new posts
Krabi 4 Islands Tour: About The Islands and...
Longtail Boat Sea Fishing in the Phi Phi...
Samet Nangshee Viewpoint. Phang-Nga Bay, Thailand.
10 Things To Do in Phi Phi Islands
Ha Long Bay Boat Cruise: How To Plan,...
Weed is Legal in Thailand: And Now Tourists...
Where To Stay in Bangkok: Discover The Best...
BTS Skytrain Bangkok 2023 – A First Timer’s...
Two Weeks in Malaysia. The Perfect 14-17 Night...
Orangutans in Malaysian Borneo: Meeting Them On a...
Backpack Bob's:  Travel Guides and Asia Blogs
Banner
  • Home
  • Thailand
    • All Guides
    • Where To Stay in Bangkok
    • Thailand Legal Cannabis Guide
    • Thailand Travel Itinerary
    • Bangkok Temple Guide
  • Vietnam
    • All Guides
    • Ha Giang Loop Guide
    • Hanoi Travel Guide
  • Malaysia
    • All Guides
    • Malaysia Travel Itinerary
    • Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide
    • Langkawi Travel Guide
    • Melaka Travel Guide
    • Ipoh Travel Guide
  • Laos
  • Contact
  • About
  • Shop
  • Travel Planning
    • Plan a Trip with Backpack Bob
    • Travel Resources
  • Popular Guides
    • 2 Weeks in Thailand Itinerary
    • Thailand Packing List
    • Bangkoks Best Temples
    • Phu Kradueng National Park
    • Ride Scooter for Beginners
    • Ha Giang Loop – Vietnam
    • Mae Hong Son Loop
    • Koh Jum: Travel Guide
    • Koh Libong: Travel Guide
    • Koh Rok Thailand
    • Private Phi Phi Island Tour
Koh Jum IslandKrabiThailand

Koh Jum: A Full Guide to Thailand’s Forgotten Island

by BackPackBOB 28 January 2023
13.2K
FacebookTweetPinPrint

“I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing.” – Leonardo Dicaprio – Richard. The Beach.

In This Guide:
Useful Tips For Visiting Koh Jum
What are The Best Things to do on Koh Jum
What To Expect at Koh Jum Island
Where to Stay
Where are the Best Places to Eat at Koh Jum
Day Tours and Excursions from Koh Jum
Evenings and Nightlife on Koh Jum
Beaches on Koh Jum
Getting Around on Koh Jum
How To Get There
Koh Jum or Koh Pu
How Long to Stay at Koh Jum
Conclusion
  • Book Luxury Villas on Koh Jum Beach
  • Book a Bungalow on The Beach at Koh Jum
  • Read about Hiking Koh Jum/Pu Mountain
  • Read How to Get to Koh Jum

Koh Jum, Koh Jum, Koh Jum. Step back in time and experience Thailand as (I imagine) it was like in 70’s and 80’s. Before the country began adapting to tourism. A place where you’ll never hear the cries of vendors shouting at you for a taxi ride, a suit or a massage. Here you can sleep in a bamboo bungalow along the sea front and recharge your mind. Locals here treat you like a human, as opposed to a ‘walking ATM’. It’s beautiful.

street on Koh JUm island

Koh Jum, in my opinion, is the best island in Thailand if you’re seeking authenticity, peacefulness or trying to find your way off the ‘backpacking trail’.

KohJum in 2006
Koh Jum Island in Thailand Brochure

⬆ Download Full Size ▶ Koh Jum: Oh the Possibilities.

Koh Jum allows an out from the standard trail, it’s not standard for travels to include the island on their itinerary . Koh Jum is merely an hour from Phi Phi Island and a little further from Phuket. But even though the distance is close. The atmosphere is a world apart from the neighboring islands.

Koh Jum Port at Arrival Longtail Boat Parking

Locals embrace the island life here and everything happens at a slow relaxing pace.

To put things into perspective in terms of how few people go to Koh Jum. There are no ATMs on the island. There is no supermarket or 7-11 convenience store. This island is seriously untouched.

Most people skip this paradise island in favour of the more well known Thai islands. Which is good. Because if everyone came the island would quickly lose its charm.

Koh Jum is a place where you can break away from society for a short period of time.

It is somewhere where you can totally switch off and forget, for a brief moment. I guarantee that once you experience the authentic style of the Thai islands; it will hold a place in your heart forever.

Useful Tips For Visiting Koh Jum

  • ATM: There are no ATMs on Koh Jum island! Make sure to bring cash with you. Most hotels will accept credit cards but small businesses (bars, tour agents, restaurants) will not. There is now a travel agent located on ‘Koh Jum’ pier that does cash back- i.e. they will charge your card and give you cash in return. But the maximum is around 10,000 Baht and there is a percentage charged to use the service.
  • Electricity: Koh Jum has had electricity since 2008. The electricity has been on 24 hours a day since 2012.
  • Phone Signal: There is cellular coverage on Koh Jum. AIS is the best network to use with strong signals. True or Dtac have poor signals. Wi-fi strength is good, even hitting 300 mbps download speeds! (Faster than Bangkok)!
  • Supermarkets / 7-11’s: There are no 7-11’s on Koh Jum. Which if you’ve spent any time in Thailand, you’ll know is a rare occurrence and really goes to show how quiet Koh Jum is.
  • Animals: Be careful of the wild Macaque Monkeys on Koh Jum. They roam the island in packs looking for food. They might look cute but a bite from one can be pretty nasty. Try to keep your distance. Dogs are far and few due to the Muslim culture, but the few dogs you’ll meet are usually friendly.
  • Scooters: You’ll need to rent and drive a scooter to get around Koh Jum. The island, although small, is too big to walk. There is no public transport and no taxis other than hotel shuttle services. Bicycle is the other option.
  • Alcohol: The majority of Koh Jum’s residents are Muslim. However alcohol is easily found in bars, restaurants, and even at local mini-marts.
  • Weather: The weather is best during the high season which is from November until March.

Interesting: While researching Koh Jum I stumbled across this brochure from 20 years ago, speculating the future of the island. (view)

What are The Best Things to do on Koh Jum

Beach Resort Bungalow Wooden on the beach at koh jum

Visiting the beach, chilling in a hammock, smoking a joint, and swimming in the sea are the most popular activities in Koh Jum. While the most popular things to do are basically to ‘chill out’. There are other activities too. Scooters can be hired to explore top to bottom. There is a mountain on the northern side of the island(Koh Pu), a hiking trail leads to the top and views of the Andaman Islands can be seen. See: Hiking Koh Jum Mountain. And you can even learn to Scuba-Dive on Koh Jum island.

But my favorite activity at Koh Jum was fishing. It’s possible to charter a Long Boat and head out to sea with the chance of catching big fish, Mackerel and Mahi-Mahi. The cost is 1,500 Baht for the day, not bad. But we found it so relaxing to just hang out and fish from the dock. There is a café named ‘Mr.Boy’s’. Which is owned and run by, you guessed it; Mr.Boy.

squid fishing in koh jum
squid in koh jum

Fishing rods and bait can be rented at his café and you can fish from his dock for 250 Baht a day. Fishing is available up until 7pm, and in the night time you can change to ‘Squidding’ or squid fishing instead. Anything you catch, Mr.Boy will cook it fresh!

There are still a ton more things to do on Koh Jum and there will be a full post of things to do coming soon.

pier in koh jum
koh jum viewpoint

What To Expect at Koh Jum Island

There is not much happening at Koh Jum, which is kind of the point of visiting the island. The vibe is authentic, as I imagine all of the islands would have felt 30 or so years back before tourism took over.

Expect to find paradise within the people and the atmosphere on the island. Koh Jum is a place to recharge, and that’s about all.

Where to Stay

The accommodation on Koh Jum is what makes the island so special. In Koh Jum most of the ‘hotels’ are wooden bungalows or huts. They are hand built from bamboo. Some have air-conditioning, most do not. More hotels are opening at a rate quicker than ever.

beaches on Koh Jum Island

Pick your accommodation on Koh Jum wisely. Beach bungalows in Koh Jum are not expensive. You can find a hut on the beach for about 500 to 1,000 Thai Baht on average.

You might also be interested in reading this post about the best Koh Jum Beach Villas.

The Best Accommodation Choice in Koh Jum:

  1. Koh Jum Beach Villas
  2. Jungle Hill Bungalows
  3. Koh Jum Banyan Bay Villa
  • You might also be interested in reading this post about the best Koh Jum Beach Villas.

Where are the Best Places to Eat at Koh Jum

halal restaurant koh jum place to eat food
The best restaurant on Koh Jum – ‘Halal Restaurant‘

Despite the low volumes of tourists who visit Koh Jum there are still enough restaurants to choose from.

Koh Jum has an Italian Pizza Restaurant, an Indian Curry House, a Seafood place and a handful of local Thai places too. You will need to ride a scooter to get to any of these restaurants. But the best we found was the ‘Halal restaurant’. You can’t miss the place, it’s a medium sized restaurant built from Bamboo on the main street. And the owners have painted the restaurant bright blue and yellow, it stands out. The prices here are really affordable and the food served was some of the best Thai food we’d tasted. You can tell the owners are still passionate about their restaurant.

food in koh jum
Breakfast in Koh Jum from the ‘Halal Restaurant’
koh jum beach cafe
Mr.Boy’s Café in Koh Jum

The restaurants on Koh Jum all close relatively early (around 9PMish). After this time it will be tough to find anywhere still open. Almost every accommodation offering has food onsite too, most include breakfast in the room rate.

Day Tours and Excursions from Koh Jum

koh jum day tours

From Koh Jum there are tours offered which visit mainland Krabi including to spots like the Tiger Temple, and the Black Crab statue etc. There’s another possibility of booking onto snorkelling tours visiting the Krabi ‘Four Islands’ or the Phi Phi Islands. You can book these excursions on a private or shared basis. My recommendation is to give these tours a miss, I wouldn’t recommend any of them. Embrace what Koh Jum has to offer and appreciate the peacefulness while you can. The destinations that the tours visit are the complete opposite of Koh Jum. These locations are packed with hoards of tourists. The same tours can be booked from Krabi instead.

Evenings and Nightlife on Koh Jum

Koh Jum The Rock Bar
The Rock Bar on Koh Jum

The nightlife on Koh Jum is unique, if you can even call it nightlife. The Island has a half-dozen or so ‘Reggae’ Bars dotted along the beaches. These bars are owned by some of the most chilled out people in the world. All of them are hand-built with natural resources found on the island and materials that have washed up on the beaches.

Now it’s no secret that weed has been sold in Thailand at Reggae Bars for generations. Weed has recently been legalized in Thailand so you can hang out at the Reggae Bar and ‘smoke the reefa’, completely legally, (if that’s your thing).

koh jum sunset at the rock bar
Watching the sunset on Koh Jum from the Rock Bar

But you don’t have to smoke to enjoy the bars on Koh Jum’s beaches. Enjoy a cool beer, a cocktail or even a fruit shake instead. And it’s a perfect place to watch the sunset from in Koh Jum.

The best bar on Koh Jum has to be the Rock Bar. The owners are so welcoming and the views are beautiful too. Happy hour is between 5-7PM (at sunset) , during happy hour cocktails are 100 Baht and beers are 40 Baht. Joints can also be bought for 200 Baht.

Beaches on Koh Jum

The beaches at Koh Jum are great to spend a day sunbathing without too many others around. The beaches are not the ‘Instagram’ white-sand beaches you might find on other nearby islands. But don’t go thinking that’s a bad thing because it’s not. There are less ‘undesirables’ around, the sun still shines, the sea is clean and the atmosphere is 1000x times better than you’ll find anywhere else.

There are nine different beaches on Koh Jum. Essentially it’s one long strip of sand along the west coast of the island broken down into nine sections. In favour of fishing from the dock and chilling in my hammock, I didn’t spend a whole lot of time on the beaches. So if you want to know more about them there’s loads of information about Koh Jum Beach’s on ‘Plenty of Juma‘.

Getting Around on Koh Jum

rent a scooter on koh jum

Koh Jum has just one main road which runs from top to bottom. There are no taxi’s on Koh Jum and no public transport either. Koh Jum is not a massive island, but the size is still big enough to make walking impractical. Which leaves renting a scooter as the best choice.

Scooters can be rented on Koh Jum for 200-300 Baht a day and gasoline is sold at the roadside for 40 Baht a litre.

Koh Jum is probably the best place to learn to drive a scooter because there are very few hills, and there isn’t much traffic.

How To Get There

taxi to koh jum hotel

When it comes to getting around in Thailand, tourists have it easy. Tour companies operate in Thailand which are dedicated to shuttling tourists from one tourist destination to the next. With Koh Jum having so little demand for tourism no such service exists so you’ll have to go the local way (but most of the information is in Thai)!

Getting to the island is not actually too difficult. It’s the lack of information in English Language that makes it challenging. In fact it’s just a case of getting to the correct pier and boarding one of the regular shuttle boats which operate between Krabi and Koh Jum.

But I’ve written a full guide on how to get Koh Jum, which you can read here. It included the names of all the piers, the boat timetable, prices and everything else you’d want to know about getting to Koh Jum.

Koh Jum or Koh Pu

What is the difference between Koh Jum and Koh Pu? You might find it confusing that the island has two names. Well both names are used although Koh Jum generally refers to the south of the Island while Koh Pu refers to the northern side.

The original name is Koh Jum or ‘เกาะจำ’, which literally means ‘Island to remember’. Koh Pu or ‘เกาะปู’ translates as ‘Crab Island’. The two names stem from a dispute between locals who settled on different sides of the island who were never able to formally agree on one name, thus the island that’s so nice- they named it twice.

How Long to Stay at Koh Jum

I usually stay for two or three nights on Koh Jum. It’s enough time for me. But then again, I usually visit the island once a year. depending on how long you need to unwind, anywhere from 2 to 5 nights is going to be the sweet spot.

Conclusion

If the intention is to party, avoid Koh Jum. But if the intention is to chill- do not miss Koh Jum. It’s the most chilled place on earth. I don’t think the island will be this way forever. It’s drawing more attention year-on-year and the cat is out the bag about Koh Jum. It’s probably the last island in Thailand that is yet to succumb to tourism, the prices are still reasonable and locals are still passionate. See it while you can. And keep the secret to yourself!

FacebookTweetPinPrint
FacebookTwitterPinterestRedditWhatsappLINE

6 comments

Gunbritt 18 December 2023 - 12:36 am

Hi, thanks for all information about Koh Jum! Heading there (2 adults) for five nights in Feb 24 but find it very hard to know how much cash to bring and we will only spend another 24 hours in Ao Nang, Krabi after Koh Jum before going back to Europe so do not want to exchange way too much money and of course not too little either. Planning on having decent lunch, drinks, dinner and renting bikes (not scooters). Hotel to be booked in advance. Haven’t been back to Thailand for 6 years now, suppose prices have gone up.

Reply
BackPackBOB 22 December 2023 - 1:26 am

It’s difficult to say, but I would prefer to have too much, than not enough. It’s been almost a year since I was last on the island, but yes, prices have increased a lot over the last 6 years – even more so since the tourism rebound after 2020. But to give you a rough idea – eating out at a local restaurant in Koh Jum I would expect to spend around 500 a head on average. Bicycle rentals could be 50 – 200 a day. You could easily get by on 1 or 2,000 baht a day – its not an expensive island, Koh Jum. But it depends on what you plan to do, and the type of traveler you are. You can always change any left over cash back in Krabi, or hold onto it for another trip 😅

Reply
Craig B 13 September 2023 - 5:05 pm

Such an informative – and sincerely helpful – writeup Robb. Thank you.
We’ll be enjoying a couple of nights in Koh Pu early October and discovering this site has seriously fuelled our anticipation for the visit.
Initially thought the Krabi Airport-Koh Pu transit may have been a little challenging but your guidance has helped alay any concerns. I’m still working on how best to get from Koh Pu/Jum to Koh Lanta after our stay.
Thanks again for the help!

Reply
BackPackBOB 20 September 2023 - 8:08 pm

Hey, thanks for reading 😊 Yes, Krabi to Koh Jum is very easy and its a nice quite time to visit, in October. There is a direct speedboat from Koh Jum to Koh Lanta — the company is called Tigerline, but they only operate half the year — from October until March (roughly) so they might have just opened the route for the season, depending on the dates you’re there. If not you’d need to head back to Krabi and go by road to Koh Lanta (there is a Lanta/Krabi Bridge). Easiest way is to take a taxi (2,500Baht) or the cheapest way is to use the minivans and connect at Krabi Bus Station.

Reply
Rachel 7 February 2023 - 8:04 pm

Really interesting to read about your take on the island. You mentioned the Jungle Hill Bungalows which I’m thinking about booking for April- we want somewhere right on the beach, are the bungalows you mentioned actually on the sand? or is it a short walk to the beach?

Reply
BackPackBOB 25 February 2023 - 12:14 pm

Hello 😄 Deffinalty recommend the Jungle Hill Bungalows! The huts are on the beach but elevated into the cliff face little bit so there’s a few stairs to get down before getting to the sand. Here’s the link to check it out, hope it helps!

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

BackPackBOB

Hi, Im Robb. And I live on holiday. Welcome to 'Backpack Bob. No, I didn’t quit my job and sell everything to travel the world. I initially funded all my travels by working abroad. But that doesn’t mean I’m here to save you money, or to help you travel smarter. I just enjoy writing about the places I’ve been. It’s more of a memoir for myself, to look back on in the future. But if you find my guides useful, then you are very welcome here. My journey started in 2016 when I decided not to return from a one-month vacation. And when the lockdowns happened in 2020. I found myself stranded in Thailand, (where I now live for six months of the year). I used that time to finally start this blog and share my stories. People have often told me I should write a book about my adventures, so this is the next best thing. For the love, not the money.

previous post
Phi Phi National Park (Hat Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi Phi)
next post
Complete Beginners Guide: How I Learned To Ride a Scooter in Thailand (Honda Click) 🛵

related posts

Krabi 4 Islands Tour: About The...

21 November 2024

Longtail Boat Sea Fishing in the...

24 October 2024

10 Things To Do in Phi...

20 October 2024

Samet Nangshee Viewpoint. Phang-Nga Bay, Thailand.

20 October 2024

The Best 2024 Thailand Itinerary: Two...

22 May 2023

Which Tour Is The Cheapest in...

28 May 2020

Where To Stay in Bangkok: Discover...

24 August 2023

Entering Thailand Without a Return Ticket:...

24 May 2023

How to Pack for Thailand Like...

20 June 2023

Weed is Legal in Thailand: And...

22 September 2023

About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Robb, and I live on vacation. Welcome to 'Backpack Bob'. I didn’t quit my job and sell everything to travel the world. And I didn't quit my job.

I initially funded travel by working abroad. But that doesn’t mean I’m here to save you money. Honestly- I just enjoy writing about the places I’ve been. It’s more of a memoir for myself, to look back on in the future. But if you find my guides useful, then you are very welcome here.

My journey started in 2016 when I decided not to return from a one-month vacation. And when the lockdowns happened in 2020. I found myself stranded in Thailand, (where I now live for six months of the year). I used that time to finally start this blog and share my stories. People have often told me I should write a book about my adventures, so this is the next best thing. For the love, not the money.

Search My Travel Blog

backpack bobs first thailand itinerary how to spend two weeks in the south of thailand icon
thailand esim
shortcut to backpack bobs travel guide about the ha giang loop tour in vietnam man
covid 19 lockdown story about how backpack bob got stuck on phi phi island for 6 months
backpac bobs tourists guide to buying the best and cheapest sim card in thailand
backpack bobs travel guide to see the best temples in bangkok

Connect With Me

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Email Reddit
Facebook

Instagram

backpackbobs 2023 guide on the best things to do in thailand

Latest And Hottest Posts

  • Krabi 4 Islands Tour: About The Islands and Booking a Boat

    21 November 2024
  • Longtail Boat Sea Fishing in the Phi Phi Islands (Marlin and Tuna)

    24 October 2024
  • Samet Nangshee Viewpoint. Phang-Nga Bay, Thailand.

    20 October 2024
  • 10 Things To Do in Phi Phi Islands

    20 October 2024
  • Ha Long Bay Boat Cruise: How To Plan, How To Book, and How To Choose The Best Cruise

    28 April 2024

BOOK CHEAP TRAVEL IN ASIA 🔽

klook banner thailand is calling
Phi Phi Island Tour Banner
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME

DOGE: DKzFay5rWEwEL3XQPkgfTdGaaZRxV5nAyY
BTC: 3Me2N4HNCN42CfLsZkrL5H9BVxHQY3rmry
ETH: 0x7372f12D0416e06533783d30f82e3268f286560f

BOOK ACCOMODATION:
BOOKING
AGODA
TRIP
HOSTELWORLD

©2012-2025 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BACKPACK BOB.

You are welcome to use any photos which I publish on my blog, and own the rights to free of charge. Providing that credit is given in the form of a link to this website. 💙📸 Contact me for full resolution images. or check out my profile on Shutterstock.

Backpack Bob's:  Travel Guides and Asia Blogs
  • Home
  • Thailand
    • All Guides
    • Where To Stay in Bangkok
    • Thailand Legal Cannabis Guide
    • Thailand Travel Itinerary
    • Bangkok Temple Guide
  • Vietnam
    • All Guides
    • Ha Giang Loop Guide
    • Hanoi Travel Guide
  • Malaysia
    • All Guides
    • Malaysia Travel Itinerary
    • Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide
    • Langkawi Travel Guide
    • Melaka Travel Guide
    • Ipoh Travel Guide
  • Laos
  • Contact
  • About
  • Shop
  • Travel Planning
    • Plan a Trip with Backpack Bob
    • Travel Resources
  • Popular Guides
    • 2 Weeks in Thailand Itinerary
    • Thailand Packing List
    • Bangkoks Best Temples
    • Phu Kradueng National Park
    • Ride Scooter for Beginners
    • Ha Giang Loop – Vietnam
    • Mae Hong Son Loop
    • Koh Jum: Travel Guide
    • Koh Libong: Travel Guide
    • Koh Rok Thailand
    • Private Phi Phi Island Tour

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close