Thailand’s Secret Island: This Turquoise Paradise Boasts Crowd-Free Beaches And Lavish Resorts
Add Thailand to the list for overtourism. Europe may hog the spotlight with their global gripes demanding to have their beloved hometowns back, but Thailand is no stranger to busy streets and jam-packed beaches either.
Bangkok is and always will be a bustling city, but what may be surprising is the fact Phuket was recently crowned the most overcrowded tourist destination in the world.
The good news is Thailand is home to well over 1,000 islands, but there’s one in particular ready to embrace more tourists – and you’ve probably never heard of it.
While Koh Samui has also been thrown into the mix of no-go destinations, Koh Kood is the perfect alternative for crowd-free beaches and lavish resorts.
Plus, CNN and Thrillist just featured this turquoise paradise as one of Thailand’s most breathtaking beaches to avoid the crowds.
Reaching Koh Kood
You might be thinking to yourself, “where in the world is Koh Kood?”. Don’t worry; it’s not a treacherous journey.
While it’s certainly not as easily connected as Phuket or Koh Samui, if it was, it could easily have the same overtourism problems as Thailand’s most popular islands.
But, with no airport and few ferry lines, Koh Kood has proudly held on to its ‘hidden gem’ status, a feat not easily done in this day and age of TikTokers and Instagrammers seemingly turning over every stone.
Like most adventures in Thailand, they start in Bangkok. From here, you’ll need to make your way to Trat, ideally by bus or by a quick flight (only served by Bangkok Airways).
Of course, you could also make a pit stop in Pattaya, Thailand’s revamped beach city, also embracing more tourists.
Any way you slice it, the stopping point is Trat, where you’ll hop aboard a couple of ferry or speedboat options or Boonsiri’s high-speed catamaran.
All are a straight shot to Koh Kood’s virtually untouched shores, so pristine it won’t seem real.
But first, Thai is a tough language. Koh Kood is also known as Koh Kut, so be mindful when choosing your transportation.
Koh Kood’s Stunning Nature: Visit One Of Thailand’s Prettiest Beaches
Thrillist just unveiled the ‘Best beaches in Thailand’, including one drop-dead gorgeous beach illuminating Koh Kood’s gleaming coasts.
Standing in good company between Pattaya, Phuket, and Krabi, among other lesser-known islands, sits Koh Kood’s Tha Pho Beach.
Here, you’ll find a real-life dream for pure serenity and some of the most photo-worthy shores in all of Thailand.
Thrillist highlights the beach’s soft ‘white sand’, ‘tranquil turquoise waters’, and a ‘thriving underwater ecosystem’ boasting an array of wildlife from barracudas to sea turtles, so prepare to go snorkeling!
While you’ll surely want to stick around Tra Pho a while soaking up every second you can, Koh Kood offers a multitude of jaw-dropping beaches to enjoy – many lined with swings and hammocks.
Don’t sleep on the island’s lush jungles either, home to numerous flowing waterfalls crashing down into serene swimming holes.
If you time it right, you can have a private oasis in the middle of the jungle since tourists aren’t exactly flocking to Koh Kood like, say, Phuket.
Another hidden gem is what’s known as the Makka Tree. This 500-year-old tree is one of the most popular landmarks on the island for photo ops.
Who Needs Phuket When You Have Koh Kood’s Lavish Resorts?
Phuket may top many-a bucket lists around the globe, but there are plenty of postcard-perfect beaches to splurge on ritzy resorts across Thailand.
Koh Kood may be off the radar for most, but the plus side is there are already many resorts to choose from to cap off an epic vacation.
You may need to scrounge your sofa for leftover change to scrape up enough dough to book a room at Koh Kood’s nicest resort, 5-star Soneva Kiri, running upwards of $1,500 per night.
However, there are many other grand stays along some of Thailand’s most scenic shores, like the easy-to-remember Koh Kood Resort or Tinkerbell Resort.
According to TripAdvisor, these are the top 5 resorts in Koh Kood right now: (based on travelers’ ratings)
- High Season Pool Villa & Spa
- Shantaa Koh Kood
- Soneva Kiri
- Koh Kood Beach Resort
- Tolani Resort Koh Kood
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.