In 2023, the aptly named “Paradise Beach” on Koh Kradan in Thailand was voted as being the most beautiful beach in the world. Naturally, I had to investigate such a claim in person. Located in Southern Thailand, Koh Kradan, is one of a series of islands off the coast of Thailand’s Trang province that are also aptly known as the “Paradise Islands”. These remote islands have a distinctly different feel than popular southern Thai destinations like Koh Phi Phi and even nearby Koh Lanta. Limited infrastructure on these islands have translated to fewer tourists given there are simply not enough places to accommodate hordes of people. As a result, you get the kind of deserted island experience that the postcards promise but rarely deliver. This blog post will go over what to expect when visiting Koh Kradan, best time to visit, transportation options, popular activities, as well as amenities available on the island.
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General Information
While Koh Kradan has become very popular with day-trippers – especially those coming on the 4 Island Snorkel trip from Koh Lanta; once the day-trippers leave, the island is actually very quiet and tranquil.
There are no nightclubs or bars (beyond the bar areas of the few hotels on the island). I visited in mid-December, so the island was just coming out of rainy season – and some afternoons were still cloudy. However, the trade-off was the island was very peaceful with minimal day-trippers. Compared to other islands that I have visited in Thailand like Koh Phi Phi, Maya Beach and even the Similan Islands – Koh Kradan felt practically deserted except for the few tourists who opt to stay overnight.
Note that whether you’re a day-tripper or staying overnight. As soon as you land, you’ll be required to pay a 200 Baht National Park fee, as the island is part of the Hat Chao Mai National Park. For those staying overnight, the ticket is valid for 5 days – after-which you’ll be expected to pay the fee again for a stay lasting beyond 5 days. Don’t lose your ticket – as they do check them. Note that Emerald Cave on Koh Mook is also part of Hat Chao Mai National Park, so if you’re planning to visit both islands, the ticket is valid for both islands – but it will be date stamped for the 5 day validity. Koh Mook itself does not require a park entry but the famous Emerald Cave on the island does.
When to Visit
The best time to visit is between November – April – or the dry season for the area. Note that many services – such as transportation to the island is unavailable outside of the dry season period. Moreover, low-season is the area’s rainy season so it is a less than ideal time to visit then regardless.
Some have complained that Koh Kradan has become “overrun” by daytrippers – and judging from some of the photos I have seen of the island during high season – it does look pretty bad. My own experience was quite the opposite. I visited mid-December prior to Christmas, and it was very laid back with minimal day-trippers. So I suppose a good way to avoid visiting when the island gets too busy is try to visit right before the high season starts.
Transportation
Despite being fairly remote, getting to Koh Kradan is relatively easy if you can get yourself to one of the nearby hubs of Koh Lanta (Krabi Airport: KBV) or Trang (Trang Airport: TRA), Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket (Phuket Airport: HKT).
Traveling between the Trang Islands is also very straightforward. I strongly recommend booking everything on 12Go. Their prices are the same as booking locally, and their customer service is very quick – they answer on WhatsApp. Plus you have the convenience of booking everything before your vacation rather than shopping around during your valuable vacation time, and also have the protection of booking with a reputable agency in case the local provider does not show up – you can get a full refund either through 12Go or through your credit card.
Beaches
Paradise Beach:
The main beach on the East side of the island is known as “Paradise beach” and it is also the beach that was voted as the “Most Beautiful Beach in the World” in 2023. It is indeed a very stunning beach – with the unique characteristic of a huge shallow sand shelf providing knee to waist deep water that runs 50 meters out until you reach a drop off where the reefs are. For this reason, Koh Kradan is also known as one of the best places in the world for off-the-beach snorkeling. Paradise beach is also where the vast majority of the island’s hotels are located.
Sunset Beach:
Located on the Eastern Side of the island via a 10 minute walk through a jungle path is the aptly named Sunset Beach. Which is where most of the island visitors migrate in the evenings to watch the sunset. The Eastern side of the Koh Kradan is more rugged, and features dramatic cliffs and boulders that contrast with the soft white sand Western side of the island. Make sure you bring adequate bug spray if you’re coming for the sunset as you’ll be eaten alive otherwise. A headlamp would also be a good idea as the jungle trail back to the resort side of the island is largely unlit.
Ao Nieng Beach:
Ao Nieng Beach near the southeastern end of Koh Kradan, is a secluded stretch of soft white sand, clear turquoise water, and lush tropical greenery that feels worlds away from the island’s busier main beach. Best known for its excellent snorkeling, the shallow waters around the shore are home to colorful coral and reef fish, making it an ideal spot for an easy swim and underwater exploring. Ao Nieng can be reached by boat or kayak, and at low tide it may also be possible to walk along the coast, adding to its off-the-beaten-path appeal.
Annoyances
There are very few dangers on this tiny island – insect bites and stepping on coral would probably the worst injuries that tourists may encounter on the island – and these are quite preventable with a good bug repellent and wearing water shoes or water sandals while swimming. A little worse would be the fact that in recent years, jellyfish have become more of a problem. As a general rule: avoid swimming when visibility is poor, or after a storm or windy weather. The bad weather tends to bring jellyfish close to shore – which is where you might have a bad interaction with them. If you do get stung, pour or spray vinegar over the area and let soak for at least a minute. The little store at Kradan Reef Resort does sell little bottles of white vinegar. Also avoid showering in your bathing suit – take the suit off before showering to avoid Seabather’s eruption which is caused by jellyfish larvae that become lodged in your bathing suit which will cause a rash when exposed to fresh water.
Accommodations
Accommodations are not cheap on Koh Kradan. For budget travelers, Kradan Beach Resort would be a good option. A budget bungalow with fan costs about $40USD per night, with air-conditioned room starting at $70USD, and beachfront bungalows running about $100USD a night. While the resort gets mixed reviews, it offers the best price option on the island and their restaurant also service delicious and affordable meals. A generous buffet breakfast is included with the price of the room. I stayed at the Kradan Beach Resort and found the property to be clean and good value.
For something a little different, Paradise Lost Bungalows is a budget option located in the jungle along the path to sunset beach. Its got great reviews for its tranquility, and bungalows run about $60USD a night. There’s also camping available at the National Park headquarters about 200m south of the pier along the beach (approximately $15USD a night).
The Kradan Reef Resort is an excellent mid-range option with air-conditioned rooms starting at $90-$150USD night. The resort features well-appointed rooms and an infinity pool overlooking the beach. Guests are also entitled to use various watercraft – like kayaks and SUPs free of charge.
On the upper-end, rooms at resorts like the Kalume Adults-Only Resort, and Mali Resort at the northern end of Paradise beach start at $150 – $200USD a night.
Snorkeling
Koh Kradan is one of the best places in the world for off-the-beach snorkeling due to the shallow sand shelf extending from many of its beaches that deposit snorkelers right on the reef. You can literally walk your way to the reefs at low tide!
The best stretch of reef is in the South East of the island by Ao Nieng Beach. There’s actually a sand channel you can walk along with the tide is low from the restaurant at Ao Nieng Beach resort that deposits you right on the beautiful reef. From there, if you turn left (east), a gentle current also carries you parallel to the beach until you reach the Chao Mai National Park Unit and government campground. The reef ends and you can re-enter the beach on the coral-less sandy bottom. Would strongly recommend snorkelling with a partner and using a swim buoy for safety and visibility. If you’re not using fins, also recommend wearing water shoes. 
There is also some good snorkelling to be had on Paradise beach. The reef restarts again right across from Kradan beach resort and continues on up the island. I found the section in front of the Reef Resort to be the best of the mid-island section on the east side of the island – but it doesn’t come close to comparing to the section out of Ao Nieng Beach.
Amenities
Aside from hotels, there are next to no amenities or services available on Koh Kradan. The only “general store” on the island is the KBR store that is connected to the Kradan Beach Resort. I must admit that the store’s inventory has been very well curated for things that travellers need the most: sunscreen, bug spray, mosquito coils, all sizes of waterproof bags, watershoes, snacks, cold beer and soda, rum, wine and even snorkel gear and vinegar (in case of jellyfish stings).
There are no ATMS on the island, and most things are cash-only on the island, so make sure you bring enough cash to cover your expenses while visiting.
Internet/Wifi
Wifi is quite spotty at most establishments on Koh Kradan. Unless you’re staying at fairly high-end accommodations, the only guaranteed WIFI will be at the reception area of the hotel. Therefore, if you anticipate streaming a movie from your room or generally having internet available throughout the island, I would recommend getting a good SIM card prior to arriving on the island. I used this eSIM from Trip.com during my travels in Thailand and was very pleased with its performance and price. There are different options. I initially bought a 50GB for 30 days plan for about $16USD. However, given I like to stream videos, yoga classes etc from my room, or somewhere other than the hotel reception area, I ended up going through the 50GB quite quickly – running out about 15 days into my trip. I then ended up buying a 100GB per day plan for 15 days, which only cost $19USD, and that worked very well for my trip.
Normally I would say it’s a toss-up between buying a SIM or eSIM at the airport or online, but I found this particular eSIM to be of superior value as it is around the same price as buying a SIM card at the airport in Bangkok, but it actually taps into two major providers in Thailand (TrueMove and DTAC) – giving you a wider range of coverage than just buying a single provider SIM card at the airport. Therefore my eSIM worked perfectly for all applications including hotspotting my computer to stream movies. If you’re travelling with a group – you could easily hot-spot your whole family on the 100GB per day plan and save having to buy separate eSIMs, or buy lower threshold eSIMs for some members of your family and the 100GB per day plan for the family member who will stream a movie from their device etc.
Packing list
- Cash – nearly everything is cash-only on the island. Bring enough cash to cover all your expenses.
- Swimsuit
- Swim Buoy: serves as both a dry bag that you can wear like a one-shoulder backpack to carry your belongings on dry land; swim beacon (so boaters can see you) and emergency floatation device in the water. The best part about the swim buoy is that you can safely carry your belongings with you while swimming as well, as the buoy is essentially a dry bag in addition to a swim safety device.
- Water wallet. Great for bringing phone, cash/cards and keys into the water with you so you don’t need to leave them on the beach.
- Snorkeling gear. There’s great snorkeling on Koh Kradan, so bring at least a mask and fins so you don’t spend a fortune on rentals.
- Water shoes or water sandals. Important if you’re going to snorkel out to the reefs.
- Bug spray (I love this DEET-free repellent that kept me completely bite free in India)
- Sunglasses
- Insect bite healer. This device is basically like a mini heat-pen that when applied to a fresh bite, denatures the poison from the insect bite and greatly reduces/eliminates itching and swelling.
- Powerbank for charging phone and other electronic devices.
- Electronics (Phone, laptop, associated chargers)
- Travel adaptor
- Sarong/Beach blanket
- Lightweight towel
- Hat. Your hats should have a brim to keep the sun off your face. This one has a SFP50 protection, and is lightweight and quick drying.
- Toothbrush, floss, toothpaste. (This travel dental kit is travel-sized and has everything you need.)
- Sunscreen. If you’re travelling only, consider a solid sunscreen
- Shampoo. I prefer bar shampoo when I travel. I also just use it as all-purpose soap.
- Hair Conditioner. I prefer bar conditioner when I travel.
- Antihistamines – in case of allergic reaction on the road or to help with swelling associated with bug bites (if you’re allergic)
- Benadryl “itch stick” for bug bites. Instant relief from insect bites.
- Pepto-bismol tablets. This inexpensive medication is a life-saver for mild digestive issues/nausea that are bound to happen when travelling.
- Headlamp – for hiking back after sunset.
Final Thoughts
Overall, if you’re someone who is always shopping around for the world’s most stunning white sand beach; Koh Kradan cannot be missed. So far in my travels to over 60 countries in the world, I have not come across quite the combination of one of the most beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear water, tranquility and the option to stay at a beachfront property without selling a firstborn quite like Koh Kradan.