'''Ko Kret''' (also ''Koh Kred'') is an island in the Chao Phraya River, 20 km north of Bangkok in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.

Understand

The island dates only to 1722, when a canal was constructed as a shortcut to bypass a bend in the Om Kret branch of the Chao Phraya river. As the canal was widened several times, the section cut off eventually became a separate island. The island continues to serve as a refuge to the Mon tribes who dominated central Thailand between the 6th and 10th centuries and have retained a distinct identity in their flavor of Buddhism and, particularly at Ko Kret, their pottery.

Get in

The easiest way to reach Ko Kret is to take the once-weekly Chao Phraya Express '''[http://www.chaophrayaboat.co.th/touristboat_kohkred_e.htm Ko Kret tour]''', which leaves the Central Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin) every Sunday at 09:00 and visits a number of attractions before returning at 15:30. The cost of the cruise and guided tour is 300 baht (no lunch). Many other companies also offer similar tours, often just as a stop on a longer upriver trip to Ayutthaya.

Independent travel to Ko Kret is a little more challenging. The easiest option is to take public bus 166 from Victory Monument (at the footbridge's end) or bus 505 from Central World to the end of the line in the Pak Kret market. From there, you have to walk about 500 meters (or take a moto/samlor) towards the river to the ferry pier, which is located behind Wat Sanam Neua.

More fun though, is traveling to Nonthaburi pier, the last stop (pier N30) of the normal Chao Phraya Express Boat; the trip from Central Pier takes close to an hour but costs all of 10 baht. From here, the options are:

  • Take the air-con van service (just 10 baht) or public bus 32 to Pak Kret, then head to the ferry pier serving the island. The catch is that there's no signage in English, so finding your way can be tricky.
  • Hire a river taxi, for which touts will quote prices around 500 baht. With enough haggling this may be a reasonable option for a group.
  • If you can't get a return trip for less than 200 baht (and you probably can't), it'll be cheaper to take a taxi to the temple of Wat Sanam Neua (80-90 baht) in the neighboring district of Pak Kret, from where ferries shuttle across the river to the island pretty much non-stop for the princely sum of 2 baht (return). Just tell the cabbie "Ko Kret", they will understand.
  • Getting back is more interesting still, the easy way out again being the river taxi, plenty of which lounge about near the pier. If not, take the ferry back to Wat Sanam Neua, then take a moto or ''samlor'' out of the soi (5 baht) to the main street. From here you can easily grab a taxi back to pier, or try your luck with the many buses, minibuses and songthaews heading back to central Nonthaburi and Bangkok. The pier you want to return to is ''Tha Nam Nonburi'' or simply ''Tha Nam Chao Phya'' in Thai (''Chao Phraya Pier'').

    As of August 2008, the green flag express boats going up the river from Saphan Taksin via Nonthaburi directly to Pak Kret are running again, but service is very limited: services ''from'' Pak Kret run only in the morning (7 times between 6-8 AM), while services ''to'' Pak Kret run only in the afternoon (4-6 PM), and there are no boats on Sundays. The trip costs 20 baht and takes just over an hour.

    Get around

    Compared to getting in, getting around is easy: the most popular option is your '''feet'''. The island is roughly square in shape, each side measuring about 2 km, and a path runs around the entire island. The walk at a pleasant pace takes about 1.5- 2 hours. Other options are renting a bicycle from the outfit located in Moo 6; from the 2 baht ferry crossing make your way counterclockwise around the island about 200 meters. At about the same point, which is near the end of the touristed area, motorcycle taxis wait to take people around. If you walk and get tired, you can proceed down one of the paths leading out to piers by the river. From these local piers, you can flag down a small water-taxi. These miniature versions of the famous Thai long tailed boats will zip you around the island and back to the Pak Kret pier on the mainland if you like. Prices are reasonable, maybe 20 baht per person for a group of 4 and the ride warrants a Disneyland "E" ticket, but better know how to swim as life vests are not included. Also do not expect to use English with the boatman.

    While the locals speak little English, there are useful multilingual '''maps''' of the island near the ferry pier and at a couple other points around the island. There are occasional distance signposts along the footpath, and most sights around the island have been labeled in English.

    Do

    Ko Kret is another world compared to Bangkok and much of it retains the air of a rustic village, with wooden shacks propped against palm trees and the occasional dilapidated temple slowly crumbling. Hence the main attraction is just '''walking around''', browsing the merchandise in the many pottery shops.

    See

  • '''Wat Poramai Yikawat''' is the main temple on the island, at the north-east corner right next to the ferry landing. The main feature is several white marble pagodas, carved in the Mon style. There is also a small museum showcasing the temple's treasury.
  • '''Wat Chimplee''' is on the east coast, about 1 km south of the ferry landing and a good point to turn around if you're not planning to make the full circuit.
  • Buy

    Ko Kret is renowned above all as a center for ''kwan raman'', a style of '''Mon pottery''', which is fundamentally just baked unglazed red clay carved with intricate patterns. Prices for the simplest and smallest pots start from as low as 5 baht a piece, but can go up to hundreds or even thousands of baht for large ornate pieces. Particularly popular among visitors are candle and incense holders with ornate patterns of holes to let the smoke or light out, averaging around 200 baht.

    There are some 20 pottery workshops on the island and you will see many kilns as you walk around, but the primary shopping districts (perhaps too grandiose a word) are the imaginatively named:

  • '''Pottery Village #1''' - on the east coast south of Wat Poramai Yikawat.
  • '''Pottery Village #6''' - on the north coast to the west of the wat
  • Eat & Drink

  • Although not considered an activity, this is one of the primary attractions for Thais visiting the island. There are numerous vendors cooking up a number of local treats mainly Thai and Mon snacks and desserts. Favorites that the island is known for include "Khao Cher." This dish is a Mon specialty of rice served with chilled fragrant water and a number of little side dishes. It was a royal favorite for hot summer days, but now is hard to find most anywhere besides here. "Tod mun pla nor gala" is another treat. This is spiced fish cake with the shoots of local ginger variety.
  • There is a '''food market''' near the ferry pier featuring the usual suspects, but also including a local specialty best described as '''Mon tempura''': deep-fried vegetables, fish, shrimp and such served in a large banana-leaf ''krathong'' (leaf-shaped bowl). A number of stalls also serve ''chaa yen'' (Thai iced tea) and other drinks in red clay cups with carrying handles, which you can keep as a souvenir for a few baht extra.
  • For a more relaxing lunch, try the pleasantly airy blue-tiled riverside '''restaurant''' just past Pottery Village 1. Thai basics (noodles, ''som tam'', etc) cost around 30 baht per dish, no English menu or sign but some English spoken.
  • Around the island in the touristed section, there are a number of other riverside restaurants and many vendors selling snacks and desserts, so a taste as you go approach works well. On the less touristed section, there are a few places but more spread out and just the basic noodles and Thai "aharn tam sung" dishes.
  • Sleep

    There are only a few simple places to stay on the island. Most visitors visit the island as a day trip from Bangkok.

    Budget

  • Khoket Guesthouse. oh kred homestay. oo6 kred island. raket nonthburi. 66-818320637. AM. PM. ouble 500 baht with breakfast. hoket_guesthouse@yahoo.co.th. Guesthouse in a real Thai-style bamboo hut.

    Mid-range

  • '''Baan Dvara Prateep''' 53/3 Moo 5; tel. ''+66''-25384212 [http://www.baandvaraprateep.com website] / [http://www.baandvaraprateep.com/Contact.htm map] is the sole exception of sorts, a low-key retreat offering yoga and meditation courses with accommodation included. Prices vary but expect to pay around 5000 baht for a 3 day/2 night course, including meals and transfers to Pak Kret. Reservations required.
  • '''Sipim's House''', [http://cid-2051ffe5e5ced0a1.spaces.live.com/]. Homestay for daily,weekly or monthly. It is located on Cho Praya Riverside , Koh Kred , Nonthaburi. The house is just 3 minutes walk from Wat Poramai and the crossing pier. It is wooden 2 storey modern Thai style house equipped with full-size mirrors in the front facing to the river where you can see the river view from the bedroom and living room. 3,000 baht/day, for 2 to 6 people.
  • Get out

  • Ayutthaya
  • Bang Pa-In
  • Bangkok