All you need to know to visit Koh Jum

Travel guide to visit Koh Jum

The small island of Koh Jum is located between Krabi and Koh Lanta, opposite Koh Phi Phi but closer to the coast. Less well-known than its neighbors, it is one of those few islands in Thailand that, while certainly touristy, remain wild and retain a strong local character.

IMPORTANT: Even though you will see Koh Jum written everywhere, the island's name is actually pronounced Koh Djam. It clearly has an a sound, not ou, in its name written in Thai. And the locals will correct you. Well, those who don't deal too much with tourists. The others have become accustomed to the mistake.

Quite wild, Koh Jum is exactly the kind of place where you come for a few days and end up staying longer, charmed by its peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.

The main village, Ban Ko Jum, is located in the southeast of the island. It has a few shops and restaurants. The island is home to approximately 3,000 people, the majority of whom are Muslim, but there are also Sea Gypsy communities and a very small Buddhist minority. Koh Jum is quite touristy, so it's fairly easy to buy alcohol, especially beer. Although it's a predominantly Muslim island, you'll almost never find pork on restaurant menus, and it's requested that you don't walk around in your swimsuit anywhere other than on the beach or possibly in hotel corridors.

Hotel in Koh Jum

Hotel in Koh Jum

Hotel in Koh Jum

Practical information about Koh Jum

Actually, Koh Jum refers to the southern part of the island, while Koh Pu is the name for the wilder north, although from a tourist perspective, the entire island is generally referred to as Koh Jum (which, again, is pronounced Koh Jam).

Be aware that Koh Jum, despite not being frequently mentioned (I myself rarely spoke about it for years to preserve its charm), is now very touristy for three months of the year: December, January, and February. Things slow down a bit in March, and then it enters the low season until November. During these three peak months, Koh Jum is very crowded with tourists, and booking accommodation in advance is recommended. I would say that the era of a peaceful island without many tourists is also somewhat over, at least during these three months.

This is a destination that has become quite touristy, with prices, especially in restaurants, and practices typical of very touristy islands. But between April and November, it's much quieter (prices for the hotels that remain open drop significantly), and even almost deserted from May to the end of October, with resorts and restaurants closing completely and tourists being primarily Thai. It must be said that from May to October, the winds are sometimes strong in Koh Jum and the weather isn't always so favorable. Note that there is an ATM in Koh Jum (not for very long, which shows the island's definite tourism development), next to the public hospital, and another not far from the Koh Jum International Clinic in the Ting Rai district. But it's best to bring cash because there's only one ATM and it can be out of order or out of money.