On the north west coast of Koh Kood, the excellent beach at Ao Tapao is home to 4 excellent resorts, Meedee, Seafar, Paradise Beach and Shantaa.
Combined with them, you’ll also find a handful of bungalows, homestays, shops and cheap diners in and around the nearby main road.
Put all those options together and it’s easy to see why Ao Tapao has developed into one of Koh Kood’s most popular areas.
Ao Noi – Resorts and Bungalows
Heading towards Ao Tapao, Ao Noi is the first spot you reach as you emerge up the hill from Klong Chao Beach.
A pretty cove with wooden piers and salas, it has just one place to stay, the many different bungalows of Ao Noi Resort. Rates range from 2,200bt to 3,500bt.
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B):
B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
This icon indicates a recommendation.
Ao Noi Resort
Ao Noi Beach
Per Night: BBB-BBBB
Just up the hill north of Klong Chao Beach, spread out right along the bay with seaview villas, a/c or fan bungalows and a restaurant, wooden piers and salas. Popular with Thai packages. Very pretty location.
Direct booking is here.
Central Area and Ao Tapao Beach
Continuing up the island away from Ao Noi, you pass a few shops, restaurants and the odd Thai homestay such as Sangtong, before you reach the central administrative areas of the island, home to the police station, hospital and town hall.
Opposite the hospital, Dara Homestay offers rooms at 1,500bt a night, whilst nearby, the small bungalow resort of Ban Kon Kan nearby sits hidden away in a forest clearing, a possible budget choice for backpackers.
Opposite the police station – look out for the huge colourful Koh Kood sign – you will also find the turning down to Ao Tapao.
Follow the track the good couple of kilometres to the end, passing the 3 rooms of The Lodge along the way and you emerge out on the beach at the two 3 star resorts, Seafar and Meedee.
Each resort has a wide selection of bungalows running back from the sand, with swimming pools towards the rear. Expect prices from 4,500bt upwards.
Next door to Meedee, Koh Kood Cabana, popular with Thai weekenders, stands firm as one of the island’s oldest resorts, but it is unfortunately showing its age. It also has no easy online booking, so it’s unlikely you will stay here unless on a cheap walk-in.
Located alongside Koh Kood Cabana, Koh Kood Paradise Beach, complete with its eye-catching bright red swimming pool, offers rooms from 2,750bt in its 2 storey hotel block at the back and villas in the garden or on the sand from 3,000bt to 4,000bt.
Perched up on the the hill above the pier, the romantic getaway of Shantaa, has a prime spot looking out over the ocean. One of the best resorts on the island, the villas go from 5,500bt to 6,500bt or more.
You can also get to this end of Ao Tapao by shooting on past the hospital all the way to the crossroads and then following the signs to the left for Nam Luek Pier. You pass the temple just before you drop down to the back of Koh Kood Paradise Beach.
Ao Tapao – Resorts, Bungalows, Homestays
Seafar Resort
Ao Tapao
Per Night: BBBB
Ever expanding number of bungalows at the back and on the creek combined with their brightly painted converted portacabins (from Soneva’s former construction site no less) located on the sand, all a/c. Swimming pool. Restaurant, motorbike hire, a peaceful spot.
Meedee Resort
Ao Tapao
Per Night: BBBB
Literally next door to Seafar, another very chilled out spot on the sane offering brushed concrete style, a/c ensuite bungalows in rows back from the sea. Restaurant, beach bar, swimming pool at the rear. Motorbikes available.
Koh Kood Cabana Resort
Ao Tapao
Per Night: BBB
On the sand next to Meedee Resort, ageing resort used mainly by Thai packages. Accommodation comprised of wooden cabins, either standalone or split into doubles. Restaurant, beach bar.
Paradise Beach Resort
Ao Tapao
Per Night: BBBB
Sister resort to Koh Chang Paradise, another large resort with Lanna style roofed villas in rows, all joined by raised wooden walkways. 2nd hotel style block at the rear with garden view rooms and balconies. Central reception area, restaurant and swimming pool, just steps from the sand and sea.
Shantaa
Ao Tapao Beach
Per Night: BBBB+
Above Nam Luek Pier, very peaceful boutique resort on the hill overlooking the bay. A mixture of villas and bungalows with open air bathrooms. No tv’s policy. Restaurant and small bar by the pier, reading room. Salas and sunset deck, own speedboat pier. Popular with wedding parties.
The Lodge
Ao Tapao
Per Night: BBB
Handful of a/c ensuite rooms on the back road to the beach. Breakfast served on your terrace. 5 minutes walk to the beach, can use Meedee Resort facilities.
Dara Homestay
Central Area
Per Night: BB-BBB
Opposite the hospital in the central area of the island, 6 or so a/c ensuite bungalows styled in brushed concrete. No real garden but practical and clean. Breakfast available. Best with your own transport, but can walk to Ao Tapao Beach.
Ban Kon Kan
Central Area
Per Night: BB-BBB
Set back in the forest off in the central area, collection of wooden, bamboo thatch roofs old style a/c ensuite bungalows in a pretty garden setting. Breakfast available. Quiet and peaceful, can reach beach and shops easily with motorbike, rental on site.
Hin Dam (way to Ao Salad) – North West Beaches – Koh Kood Resorts, Bungalows
From the central area by the electricity centre, you can pick up a shortcut road, which takes you in a loop to the main road for Ao Salad, the fishing village on the north east of the island.
Just before the end of this back street, Kama Siri is a popular guesthouse with fan rooms from 700bt a night. Turn right onto the main road towards Ao Salad and along this next stretch, you’ll pass the bungalows of Koh Kood Little Hut, standard rooms from 2,000bt and the single house of Friendly Home, the whole house at 6,500bt a night.
Kama Siri Guesthouse
Central Area
Per Night: BB-BBB
Guesthouse located at the far end of the central shortcut road, offering a simple selection of 2 fan wih ensuite, 1 a/c room and a double family chalet, both ensuite and a/c. WiFi. Food available, motorbikes for rent.
Koh Kood Little Hut
Central Area
Per Night: BB-BBB
On the road heading towards Ao Salad, 10 wooden cabins of varying shapes and sizes, all a/c, in mature garden setting. Breakfast included. Again, having your own transport is best so as not to feel isolated.
Friendly Home
Central Area
Per Night: BBBB+ (whole house)
In the same area as Koh Kood Litle Hut, interesting single storey wooden house with fold back doors consisting of 4 single beds via floor mattresses and option of 2 extra sofa beds. Kitchen and bathroom. Would suit group of backpackers or maybe a family. Need transport/motorbike rental to get about.
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