For something new to regular luxury travellers to Thailand, this idyllic
location in the Gulf of Thailand will allow you to get back to nature, while
still staying pleasantly pampered.
There is no
walking street on Koh Kut or Koh Kood as some people spell it. No pubs or bars
occupied by rowdy party goers. No drunken bellowing late at night, unless
you're the one doing it. No backpackers passed out on the sand at sunrise. Koh
Kut is a place to get away from all that.
Remote
tropical rainforest
This remote
island of lush tropical rainforest off the country's south eastern coast in the
Gulf of Thailand, doesn't exactly fall under the undiscovered category, nor is
it touristy like Koh Samet or other better known islands. It is a preferred
destination for travellers in the know, who appreciate tranquillity yet aren't
willing to forsake modern amenities. Getting there involves a six-hour drive
from Bangkok to Trat province, and one more hour by speed boat.
Koh Kut
Beaches
The beaches
on Koh Kut are some of the most beautiful in the Gulf. The island's only port offers
good snorkelling. There is kayaking, and
tucked away in the jungle nearby is a beautiful waterfall, which after a fun
hike offers a large freshwater pool for a soothing dip.
Famous for
fine white sand, Kluai Beach is among the most popular on the island. There are
other small beaches as well, some so remote that you can only access them by
boat, which makes for a nice romantic excursion.
As you've
probably realised, Koh Kut is all about nature, lush and lightly touched by
humans. Here you can experience the island lifestyle by visiting the fishing
village at Ao Salad.
Take a
fishing trip with the locals, buy fresh seafood from them if you wish, or even
take them up on a home-stay for only 300 baht per night.
Three
fairy-tale inspired resorts
But there
are other options for those who might prefer something a little less rustic.
Three fairy-tale inspired resorts,Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and Peter Pan, are all
located on Klong Chao Beach and suitable for travellers looking for a little
comfort. Captain Hook and Peter Pan are popular among groups of friends on
holiday, with rustic beachfront huts.
From Peter
Pan you can rent a kayak and row across the Klong Chao Canal to the foot of the
waterfall, and after a short hike bathe in the pristine water, offering just
the right amount of ''roughing it''. It's not too adventurous, but enough to
clear the urban echoes from your mind and just be.
The third
resort, Tinker Bell, offers private two-storey beachfront bungalows surrounded
by fences that allow direct access to the clear blue sea, while the villas each
have their own private pool. This is a place recommended for lovers wanting to
get away. A candle-lit dinner under the moonlight by the beach, followed by a
long walk with soft waves crashing at your feet is something you don't want to
miss.
VIP Luxury
Arrival - Soneva Kiri
For those
who like to soak up nature in style, there is luxurious Soneva Kiri resort.
With a package from Soneva Kiri, you can board the resort's VIP private plane
at Suvarnabhumi airport and an hour later land on a small island 10 minutes
from Koh Kut. A 10-minute boat ride later and you'll be greeted at Soneva
Kiris' private port by your very own personal assistant courtesy of the resort.
Yoga classes
& Pilates sessions
Soneva Kiri
is stretched across a vast estate. Guests are supplied with their own buggies
to get around. In the morning and evening there are yoga classes, pilates
sessions, tai chi groups and even muay Thai exercises. There's Cinema Paradiso,
a movie house inspired by Giuseppe Tornatore's 1988 film, where you can watch a
movie on a giant inflatable screen on a platform in the middle of a huge
reservoir with only the Milky Way above you. There's a chocolate bar that
features premium chocolate sourced from cocoa trees in Thailand's South,
presented in blends of up to 95%.
On a stretch
of hill is a children's corner that looks something like a hobbit village in
the Shire. The wine cellar features 4,500 bottles of the very best labels from
around the world
At Soneva
Kiri, there are ways to get naturally high. One is to gaze into the celestial
sky at the observatory, using a telescope. Here you can get inspired by the
constellations above. Be awed at the Big Dipper standing upright over Saturn
and count the moons around Jupiter. The other way is Tree Pod Dinning, a unique
cliffside experience in which you are hoisted up a huge tree in a pod for
dinner with the sea far below you on one side and the rainforest on the other.
Food is served by a waiter on a zip wire.
Koh Kut is
pretty much a stay-in-your-resort getaway, as there is no town or city centre.
But there are fine restaurants here and there.
Benz is
popular on the river, set deep in the mangrove forest and lit only by lanterns
and fireflies. The food is sumptuous, to put it mildly.
It is also
recommended that you enjoy the surrounding islands. Only half an hour from Koh
Kut, Koh Rang is a collection of six islands great for snorkelling and
swimming. You can even spend a night on one of these islands as they are camper
friendly.
There isn't
much happening on Koh Kut, yet there is so much to do. It depends on what you
want out of a holiday. Koh Samet and Koh Phangan are for parties, while chilled
Koh Kut a place to get away from all, kick back and enjoy nature.
