In a nutshell
- Koh Kho Khao is our favorite island in Thailand — it seriously won us over with its stunning, uncrowded beaches.
- The island sits on the west coast of Thailand, about 100 km north of Phuket. The easiest way to get there is a private transfer arranged through your hotel.
- Our top hotel pick: C&N Kho Khao Beach Resort — beautiful bungalows with direct ocean views and a private beach feel. Book early, it sells out fast.
- There are no real sights here — and that’s the whole point. Koh Kho Khao is all about switching off on beautiful beaches, with day trips to Khao Sok or the Similan Islands if you want more action.
Where Is Koh Kho Khao?
Koh Kho Khao is located on the west coast of Thailand, about 100 kilometers north of Phuket and 30 kilometers north of Khao Lak.
The island itself is not very large. It stretches about 10 kilometers from north to south and about 5 kilometers from east to west. It’s separated from the Thai mainland by just a few hundred meters.
Sights and Activities on Koh Kho Khao
Here’s the honest truth about things to do in Koh Kho Khao: there are no sights to speak of. Absolutely nothing! The island is completely laid-back — and that’s exactly the point.
Koh Kho Khao is a place of total relaxation. The beaches are breathtakingly beautiful. We’d even say the island is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand.
You can spend the whole day on the beach, and if that gets too quiet, take a walk along the shore. That’s it! Just switch off and unwind — that’s Koh Kho Khao.
If after a few days you start craving a bit more action, the island also makes a great base for day trips.
Day tours run to the nearby Khao Sok National Park, for example, or to the Similan Islands for diving and snorkeling.
Our Hotel Recommendations: Where Should You Stay?
Fortunately, Koh Kho Khao hasn’t yet been overrun with massive hotel complexes. Anyone who has stayed at a hotel in Phuket or Khao Lak knows how overwhelming that can be.
That said, the island has a solid range of hotels and resorts across all price points — here’s our rundown.
The C&N Kho Khao Beach Resort
During our stay on the island, we stayed at the C&N Kho Khao Beach Resort, and it was simply wonderful. The Booking.com rating of 9.3 speaks for itself — we were absolutely blown away.
The hotel has 20 beautiful bungalows, all with direct ocean views. There’s a lovely pool, and guests essentially have the gorgeous sandy beach right at the hotel all to themselves.
The resort sits apart from all the other properties on the island. That does mean there are no other restaurants within walking distance — but the hotel’s own restaurant is genuinely excellent, serving authentic Thai dishes and incredibly fresh fish, with a few Western options too.
Prices are slightly above the standard Thai range, but completely reasonable for the quality on offer.
As mentioned, this place is perfect for anyone seeking peace and quiet. The guests were a mix of couples 50+ and young families. We were the only young couple without kids, but we felt completely at home.
We will definitely be back. One thing to know: the hotel books up very quickly. Reserve well in advance — we stayed six nights and would have loved to extend by two more, but on short notice there was nothing available.
One night at the C&N Kho Khao Beach Resort costs around 97 euros. For everything included, that’s completely fair!
More Hotels on Koh Kho Khao
Overall, the accommodation options on Koh Kho Khao are manageable in number. Still, there’s something for every budget, ranging from very affordable to quite pricey.
Important: Many places to stay are only bookable during high season.
Good & affordable
Better
Luxurious
Getting There: How Do I Get to Koh Kho Khao?
The nearest airport is Phuket Airport. We flew from Bangkok to Phuket ourselves — there are numerous daily flights on this route. We think Skyscanner is the best flight search engine for finding the cheapest options.
Search for flights on Skyscanner
With a Private Driver
From Phuket Airport, the easiest way to reach Koh Kho Khao is by taxi or private driver. Since Phuket’s taxi mafia is notorious, we strongly recommend arranging your transfer in advance. Your best bet is to ask your hotel on Koh Kho Khao — they typically organize a private transfer for all guests.
Alternatively, you can book a taxi online in advance:
Pre-book a taxi from Phuket to Koh Kho Khao
We paid 2,000 baht per trip for the private transfer — roughly 50 euros, but it meant we didn’t have to worry about a thing. A car fits up to four people, so if you’re traveling as a group, the per-person cost goes right down.
The journey takes about two hours, including the boat crossing to the island and the transfer to your hotel. All of that was included in the price.
On Your Own
It’s also possible to get to Koh Kho Khao independently.
There are regular minibuses that’ll take you first to Khao Lak. From there, continue by bus or taxi to the pier at Baan Nam Kaem.
The crossing to Koh Kho Khao by longtail boat costs just 20 baht per person and only takes a few minutes.
Once you arrive on the island, pick-up trucks are waiting to take you to your hotel. Even though the distances aren’t far, expect to pay up to 300 baht.
Honestly, we’d strongly recommend taking a private driver. In the end it’s not that much more expensive, and it saves a lot of time and hassle.
Our Verdict on Koh Kho Khao
We fell in love with the island immediately and will definitely be back. If you want complete peace, proper relaxation, and a passion for dream beaches, Koh Kho Khao is the perfect destination.
Koh Kho Khao is our favorite island in Thailand. We also have some stunning aerial footage shot with a drone — check it out below.
