Koh Jum

Ko Jum or Ko Pu is a part of Nuea Khlong District in Krabi Province, Thailand. Ko Jum consists of three villages: Ban Ko Pu, Ban Ting Rai, and Ban Ko Jum. Ko Jum is approximately 25 kilometers south of Krabi town on the Andaman Sea.

Koh Jum has this mind-puzzling peculiarity that it has two names: the hilly northern part of the island is called Koh Pu (Crab Island), while the flat southern part is known as Koh Jum. Koh Jum remains the official name, yet it is good to know both names in case you have a conversation with one of the 1,500 residents (who take great pride in the fact that their home has two names) of this charming small island located right between Krabi Town and Koh Lanta.

The west side of the island is the most popular, beach-wise. About 20 resorts are settled on the six beaches located along the approximately seven-kilometre-long west coast, most of them are simple bungalow types of accommodation. As in the rest of undeveloped (for tourism) southern part of Thailand, Koh Jum provides its visitors with a strong feeling of stepping back into the past.

In high season (from November to April) you can get there in about one and half hours from Krabi Town boarding the Krabi Town-Koh Lanta ferry. This ferry makes two stops off the west coast on Koh Pu, and off the ‘capital city’ - Baan Koh Jum, which is located toward the southeastern tip of the island. Please note that there’s no ferry in low season, so you’ll have to get there by taking a taxi to Laem Kruat Pier from Krabi Town, then hire a long-tail boat.

Once on Koh Jum/Koh Pu, the best idea is to rent a motorbike to freely explore the island, which counts three fisherman villages. Most of the hotels have guides who could take you to the summit of Pu Mountain at an altitude of 395m - the main inland attraction. The other activities available on the island are limited to sunbathing, water sports, and strolling along the beach. The slow pace of Koh Jum/Koh Pu will give you the chance to take a real break from the madness of modern life in a stunning luxuriant environment.