If you travel around Thailand and you are interested to visit some place where is not so many tourists and people in general, you should definitely visit this island. Koh Jum is located between Koh Lanta and Krabi town and has around 1,500 Muslim residents.
You have 2 options how to get to Koh Jum:
1) Ferry from Krabi town to Koh Jum - cca 400thb
2) Long tail boat from Laem Kruat pier to Mu Tu pier (Koh Jum) - 100thb
Second option is cheaper, but not many people know about this. This long tail boat is bigger, so If you wish to load your scooter with you, yes it's possible. Local people use only this transfer, so you will be probably only foreigner on this boat with 20 thai and their big purchase from mainland.
Once you reach Mu Tu pier you have to take taxi to the center of Island it's only 10 min. by car and name of this village is Ting Rai.
The best way how to travel around this island is to rent motorbike for 200thb/day with gasoline for 50thb. If you don't know how to drive you can rent bicycle or pay to local taxi. Fixed price for taxi is 50thb per person around whole island. If you don't mind you can also walk, but be careful during high season ( November-April ) is very very hot, so be ready for that and take enough water with you.
Koh Jum has 3 main villages where you can find accommodation: Ting Rai, Ko Pu & Koh Jum village. Along the beach or in these villages you can stay in very nice Thai style wooden bungalows near the beach for very cheap price, most of them you can book online. Price for local guests houses starts from 300thb per night.
You can enjoy many restaurants with fresh seafood from local fisherman villages, you can order whole fish starting from 200-300thb. Our favorite is sweet & sour sauce or fish with garlic & pepper. Top restaurant for us is in Koh Jum village with owner Papa Det. If you come to eat there they will provide you free transfer from your hotel and back. The second favorite restaurant is in Ting Rai village near Ao Si road. It's small wooden restaurant with owner Malee she has the best Panang pizza on island and every morning she has fresh bakery such as cinnamon rolls or chocolate muffins and it's absolutely delicious!
Island itself doesn't have too much activities, so If you get bored you can easily travell to another islands such as Phi Phi island, Koh Lanta or Railay with beautiful beaches, night markets and tours.
For young people it can be quite boring island but to come there only for few days you fell like you are in paradise, just palms, monkeys and sun, that's everything what you need. I love this island because this place its so quiet and beautiful, no rush just relaxation. Local people don't try to cheat and always treat us as their family. On this island time is very slow and stress free. Local people don't have almost anything, but try to give you as much as they can. They live in wooden houses on the floor with family or sit all day in sala in front of house. They smile every day and they will show you how to be happy just for little things. This is Koh Jum!
Ao Si beach |
Koh Jum sunset |