Your Travel Guide to Thailand
All information & tips to prepare your trip in Thailand
All you need to know to visit Koh Sukorn
Southern Thailand
890 km from Bangkok
Province of Trang
Thai pronunciation : Go soukorn
- Budget
- 3/5
- Recommended stay
- 2 days
- Sightseeing
- 3/5
Travel guide to visit Koh Sukorn
The small island of Koh Sukorn is one of the least known among the Trang islands, yet I must say it may be the one that impressed me the most. With very few tourists, it has a genuine local life that is deeply rural and agricultural. Here, the population does not live from tourism but rather from rubber cultivation, watermelons (they are delicious), rice, or fishing. Foreign tourists are rare; they prefer the white sandy beaches of Koh Ngai or Koh Kradan, much more touristic islands in Trang. It’s true that Koh Sukorn’s beaches are less idyllic, notably because of the dark sand that looks less like a postcard, but Koh Sukorn has more to offer than beaches! And its very discreet tourism is actually a strength for anyone looking for an authentic Thai island preserved from mass tourism.
Personally, I was charmed by its scenery, which makes it feel like a small version of Isan (Thailand’s most rural region) concentrated on an island. Riding around by bike or scooter, you pass through rubber tree forests in the north, rice fields, watermelon plantations in the south; you encounter buffaloes, cows, and goats wandering in the streets, locals always delighted to see foreigners—precisely because they are quite rare… and of course, there are beaches. But if you like luxury comfort, lively nights, a wide choice of hotels and restaurants, and massage parlors, then Koh Sukorn is not for you! It is an island for those seeking relaxation and simplicity, for those who know how to enjoy this simple and welcoming rural local life.
Because yes, on Koh Sukorn, there are no 7-Elevens, only small grocery shops, no restaurants everywhere, no bars, people come here for a peacefully and quiet stay and Ko Sukorn's subtle charm, which will charm you over if you are not a tourist who likes to rush trying to see everything.
For all the options for getting around Koh Sukorn, see our section on getting around in Koh Sukorn.
Accommodations in Koh Sukorn
Resorts and hotels are few on Koh Sukorn and are mainly located around Ao Lo Yai, the prettiest beach on the west coast, or in the village. There are no luxury hotels on Koh Sukorn, only simple and mid-range establishments, many of which are a bit dated, as the island receives very few tourists — even fewer since COVID. Prices are quite low; expect to pay around 700 to 1500 THB per night. Major booking platforms like Booking.com, Agoda, and others list very few hotels on Koh Sukorn. So you need to find them on Google Maps or here in the dedicated section (where you have the phone numbers for most of them) and call them. However, I recommend booking through an agency in Trang because the staff on the island are not always very comfortable with English.
As far as I know, there is only one hotel with a swimming pool on Koh Sukorn: Yataa Island Resort.
Find accommodation in Koh Sukorn
My recommendations
People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Koh Sukorn.
Practical information about Koh Sukorn
There is only one ATM on Koh Sukorn. It is located in the village, near the pier, on the front of the Tourist Service Center. But make sure you bring enough cash to cover your expenses during your stay on the island, as it can be out of service or out of cash. There are no 7-Elevens or Family Marts either, but there are a few small grocery shops and minimarts, mainly in the village of Baan Samai, less than 1 km from the pier. There are hardly any cars on Koh Sukorn (I believe there are actually only four in total); otherwise, you’ll only see two-wheelers or salengs (motorbikes with a cart and benches like a sidecar), some of which are used as tuk-tuks to get around Koh Sukorn. Koh Sukorn is a little-visited island. Even in high season (December to March), not all homestays and hotels on Koh Sukorn are open all the time, and they are rarely full. Many places are closed or open sporadically. It is during New Year (late December) and Songkran (mid-April) that the island receives the most visitors — Thai people on holiday for these long weekends.
How to go to Koh Sukorn ?
Boats to Koh Sukorn depart from the Baan Ta-Seh pier (the old pier, called ta ruea gao) or from Saphan Mai Pier, the new pier. They are located 400 meters from each other and about forty kilometers from Trang. The most convenient way to reach these piers is to leave from the city of Trang. All local agencies and most hotels and guesthouses offer an all-inclusive van + boat package to the island. Otherwise, you can book them at Trang’s bus terminal. Be aware that, since Koh Sukorn is not very touristy, you may have to pay the same price as for a private taxi if there are no other passengers to share the van. Another option from the city of Trang is to book transport to Tha Ta-Se Pier via the GRAB smartphone app. You will find many agencies and hotels near Trang railway station.
- The road trip to the pier for Koh Sukorn takes about one hour.
- The transfer by longtail boat to the island then takes about twenty minutes.
- Boat price: 300 THB per trip regardless of the number of passengers (as long as they all fit on the boat). Note that the bus is a *songthaew* (a pickup truck with benches in the back) in which you will travel with locals and may be very cramped, so if you prefer comfort, you’ll need to choose private transport (much more expensive).
- Price of a saleng transfer between the arrival pier on Koh Sukorn and your hotel or guesthouse: around 100 THB per trip — no need to book in advance through an agency, there are always some waiting upon arrival.
Note that if you come with your own car or motorbike to the Tha Seh pier, there are people offering supervised parking areas where you can leave your vehicle during your stay on the island (60 THB per day for a car, 30 THB for a motorbike).
How to get around in Koh Sukorn ?
- renting a bicycle (ask your resort), around 100 THB per day, although bicycles with child seats are difficult to find
- renting a scooter (through your resort or from rental shops in the village)
- using a *saleng* (a local tuk-tuk), which also offers pleasant island tours of about 3 hours for around 400 THB
Must-visits in
Rice fields and countryside
My opinion : 3/5
It is the true peculiarity and richness of the island: its local agricultural life which reminds me of Isan, the most rural region in Thailand. Cycling around by bike when the rice plants are emerald green, crossing buffalos is truly amazing. We are on an island and in an agricultural land. This is all the charm of Ko Sukorn !
Koh Lao Liang island
เกาะเหลาเหลียงMy opinion : 4/5
Koh Kao Liang is just opposite to Koh Sukorn. Small wild rocky island, it has a more charming beach than the ones in Koh Sukorn. You can spend the night there in the tents of its unique resort. Usually people rent a longtail boat for the day to go to Koh Lao Liang and often also add Koh Phetra and possibly Koh Takieng to the program.
Koh Sukorn Viewpoint
จุดชมวิว เกาะสุกรMy opinion : 3/5
Although its name suggests that it is THE viewpoint not to be missed on the island, it is certainly interesting and worth including in a tour of Koh Sukorn Island, but personally, I prefer to admire the views from the beaches on the east side of the island.
Ban Tha Laem Pier
ท่าเรือบ้านท่าแหลมMy opinion : 4/5
This pier at the southern tip of Ko Sukorn Island offers a beautiful view of the beach and sea. Even though the view is rarely directly opposite, the sunset is worthwhile. It should definitely be included in an island tour (more so than the Viewpoint, in my opinion).
Watermelon Beach
หาดแตงโมMy opinion : 5/5
This is the most famous beach on Koh Sukorn, an island renowned... for its watermelons! People don't go there for the beauty of the beach itself, but rather for the watermelon fields that line it. It's unusual and, I believe, unique in Thailand.Weather & climate in
Koh Sukorn a tropical climate. Temperatures don't vary a lot throughout the year although the pre-monsoon months from February to April are a little hotter. The year is divided into a dry season, from January to March and a long wet season from April to December, with the strongest rains in September.The best time to come to Koh Sukorn is from December to March knowing that during the low season from May to the end of October, when it rains the most, tourism activity is very limited and most of the resorts on Koh Sukorn and other Trang islands are closed.
How to ask the way in Thai to Koh Sukorn ?
I want to go to Koh Sukorn / Yak pai thi Go soukorn.Where is Koh Sukorn? / Go soukorn yu thi nai?
10 Best Activities and Guided Tours to Do in Bangkok
Bangkok is very often your first port of call—or rather, airport of arrival—in Thailand. It is a highly eclectic city packed with unforgettable activities. I have curated a selection of what I consider to be the 10 best things to do in...