The search for the original Thailand, far away from the typical tourist crowds on the most famous coasts and the largest cities, has quickly and significantly increased the popularity of one or the other island in the area. Today, island hopping, i.e. visiting many small islands in a very short time, is no longer only popular with backpackers. Especially in the Andaman Sea there are a wide variety of interesting islands, which have become known especially for their almost untouched nature and the possibility of retreating from the fast pace of everyday life. A good example of this is Koh Kho Khao. The small island has developed into a real insider tip.
Koh Kho Khao – the insider tip among the islands of the Andaman Sea
In recent years, the various islands of the Andaman Sea have become an insider tip for normal holidaymakers who are looking for a way to spend their holidays in Thailand off the beaten track and the strongholds of hotels. The return to nature and the opportunity for relaxation are sought, which is usually not easy to find in the busy and often very dynamic tourist areas. In addition, the many islands attract with fantastic sandy beaches, opportunities for excursions and activities and, last but not least, low prices for accommodation.
In contrast to some of the other islands in the area, the development of the island has progressed, but has not penetrated the nature of the island too much. The jetty of the island offers the most shops and restaurants, but you can count them on one hand. Here you will also find an ATM. In recent years, some small hotel complexes have been built that are quite upscale and are also home to most of the other restaurants on the island. These are usually also accessible to day-trippers and offer good and, above all, local cuisine, which is typical of the islands.
Accommodation, transport and movement on the island
If you want to move around the island between the beaches and the pier, you will usually do so by moped, as is customary for Thailand. In addition, shipping naturally plays an important role. You can easily get to Koh Kho Khao by ferry or longboat and can also take advantage of the many opportunities at the pier to move to one of the many other islands. Many of the providers offer tours and therefore support island hopping to get an overview of the other islands.
Otherwise, the island, which is just 17 kilometers long, can also be easily explored on foot. With the kayak it is quite easy to make a tour around the beaches and around the island itself. In view of the large number of beaches that can be found here, you can also secure one or two interesting photo motifs. In addition, the many other options offer the option with which, for example, you can go into the sea and take a diving course in the sea.
What exactly is there to do on Koh Kho Khao?
In terms of the activities themselves, Koh Kho Khao differs little from the other islands in the immediate vicinity. Most travelers, vacationers and backpackers come to the island mainly because they are looking for peace and relaxation. And that’s exactly what you’ll find here. Although there are now a good number of accommodations and hotels on the island, they are so small in number that there is no reason why it should be cramped on the island. Instead, you can find the untouched nature of Thailand with a look off the road, which can hardly be found in this form in the strongholds of tourism today.
Among the special features on the island is an archaeological excavation center. Here you can examine some parts of the special history of the island itself and the archipelago and a small museum provides information about what is actually being searched for here. On the subject of finds from contemporary history, there is also an old airport that was used by the Japanese on the island during World War II. There are some plans that this could be expanded for tourism. One more reason why you should visit the island now before the infrastructure ensures that the insider tip becomes an open secret for all travelers from Thailand.
Of course, the beach, sun and sea are among the most important reasons why you should dare to visit Koh Kho Khao. The beautiful sandy beaches with the wonderful sand and the crystal clear sea invite you to relax and would allow you to spend the whole day under palm trees. If you are looking for a little cooling off and also want to see a little more of the impressive underwater world, there are also a wide variety of diving spots available here. The snorkeling is also supported by the locals, who offer tours to the best places for an underwater dive for a small price.
A visit to Koh Kho Khao is therefore recommended for a variety of reasons. The island is still a tip for travelers in the region – but that can change quickly. Thanks to the low availability of rooms on the island, the trip should also be planned well in advance.
