Hi all ,after much changing of mind and carefully perusing many web sites and tour operators pages.We have decided to go for the Island of Koh Ko Khao,it's only a short crossing to the main land (about ten minutes I believe)The Island looks really nice and quiet,but if it's becoming an issue(if it's too quiet) we can get a ferry cheaply enough to the main land and shops and bars etc.And if we are enjoying it so much we can extend our time there hopefully.So it's Bangkok 3 nights,fly down to Phuket,taxi up to Koh Ko Khoa Island,staying at the Koh Ko Khoa Resort Hotel,which seems to have very good reviews,although all stress how quiet it is on the Island, there are facilities to go on fishing trips etc,and visit other Islands.I sppose we are trying to keep our options open.Last time we committed to 10 days on Samui and would have been happy to leave after 3 as it was too westernised for our liking,also the time share sales people are a disgrace on Samui.I had a running battle with one particular loud mouthed know all who was British by the way.He became personal with his insults and called in his Australian helpers when I insisted he stop asking me to take part in his scratch card con ............you know that one where he scratches the card and suprise! suprise! you have won a chance to win a villa on Samui,just folllow me etc.Yeah right ....any way this guy was so obnoxious he used to spot me and cruise up the side of us and shout rude remarks about us being nasty English people etc.One day I saw the vermin coming and jumped out at him before he could say anything,he swerved and sped off .A few minutes later two Australian Guys appeared on motor cycles,about seven foot tall and 5 foot wide,and then suprise suprise along came their team leader keeping safely behind the two Gorrilla's.He uttered a few insults about "unfriendly" tourists not being welcome and decided to leave well alone.I kept quiet on the insistence of my wife who was really upset by the whole thing.She was so upset I had promise not to retaliate in the event the vermin showed up again,other wise she wanted to stay on the Hotels beach untill it was time to fly out.It's along way to travel to be abused by Britih scum trying to rip their own people off............Samui is a place I would never set foot on again.Nice Island ruined by it's own popularity,far too touristy now,for me that is.Sorry about the rant.................so lets hope this Island has no such sales people lurking in the gutter.We will move to the are known as Khoa lak should it be too quiet for us.We may even just use the Island as a base,but not going till February 2010 so may make some adjustments in between now and then.We have never tried leaving our options open before as we have always pre booked evrything so hope we don't finish up sleeping on the beach.After Khoa Lak its back to Bangkok and home to Blighty.We fly out of Bangkok on the 1/3/20.If anyone has anything to say they think is helpfull would really appreciate their input.

I've not stayed on the island, but here's a short report which may help-

To get to Koh Khao, head north from Khao Lak towards Takuapa and turn left after the #82 kilometre stone. If you get to #83 - you went too far. Follow a somewhat winding main road to the ferry area. The ferry runs from about 7am to 6pm although recent reports suggest it runs as a private rather than public ferry after these times. If you are on a motorbike there are long tail boats at the dock that will take you across the bay.
The ferry costs around B150 for cars (B300 after 6 pm) and B20 for motorbikes - but the prices seem to vary from time to time so be prepared to pay a bit more (probably in high season) and be happy if you get to pay a bit less.
Once on the island there is a long road that runs north to south - with little traffic - and you can access the full length of the island from this road. Head down the roads that go west from that road and you will generally head to beaches and one of the resorts in the area. Those roads are usually paved. The roads to the right head into the countryside and small villages and are usually dirt and can be rough.
Take the road to the tip of the island and you will find a good vantage point and nice little beach restaurant. A walk up the beach will allow a good view of the next uninhabited island. There is a sign just before you reach there for another restaurant facing this island but you need a 4X4 to get through the deep sand to it.
A few years ago there were only two restaurants outside the handful of resorts on the island. Now there are a growing number at the ferry dock, on the road leading up the island and, inevitably, near the entrance to the major resorts, and typical shacks on the beach also.
Keep your eyes open for interesting bird life on the power lines - lots of kingfishers especially - and iguanas sunning themselves on the road. Or vice versa!
Drive to the far north of the island to find an old Japanese airstrip - used during WWII - that is scheduled to become a local airport.
Take your time and enjoy the solitude of this area! Consider staying on the island some time, if you don't mind a very relaxed and quiet time. You'll find resort prices here to usually be less than in the Khao Lak area.

Hi many thanks for your info,it seems as though not many people have been there,and therefore info is hard to find.I did read one report which suggested the Island would shortly become the "in"place to be going.So maybe now is a good time to take a look before the Island becomes over run with tourists.Also I have read about the Japanese having an air base there during the war,the suggestion was people with clout are pushing for an airport on the Island.That to my mind could be the beggining of the end for Ko Koh Khoa Island.I know it will be good for the Thai people to have some tourist trade ,but will the numbers visiting Thailand increase?or is it people will stop going to one area in favour of another.It seems to me sensible to keep some areas free of loud music and Girly bars,as not everyone wants Blackpool with Sun.We don't go untill February but I will write on here and let people know how we found the Island,thanks again for your efforts much appreciated.

Hi Johnny, we were there less than a year ago, I have cut and pasted my trip report here for you to have a read. We could not get off the island quick enough haha.

Months ago we planned to go up to Koh Kho Khao Island which is about 30 mins drive north of Khao Lak in Phang-nga province, we knew it would be pretty quiet but that is what we wanted, a beach front bungalow, a few books and not many people. The hotel we wanted to stay at is called Amandara Island resort and it looked beautiful on the website, tropical lush gardens, and bungalows on beautiful pristine white sand beachfront. So off we go.

It’s a good drive to Khao Lak, the roads are great and well signposted, don’t believe everyone who tells you never to drive here, try it and decide yourself.

Anyway of course we took the wrong turn off the main road to where the ferry leaves but did not realize as it was still a good road for awhile. Then things started to change, vegetation was starting to creep across the road, trees were getting closer to the car, the white line down the middle of the 2 lanes was still there but where were the lanes, there was just enough room for us, the jungle was swallowing the road up.

We had passed no one, there were no houses, then it finished, nothing, there was no road, just a dirt track, we were on the road to nowhere!.

Of course it was my fault as I had told Gary to turn left there ha-ha, so after a while of reversing so we could turn around it was back to the highway. Guess what – the next road after was the one we wanted, wow there was even water and boats at the end of it.

Well my explanation is this is what makes getting out and about so much fun, it’s the unexpected!

On to the ferry we go, pay our 200baht (it’s gone up Ted) and a few minutes later we are on Koh Kho Khao Island and eagerly on our way to the resort. (Its not until we leave KKK that Gary told me his first impressions of the island, more on that later).

We head to reception and ask to see a deluxe bungalow (we wanted absolute beach frontage – like on the website ha-ha) Walking through the open air restaurant I noticed how deserted and unused the place looked. Even the grounds were dry and dusty, it would not have surprised me if a few tumble weeds had rolled past or a cowboy jumped out!!. Things are not looking good!

Well the bungalow was beautiful, just like the pictures – but smack bang in front of it, blocking off the beach was a wall at least 8 feet high of canvas. It blocked off every bit of beach view and went past all the bungalows.

That’s it; we are not staying here so off we go to check out some more hotels. Now KKK Island does not have a lot of hotels and after checking 4 of them we had had enough. They were either closed or undergoing massive renovations. It was stinking hot, we were sick of getting in and out of the car and getting nowhere so decided to go back to the pier, have a cold drink and decide what to do.

Guess what, absolutely nothing open down there, couldn’t even buy a drink, but like everywhere we have been in Thailand never fear, there’s always an ice-cream man and there he was, 10baht later with ice creams melting everywhere we were back on the ferry.

An executive decision was make that we would head back to Khao Lak, have lunch (and a COLD DRINK) and decide whether to stay there a few days or keep driving and go to Krabi.

We had a late lunch at the Fisherman’s Bar/Restaurant in Khao Lak, the food here is delicious, it’s only a tiny place and very cheap, our meal (we had the same there last year) was delicious prawns wrapped in crisply noodles then deep fried and shrimp cakes. I didn’t take photos as there are already some under last years Eating Out photos, but did take a photo of their new toilet sign, very strange, will leave photo link at the end of this report.

It was also here that Gary mentioned his first impressions of the island were of one big construction site, but he didn’t want to say anything as he knew how much I wanted to stay there.

So now we are going to drive through to Krabi, I will post that report (eventually) in the Krabi section. We ended up staying there for 4 nights and will be going back there in a couple of weeks.

Picasa Web Albums - Cathy

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http://www.cathyandgarystravelpages.com

Ko Koh Khoa - Never heard of this place. It's interesting how these little Andaman island rise up overnight and start to appear on tourists trails. I've been around long enough to remember when Koh Lanta, Koh Hai, Koh Bulon, Koh Lipe were all virtually deserted (except for sea-gypsies) Of course if any island does start to really become popular the Thais will start to build bars & discos, working on the false premise that tourists really want & need these things. I well remember walking along the beach at Railay back in the mid-1980s and I can across a Thai man erecting some large structure. I asked him what he was building and he told me a disco. I tried to talk him out of it, explaining that the tourists who came to this place only wanted peace and tranquility, virgin tropical splendour; If they want discos they go to Phuket or Pattaya, I said. Well, I doubt if he took my views onboard because the disco was built, as were many others, along with thumping beach bars. It does seem hard to find the islands with just the right mix of comfy amenities but not yet spoilt. And it seems as soon as you find one it's already on its way to becoming spoilt. Anyway, happy island hunting.

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Hi Cathy / Gary I think we will still give it a shot as we are going there in February which is a busier time generally.I have already read the close season is quiet,and it's looks as though thats was when you Guys were there.Perhaps it is easy to pop across the water to Khoa Lak if it gets really bad.Thanks for your input though,much appreciated.Johnny