Basic moments
The first people sailed to the island in 1905. These were Cambodians forced to leave their homes because of the French conquerors. Today, Koh Kood is home to about 2000 people, and most of them are engaged in serving tourists. Like almost all Thais, the locals lead a measured and calm lifestyle. They live in six villages. In addition to tourism, the islanders receive income from fishing, growing coconut trees, as well as from the collection of raw materials from rubber trees of Hevea.
Koh Kood Island is famous beautiful beaches, near which the main tourist infrastructure is concentrated - hotels, restaurants and shops. In addition, the island is home to a public school, hospital, bank, administrative offices and a police station.
Due to the remoteness, holidays on the island of Koh Kood are 1.5 times more expensive than in other Thai resorts. Prices for accommodation, meals and car rental are generally higher than elsewhere. And food in the island stores is more expensive than on the mainland.
Lovers of leisurely beach pastime and swimming in warm sea water come to Koh Kood. There are no discos and nightclubs on the island, so people come here for the sake of silence, contemplation of beautiful sunsets and secluded outdoor recreation.
Koh Kood Island is considered great place for relaxation, rest from the crazy life in the metropolis and recuperation. Newlyweds, couples with children and tourists of the age for whom comfort, lack of noise and the opportunity to spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the colors of the jungle, sea surf and fresh breezes, feel good here.
However, the island of Koh Kood is attractive not only for this - the Gulf of Thailand around it is full of life. The rich underwater world gives a lot vivid impressions fans of diving and snorkeling. In addition, while resting on Koh Kood, it is interesting to do sea fishing, swim along the coast on a kayak or hike inland to beautiful waterfalls and giant trees.
Geographical location and climate
Koh Kood Island is part of the Mu Koh Chang Archipelago, which includes about 50 islands. It is farthest from the mainland of Thailand (79 km from the city of Trat) and, like all the islands of the archipelago, is part of the National Marine Park.
Koh Kood Island stretches from north to south for 22 km and is up to 8 km wide. In size - 131 km² - it is considered the fourth island of the kingdom in the Gulf of Thailand.
The entire land is covered with dense jungle, and in the depths of them, giant trees more than 500 years old have survived. The relief is slightly hilly, and the highest point of Koh Kud reaches 315 m above sea level.
The islands of the Koh Chang archipelago are considered year-round resorts. They are always warm and sunny. Bathing season in Thailand also has no breaks, and the sea water around the island is always very warm +27 ... + 30 ° С.
The low tourist season in Koh Kood includes the monsoon period, which lasts from March to October. During these months, it often rains on the islands, and violent storms can rise in the Gulf of Thailand. Monsoons are especially powerful from June to October. And April and May are characterized by high temperatures and high humidity, which not everyone can endure with ease.
Most tourists come to the island of Koh Kood from November to February, when there is no sweltering heat, the sun is shining every day, and there is very little rainfall. All island hotels, massage parlors, restaurants and travel agencies are open during high season.
The beaches of Koh Kood
Excellent beaches have become the calling card of the island of Koh Kood. They are all very clean and covered with white, fine coral sand, which is a pleasure to walk on! Almost everywhere the descent into the water is very gentle, and the sea water is crystal clear. On the maps of the island, in front of the name of the beaches, you can often see the word "hut", which means "beach" in Thai.
Coconut palms and sprawling casuarine pines grow right along the coast. Their crowns create a shadow, which is impossible to do without on sultry days. Further, in the depths of the island, mangroves and jungles begin.
One of the most popular beaches in Koh Kud is Klong Chao. It is on west bank the island is known for its large size (about 800 m) and well-developed infrastructure. Holidays on Klong Chao Beach are quite budgetary, since food in restaurants and cafes located along the coast is cheaper than food in hotel restaurants.
To the south, there is a small, rolling beach, Bang Bao. It is appreciated as a clean and secluded place, sheltered from the weather and strong winds... Boats from Trat come to the wooden pier in Bang Bao Bay. When planning a vacation on this beach, you need to take into account that there are no restaurants and cafes on it, but the local coast is not so affected by the ebb and flow.
Further south there are several clean beaches- long Ao Prao and small Ao Jark and Ao Khlong Hin, connected to each other along the seashore. The downside of these beaches is that tourists are often brought to them, and the coast is quite crowded. True, those who do not like noisy companies can always go to a nearby beach and enjoy a secluded vacation. There is also an additional bonus - low prices for alcohol in the beach restaurant.
One of the most isolated and uncrowded beaches of Koh Kood is Ao Yai Koet. You can get on it only by sea by boat. It was from here that the resort history of the island began, but today there are no hotels, entertainment, restaurants and cafes on the beach strip.
Koh Kood island attractions
In 2012 in island village Ao Salad built the Buddhist Temple of the Golden Bell. This is a wat where the locals perform Buddhist ceremonies all year round. Tourists can enter the territory of Vata freely. Thais are very tolerant of different religions, therefore they let people of any religion into their temples. Several monkeys live near the temple, and these animals are happy to take tasty treats from tourists.
The Temple of the Golden Bell is inhabited by male monks who are easily distinguished by their saffron-colored clothes. When visiting vata, there are a few things to know simple rules behavior. It is customary here to leave offerings in money. Women are not allowed to touch monks. If the doors of the temple are open, it is allowed to go inside, but before that you need to take off your shoes. Inside, you cannot talk loudly, and also turn your back to the statues and images of the Buddha.
The ferry "Koh Kood Princess" from Trat arrives at Ao Salad pier, and the island can be reached by an asphalt road. There is no beach in the village, but there is a restaurant where seafood and fish dishes are deliciously prepared, as well as a souvenir shop “Kraten Suvenirs”.
On the southeastern coast of Koh Kood, there is a small fishing village called Ao Yai, whose residents are fishing and live in houses built on stilts above the water. It is worth coming to Ao Yai to see the life of local fishermen. Here you can also have a cheap snack in small eateries, buy groceries from the market and admire the coast with a good observation deck... An asphalt road is laid to the settlement across the island.
If you have an idea to look for giant old trees in the jungle, you should stock up on water and a map of the island, as well as put on sturdy shoes. When traveling through the jungle, snakes and poisonous insects are the main danger.
Waterfalls
There are three beautiful waterfalls in the central part of Koh Kood Island. The largest of them, Klong Chao, is located on the river of the same name, which flows into the sea on the western coast of Ko Kuda. Almost all tourists who come to the island come to admire this picturesque waterfall and swim under the falling streams fresh water... Klong Chao is famous for the fact that the king of Thailand Rama VI came here in 1911.
During the dry season, when there is practically no rain, the waterfall dries up to a small trickle. However, it is still nice to plunge into the bowl under it. Get to the waterfall on foot or kayaking up the river. From the coast to Klong Chao about 2.5 km.
The smaller Klong Yai Ki waterfall also features a water-washed bathing bowl. It is located north of Klong Chao, 1.5 km from the mouth of the river that flows into the sea next to the Captain Hook Resort. It is easy to walk from the coast to the waterfall or drive up by any transport.
The Huang Nam Kaew waterfall is less known than the other two. It is located in a small picturesque gorge, and the water flows down several rock ledges blocking the river bed. All three waterfalls can be visited for free at any convenient time.
Where to stay
On the island of Koh Kood, it is easy to find accommodation for every taste and budget - from unpretentious guesthouses and bungalows to comfortable 3-4 * hotels. Most of the hotels are built along the western shore of Koh Kuda. Wi-Fi is not available everywhere, but only in large hotels. The fastest connection exists on desktop computers at the tourist office near Klong Chao Beach.
By the standards of Thai resorts, accommodation on Koh Kood is expensive. During the high tourist season here it is almost impossible to find a room with air conditioning cheaper than 1000 TNV per day, and the prices for rooms with a fan, less comfortable in the heat, start from 800 TNV per night, and even then such hotels are located quite far from the beaches, in the interior of the island.
When planning a trip from November to February, it is worth booking accommodation in advance, as the demand for it is quite high. And those who travel around Koh Kood during the low tourist season need not worry too much. Even without a reservation, you can always find suitable quality rooms upon arrival.
It should be noted that it is accepted to pay on the island of Koh Kood in cash, since credit cards accepts only a few large hotels.
Restaurants and cafes
Many resorts offer accommodation with breakfasts. However, food in hotel restaurants is not cheap, so tourists prefer to solve the issue of food on the island on their own.
V central settlement, next to the stadium there are several Thai food shops, where dishes are prepared at a price of 40 baht. The advantages of such establishments are that the products are always fresh here. Eateries offer boiled and fried rice, salads, fried chicken and pork, omelets, soups, seafood and fish dishes, and delicious Thai desserts. Thais are notable for their love of spicy food. To make the dish less spicy, it is enough to tell the hostess "but spicy".
Inexpensive Thai establishments are also open near Klong Chao Beach and on the way to the waterfall of the same name. There are several small grocery stores and stalls selling cheap fruit along the main road.
Transport
Koh Kood Island has no public transport and no taxis run on it. There is no motorbike taxi service here either, so you should rely only on the help of neighbors or rent a transport yourself. Rentals exist in almost every island hotel. Daily car rental costs from 1200 TNV, motorbike - from 350 TNV, and mountain bike - from 200 TNV.
There is no ring road around the island. The main transport artery is an asphalt road that connects the north of Koh Kuda and its southern coast. It has a length of about 25 km, starts from the Ao Salad pier, leads to the west coast, then goes south and then turns to the east coast. Several side roads leave the main road to the villages and hotels. You will not find such steep serpentines that you find on Ko Chang here, since the relief of the island is only slightly hilly.
The only gas station is located near the Khlong Hin Dam pier, in the western part of Koh Kood. In addition, petrol can be purchased at small makeshift stations near shops and markets. True, it will cost more - 40 TNV / liter.
For a long time, it is beneficial to come to the island of Koh Kood with your own motorbike. The cost of transporting it by ferry will cost the same as an adult ticket.
How to get there
Most travelers come to Koh Kood with organized excursions... Such tours are conducted from Pattaya and from more large island archipelago - Ko Chang. Those who bought an excursion to Koh Kood can not worry about anything. They are brought to the island and back by minivans, buses and boats.
For those who want to organize independent travel, it is beneficial to take advantage of the offers of island hotels and travel agencies for delivery to the island of Koh Kood. Transfer to Laem Sok Pier from Bangkok (from the city itself or from Suvarnabhumi airport) will cost 3800 TNV for a car and 4500 TNV for a minivan. Transfer to Laem Sok pier from Pattaya costs 900 TNV per person, 2,900 TNV for a car and 3500 TNV for a minivan. It is better to immediately purchase a transfer in both directions, as buying a return transfer on the island will cost more.
Some tourists get to Koh Kuda on their own. From international airport Suvarnabhumi in the capital of Thailand, you can take a taxi and come to Laem Sok pier. Another option is to fly from Bangkok to the airport in Trat Airport. Airplanes make 2-3 flights there a day, and the journey takes about an hour.
The third option is to come to Trat from Bangkok by regular bus, and then get to Laem Sok pier by taxi. It is best to take overnight flights departing from Bangkok in the evening and arriving in Trat early in the morning. Buses to Trat run from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Ekkamai East Bus Station, northern bus station Wets and off tourist street Koasan Road, located in the center of Bangkok. The road to the provincial capital takes about 5 hours.
From Laem Sok Pier to Koh Kood Island you can take a high-speed boat. It takes about two hours and costs 600 TNV. The price includes a transfer from the bus station in the city of Trat or from any local hotel... For infants under 5 years old, the speedboat ride is free, and for children from 5 to 10 years old you need to pay 50% of the adult ticket price.
There are also high-speed ferries to the island. The road to Koh Kuda on them takes 1.30-1.40 hours and costs 350 TNV. One ferry disembarks tourists on the western side of the island - at the Khlong Hin Dam pier, while the other moors to the Ao Salad pier in the north of Koh Kuda. Children under 6 years old are allowed to travel on ferries free of charge, while children from 6 to 9 years old can purchase a ticket for 50% of the cost.
A small boat runs daily from the main island of the Ko Chang archipelago to Ko Kood. It starts at 9.00 from Kai Bae pier and takes passengers to Bang Bao pier in two hours. The fare is 900 TNV.
Choose your beach
Beach holidays on the island of Koh Kut
Koh Kut is an 80% private island. All basic infrastructure, respectively, is located at the hotels. Hotels are scattered along west coast with a cent on the beach of Klong Chao, where the "public" life of the island is concentrated. The best part about Koh Kut is that almost all the beaches are uncrowded (at least as of this writing). the island is large, and there are few hotels on the island.
There are no banks or ATMs on the island, only large hotels accept credit cards (stock up on cash). The beaches are white, with absolutely hedonistic beach areas and terraces equipped at the hotels. The format of hotel accommodation is mainly beach bungalows. Rest here is paradise, but be prepared for the fact that, as on any "hotel" island with a minimum of competition - the quality and price level of proposals for bungalows, food, motorbikes, day tours, etc., on the island of Ko Kood will be higher than the average for Thailand ...
Koh Kood Island, Thailand. Photo credit: Away Koh Kood, Flickr
Koh Kood Island, Thailand. Photo credit: Stuart McDonald, Flickr
Rent a boat on Koh Kood. Thailand. Photo credit: Away Koh Kood, Flickr
Kayaking on the Khlong Jao River
Kayaking on the Khlong Jao River is perhaps one of the better ways meet to wild nature islands. There are two options available - either you go by foot / motorbike to the Klong Chao waterfall, rent kayaks at local guesthouses and go kayaking down to the ocean, or from the Klong Chao beach up to the waterfall. Klong Chao is a picturesque cascading waterfall, this is the most big waterfall islands, with a fairly large pool where you can swim.
Kayaking on Koh Kood island, Thailand. Photo credit: Stuart McDonald, Flickr
Klong Chao waterfall, Koh Kood island, Thailand. Photo credit: Marko Radulovic, Flickr
Ancient trees of Koh Kut island
About the rainforest of Koh Kut, which covers most of islands, you can compose poems - it is beautiful. Some especially ancient, large and beautiful trees have received the names and status of local attractions. You can get to them by motorbike, part of the way will have to walk through the jungle) If you decide on an adventure and go to look for the ancient trees of the island, stock up on water, a map and be guided by the road signs and signs Makayuk-Saiyai.
In fourth place. Located thirty kilometers south of the Au Hai region of Trat province. You can get to it by booking a combined route for.
Koh Kood island in Thailand is considered one of the "youngest" resort areas, where the tourist has set foot only in the most recent years. Therefore, by choosing it as a vacation destination, you will receive at your service a poorly developed tourist infrastructure, but practically virgin, untouched nature and a crystal clear, azure sea. This is one of best places for young couples who love a calm and romantic vacation.
Hotels on Koh Kood
Koh Kood Island Hotels will delight those who want to feel themselves in the role of Signor Robinson. The bungalows lining the coast are very similar to this adventurer's huts, but offer an almost European level of comfort. Even the thatched huts for 400 baht a day have fans, for whom this is not enough - they can choose air-conditioned apartments, costing at least 700 baht. Some hotels boast a free Wi-Fi zone. In the village of Klong Chao, there are one-story capital buildings, consisting of 8-10 rooms.
On the island of Koh Kood, only the coastal area is inhabited, so all Koh Kuda hotels are "in the first line". On the west bank there are resorts located along the two major rivers of the island. For those who settle there, a special service is available - renting kayaks for traveling deep into the jungle.
Such container-type hotels can also be found.
The popularity of the island is gradually gaining momentum, so in the high season, which lasts from December to March, it is better to take care of hotel reservations. You can choose and book your favorite hotel on Koh Kut on the websites or. A map with located hotels is at the end of the article.
Beach holidays on the island of Koh Kood
The beaches of Koh Kood located along the west coast. There are several of them, but the most popular are three of them.
Klong Chao Beach
Klong chao- the largest, located near the administrative capital of the island. There are most of all hotels and guest houses around it. The tourist infrastructure is best developed there. There is a waterfall next to it - one of the main attractions of the island.
Bang Bao Beach
Bang Bao surrounded by hills covered with lush tropical vegetation. The sea is quiet, the white sand of the beach is here and there interrupted by large rocky boulders.
Taphao Beach
Taphao- a delight to the eyes, along the edge of which palm trees grow, giving a blissful shade. It's the best place to watch the sunsets. Not far from it is the village of Klong Mat.
The island is quite small, there is only one road. It goes from the pier in the bay on the north coast to the west, then along it almost to the southern tip of the island and turns to the east coast. Its total length is about 25 kilometers. Public and commercial transport on the island of Koh Kood completely absent. There is a single inhabitant on it, apparently a local madman, moonlighting on his own cab. You can look for it or wait for hours, so it is better to rent a bike at the hotel (). It costs about three hundred baht. If you have a penchant for masochism, then rent a bike. The island is replete with elevation changes, so you have to sweat a lot.
Koh Kood Island is one of the young but rapidly developing resorts in Thailand. Since it is at some distance from tourist routes, then it began to be mastered quite recently. As a result, there are many uninhabited areas of pristine beauty. tropical nature... Numerous beaches are not so crowded, the sea is azure and clear.
The landscape is dominated by mountains and plains, with tropical impenetrable jungle occupy 2/3 of the island. The most high point- Mount Paenti (Phaenthe) with a height of 320 meters above sea level. The flat part is occupied by large areas of rubber trees and coconut trees, so the local population is engaged in the collection and import of rubber and coconuts. Another source of income is seafood and, of course, the tourism business, in which more than two thousand residents are involved in one way or another.
The infrastructure is not yet very well developed, which is an indisputable advantage for many vacationers. the island is not inundated with many hotels, supermarkets and nightclubs. Local residents hardly speak English, they understand foreign speech only in hotels.
Still, Koh Kood is not completely far from civilization, there are hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, a hospital and a school.
If you are an active person, then the money here can be spent on water activities, fishing, diving and snorkeling, jungle treks, kayaking, boat trips to small islands located nearby.
The island of Koh Kood is often considered as an addition to, from which excursions are organized here. In fact, this is a completely independent resort where you can spend your entire vacation. Unfortunately, the prices here are among the most expensive in Thailand.
One of the largest settlements on the island is the village of Ao Yai, located near the harbor with fishing boats.
Koh Kood island on the map of Thailand
History
The first settlements on the island appeared in 1905, when the inhabitants of Kampuchea ( modern Cambodia) fled from their native lands from the French conquerors. It was they who formed the first village of Klong Mad, which still exists today. Its inhabitants, like their distant ancestors, are engaged in fishing and collecting coconuts and rubber.
On Koh Kuda there is beautiful waterfall Nam Tok Khlong Chao, which is famous, among other things, for the fact that the King of Thailand, His Majesty Rama VI, stayed here in 1911.
How to get to Koh Where
From the mainland
On the island there is no own airport therefore it is not possible to get directly to Koh Kood by plane. From Russia, you must first fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
Cheap flights to Bangkok
You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible with the help of special search engines that collect data from all airlines.
Transport
Public transport to Koh Kood is completely absent. Moreover, there is not even a "commercial" one, i.e. taxi and motorcycle taxi. They cannot be caught either on the road, or near attractions or near hotels, as in other resorts. Only at the pier in Ao Yai and Ao Salad can there be a tuk-tuk on duty, which belongs to one of the residents and who just decided to earn a little extra money on a cab.
Therefore, the only option to explore the island is to rent a motorbike. The cost is 300 baht and is provided in almost all hotels. There are no special rental offices. We do not recommend taking a bike, since the island is large and mountainous and you will not get any pleasure from examining it, but you will only sweat, pedaling hard uphill.
There is an asphalt road from Ao Salad village in the north to Ao Yai village in the south. It also runs next to the Khlong Chao beach, and there are unpaved branches to other beaches from it. So you can move around with relative comfort and reach almost all places on the island.
Since there are motorbikes on Koh Kuda, there are also gas stations. True, there are not so many of them. Two large ones are located just north of Khlong Chao. You can also buy bottled gasoline on some sections of the main road.
Who should go to Koh Kood
We recommend going to Koh Kood to anyone who wants beautiful bounty beaches in Central Thailand. In this part of the country, few people can compare with the island, except for Samet, but there they are not so long and because of this there is less room for the eye. The beaches are much more crowded, and there is only one beautiful beach on Ko Mak. So if the main thing for you on vacation is the sea, silence, picturesque landscapes, the purest sea, then there is no better place to find.
Also, rest on Koh Kuda will appeal to all scuba diving enthusiasts. Due to the fact that the waters here are not polluted by water transport, they have preserved the flora and fauna in their original form as much as possible, as well as transparency. Therefore diving and snorkeling are very good.
For everyone who wants to forget about civilization for a while, we also recommend the island for the entire vacation. Here you will not be reminded of the fast pace of cities and mainland resorts - there are almost no cars and motorcycles (their average interval of movement is one motorbike in 10 minutes, moreover, the road passes far from the beach and you won't even see it), there are no shopping centers with large shops and supermarkets, no noisy bars, discos and any transvestites or annoying merchants. Koh Kood only offers beachfront hotels and restaurants. There will be nothing more to remind of civilization.
But the island's pluses for some may be minuses. We do not recommend going here:
For lovers nightlife and entertainment. Even aquatic species there is no sport in the form of motorcycles and skis, only kayaking.
There are no conditions for shopping either.
You can only move around on a rented motorbike, there is no more transport (neither a taxi, nor a motorcycle taxi).
Few attractions: a couple of waterfalls that practically dry up from March to May, and several modest temples.
It is a very long journey, longer than any other island or resort in Thailand.
What to do and what to visit
A little. The island is more suitable for beach holiday than sightseeing. But if you get tired of doing nothing on the sand, then you can go to see the waterfalls Nam Tok Khlong Chao and Klong Yaiki, as well as Big Buddha in the village of Ao Salad. But keep in mind that the falls almost dry up at the end of the dry season (from March to the beginning of the rains in June) and you will see just boulders of rocks from which a tiny stream flows.
You can also see the village on stilts in Ao Yai, coconut and rubber plantations and old "thick" trees, which are several hundred years old. This is where the list of attractions is exhausted. We will tell you more about each of the above in a separate article.
The island offers an extensive field of activity for amateurs active rest... Enjoy traditional water activities such as jet skis, jet skis, boat rides and many more. In addition, there are many other opportunities to spend time actively on the island.
1. Travel by kayaking.
It is best to rent a kayak (traditional Thai boat) with a guide who will help you explore all the hidden corners of Koh Kood. There are a lot of small rivers and lakes on the island, lost among the mangrove forests, which can only be reached by water, as hiking trails in dense jungle no.
Sailing along forest rivers, in which trees come right up to the water, you can see a myriad of different animals and birds. It is very interesting to make such a voyage after sunset, as the jungle begins to glow due to the large number of fireflies. Subsequently, when you are perfectly comfortable with the kayak, you can take walks on your own. Also, you can travel by boat outside of Koh Kood, to nearby islands or to go fishing and snorkeling on the high seas.
2. Snorkeling.
Snorkelling is possible all over the coast and beyond, but still the best places are the west and especially the south of Koh Kuda. In coastal waters south coast much fewer divers as it is harder to get there. This is a big plus, because you can enjoy rich underwater world all alone, not bumping into other divers every now and then. And there are much more coral reefs and marine inhabitants living around them than on other coasts. The best diving spots are around large rocks and rocky formations.
3. Diving in Koh Kood.
The island attracts divers from all over the world for its natural, untouched nature of the deep sea. Deeper places are suitable for them, located at some distance from Koh Kood, as well as the nearest islands. There are several dive schools along the coast where beginners will be taught the basics of deep diving.
4. Fishing.
It does not require any skills, it is enough to buy a fishing rod and throw it into the sea, the bait will take care of the rest. If there is no fishing rod, then you can simply throw a rope with a bait and a sinker and catch in this way. However, in this case, you will have to dive often in order to unhook the hook from the coral. It is best to fish for snails, squid or crabs. The bait can be bought for little money in some restaurant by asking the cooks for it. The fishing rod can be rented. There are a lot of fish in the coastal waters, they bite almost everywhere. But be careful, not every catch can be eaten! If you do not know this type of fish, then be sure to ask local residents, can it be eaten. There have been cases of poisoning!
Beaches
The most popular beaches are in the west of Koh Kuda and Ao Yai Koet. The most habitable is this. It is here that the infrastructure is highly developed. Large selection of hotels and budget guesthouses. The beach is 600 m long and about 100-150 m wide, which allows regular football and volleyball competitions to be held on the sand. Nearby there is a waterfall of the same name, which is one of the attractions of the island. In the evenings, this place looks very romantic, in several places it is illuminated by lanterns.
Also popular. It is surrounded on all sides by high hills with rich vegetation. The sea is always calm here coastline comprises white sand to which large boulders are added in the north.
One of the most beautiful beaches. Palm trees grow on the snow-white coast, in the shade of which you can take a break from the heat. Here are the most beautiful sunsets... The place is conveniently located near the village of Klong Mat.
We sailed next to an interesting little island:
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Koh Mak Island
On the way to Kood our boat stopped on the island of Mak (Kho Mak) An interesting small island (16 km²).
As you can see from the photo, the island is not very high, i.e. has a flat landscape. A small wave and he will disappear under water. Kidding. I didn’t see the whole island. We just went out, stomped for 5 minutes and got back into the boat.
Koh Kood
We landed at Ao Bang Bao at the pier next to the Koh Kood Resort.
We gazed a bit at the beautiful water at the pier and went to look for housing and find out prices.
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Koh Kuda Hotels
Here everything was occupied by resots with expensive houses. The first resot offered houses for 1200 or 1800. But all houses were occupied (All full).
Second - . A very beautiful place.
In this hotel, houses were rented out at the following price:
At the third hotel with houses on the shore - Siam Beach Resort Koh kood bungalow prices were from 1200 to 3000.
I don’t remember exactly, but it seems that all the bungalows are occupied here too. One Thai man told us that if we go further, we will come to the last resort on the coast, which was visible in front - and that it is possible to rent housing there at low prices.
We went there, hoping that at least there would be a free bungalow for us.
At the reception we were offered the last free house for 800 rubles, or rent a room for 300 rubles. The room, of course, is not an option, and after thinking a little and bargaining in attempts to bring down the price, we rented a house for a day for 800r.
In general, an ordinary house with a bed, fan, stool, shower, toilet and a great view from the porch.
When asked about cheaper bungalows, the owner of the resota said that you can find cheap houses, but they are not much cheaper and are located far from the beach. She also added that she would reduce the price to 700 rubles / day if we take the house for another 2 days.
We had a plan in our head - to go to another beach and see how the situation with housing there, and if we like something more than this house (in terms of price and quality), then rent it there.
After a little swim and looking at the fish, at 4 o'clock we set out to look for another beach.
There are a couple of roads. One is the main one, along which bikes and cars are driven, and the second is an old blurred road along which it is impossible to drive. She just came out of our resot and led into the jungle. Let's go along it.
We walked for a long time. Not a soul around. Finally we came to the more popular concrete road to the sign of Khlong Hin Beach Resort. This is a signpost to another beach.
Suddenly I remember films about uninhabited islands and I find in the bowels of my brain a hidden fantasy / desire to climb a palm tree, get a coconut and eat it.
We are simple Russian boys ... Knowing that I will rip everything off for myself, without hesitation, I climb on a palm tree without a T-shirt in shorts. I pluck the largest coconut, throw it down and from a height I see a Thai man on a bike approaching us. Palevo! I do not know why, but I began to quickly descend down the palm tree, as if along a tightrope. As a result, he scratched his legs, arms and chest.
If I hadn't been in a hurry, I would have been less ripped
The guy on the bike laughs and drives by. We put the coconut in the bag and move on, as if nothing had happened. After a while we find ourselves in the places where coconuts are processed - several houses near the shore.
Not far from this place, on one side and on the other, there are resots.
According to the Russian girl - the guide we met, the prices for houses on this beach are from 1400 rubles. They did not check - they really wanted to eat. Let's go look for restaurants ...
We could hardly find 2 small restaurants. In one we did not like the setting, in the second - the food. Small portions of food for big money. Greedy bastards ...) And the beach where we rented a house we liked more.
We ate and went home. It was already dark. (The sun sets in Tae at about 18.00. After that, darkness sets in.) Remember the road through the jungle and start to get lost. A cafe worker worried about us began to wonder where and where we were going, whether we had a flashlight, etc. We had no flashlight, no cell phones, no weapons, except for a coconut in our bag. By the way, coconut is a pretty deadly weapon. It is heavy and strong and if it meets the head, it will not have a chance ...)
We went on the second civilized wide road at random. Thank God, they found the way to the house. Apart from the torn sidekick slate and a pack of disgruntled barking dogs, we got there without incident. As soon as I got home, I began to open the extracted coconut.
How to open a coconut
Rumor has it that it is quite difficult to open a coconut if you don't have a good cleaver on hand. In fact, there is nothing difficult in hiding a coconut, but you still have to work hard.
So, to split a coconut, we need: hands growing from the right place, a medium-sized stone, an ordinary table knife and, of course, the coconut itself.
The top of the coconut is covered with a rather soft skin. It needs to be cleaned with a knife until you get to the core, in which there is milk and white filling. If you want to get only milk from the coconut, then you can clean a small area from the skin, but if you want to eat the insides, you will have to clean it more.
The core is very strong, an ordinary knife will not take it.
This is where the stone comes in handy. We apply neat point blows with a stone, "drawing" the fault line we need.
After drinking the milk, we continue to chop the coconut to eat the insides.
Delicious ... It was probably worth it :).
Moped
The roads here are good for learning to ride a bike. There are few cars and bikes. Therefore, without thinking twice, we rented a bike for 350 rub / day
Entertainment on Koh Kood is all sorts of different: kayaking, bike / bike rental, snorkeling, diving, fishing, all sorts of tours to a waterfall or a pearl farm, etc., but they are not childish. For example, a massage for 500 rubles, instead of the usual 250-300 rubles. Bike rent - 350r, instead of 200r. Restaurants are everything from resots. They feed deliciously, but I did not look at the price tag of the food. However, I generally do not like to look at the price in the price lists for food. You need to choose what you want to eat, and not what "the toad will not strangle."
There was no internet in the bungalow, which is even a plus. After all, I still would not do nichrome. I'm completely lazy ...
Overall, Koh Kood is very calm, beautiful island... There are no loud bars or parties at night. You need to come here to rest, relax, enjoy the sea and beautiful beaches lying on the sand looking at the fish. I liked it on Kuda. It's a pity we couldn't stay here for a long time ... I will definitely come back here and see all the beaches.
P.S .: My sidekick parted ways. Then I travel alone. I stayed in Bangkok one day and drove on. The first person to guess where I went will get $ 5. (Those to whom I told, do not write, I will not give money.)
See you soon.
