After spending the day beach hopping around Koh Kood, we thought we’d seen the best of the island. Then we received a message from some new friends we had just made at Noochy Seafood, a lovely French couple who invited us for sunset drinks at Bang Bao Beach. So we headed there on our scooters for the final act of the day. We were supposed to take the turn-off down to Siam Beach Resort but ended up getting lost somehow.

Eventually we found the right road and parked our scooters outside the resort. What followed was the most magical few hours of our Koh Kood trip. We walked along a sandy path surrounded by tall coconut trees and lush plants, with the sun peeking through and the water shimmering in the background. And then we emerged from the greenery to see Bang Bao in all her glory. There was plenty of space on the sand to lay down a towel and relax for the afternoon, as we arrived at 4:00 PM during low tide.

Bang Bao Beach - Lush Greenery — *Path to the beach*

Bang Bao Beach - Palm Trees — *Path to the beach*

What Makes Bang Bao Beach So Special?

Bang Bao Beach has a unique blend of Mediterranean scenery and tropical atmosphere - the only beach we’ve seen in Thailand that offers this rare combination. On the one hand, you’ll see sailing boats docked in the water and headlands that form a flawlessly sheltered bay. On the other, you’ll find rustic wooden piers jutting out into the sea and coconut trees lining the shore. It’s like the Greek Islands and the Philippines had a baby.

The beach was also pristine on our visit. We didn’t see any plastic straws or beer cans floating in the calm water or littered across the white sand. Unfortunately, this is something that can’t be said for every beach on Koh Kood: Ao Phrao Beach had the worst rubbish wash-up we encountered during our trip in March. All in all, the vibe at Bang Bao Beach is peaceful and paradisiacal. And when we wandered to Hidden Gem Monkey Bar for sunset and later Bang Bao Home Food for dinner, things got even better.

Bang Bao Beach - Tropical Paradise — *Bang Bao Beach*

Bang Bao Beach - Low Tide — *Bang Bao Beach*

How to Spend Your Time at Bang Bao Beach

Swim and Sunbathe

Bang Bao Beach is perfectly set up for doing nothing more than swimming and sunbathing, and perhaps reading a book under the shade of a coconut tree. The best time to take a dip is during high tide, so make sure you check the tidal charts before you go. The protected nature of the bay means you won’t face any strong winds or crashing waves, just calm and shallow waters that the whole family can enjoy. In fact, the water is so idyllic that many describe it as a “bathtub” or “natural swimming pool”.

Bang Bao Beach - Best Beach in Koh Kood — *Bang Bao Beach*

Bang Bao Beach - Paradise in Koh Kood — *Bang Bao Beach*

Go Kayaking at High Tide

Another fantastic activity at high tide is kayaking around the horseshoe shaped bay. You can rent kayaks from the resorts or from one of the stands along the beach. Thanks to the glass-like water of Bang Bao Beach, paddling is a breeze and won’t feel too strenuous (depending on how far out you go). You could even time your paddle for sunset to get a front row seat of the sun dipping below the horizon between the green headlands.

Bang Bao Beach - Kayaking — *Kayaks on the beach*

Walk the Wooden Piers & Bamboo Bridges

Right along Bang Bao Beach are several wooden piers stretching out into the water, with the main one labelled “Siam Beach”. Most of these piers don’t act as a transport hub for boats. Rather, they’re simply nice places to stroll down and take photos. If you’re looking for the ultimate Instagram spot, head to the bamboo bridge at the southern end of the bay by The Sand and Sea budget bungalows. It takes you over a small freshwater estuary, offering awesome photo-ops of the tropical beach landscape.

Bang Bao Beach - Wooden Pier — *Wooden piers*

Watch the Sunset at Hidden Gem Monkey Bar

Hidden Gem Monkey Bar is a cozy little outdoor bar just a hop and skip away from Siam Beach Resort. All it offers are bean bags, fairy lights and house music but when the views are this good, that’s all you need. Throw in a couple of cocktails and you’ll be in for a wonderful sunset. The sunset we witnessed here was stunning: an orange ball hovering above the sailing boats before transforming the sky into deep purples and bright pinks.

Bang Bao Beach - Hidden Gem Monkey Bar — *Hidden Gem Monkey Bar*

Bang Bao Beach - Beautiful Sunset — *Hidden Gem Monkey Bar*

Bang Bao Beach - Sunset Bar — *Hidden Gem Monkey Bar*

Have Dinner at Bang Bao Home Food

Just up the road sits Bang Bao Home Food, a family-run restaurant that serves authentic Thai food at affordable prices. It’s a popular spot so don’t be surprised if you have to wait 30 minutes for a table. The food here is delicious, only slightly dialled down for a Western palate. We ordered Rad Na, Green Curry and a few entrees, and were delighted by how generous the portions were. This is a superb dining option, whether you’re visiting Bang Bao Beach for the day or staying at one of the resorts nearby.

Bang Bao Beach - Bang Bao Home Food — *Bang Bao Home Food*

Where to Stay Near Bang Bao Beach

If you’re wanting to base yourself directly on Bang Bao Beach, the best accommodation has got to be The Beach Natural Resort located at the northern end of the bay. It’s a 4-star property surrounded by nature with views of the sea from a select few villas and cottages. Equipped with its own restaurant and bar, wooden pier, beach loungers and massage services - it’s the ultimate stay if your goal is comfort and relaxation.

For a more budget-friendly stay, we suggest looking just outside the beach to a place called Jasmin Garden Koh Kood Resort. This is a quiet, eco-conscious property featuring bungalows designed in Thai, Balinese and Japanese styles. Alternatively, you could choose Hideout Koh Kood which is a more modern resort situated 10 minutes away by scooter. The great thing about Koh Kood is you don’t have to stay at your favorite beach to have a good time: the entire island is easily explored on two wheels.

How to Get to Bang Bao Beach

To get to Bang Bao Beach, follow Google Maps to Siam Beach Resort and then park your scooter at the visitor parking area. It’s a 10-minute scooter ride from Klong Chao Beach or a 15-minute ride from Ao Jark Bay. For those staying overnight, the usual mode of arrival is via a songthaew (local pick-up truck) from Ao Salad Pier. As you exit the ferry, a driver should be waiting to transport you to your hotel. This trip can take anywhere between 30-60 minutes depending on how many stops the driver makes.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Koh Kood?

Bang Bao Beach, and Koh Kood in general, is best visited from November to February when the weather is consistently dry, warm and calm. March and April also work well, especially if you don’t want to pay top dollar for the resorts. The island is still open during the rainy season (May to October) but many services, restaurants and even some resorts are temporarily closed, creating an even quieter atmosphere. As long as you’re happy to wait out the occasional downpour, Koh Kood can be surprisingly serene.

More Things To Do in Koh Kood

Koh Kood lends itself to peaceful scooter exploration where your days slowly and blissfully roll into each other. In addition to visiting Bang Bao Beach for the day, we recommend checking out Ao Noi Beach, Ao Tapao Beach, Khlonghin Beach and Secret Sunset Beach (reached on a boat tour). Khlong Chao Waterfall is a must-do for a freshwater swim, as well as venturing on one of the snorkeling or diving tours offered by BB Divers.

To wrap things up, the question of whether Bang Bao Beach is worth visiting is an easy one for us. It’s by far our favorite beach in Koh Kood and that’s saying something considering how many beautiful coastlines this island boasts. Spend at least an afternoon at this crescent shaped bay and allow yourself to completely slow down. Relax on a hammock, enjoy a seafood lunch at a beachfront resort, and take regular dips in the sea. It’s the ultimate beach for couples, families or anyone searching for paradise.

Bang Bao Beach - Hammocks — *Hammocks on the beach*

Bang Bao Beach: Is This Koh Kood’s Most Beautiful Bay?

What Makes Bang Bao Beach So Special?