you have a room), and one of beautiful Ko Kut beaches in the vicinity.
If you think that Ko Chang is pretty, or that Ko Mak is the best, take the fast or wood boat from there or the slow ferry with connections to Trat (350 Baht from Trat to your Guest House of choice) and discover a still standing paradise.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By marksoc (dabbler)
Written on 11th March, 2011 after a visit to Ko Kut in March, 2011

Also reviewed by marksoc: Khun Yuam, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sukhothai, Umphang,
Cheap Accommodation Koh Kut

It is not true that there is no cheap accommodation in Ko Kut. Since I discovered Ko Kut it has been pretty much the only Thai island I went to. But if something a little less basic is what you need, there are a few resorts in the same area for about 700 - 800 Baht where you can have hot water and air-con. If you are really on a shoe string and don't mind staying further away from the beach, there are places for between 250 and 300 Baht. During the peak season, however, it is wise to book ahead as most of the cheap places will be full.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By jacswart (dabbler)
Written on 15th June, 2009 after a visit to Ko Kut in February, 2009

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