Set in a gorgeous bay with powder sand and clear blue waters, Bang Bao Beach is located midway down the west coast.
Accessed by paved tracks snaking though the rubber trees, its handful of excellent resorts line the beach, each with their own wooden pier stretching out to sea. More bungalows sit at the southern end, just over the bamboo bridge spanning the little estuary.
Back at the main road, an increasing selection of roadside diners and a homestay, complete with its own coffee shop and minimart, complete the picture.
To either kick back and escape the world for a few days or as a base to explore the island, Bang Bao Beach on Koh Kood makes a great choice.
Northern End | Middle and Southern End
Northern End – Bang Bao Beach
Having left Ngamkho Beach behind, the main road continues up the hill passing Rock Restaurant, SitPaLan Muay Thai Gym and various other diners including Kanghanlom (with its Windy Bar offshoot) and the carnivores’ delight, Let’s Meat (BBQ ribs and salads), before reaching the turning down to the resorts Koh Kood Resort, The Beach Natural Resort and To The Sea Resort amongst others.
On the way to the resorts, you pass Cicci Thai Cooking School (and Swedish bakery), who also have a second outlet in Ao Ngamhko, Koh Kood BED’s, a small chic guesthouse set among the trees and next door to that, 518 Cafe (with its menu of German specials), which also has a room at the rear.
Once at the end, the luxury resort, The Beach Natural Resort and its just slightly cheaper neighbour, Koh Kood Resort spill down the slopes right to the water’s edge, whilst To The Sea Resort, looks down from its vantage point above.
If you continue onto the end of the road, you can follow a path onto the headland for some terrific views back onto the Bang Bao Beach itself. Shortly before, look out too for Jasmin Garden Resort, hidden away to one side looking down on its own charming cove.
To reach the beach itself, park up at any of the three resorts and simply walk through down onto the sand – it’s then easy enough to clamber over the rock bed midway along to connect to the southern end.
Middle and Southern End
Back at the main road and after Katen Sashmi (seafood), the next clearly signed street leads down to Siam Beach Resort, with Baan Suan Homestay, coffee shop and minimart on the corner as you turn in. Bang Bao Home, a little open air diner, sits on the other side.
Turning in at the sign, you pass Honeyhome (bungalows and restaurant), the Thai diner Long Lay and Little Shark Bungalow before ultimately arriving at the sea again and just after BB Divers little office, Siam Beach Resort – a large selection of mid range bungalows, which like the other beach resorts above, has its own wooden pier jutting out well into the bay.
At the far end, an ingeniously constructed log bridge straddles the creek onto the southern headland and the esoteric mix of cheap (and quite old) bungalows of Sand and Sea.
Behind Sand and Sea, there is a pot holed road, actually much improved since the old days, which brings you out at the top of Ao Takian Beach, home to the 3/4 star resort, Ajinta.
Finally, as you leave the Bang Bao area, the highly rated Heaven Sense, the Italian diner, is at the bottom of the hill with a noodle shop as company. Shoot up the inland lane and you come to the very peaceful rental bungalow at Ban Mhon Thong.
UPDATED May 26 for 26/27 Season
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