Are you looking for long dream beaches and turquoise blue water in Thailand? Then you should not miss this island: Koh Kradan is a true paradise! In this article I will tell you how to get to Koh Kradan and what you can experience there!
Koh Kradan, like Koh Mook, is part of the Had Chao Mai National Park in the Andaman Sea and is a mere two and a half square kilometers in size. The island is located only 10 kilometers as the crow flies from the mainland in the south of Thailand and is also a popular destination for locals.
Koh Kradan: One of the most beautiful beaches in the world
You read that right: Koh Kradan is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! In any case, in 2016, the British daily newspaper “The Guardian” voted Koh Kradan one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world – and this has really raised Koh Kradan’s profile.
By the way, Koh Kradan is also known for its underwater weddings on Valentine’s Day, for which people willing to get married travel from all over Thailand.
Beaches on Koh Kradan
The famous Paradise Beach is located on the east coast of the island; this is also where most of the resorts are located. Here you can snorkel directly and explore the underwater world.
You will also find other good snorkeling opportunities in the southeast of the island. Just walk south along Paradise Beach, past the ferry dock and the national park ranger base: Ao Nieng Beach doesn’t have as many tour boats and resorts as Paradise Beach.
A jungle path leads to Sunset Beach through the middle of the island to the west coast. It is said that you can experience a great sunset here. Unfortunately, the beach itself is a bit littered. Along the way, you’ll also pass Paradise Lost Bungalows*, the island’s only low-budget resort.
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Where to stay: The best resorts on Koh Kradan
On Koh Kradan you will find only a handful of accommodations. This is also reflected in the prices: in general, everything here is much more expensive than in other vacation regions of Thailand and the price-performance ratio for accommodation is also rather poor.
Koh Kradan Beach Resort
If you are looking for something solid, I can recommend Koh Kradan Beach Resort . The bungalows have mostly beach or sea view, solidly built and for those who need it, also equipped with air conditioning.
Unfortunately, the associated restaurant is not special; the included breakfast is Western-oriented and rather uncharitable. But these are fundamental compromises that you have to make on the very touristy island of Koh Kradan.
Kalume’ Eco Boutique Resort
Very popular is Kalume’ Eco Boutique Resort*, a small resort run by Italians. The resort also has an Italian restaurant that offers really good Italian cuisine, from pizza to homemade pasta.
Whether that really has to be on a remote little island in Thailand is probably a matter of taste. Anyway, given the otherwise lousy food situation on the island (most restaurants are not special), it’s a good alternative. The facility is very beautiful, and certainly you have a good time here if you are one of the friends of the house, whose memories adorn the very nicely decorated bar. Unfortunately, everyone else has a bit of a hard time and has to fight for the favor of the service.
More comfortable, but then also more expensive, is The Sevenseas Resort* or Mali Kradan Resort*.
Koh Kradan or Koh Ngai?
Koh Kradan is truly beautiful, but unfortunately it’s no longer a hidden gem. Sometimes the atmosphere at the resort gets a little out of hand, and surrounded by so many Western tourists, you can sometimes forget that you’re actually in Thailand. If you love Koh Samui or similar places in Thailand, you’ll still enjoy it; for others, one or two nights will be enough. (I’m in the latter group.)
However, there is another island among the Trang Islands that is very similar to Koh Kradan and where you can spend a few relaxing days.
Koh Ngai is also a small island paradise: Car- and scooter-free, quiet and perfect for snorkeling and relaxing.
If you don’t have much time and would prefer to choose an island, I would recommend Koh Ngai. Koh Ngai is somewhat less visited by day trippers than Koh Kradan and is therefore quieter.
In addition, there is a really great boutique accommodation here, the Coco Cottage*, which I liked much better than the similar Kalumé Beach Resort on Koh Kradan. Since there isn’t really much to do on either island, you do spend a fair amount of time in and around your resort, so it’s an advantage to find something pretty right away.
Journey to Koh Kradan
The nearest port on the mainland is Pak Meng Pier. From here boats depart regularly to Koh Kradan. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
In the high season from November to April, Koh Kradan is also on the speedboat route of all the major ferry operators, which connects many islands in the Andaman Sea from Phuket via Koh Lanta down to Koh Lipe. The speedboats are often very crowded, noisy and relatively expensive, but also a good way to hop from island to island.
You can book tickets well in advance on 12go.asia*, e.g. for
Koh Lanta – Koh Kradan*
Phuket – Koh Kradan*
Koh Mook – Koh Kradan*
The nearest airport is Trang (TST). There are a few daily connections from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.
Check here direct flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Trang*.
You can also find out more about island hopping in this region in my big guide with lots of tips:
Helpful tips for your stay on Koh Kradan
As on many small islands, you should have some cash with you. Credit cards are often accepted only with difficulty or not at all. ATMs and the ubiquitous 7Eleven stores in Thailand are not to be found here. Some resorts have small stores where you can stock up on necessities. But it’s best if you bring everything with you.
In any case, Koh Kradan will suit you well if you long for relaxation and tranquility!
Useful are:
- Mosquito repellent with DEET (you live here in the middle of nature, so to speak, with correspondingly many little animals), alternatively natural means such as citronella oil
- own snorkeling equipment (depending on the accommodation you can borrow goggles and snorkel for free, but own is of course more comfortable)
- Sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (look for a coral-friendly product)
- a good book (here you’ll definitely have the leisure to finally start that one book you’ve always wanted to read!)
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