Looking for a Peaceful Beach in Thailand? Head to the Hidden Gem Island of Koh Kood! [Part 1]

White sandy beaches stretching endlessly along a sparkling blue sea. The luxury of spending time feeling the pleasant sea breeze in silence, where only the sound of waves and rustling palm leaves reaches your ears. When imagining such a paradise-like beach resort, many people first think of Thailand’s islands. However, beach resorts in Thailand today are not necessarily quiet places of healing. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find beaches with such a peaceful atmosphere.

Thailand’s Changing Beach Resorts

At Pattaya Beach, lively music resonates day and night, with stalls lining the beachfront and a constant buzz of tourist chatter. Meanwhile, on Koh Phangan, thousands of young people go wild at the Full Moon Party on the night of the full moon, with people covered in fluorescent paint filling the beach. Koh Samui, once a quiet island, has also significantly changed due to large-scale resort development. Now, bars and clubs line the beachfront, transforming it into a haven for party-goers with music blaring until late at night.

Phuket, world-renowned, remains a popular tourist destination, but its distance from Bangkok necessitates air travel. Considering the round-trip travel time, it’s not practical for a weekend getaway. A place where one can easily refresh between work or studies—in my search for an ideal beach resort away from the hustle and bustle, offering true healing, I discovered “Koh Kood.”

The Unknown Paradise, Koh Kood

Located in eastern Thailand, Koh Kood is situated in Trat Province, floating near the border with Cambodia. Boasting an area of about 105 square kilometers, it’s Thailand’s fourth largest island, yet has a population of only about 2,000 people. Most of the island is covered in rainforest, with small settlements scattered in between and beaches surrounded by beautiful bays shaping the island’s landscape.

What’s particularly noteworthy is that this island has continued to protect its traditional way of life and untouched nature without being swept away by the wave of tourism development. There aren’t many large shopping malls or tourist facilities with flashy neon signs on the island. Instead, small eateries run by locals and family-owned general stores are scattered around, where both tourists and locals are warmly welcomed alike.

Palm trees spread throughout the island create cool shade everywhere, and under them, you might see locals enjoying naps in hammocks. The emerald green transparent seawater boasts one of Thailand’s most beautiful qualities, particularly reaching its peak clarity during the dry season (November to April).

The Journey from Bangkok

Our trip to Koh Kood began at Bangkok’s Ekkamai Bus Terminal. At 6 AM, in the cool air before the city awakened, we boarded a bus bound for Trat. From the windows of the air-conditioned comfortable bus, we watched as the city’s high-rise buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by vast rubber tree plantations and serene rural landscapes.

The four-hour journey might seem boring at first glance. However, this time too can be enjoyed as an essential part of the trip. With pre-downloaded books, music, podcasts, and occasional naps, you can spend leisurely time that’s difficult to experience in everyday busy life. Sometimes, we stopped at rest areas with a local atmosphere, where tasting authentic Thai cuisine became yet another exceptional experience.

Upon arriving in Trat, we continued to Koh Kood by ferry. A one-hour boat journey began. Standing on the deck, feeling the sea breeze while watching the island’s outline gradually approaching was an exceptional feeling. The green of distant islands and the blue sea stretching endlessly. Then, as the boat approached shallow waters, the sea color dramatically changed—from deep blue to vivid emerald green, almost like magic.

To Siam Beach Resort

Upon arriving at the island, staff from Siam Beach Resort, where we stayed this time, welcomed us at the pier. It took about 20 minutes by car to reach the resort. During that journey too, we could glimpse the island’s charm. Passing through tunnels of lush tropical greenery, occasionally seeing small villages where locals were leisurely sunbathing.

Upon arriving at the resort, we were guided to our beachfront room. Priced at around $55 per night, which is surprisingly affordable for a Thai beach resort, the room offers a panoramic view of the vast ocean. Sitting on a deck chair placed on the beach, you can spend relaxed time listening to the sound of waves.

The interior is minimal, but that makes it all the more comfortable. The clean, predominantly white space is warmed by rattan furniture, with fresh sea breezes passing through large windows. Although air conditioning is available, you might not even feel the need to use it with these pleasant natural breezes. The shower room was also spacious.

Lying on the bed, you can see the sparkle of waves through the curtains, and just watching this play of light and shadow envelops you in a sense of purification. It’s truly a space where you can fully enjoy the openness unique to a beach resort.

To Be Continued

In this article, I’ve reported on the introduction to Koh Kood and the journey to the resort. In the next article, I’ll provide a more detailed report on our stay on the island!

Looking for a Peaceful Beach in Thailand? Head to the Hidden Gem Island of Koh Kood! [Part 2]