I've never hidden my honest opinion about Thailand's islands: The Andaman Sea – that is, the islands from Phuket to Koh Lipe – is simply unbeatable in terms of beach quality and scenery. There are also beautiful beaches in the Gulf, but overall it's not the most spectacular place in Thailand for a beach holiday.

There are also significant differences between the two large island groups in the Gulf: Chumphon (which includes Koh Samui) and Trat in the far east of Thailand. It's difficult to say which is better. And that's not the topic of today's post anyway.

I'd rather compare Koh Chang and Koh Kood, the two largest and most popular islands in the Trat archipelago. Spoiler alert: I'm not impressed with either of them.

Why both Chang and Kood leave me cold

To be honest, Koh Chang and Koh Kood are worlds apart in my opinion. Both large Thai islands are among my least favorites in Thailand, albeit for different reasons. I'll explain these in more detail below, but generally speaking, they are as follows: Koh Chang simply isn't very impressive. While it's quite relaxed and the most easily accessible of the Trat islands, that's about all it has going for it.

Koh Kood, on the other hand, is unappealing to me precisely because of the hype surrounding it. While nobody expects much from Koh Chang (and rightly so), videos of Koh Kood give the impression that it boasts the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, perhaps even the world. Unfortunately, life on Koh Kood looks quite different from what you see in the drone footage of some wannabe photographers.

Ways to compare Koh Chang with Koh Kood

Easy access

Koh Chang is significantly quicker to reach than Koh Kood. This is mainly due to the car ferry; you can easily travel by a single bus from Bangkok or Suvarnabhumi Airport, or stay on the same shuttle bus from Trat Airport to your hotel. To reach Koh Kood, however, you need at least an hour's speedboat ride from the mainland near Trat.

locomotion

Koh Chang and Koh Kood are both much easier to explore with your own vehicle – most visitors use motorbikes, while I rented cars on both islands. For those smart enough not to rent a motorbike but too stingy or impatient for a car, the songthaew shared taxis that run regularly between the islands are the only realistic alternative.

beaches

The beaches of Koh Chang are… okay. The most attractive is probably Lonely Beach, but its appeal lies more in its perceived pristine nature than in its beauty. Koh Kood, on the other hand, has many truly magnificent beaches; in my opinion, however, even the famous Bang Bao Beach can't compete with the beaches on Thailand's Andaman coast.

Crowds

Neither island is "quiet"—Koh Chang is so easy and cheap to reach that many backpackers, travelers with gray luggage, and other budget-conscious vacationers can easily get there from Bangkok. The problem on Koh Kood, however, isn't the number of people, but their nature: unfriendly young heterosexual couples who, to me as an older queer person, all seem like clones.

Continue your journey

From Bang Bao Pier in the south of Koh Chang, you can reach all the other islands of Trat – Koh Wai, Koh Mak, and of course Koh Kood – by speedboat or ferry. Island hopping, however, is not possible, as the boat schedules are not suitable for it. Conversely, from Koh Kood, the only option is a simple day trip to another island on your way back to the mainland.

Why I prefer Koh Mak and Koh Wai

I was rather skeptical about the islands of Chang and Kood in the past, but don't get me wrong: I love the Trat province as a whole, both its islands and the underrated city of Trat on the mainland. I'm particularly fond of Koh Mak and Koh Wai, the two smallest of the main islands. For me, Koh Mak is what Koh Kood should be: an island with enough to discover to keep you busy for a few days, and nice to very nice accommodations, but small enough to explore on foot if you're fit and motivated.

Koh Wai offers something that neither Koh Kood nor Koh Chang (or, frankly, not even Koh Mak) can: the authentic feeling of being stranded. There's only one main beach and no roads on the island; you'll have little more to do than swim in a shallow lagoon, relax under palm trees, and enjoy simple, local food. It's paradise, though even more beautiful on a short visit than on a longer one.

More frequently asked questions about Koh Kood and Koh Chang

Is Koh Chang the best island in Thailand?

Koh Chang is many things, but the best island isn't one of them. It's a relaxed island, relatively easy to reach; it has loyal fans who swear—probably from the bottom of their hearts—that it's their favorite island in Thailand, and perhaps even their favorite place overall. But in my opinion, it simply doesn't belong at the very top.

Is it possible to travel from Koh Chang to Koh Kood?

Both slower ferries and faster speedboats depart several times daily from Bang Bao Pier in the south of Koh Chang to Koh Kood. Depending on the type of vessel, the crossing takes less than an hour or a little longer. However, I recommend a stopover on Koh Wai and/or Koh Mak.

Is Koh Chang better than Koh Kood?

In a way, you could say that Koh Chang is better than Koh Kood. Koh Chang is less hyped, which is why most visitors arrive with low expectations. On the other hand, however ambivalent I am, objectively speaking, Koh Kood is probably "better" than Koh Chang.

Conclusion

The debate surrounding Koh Chang vs. Koh Kood is, at least from my perspective, somewhat sobering – neither island is among my favorites in Thailand. I rate Koh Chang slightly more favorably, as it isn't as heavily hyped. Koh Kood, on the other hand, I view less favorably, as social media portrays it as a deserted paradise. Of course, it has its charm, but even on its best days, it can't compete with Thailand's most beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea. Would you like personalized advice on which Thai island(s) best suit you? Then let us create a customized Thailand trip for you today!