We found a real-life Paradise: Koh Kood

Vol. 12 - Dec 2025

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We spent the week on Koh Kood, one of the few islands in Thailand that still feels like a real secret. We’ve actually been here several times, including once when Ploy was highly pregnant with Moana. Somehow that trip was slow, calm, and incredibly special, and coming back now felt a little full-circle.

Koh Kood has changed a bit over the years, but the feeling is exactly the same: quiet beaches, clear water, soft jungle air, and an easy pace that’s getting harder to find in Thailand.

🗺️ NEW - We’re excited to introduce our ‘Local Secrets Maps’ page!
Our map has grown a lot lately, and we wanted a cleaner way for you to explore every beach, café, waterfall, and hidden corner we share. Now you can browse everything by location or theme, all in one place.
Click the big yellow button in ‘The Thai List Insider’ to try it out.

Enjoy this weeks List!
Ploy & Jochem 🌺

A travel story

Koh Kood is often described as one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands, and even after multiple visits, we agree every time. As the boat pulls in, the water turns a deep turquoise, the jungle rises behind the beaches, and everything feels untouched.

We checked into To the Sea Resort, a relaxed beachfront stay overlooking some of the clearest, warm tropical water we’ve seen in Thailand. Within minutes, Moana had found the tiny pigs wandering around the sand and decided they were her new best friends.

The next morning we made our way into the dense green jungle of the island to visit Khlong Chao Waterfall. If you come between September–November, the waterfall is at its strongest with cool water, a wide flow, and a peaceful jungle pool. Outside these months it becomes softer, but still a beautiful spot to cool off.

Back at the resort, the afternoons slipped by easily with swims in that warm, clear water and slow walks along the beach. As the sun began to set, we joined the beachfront BBQ with fresh seafood grilled right in front of us! Grilled prawns, giant sea crabs and even barracuda. It was just delicious, and the kind of meal that tastes better because of the ocean breeze.

We ended the evening at the small beach bar, sipping cocktails while watching a gorgeous sunset. Koh Kood is one of those rare islands where mass tourism hasn’t taken over. No crowds, no big nightlife, just nature, quiet corners to explore, and days that end softly (hey, we’re getting older too, haha).

A phrase locals use to describe a calm, unrushed place. Exactly what Koh Kood feels like!

Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .

Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.

If you liked this week’s edition, here’s how we’d spend one perfect day on Koh Kood:

• 8:00 am : Breakfast overlooking the sea at ‘To the Sea’

Start easy with coffee overlooking the warm, crystal clear water. Mornings on Koh Kood are calm, bright, and slow. The kind of start that puts you instantly in “island mode.”

• 9:30 am : Swim & explore the beach

Walk along the soft white sand and take a dip in the clear water right in front of the resort. Spot the little pigs wandering the beach, Moana’s absolute highlight!

• 11:00 am : Visit Khlong Chao Waterfall

Head into the jungle and cool off at Koh Kood’s most famous waterfall. If you’re here between September–November, the flow is at its best, perfect for a refreshing swim.

• 1:30 pm : Lunch at a local beach shack

Simple Thai dishes, cold drinks, and feet in the sand. Koh Kood has several small family-run spots with fresh seafood and relaxed island vibes.

• 3:30 pm : Explore Ao Phrao or Ao Tapao

Drive your scooter to one of Koh Kood’s quiet beaches. These bays have calm, clear water and feel almost untouched, great for families or anyone craving space and silence.

• 6:00 pm : Sunset back at ‘To the Sea’

Return to the resort for golden-hour swims and wide views over the ocean.

• 7:00 pm : Beachfront seafood BBQ

Enjoy fresh seafood grilled right on the beach, exactly what you want after a long day outdoors.

• 8:00 pm : Cocktails at the Beach Bar

End the day with a drink by the water while longtail boats drift across the bay. Gentle waves, warm air, and a quiet island night. This is Koh Kood at its best!

• Khao Pad Poo (ข้าวผัดปู) : Fried rice with real crab meat; specially delicious and comforting after a long beach day.

• Pla Sabarot Yang (ปลาบาราคูดาย่าง) : Grilled barracuda, lightly seasoned and super fresh on the island.

• Goong Yang (กุ้งย่าง): Grilled prawns with a spicy seafood dipping sauce, a must-order by the sea. The prawns in Thailand are super fresh and often very big, almost mini-lobsters!

• 👧 Seafood for Kids: We always try to let Moana taste the local food. Instead of the ‘french fries and chicken nuggets’ try this: Most beach shacks can prepare mild versions like fried rice with shrimp, grilled fish with no spice, or rice with an omelet and crispy chicken - easy, tasty, and kid-friendly!

• Ao Tapao Beach : A long, quiet stretch of soft white sand with calm, shallow water. Perfect for families and morning swims.

• Khlong Chao Waterfall : Koh Kood’s most iconic waterfall, surrounded by thick jungle. Best visited between September–November, when the water is full and cool.

• Ao Yai Fisherman Village : An old wooden seaside village built on stilts, offering relaxed seafood spots, friendly locals, and beautiful views over the bay. If you want to experience those ‘old Thai’ vibes, this is the place to go! 🐟

• Secret Rock Pool (near Ao Phrao) : A little natural pool that appears during low tide. Shallow, warm, and great for kids to splash around safely.

• Nom Khon Station Café: A small, charming roadside café with a relaxed island vibe and refreshing drinks, perfect for a quick break while exploring by scooter.

• Rubber Tree Backroads : Small roads winding through Koh Kood’s rubber plantations. A green escape and a fun scooter route away from the coast.

Every week we drop new pins onto our Local Secrets Maps - special spots you won’t always find in the guidebooks. Street stalls tucked down alleys, rooftop bars only locals know, temples that feel like they belong to you alone.

This map is just for Insiders, and it grows with every edition - a living guide that keeps unlocking Thailand, piece by piece.

👉 Tap the link on your smart phone or computer, and choose “Open in Google Maps” for the full interactive experience! 🌏

That’s this week’s adventure. Next week is a surprise, and we’re keeping the details under wraps, for now 🤫

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love 💕 by inviting your friends and family to join us.

Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer. Don’t miss out on the journey.

Wishing you save travels,

The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand 🇹🇭