Ko Jum



Ko Jum (เกาะจำ), also known as Ko Phu (or Pu) (เกาะปู), is a small island between Ko Lanta and Krabi Town.

Residents of the south end of the island call it Ko Jum (or Jam or Cham), while the northerners call it Ko Phu (or Pu). Local villagers take fierce pride in the two different names.

Till the 1930s Ko Siboya was Koh Jum and Koh Jum was only called Koh Pu. As 15 families from Koh Jum (today Koh Siboya) settled you the south of Koh Pu, the islands got 2 names.

Understand
Ko Jum has three main villages (Ban Ko Pu, Ban Ting Rai, and Ban Ko Jum) and is permanent home of about 1,500 people. On the west side of the island, about 20 resorts provide very simple bungalows.

Get in
During high season (late-Oct-late-Apr), ferries between Ko Lanta and Krabi Town call at the island. You must pay the full fare (400 baht) for the full crossing, despite only travelling half way. You pay on board, but pre-booking is recommended as the ferry is often full. Tickets can be bought from travel agencies in Krabi or at the main ferry offices at the old pier on Khong Ka Rd, and from resorts on Ko Jum.

Ko Jum has no jetty or dock. The ferry stops offshore and is met by longtail boats. If you've pre-booked, then a boat from your resort should be there to pick you up; otherwise simply choose a longtail and ask for a lift to shore.

Local boats also run from Laem Kruat to Ko Jum (100 baht for foreigners, 45min). 120 baht as of Dec 2022. The first is at 09:00 and the last leaves at 18:15. Do not be late, as if you miss the ferry you will have to hire your own taxi boat, which costs ca. 1500 baht. During the low season, this is the only option to get to Ko Jum.

To get to Laem Kruat, take a bus, taxi, or songthaew from Krabi. The songthaew is blue and yellow and departs from the Siam Bank near the piers and 7-Eleven, but you can pick it up elsewhere along its route if you happen to see it. Ask the driver for Laem Kruat or Ko Jum, he'll understand.Most of these songthaews have their destination written on them in English.

If you cannot find a direct songthaew, take one from Krabi to Nuea Khlong (maximum 50 baht, minimum 20 baht) and a second from Nuea Khlong to Laem Kruat for 50 baht (minimum 40 baht).

Get around
Ko Jum is a relatively small island and most of the population gets around on small motorbikes, which can be rented easily. There is also a local taxi service, consisting of a motorbike and sidecar!

The roads in the three villages and between Ban Ting Rai and Ban Ko Jum are concrete and easy to drive on. The roads between the north and south which were once narrow, unsealed, frequently pot-holed and wet, are now sealed. A taxi ride from the Ko Jum ferry port to most places in the south is 50 baht. A taxi ride to take in all of the island's main places costs 400 baht.

See
The villages are sights in themselves, with slight differences in their ways of life. Travelling around the island on a motorcycle is a fun and (mostly) safe way of sightseeing.

Most resorts will also be able to arrange day trips with treks up to the top of Mount Pu on the northern part of the island, which has a majestic view of the islands and the Andaman Sea.

Do
Relax in a hammock by the beach. Swim. Walk along the beach. Small hikes. Many people seem to stay here for a long while just to relax and recharge. There are not a lot of other diversions here.

Eat
Most guesthouses and resorts on the island have a kitchen, and are happy to cook for you even if you aren't a guest. Just walk down the beach until you get hungry. The meals are good, and the prices decent.

Drink
The island only got electricity in 2008 and it's starting to get developed in the southern part. The constant loud noise from bars and party-goers, as on Phi Phi, has not been an issue here, and only occurs on rare occasions like Christmas and New Year. Beer and stronger drinks are available from guesthouses, or from shops in the villages.

Respect the locals by making an effort to keep bottles of alcohol out of view.

Go next
Some people go to Ko Phi Phi or Ko Lanta via ferry. Otherwise, if you want to go back to Krabi Town, just go back the opposite way you came in. The ferries back towards Krabi Town, via Laem Kruat, sail from 07:15 to 08:00.