A stunning “forgotten” island in Thailand has far fewer tourists than the country’s major travel hotspots – but getting there isn’t easy. Koh Kood, a tranquil retreat in the Gulf of Thailand, is something to behold: home to pristine sandy beaches that look out on gorgeous azure waters.
While Britons flock to Phuket and Bangkok, the country still has a number of inhabited islands and lesser-known destinations. The island of Koh Samui was once one of them, but it saw a boom in tourism in the 1970s and a further supercharging of interest due to the latest series of the hit show The White Lotus being filmed there.
But while other once serene spots are now attracting crowds of tourists, The Telegraph characterises Koh Kood as a “forgotten” island, “a little piece of a Thailand long lost in the likes of Koh Samui”.
Despite the huge tourist traffic the country sees, the idyllic spot “remains lush and peaceful” and continues to be “the preserve only of those who know it’s there.”
Its location makes it great for divers and snorkelers, and there are also a number of dazzling beaches, with Bang Bao and Klong Chao rated among the best on TripAdvisor.
The island is still considered pretty underdeveloped, but what it lacks in attractions, it makes up for with lush rainforest and scenic splendour.
A major pull is the island’s warm climate, which is maintained throughout the year. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data, the island sees average highs of around 32C in April, with lows only dropping to around 23C.
However, like the rest of Thailand, it’s hit hard by monsoons during part of the year.
According to Coral Grand Divers, a dive centre on the island of Koa Tao, the rains in the Eastern Islands (which include Koh Chang, Koh Mak, and Koh Kood) typically begin around May.
The peak months are July, August, and September during which the rains intensify, before calming down by November, the website adds.
Part of the reason the island may have remained less visited is the difficulty in getting there. There isn’t an airport on the island, so visitors often have to fly into Trat on the mainland (three hours from Bangkok) before taking a bus to Laem Sok Pier and then a ferry or boat to Koh Kood.
Space on these services is limited, so past visitors have recommended booking in advance. Koh Kood also closes, and ferry services are temporarily stopped during the summer monsoon season, as per The Telegraph.
