Koh Kood (also spelled Koh Kut) is a large, quiet island in Trat province, near the end of Thailand's eastern coast. You reach it by boat from Laem Sok pier south of Trat town, and the best time to go is roughly November to April: from May to September Trat is one of the wettest places in the country, and most speedboats stop.
Koh Kood is the island people choose when Koh Chang feels too busy. It has clear water on its west-coast bays, rivers and waterfalls in a forested interior, and few roads. There are no big towns, no nightlife to speak of and not much to do after dark. For many visitors that is exactly the attraction, but it also means you should arrive with cash, a booked room and a plan for getting around.
Koh Kood is often called Thailand's fourth-largest island, including on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) own page. Official survey figures from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources put it sixth, at about 112 square kilometers, after Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Chang, Tarutao and Koh Phangan. TAT gives its size as about 25 km long and 12 km wide.
Koh Kood at a glance
- Province
- Trat (Koh Kood district, which also includes Koh Mak)
- Mainland pier
- Laem Sok, south of Trat town
- Crossing
- About 75 minutes on the Ko Kut Express fast ferry to Ao Salat; speedboats go direct to many west-coast resorts
- Best months
- November to April; December to February are the driest
- Wettest months
- May to September, over 370 mm of rain a month at the Trat weather station
- Area
- About 112 km², Thailand's sixth-largest island (DMCR)
Getting there: Bangkok to Trat, then Laem Sok pier
The journey has two parts. First you reach Trat on the mainland, by bus or minivan from Bangkok or by air to Trat airport. Our guide to getting from Bangkok to Koh Chang covers that leg in detail, since the road and the airport are the same. Bangkok Airways says it is the only airline flying to Trat.
Second, you take a boat from Laem Sok pier. TAT names three operators on the route: Ko Kood Princess, Ko Kut Express and Boonsiri High Speed Ferries, all running to seasonal timetables. Ko Kut Express says its fast ferry crosses in about 75 minutes to Ao Salat in the north of the island, where pickup trucks take passengers on to their resorts, and that the transfer to Trat airport takes about 45 minutes by road. Its smaller speedboats can drop you at a resort's own pier on the west coast if the tide allows.
The simplest way to do the whole trip is a combined van-and-boat ticket. Both Ko Kut Express and Boonsiri sell transfers from Bangkok pickup points, including Suvarnabhumi Airport and Khao San Road, through to Koh Kood. Booking platforms sell the same combinations; see our article on 12Go for how they work.
Book the boat to the right side of the island. The fast ferry lands at Ao Salat in the north. If your resort is far down the west coast, a speedboat that stops at resort piers can save a long, bumpy ride by road, but only in the season when speedboats run.
When the speedboats stop: Koh Kood's seasons
Trat gets far more rain than the rest of the eastern coast. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1991–2020 averages for its Trat station show nearly 3,000 mm a year. Every month from May to September averages between 370 and 540 mm of rain, on 21 to 25 rainy days. December averages under 10 mm. For comparison, the Rayong station near Koh Samet records less than half Trat's annual total.
The sea follows the rain. The operators define their own seasons, and they do not agree: Ko Kut Express calls 17 October to 31 December high season, 1 January to 30 April "green season" and May to September low season, while Boonsiri's 2026 timetable ran a high season from 1 January to 31 May and a low season from 4 June to 30 September. What matters for you is this: Ko Kut Express states that speedboats cannot run in the low season because of the waves, while its larger fast ferry runs all year "if the weather permits".
So in the wet months, expect fewer boats, one landing point and the chance of a cancelled crossing. Leave a spare day before any flight home. Our guide to traveling in Thailand's rainy season has more on what that season is really like.
Waterfalls, bays and the fishing village
Klong Chao waterfall is the best known. TAT describes it as a three-tier fall that flows all year, with a large pool at the bottom where you can swim. Its name recalls a Vietnamese prince who, according to tradition, sheltered on the island in the 1780s. Klong Yai Kee waterfall is smaller and also has a swimming pool, but TAT warns that the trail is steep and advises October to February as the time to go.
The beaches are spread along the west coast. TAT lists, among others, Ao Tapao, Hat Klong Chao, Ao Ngam Kho, Ao Bang Bao, Hat Takhian and Ao Phrao. Most are backed by a single resort or a handful of bungalows rather than a village, and the water is clear enough for snorkeling straight from the beach in calm weather.
In the interior, TAT points to two very old trees that local people found in the forest, a makha and a banyan, said to need five people to reach around them. At the southern end, Ao Yai is a fishing village where boats shelter from the monsoon winds; villagers now show visitors their way of life and sell seafood.
Getting around with few roads
Koh Kood has a small road network, and parts of it are steep. Most resorts collect guests from the pier and run them to the main sights for a fee. Many visitors rent a scooter. If you do, check that your licence and insurance cover it and read our guide to riding a scooter safely first; wet, steep concrete is not a place to learn. Kayaks are a good way to explore the river mouths and the next bay along.
Money, health and the Cambodian border
Cash. Treat cash as essential. We could not verify how many ATMs Koh Kood has or where they are, and with resorts scattered along a coast with few roads, the nearest one may be a long way from your room. Withdraw what you need in Trat. Thai ATMs now charge foreign cards 250 baht per withdrawal (350 baht with Mastercard at KBank and SCB, as of October 2026), so take out larger amounts less often. Our guide to using Thai ATMs explains how to keep the fees down.
Malaria and mosquitoes. Trat borders Cambodia. The US CDC recommends malaria tablets for travelers to provinces on the Cambodian border, while UK advice calls the risk low in rural border forest and recommends bite avoidance rather than tablets. Official advice differs, so ask a travel clinic before you go; our guide to vaccinations for Thailand covers the wider picture, and our mosquito tips apply everywhere.
Koh Kood is not a gateway to Cambodia. As of October 2026 the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Cambodia, and the land crossings between the two countries are suspended. You cannot continue overland to Koh Kong. Check whether your route on the mainland goes near the border, and check your travel insurance: FCDO says a policy can be invalidated if you travel against its advice.
Koh Kood, Koh Mak or Koh Chang?
Koh Kood is the most remote of the three and the best for clear water and quiet. Koh Mak, between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, is smaller and flatter, and easy to cycle around. Koh Chang is the largest, with the most hotels, restaurants and transport. Our overview of the eastern islands compares them side by side, and in the dry season speedboats link the three, which makes a short island-hopping trip possible without returning to the mainland.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Trat to Koh Kood?
Go to Laem Sok pier, south of Trat town, and take a fast ferry or speedboat. Ko Kut Express says its ferry takes about 75 minutes to Ao Salat. Operators also sell pickups from Trat town and Trat airport, and combined tickets from Bangkok.
Do boats run to Koh Kood in the rainy season?
Fewer of them. Ko Kut Express states that speedboats cannot run in the low season because of the waves, but that its larger fast ferry runs all year when the weather allows. Expect cancellations on stormy days between May and September and leave a spare day before flights.
Are there ATMs on Koh Kood?
We could not verify how many ATMs the island has or where they are, so plan as if you will not find one near your resort. Withdraw enough cash in Trat for your stay, plus a reserve for transport and emergencies.
Is Koh Kood safe given the Cambodia border situation?
The UK FCDO's warning covers land within 20 km of the Cambodian land border, and the land crossings are suspended. Koh Kood is an island and is not on the land border, but check the current FCDO and US State Department advice and your insurance before you travel.
What is the best month to visit Koh Kood?
December to February are the driest months at the Trat weather station, and November, March and April are also usually good. From May to September, Trat averages more than 370 mm of rain a month and many boats stop running.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Kut (checked October 2026)
- Ko Kut Express – Ferry and speedboat timetable and seasons (checked October 2026)
- Boonsiri High Speed Ferries – Timetable and seasons (checked October 2026)
- Pollution Control Department, Region 13 – Thailand's largest islands (DMCR data, in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Thai Meteorological Department – Climatological data 1991–2020 (Trat and Rayong stations) (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand: warnings and insurance (checked October 2026)
- US CDC – Health information for travelers to Thailand (checked October 2026)
- TravelHealthPro (UKHSA) – Thailand (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways – Airport business (Trat Airport) (checked October 2026)