Ko Kret Bangkok - Map, Pottery, Culture & Chit Beer

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By Travel Guide Spot 🌏

Last updated: May 22, 2025

Just a short Chao Phraya Express Boat ride up from Bangkok, you’ll find Ko Kret island, a hidden gem for a perfect day trip - It is famous for Mon pottery, culture & cuisine as well as the Chit Beer brewery, all indicated on our ko kret map. You will encounter a small, quiet little island with a slice of traditional Mon culture taking you back in time for the perfect day trip. The island is home to the Mon people, who have kept their traditions alive since moving from Burma over 200 years ago. You’ll notice the Mon culture in the old riverside houses and the warm hospitality from locals. The island is known for its charm, unique Mon pottery, a lively weekend market and a pioneering microbrewery for some of Bangkok’s best Beer.

The second you arrive on the island from the ferry, you feel as if you’re in the countryside. You will see merchants selling local fruit and veg and the food stands are enticing to all your senses. There are no roads around Ko Kret, only alleyways lined with natural vegetation and farms. It has interisting historic temples, unique Mon handmade pottery, as well as unique and tasty local food.

If you’re looking for the perfect break from the city, visiting Ko Kret lets you escape the city and experience its unique culture, a side of Bangkok that most tourists miss. The island is particularly famous for its handmade terracotta pots and ceramics. You can also find local dessert shops along Khlong Khanom Wan, where you definitely have to try some sweets.

Tip

• Use our Ko Kret map below and save it to offline maps
• This car-free island is one of the best spots for a day trip.
• You can ride a bike or simply go on foot.
• You can get around on the raised walkways lined with shops selling local crafts and restaurants offering Mon dishes.
• The narrow market paths have a nice vibe and are less crowded during the week.
• Ko Kret is all about taking it easy and enjoying the slower pace of life.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes since you’ll be walking and taking the ferry but dress modestly if you plan to visit temples (cover your shoulders and wear longer bottoms)
• Come ready to try local food—it’s known for its tasty stalls and unique desserts.

Ko Kret Map

Below is a map of Ko Kret where you can find:

• Ferry Piers
• Main Attractions
• Restaurants and Cafes
• Pottery Workshops
• Chit Beer Brewery
• Places to spend the night Recommended
• A recommended tour guide

Note

• Remember to download the Google Maps app on your phone
• Save this map and ensure its added to offline maps so you can access it without internet.

Get a Guide

Ko Kret is not widely known among tourists and isn’t often mentioned in many guidebooks, making it a hidden gem. Getting there can be a bit tricky for any newcomers, and hiring a local guide might make things easier and help you enjoy the island’s culture in a more immersive way.

We still recommend spending a night here if the Bankok waterways are your thing. Use the next morning after the tour to explore on your own before heading back to Bangkok in the afternoon.

Book a Ko Kret Day Trip Tour

Getting to Ko Kret

How to Get to Ko Kret on Weekdays

The Green Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat operates on weekdays. Here's how to get there:

1. Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin Station

   This station is right at Sathorn Pier, walk to the pier and catch the Green Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat.

2. Take the Green Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat

   Green Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat (Weekdays) - The express boat goes directly to Pak Kret (Pakkred) Pier.

3. From Pak Kret Pier to Wat Sanam Nuea

   Walk 300m to the Ko Kret Ferry Pier at Wat Sanam Nuea then cross the river to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier.

How to Get to Ko Kret on Weekends

The Orange Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat operates on weekends. Here's how to get there:

1. Orange Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat to Nonthaburi Pier (16:05-18:05 every 20 minutes (to Pak Kret).

   Take the boat to Nonthaburi Pier.

2. Options from Nonthaburi Pier

   Take a longtail boat to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier (can be expensive) or take Bus #32/taxi/inDrive to Wat Sanam Nuea Pier.

3. Take the Ferry to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier if you came by Bus or Taxi

   From Wat Sanam Nuea Pier, take the ferry to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier.

Tip

The Chao Phraya Express boat trip there and back is an experience on its own and is highly recommended for a day trip! Take note that some attractions might be closed during the week. But then Ko Kret is at its most peaceful if that’s what you’re after.

How to Get to Ko Kret by Bus

You can also take a bus to Pak Kret Market and then walk or take a motorbike taxi to the ferry pier.

1. Take Bus #166 (Victory Monument) or #505 (Central World) to Pakkret Market

   Bus #166 leaves from Victory Monument, and Bus #505 leaves from Central World.

2. Walk to the Ferry Pier

   From Pak Kret Market, walk the last 500m or take a motorbike taxi to the ferry pier behind Wat Sanam Neua.

3. Take the Ferry to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier

   Cross the canal to Wat Poramai Yikawat Pier.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When to visit Ko Kret?

   One can visit Ko Kret any day:

   • Weekdays: quieter and more peaceful (easier transport with Green Flag Chao Phraya Express Boat)
   • Weekends: busier with more visitors, markets and vendors

2. How to Get Around Ko Kret?

   Modern transport does not exist on this serene island. To preserve the tranquil atmosphere of Ko Kret, any motorised vehicles are banned. Visitors can explore the island's seven villages on bicycle, or some prefer to go by foot. At the Wat Poramai Yikawat Ferry Pier, head towards the food carts, here you'll find a bicycle rental service (Juum Bicycle Rental), and for a low fee we rented a bicycle for the entire day.

What to See in Ko Kret?

Ko Kret offers a blend of Mon culture, historic temples, and traditional crafts. These highlights showcase the island's unique spiritual, artistic, and cultural heritage.

1. Wat Poramaiyikawat and Museum

   The island's main temple, restored by King Rama V, features Mon-style architecture, relics, and a museum with artifacts. Open Mon-Fri, 09:00-16:00.

2. Kwan Aman Pottery Museum

   Showcasing Mon ceramics, this museum is a hub for Ko Kret's ancient pottery tradition. Open daily from 09:00-17:00.

3. Phra Wiharn

   A sacred hall housing a 9.5m reclining Buddha and a marble Buddha gifted by a Burmese donor. Open daily 09:00-16:00.

4. Wat Chimpli Suttahawat

   Located 1 km south of the ferry landing, this east-bank temple features a beautiful and well-preserved chapel.

5. Wat Phai Lom

   Known as Pia To by the Mon, this late Ayutthaya-era temple offers a serene atmosphere and a charming chapel.

6. Wat Sao Tong Thong (Pia Arlart)

   Formerly Wat Suan Mak, this temple features Pak Kret's tallest pagoda and was home to the area's first primary school.

Buying Pottery

Although its a gastronomic spot, Ko Kret isn’t just about food. Ko Kret is renowned as a center for kwan aman, a Mon pottery style made of intricately carved, and unglazed red clay. This is a craft that has been passed down from over 200 years. Prices start as low as 5 baht for small pieces and can reach thousands of baht for the very elaborate designs. Popular items include candle and incense holders with ornate cutout patterns and are reasonably priced.

There are about 20 pottery workshops scattered around the island. Here one can witness skilled artisans at work, shaping terracotta pieces using old traditional methods.

Notable pottery workshops are:

• Pa Tum Pottery Factory - Which is located on the north-east coast, directly west of Poramai Yikawat.

• Pradit Wong Clay Shop (The Pottery Shop) - Which is located on the east coast, south of Wat Poramai Yikawat close to Chit Beer Microbrewery.

Chitbeer Microbrewery

If you’re on Ko Kret, you have to stop by at Chitbeer for a pint. It’s handsdown the best craft beer in Thailand. But Chitbeer is more than just a brewery; brewing is their passion and it’s known across Thailand.

In 1950, a law was passed in Thailand that basically stopped people from home-brewing beer to protect two big beer companies. Because of this, many local craft brewers have to make their beer abroad and pay hefty taxes to bring it back. But on a small island near Bangkok, one guy is changing that by making his own beer and teaching others to do the same.

Chit Beer stands out in the sea of commercial lagers with a variety of home-brewed ales, sours, porters and from refreshing IPAs to rich, bold stouts. This open-air bar draws in those looking for something different. Wichit “Chit” Saiklao, the founder, has been running this brewery like a hidden gem. Though it’s not easy to reach Ko Kret, folks can find Chit’s brews on tap and sign up for brewing classes, which book up fast. By doing this, he’s equipped many beer lovers with the know-how to challenge the unfair laws, even if it means facing some fines along the way.

• Whether you love craft beer or are just starting out, you’ll find something you enjoy.
• Enjoying a craft beer on Ko Kret is a great way to unwind and enjoy good company.

Good To Know

Chit, a former army colonel with business interests, respects the law but believes in common sense. He’s pushed for a rise in home brewers, stating that they can make a difference with unique offerings. His beers made an impression, leading to a license for Thailand’s first legal craft brewery, Mitr Craft, which has a bar in Bangkok. For those wanting the original vibe, Chit Beer remains a go-to spot.

What to Eat in Ko Kret

Savoury Dishes

If food is your thing, you're in luck as food is a major attraction for local Thai visitors to Ko Kret. renowned for its unique blend of Thai and Mon cuisines. The local food scene is rich with traditional flavors, rare Mon specialties, and creative dishes featuring edible flowers, herbs, and tropical ingredients. Remember to save space, because Ko Kret is a desert island too!

1. Mohinga

   The national dish of Burma (Myanmar): a fish soup with vermicelli rice noodles, commonly served for breakfast and unique to the Mon people of Ko Kret.

2. Nga Baung Thohk

   Prawns and vegetables wrapped in a morinda leaf and then cooked in banana leaves.

3. Gai Sarong

   Crispy golden balls of minced chicken wrapped in egg noodles and then deep fried.

4. Kanom Jeen

   A fermented rice noodle dish, eaten with different curries.

5. Khao Chae (Khao Cher)

   Jasmine rice soaked in cold camphor-scented water and flavored with jasmine flowers. Served with pork, fish, shrimp paste, radish, and green chili. Once a royal favorite, especially popular in summer.

6. Dokmai Tort

   Colorful arrangements of leaves and edible flowers, stuffed into banana leaf bowls.

7. Tort Man Nor Galah

   A mix of colorful flowers, herbs, mushrooms, and aquatic vegetables, battered, deep-fried, and served with sweet and sour sauce.

8. Thod Man Pla Nor Kala

   Spicy fish cakes made with a local plant similar to galangal or young ginger shoots.

9. Mon Tempura

   Deep-fried flowers, vegetables, fish, and shrimp, served in banana-leaf bowls.

10. Hor Mok Nor Kala

    Fish with curry paste and coconut cream, steamed and served in pottery with local Nor Kala vegetable.

11. Pork Satay (Moo Satay)

    Bangkok street food staple, served with cucumber pickles, sweet peanut sauce, and grilled bread.

Ko Kret Desserts

Thai Desserts

Don’t miss traditional desserts at Ko Kret. You can try treats like Sweet Golden Drops and Golden Egg Strips.

The Mon people of Ko Kret are renowned for their exceptional traditional desserts—thanks to the island's rich and abundant sugarcane fields, giving the locals their legendary sweet tooth. These traditional Mon desserts are a part of the island's identity just as much as its scenery. When visiting, ensure you don't miss these unique delights:

1. Khanom Thuai

   A dessert made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar, steamed in small ceramic cups.

2. Chao Kuai

   A jelly-like dessert made from Mesona chinensis, a plant in the mint family.

3. Htamane

   Sticky rice mixed with shredded coconut and peanuts in a chewy blend.

4. Sa-nwin Makin

   Colorful cakes made from semolina, sugar, butter, and coconut milk.

5. Banana Pudding

   Bananas simmered in caramelized sugar and coconut milk for a rich, comforting dessert.

6. Durian Jam (Katut Jam)

   A bold, creamy spread often served with other traditional desserts.

Where to Eat in Ko Kret?

Discover Ko Kret's best food spots—from floating markets and riverside cafes to local dessert shops—each offering a unique taste of Thai and Mon culinary traditions.

1. Ong-Ang Community OTOP Market

   Located near Wat Poramai Yikawat, this market is packed with traditional Mon food like mohinga, ginger-chili fish cakes, and deep-fried veggie flowers. Open daily 9:30-17:30.

2. Ko Kret Restaurant

   By Wat Chim Phli, this riverside eatery serves classic Thai dishes like noodles and som tam at great prices. Some English is spoken. Open daily from 10:00-23:00.

3. Yokyen Kuenbok

   Set in a riverside wooden house, this spot offers savory dishes and desserts. Try the Pad Thai with squid, shrimp, or fish while enjoying the Chao Phraya River views.

4. Homm Tea House

   Known for hard-to-find Thai desserts and herbal drinks. Try their afternoon tea, watermelon with dried fish, red ginger lily drink, and butterfly pea lime tea.

5. Rongsi Studio

   A stylish riverside café with indoor-outdoor seating. Go at sunset and try Thai-fusion dishes like fermented fish fried rice, shrimp, and pork spring rolls.

6. Ban Pa Sun Dessert Home

   Just before the bike rentals, this shop offers Thai meals and desserts at good prices. It's tourist-friendly, with English spoken and plenty of sweet treats.

7. Kanom Tuay Country

   Specializes in creamy kanom tuay with pandan rice cake and salty coconut cream. Don't miss their rare Southeast Asian-style sweet grass jelly made from Mesona chinensis.