Sand flies in Ko Mook, Ko Sukorn, and Ko Ngai

I started a thread about sandflies a little while ago. Maybe you’ll find some answers there?

It’s here.

Thanks, sorry I didn’t see it

Hello, I went there in February—no sand flies on Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, Koh Lipe, or Koh Tarutao either. But I can’t say for sure there aren’t any during the rainy season. Koh Mook (or Koh Muk) is a great option! 😊 PS: When sand flies are around, they live in the sand, so just avoid lying directly on the sand—even with a towel or sarong—and use a sun lounger instead.

No problem! !😉

Thanks.. 😊 that’s reassuring!

Hey Jean Michel

That’s what I always thought too, but in Kenya, they attacked me on the sun lounger—even though it was high up! I figured I was safe because of the height and the thick mattress, but in the end, I got absolutely wrecked 😂

Luckily, my cortisone cream saved me... after the fact!

Christelle

@Solene40 Actually, I'm starting to wonder if there aren't two species of sand flies. In Madagascar, the Mokafoa (moukafou) isn't a flying insect (fly) but a tiny crustacean that lives in the sand, more like a flea than a fly. But when I looked online, I saw there's another species that looks like a tiny fly... Anyway, all this to say I didn't see any of either species on the islands of Koh Muk, Koh Libong, Kradan, or Lipe. Though it might also depend on the season...

Thanks for this research... I’ll check it out when I get back from my trip... hoping I’ll be spared 😅

Hello, I went to Ko Sukorn and Prachuap Kiri Khan several times in February...I was eaten alive by sand flies, even in the shade on sun loungers. I didn’t know they existed—I thought they were mosquito bites that were getting me despite the repellent I used in the evenings. The hotel manager told me they were sand flies and that I needed to use mosquito repellent all day, reapplying after every swim. It worked, thankfully, because I was having allergic reactions that could cover up to 5 cm² despite taking cetirizine or other antihistamines. Back in France, I’m allergic to wasps, mosquitoes, etc. Just to clarify, I traveled to these parts of Thailand with my husband and friends, and I was the only one affected. So if you’re someone who attracts biting bugs, slather on effective repellent. I used the one ranked #1 by *Que Choisir* in 2022: Insect Ecran *Zones infestées*, which works against mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests. The product needs to contain a high percentage of DEET (50%). Safe travels.

Thanks... I’ll pack this product in my suitcase since mosquitoes love me, so sand flies might too... but I don’t know if it can go in carry-on luggage? Do you remember where your hotel was located and if they were all over Sukon Island? Happy holidays to everyone

Sand flies—they're pretty much everywhere on the beaches, and there's no real pattern. Where you say you didn't get any, I did, and vice versa. The first time was in Koh Mak—it was awful, I was covered in bites. They're so tiny you can't see or hear them. No, they're not in the sand. I avoid the beach when the sun goes down, but that doesn't stop me from getting bitten at other times of the day. When I notice bites on myself (which I recognize now—they're so different from mosquito bites), I stop going to the beach! People talk about slathering your legs with oily products so they slide off... meh, not convinced. So far, I haven't found any real prevention. I buy "Genta-Betasone cream 15Gm" from pharmacies in Thailand to speed up healing. That's all I can do.

Another thing—there are more and more jellyfish in Thailand now, on the islands and coasts.

It lives on the beach, preferably where the sand is damp. It’s found in certain regions of southern Thailand at the end of the dry season and on some islands like Koh Mak. It tends to attack people on the beach, especially in the late afternoon, and likes areas sheltered from the wind. It’s not afraid of water. You could have water up to your hips, but it can still bite you. They look like tiny gnats with a pale body and small black wings with white spots. Some have a black body with white wings.

The pharmacist will likely prescribe an antihistamine (like Cetirizine) and a cream to soothe the area—these creams may contain corticosteroids like betamethasone.

Excerpt from = https://theo-courant.com/en/thailand-bite-of-the-sand-fly/

Another thing is that there are more and more jellyfish in Thailand now, on the islands and along the coasts.

Yeah, and even deadly varieties, according to what was said in this post (or a similar one). I’ve heard there are also stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), the most dangerous in the world!

Deadly jellyfish:

I had shared this on the forum: one day in July on Phangan, I let myself fall backward, arms spread out in the sea, right at the edge of the beach. Two or three months later, I found out that a child aged 5–7 died almost in the same spot after coming into contact with one of those tiny jellyfish.

The Insect Ecran spray for infested areas comes in 100ml bottles, so they can be taken in your carry-on.

As for Koh Sukorn, it's an agricultural island near the coast with few hotels, and the beaches don’t seem to have names. There’s only one well-maintained beach suitable for swimming—it’s about 800 meters long, with a very gentle slope and practically no waves in February. We always stay at Sukorn Andaman Beach Resort. It’s simple but comfortable, well-kept, and the beachfront restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices. The staff is super friendly, and Sam’s management is very efficient. Transfers from Trang airport or train station are perfectly organized: taxis, boats, and tuk-tuks on the island are coordinated to avoid any waiting. You’ll find sun loungers, hammocks, and bikes to explore the island, its farms, and its fishermen... Tourism isn’t the main livelihood here, so the locals are really welcoming.

The hotel to the north of Andaman Beach is more elevated, and the beach is rocky. The one to the south is more luxurious—we visited it, but it’s expensive. What about the services and restaurant there?

At Sukorn Andaman, there are regulars (European retirees) who spend part of the winter here. It’s absolute tranquility—rarely are there 10 people in the water at the same time on the huge beach... I think this peace is due to the beach’s color—the sea deposits a thin layer of brown earth, so it doesn’t match the typical idyllic tropical beach look.

Here are a few photos of the beach from different angles:

While I'm at it, here are a few photos of the locals on Koh Sukorn

And my favorite—it served us an amazing meal at a modest little eatery where the tuk-tuk that was showing us around the island had dropped us off.

That smile brightens up my kitchen; I had it printed under plexiglass.

Good evening, This looks so appetizing... Khao pad kaphrao, right?

Huge thanks... you’ve convinced me!!! I’ve changed my booking to go to the Adaman. Your last photo reminds me of a lady on Ko Yao Noi last year who ran a tiny little restaurant with an amazing joie de vivre. Thanks again for sharing... and happy New Year 2025

Sukorn Andaman Resort is great. I didn’t stay there because during the week around New Year’s, there were no vacancies anywhere, so I stayed in a small, not-so-great resort across the road. But the owner was incredibly helpful—first of all, because he speaks fluent English. I had all my meals there, and he even mapped out my next route for me, including pick-up, vehicle changes, songthaews, and connections in provincial towns in the middle of nowhere that I’d never heard of. He explained everything in detail.

The beach is okay, though—very long, with dark brown sand, a beautiful view of the islands across the way, and stunning sunsets. I still went for a swim. But at low tide, it’s not ideal; you go there more to admire the seascape than anything else.