Ko Kho Khao

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Just a ten minute boat ride from the Takua Pa area of Phang Nga province, the relatively large island of Ko Kho Khao (pronounced kaw koe cow) doesn't look very different from the mainland. However, for those looking for an escape that's not as remote as nearby Ko Phra Thong but not as busy as Khao Lak or Phuket, Kho Khao is worth a visit. The island's long golden beaches are the main draw, and aesthetically these are similar to the beaches of the Khao Lak area further south. The waters are slightly murky and lack the pristine tropical turquoise colour found elsewhere, but the beaches still make for great swimming and long, romantic sunset walks.

While the island still feels like something of a secret place, more resorts are gradually popping up, and Kho Khao is increasingly included on the tourist radar. As of now, however, it's still a markedly sleepy affair — the perfect place to enjoy seclusion without sacrificing quality, comfortable resorts and an adequate selection of foreigner oriented services.

Ko Kho Khao is a large island characterised mostly by flat, grassy sand flats towards its centre and a sprawling area of mangroves and canals to the east. Historically the island was one of the first landing spots for ancient settlers who later spread across southern Thailand and Malaysia, and later it was a popular stopping off point amongst Chinese and other traders during the Takua Pa area's hey day as a tin mining centre around the 15th century.

To the northwest there's an old, overgrown air strip that was used by the Japanese during World War II. Other sights and activities include the small but pretty Toan Thong Waterfall to the northeast, a bird watching tower in the north centre, a beach elephant camp where you can ride elephants in the surf, a kayaking operation that runs excursions into the northern and eastern canals, and diving in the area with the island's only dive operation — Kho Khao Diving.

A paved two lane road runs straight from Baan Pak Koh all the way to the island's northern coast, and everything on the island is located down a side soi off this road. Most of the high end resorts are situated along the southern stretch of beach known as Pak Kon with a solid mid range spot a bit further north on Bang Neang beach. At low tide it's possible to walk along the beaches for several kilometres, but at high tide parts of the southern beach become impassable save what's been protected by seawalls constructed by some of the resorts.

Further north is Nok Nan beach, which is the most remote stretch of sand and doesn't feel too different than the ultra secluded beaches of Ko Kho Khao's northern neighbour, Ko Phra Thong.

Towards the north it's also possible to explore the dirt paths by motorbike or bicycle that wind deep into the mangrove areas to the east. The closest thing to a village would be Baan Pak Koh, but there are a few scattered clusterings of homes and a couple ok small schools found throughout the island.

Due to its flat landscape Ko Kho Khao was devastated by the 2004 Tsunami, and many locals chose not to return and rebuild. Parts of the island have a forgotten and haunted feel, especially at night.

Orientation
Unless coming by private longtail from Ko Phra Thong, virtually all visitors to Ko Kho Khao arrive at Baan Pak Koh's Ko Koh Khao pier at the far southern point of the island after disembarking from either the longtail or car ferries that depart from Nam Khem pier across the narrow straight that separates the island from the mainland.

Immediately after arrival the island presents itself as a friendly and accessible place with an ample number of taxis, restaurants, shops, and tour companies offering motorbike rentals.

There are no hospitals or medical facilities on Ko Kho Khao, but the hospital in Takua Pa is less than a half hour away by boat and then car.

There is a small police box across the main road from the entrance to Tocala Resort.

Internet is available at a couple of the travel companies at Baan Pak Koh and also at several of the resorts.

There are a couple ATMs near the pier at Baan Pak Koh, and most large scale resorts accept VISA and Mastercard.

Ko Kho Khao is very much a seasonal destination. While a few of the higher end resorts remain open year round you can expect them to be running with skeleton staffs and most of the tourist facilities on the island to be shut down.

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Accommodation: Ko Kho Khao
C & N Kho Khao Beach Resort | Ha Pla Beach Cottage | Pranee Resort | Tacola Resort & Spa |

Text and/or map last updated on 25th July, 2012.

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Backchat from the Travelfish community

20 km of beach with only a few resorts

The west coast beach stretches the full 20 km length of the island and has 7 midrange or better resorts - Andaman Princess, Tacola, The Kib, C&N, Ko Kho Khao Resort, Amandara, Paradis and Ocean Breeze.

I couldn't find any information on budget joints on the island so I had a good look around and found 4 budget places:
Pranee Restaurant and Bungalows is on the beach near town - it would be about a 1km walk to the pier. The boss-lady told me she had some airicon bungalows for around 1500 front-row, 1200 at back - brekkie not included. Concrete construction, looked pretty good. This place is not on the detailed map THE KIB gave me, so must be pretty new.
Ha Pha Beach Restaurant is about half way up the island. Tent will cost you 300 - the place had 5 rather nice looking fan bungalows under construction in late November 2010 the owner said would be finished for peak season - 1200baht.
Sunset Restaurant is less than 500m from the northern-most point of the beach. It has 3 traditional thatch fan bungalows with bathroom for 700 and 2 bigger ones with hot water for 900. I reckon this will be the place I head for next trip.
Immediately south, work was going on on some flasher places looked like they were lower midrange- about 50% finished. Not part of Sunset Restaurant.
Wang Klong Kayaking Resort - in the far north, not far from Sunset Restaurant on a side road leading inland 1km or so. This place is spread out beside a mangrove tributary and looked budget/flashpacker to me. There was no-one around except an old geezer sleeping so I didn't get prices. There are fish pens, a launch area for kayaks and a short mangrove boardwalk. The tributary goes 1km to the open channel between Ko Kho Khao and Ko Phra Ton, a similar but even less developed island immediately north..

The island is not intensively developed with only about 3 villages - the biggest is the arrivals pier town which has a good range of services but is still pretty small. Main island activities seem to be a fruit and rubber trees, oil palms, fishing and a bit of boat repair. Tourism is low key although there are a couple of mangrove walks, a rainforested track to a small waterfall, a nature circuit with cycleway and bird watching tower, several kayaking piers on inland water ways and the ruins of a C13th sea-farers village. The island is easy to move about on because most of the roads are flat and well paved and very low in traffic.
Trips to the Surins, Similans, Ko Phratong and Ko Pha (a small islet about 12km offshore - the Surins are 701) are offered.
There are at least 2 dive outfits on the island. It is not a good one for snorkelling off the beach.
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- I'll be back (or not)
By tezza (dabbler)
Written on 9th January, 2011 after a visit to Ko Kho Khao in November, 2010

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 Kut, Ko Lipe, Ko Maak,

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