The hidden Koh Kood waterfall called Huang Nam Keaw was high on our list of things to see during our recent visit to the Thai island of Koh Kood. However, despite assurances from several websites claiming improved signage, we got lost trying to find it! As a result, we share our route and photo directions in this article to help you locate this magnificent location!
To get to the hidden Koh Kood waterfall independently, you need to hire a scooter as the waterfall is located deep in the jungle. Scooter hire is about 300 Baht per day. Then, use our easy-to-follow directions and photos to navigate the concrete roads and dirt tracks that lead to the waterfall.
If you are asking yourself whether it is worth visiting the hidden Koh Kood waterfall, yes, it is! This is the largest waterfall on Koh Kood, located in lush rainforest scenery deep in the island. Its cascading waters and cave behind offer a tranquil retreat for anyone in search of an adventure!
10 Easy-to-Follow Directions to Find the Hidden Koh Kood Waterfall
- Start at Khlong Chao and take the road in the direction of Ban Ao Salat (where all the ferries land). Continue on this road for about 3 km.
- Turn right just past the Little Bird restaurant on the left-hand side of the road. The turning is clearly marked Fisherman Hut (which is a local restaurant).
- Follow this road for 1.4 km past the Fisherman Hut (which you will see on your right) until you come to a T-junction.
- Turn right at the T-junction onto RO Pho Cho Trat 4107 Road.
- Follow this road for about 650 m until you reach a fork in the road with some small shops and a petrol pump (useful if you need to fill up!). Take the right-hand fork marked with green road signs to Ban-Khlongnamsai and Makayuk-SaiYai.
- Continue for 300 m along this road, then look for a turning on the right (directly opposite the white road panels shown below marked Klong Nan Sai and Klong Hin Dum).
- Turn right here. You should see a large green panel marked Makayuk-SaiYai with a much smaller panel underneath marked Huang Nam Keaw Waterfall and a red arrow! (However, the waterfall sign is quite small and was partly obstructed by plants when we visited!)
- Continue on this road until the road runs out and turns into a red dirt track. (It is quite far until you reach the dirt track which then continues for some distance through dense forest. Take care because the track is very uneven and can be slippery for scooters!)
- Once you are on the dirt track, you may start to notice orange ribbons tied to some trees. If you park your scooter when you see a panel written in Thai, you can also visit an ancient Bi Chai Tree which is revered by locals.
- Otherwise continue on the dirt track and it eventually comes to an end. (You will see a panel for the waterfall on your right and some scooter parking. There is also a homestay, café and small shop opposite the entrance.)
Good to Know Before you Go:
To access the waterfall, you need to climb down quite a lot of rocky steps that are located behind the sign above. It is worth knowing that this is a steep descent (and ascent!), so not suitable for those with mobility issues or for children in pushchairs.
On the day we visited in December, we had to climb up and over large boulders to reach the waterfall as the water level was low. Although this was a bit tricky in places, it was fun and worth the effort for the views of the waterfall and surrounding area.
However, there was not a very large area for swimming at Huang Nam Keaw! To be honest, we preferred swimming at the Klong Chao waterfall which is also more accessible.
