Looking for a place to stay around Krabi with my parents and sister in early January for 5 days/4 nights, I found it challenging to find accommodations that weren’t overcrowded or overly expensive. Since I wasn’t traveling with the kids, we were open to a more remote location and decided on Koh Jum, an island between Krabi and Koh Lanta. Interestingly, the island goes by two names—its northern part is known as Koh Pu (Crab Island).
Koh Jum is often overlooked by travelers, including backpackers. It doesn’t have the famous paradise beaches of Railay or Koh Yao Yai, but its remoteness and tranquility are part of its charm. The island is harder to reach and offers fewer options in terms of restaurants and nightlife, making it a perfect spot for those seeking solitude. The beaches, mostly on the west coast, are quiet and beautiful. Exploring the island by scooter is essential to uncover the most scenic spots.
To reach Koh Jum from Krabi, you can take a longtail boat from Laem Kruat harbor, which is just 30 minutes from Krabi Airport. Boats leave hourly, and the ride costs 100 baht per person. The journey takes about 45 minutes on a simple wooden boat that also transports motorbikes.
We stayed at Oon Lee Bungalows, a charming resort run by a French-Thai family. The bungalows are well-spaced on steep land overlooking the bay, offering comfortable wooden terraces and hammocks. The resort is simple—there’s no swimming pool, but it’s right by the sea with a restaurant at the top of the hill and a cozy beach bar. The only downside is that it’s located a few kilometers from the main road, accessible via a tricky dirt path, which means you’re somewhat isolated in the evenings. However, considering Koh Jum’s quiet nature, nightlife isn’t really a draw here—you come for the peace and seclusion.
While exploring the island, we came across another resort with beachfront bungalows that seemed like a good option. A few years ago, on a previous trip, we were invited to visit the largest villa at Koh Jum Beach Villas, which is probably the most luxurious accommodation on the island.
During our stay at Koh Jum, we booked a private day tour to Koh Phi Phi, organized by the resort. It was a nice experience to be able to leave directly from the resort’s beach. The journey to Koh Phi Phi took us on the Andaman Sea, it took around an hour.
Our first stop was the main island, Koh Phi Phi Don, where we had a couple of hours to explore. We decided to hike up to one of the island’s famous viewpoints. The hike, though a bit steep, was well worth the effort, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the island’s twin bays and lush surroundings. After lunch, which was unparticular in kind of a tourist trap, we made our way back down to meet our boat driver.
The next part of the tour was a leisurely boat trip around Koh Phi Phi, where we stopped at various points to snorkel. The crystal-clear waters around the island are perfect for snorkeling, and we had the chance to see coral reefs and an abundance of tropical fish. Our boat driver knew some great, quieter spots, away from the busier tourist areas, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We also sailed past Maya Bay, the iconic beach made famous by the movie The Beach. Seeing the amount of boats there, we decided not to go and instead just enjoyed the view from the boat, with its dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters.
One of Thailand’s most iconic island destinations, known for its stunning landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and marine life. The island’s beauty is highlighted by towering limestone cliffs, lush jungles, and white sandy beaches that attract travelers from around the world. Unfortunately a bit too many tourists, the main island’s band of land between the 2 main beaches is now densely populated.
One of the highlights of the Koh Phi Phi archipelago is Maya Bay, made famous by the movie The Beach. Maya Bay is an idyllic cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters, offering one of the most picturesque views in Thailand. After being closed for environmental rehabilitation, Maya Bay has reopened to limited visitors, allowing people to enjoy its natural beauty while preserving its ecosystem.
Our 4-night stay on Koh Jum was quite pleasant, though the island does lack a bit in infrastructure compared to other places. Restaurants are nothing special, particularly for seafood. The Koh Jum Seafood Restaurant in Baan Koh Jum in the South East was not bad. The names says it all on the scarce restaurant scene in Koh Jum.
While it offers a tranquil, remote island experience, I personally preferred the trip we took to Koh Mak the year before. Koh Mak, although similar in its peaceful, off-the-beaten-path vibe, has a bit more to offer in terms of things to see and do.
In terms of beach beauty, Koh Jum is on par with Koh Mak and most Thai islands—stunning in its own right, but it doesn’t quite reach the level of the beaches at Railay in Krabi, which are truly exceptional.
One standout aspect of our stay was the way we departed. Instead of going back to the island’s pier to take the same small wood boat, the resort arranged for a longtail boat to pick us up directly from the beach with our luggage. The same boat that took us on the day tour to Koh Phi Phi transported us offshore and we waited for a larger ferry to arrive. As the ferry slowed down, we hopped on board—a seamless and memorable way to end our stay on the island without the hassle of crowded ports or complex transfers.
We arrived at Krabi town, which was fine as we had time to have lunch at Nong Joke, a nice Southern Thai food restaurant we really wanted to go back to, and where we met a friend, owner of les secrets du Siam.
A traditional Southern food restaurant which has been in Krabi town for 45 years. The founders named the restaurant after their new born, and the named Joke eventually came to continue the business.
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