Koh Mak Travel Guide: Thailand’s Paradise Island
If you like white sandy beaches, bright blue water, and hardly anyone else around you, then let me introduce you to Koh Mak.
This idyllic island is privately owned which means any development is carefully considered, and it’s still relatively untouched by mass tourism. There’s no 7-11, only one ATM, and you’ll often have incredible beaches all to yourself.
Koh Mak is located in the complete opposite direction to the main tourist route in Thailand, which means you’ll need to travel a bit further to reach it, but it was one of the best places I visited during my month in Thailand, so I promise it’s worth it.
My Koh Mak travel guide has everything you need to plan your trip, including where to stay, where to eat, and the best things to do on the island.
Short on time? Here’s the most important information about Koh Mak
Getting there – Get a combined minibus and boat ticket to take you straight from Bangkok to Koh Mak from just ÂŁ25
Where to stay – The majority of accommodation is on Ao Kao Beach. I stayed at Lazy Day The Resort
Getting around – Most people hire scooters to explore Koh Mak
Good to know – Bring cash with you – there’s only one ATM on the island
Why should you visit Koh Mak?
Whilst most people planning a trip to Thailand will head to the popular islands of Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Mak remains a peaceful haven away from the crowds.
Koh Mak is definitely not a party island, in fact, it couldn’t be further from it. But that’s exactly why I chose to visit during my trip to Thailand. It’s a chance to truly unwind and enjoy slow days reading, swimming and exploring.
How to get to Koh Mak
There’s no airport on Koh Mak, so you’ll need to arrive by boat. If you’re coming from Bangkok, you’ll first need to get to Laem Ngop Pier where the boats depart from to Koh Mak. You can get to Laem Ngop Pier either by flying or by bus.
1. Fly from Bangkok
Fly from Bangkok to Trat airport (1 hour), and then take a taxi to Laem Ngop Pier (30 minutes), followed by a ferry to Koh Mak (1 hour). Once you’re in Koh Mak there will be taxis (converted pick up trucks called songthaews) ready to take you to your accommodation.
You can get a flight from Bangkok to Trat from as little as ÂŁ45 in peak season, but make sure you book in advance otherwise the price goes up a lot.
2. Bus and boat from Bangkok
You can buy a combined minibus and boat ticket that picks you up from the centre of Bangkok and drives you all the way to your hotel in Koh Mak. The bus picks you up at 5:00am and you’ll arrive in Koh Mak just before 1pm.
First it’ll drive you to Laem Ngop Pier, then directly onto the boat where you can get out of the bus and enjoy the views.
When the boat arrives in Koh Mak you’ll get back on the bus and it’ll take you to your hotel.
This is the option I choose for getting to Koh Mak as it took all of the stress out of planning each part of the journey – plus it’s a lot cheaper! You can check ticket availability here
3. Boat from Koh Kood
A ferry runs daily from Koh Kood to Koh Mak in peak season. The total journey time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check ticket availability here.
4. Boat from Koh Chang
A ferry runs daily from Koh Chang to Koh Mak in peak season. The total journey time is around 1 hour. Check ticket availability here.
Getting around Koh Mak
Scooters
The best way to get around Koh Mak is to hire a scooter. Most hotels will have their own scooters available to rent, or they’ll be able to tell you where to get them if not. Before you drive a scooter in Thailand you need to have your international driving license. If you’re based in the UK you can get one really easily in the post office.
Expect to pay between 250 – 300 THB (ÂŁ5-ÂŁ6) per day for a scooter. There are a few petrol stations on the island where you can re-fuel the scooter yourself.
Golf Carts
Golf carts are also a really popular way of getting around in Koh Mak, which is something I didn’t see anywhere else in Thailand. A golf cart might be better if you’re in a bigger group as they can fit up to 6 people, or if you’re less confident driving a scooter.
Golf carts are a lot more expensive to hire than scooters, around 800 – 1000 THB (ÂŁ17 – ÂŁ21) per day.
Taxis
There are taxis on Koh Mak, but they’re not your typical cars. They’re called songthaews and they’re essentially pick up trucks with benches in the back. They charge 50 THB per person, with a minimum fare of 100 THB.
When to visit Koh Mak
The best time to visit Koh Mak is between November to February, during Thailand’s dry season. During these months the weather will be warm, and the sea is much calmer. There’s also much more frequent transport at this time so it’ll make getting to Koh Mak much easier.
Things to do in Koh Mak
Visit the beautiful beaches
The main reason to come to Koh Mak is to relax on the incredible beaches. They’re largely untouched, so you won’t find long strips of beach bars and restaurants here, which makes them even more appealing in my opinion!
My favourite beaches in Koh Mak are:
Ao Kao Beach – Located on the southwest of the island, this is Koh Mak’s most popular beach and the area where you’ll find the majority of the accommodation. Its around 5km long and its calm waters make it a great swimming spot.
Suan Yai Beach – This was my favourite beach on Koh Mak. It’s located on the northwest of the island, and a small path leads down to a long sandy beach, with palm trees hanging overhead, and views over bright blue water. You can even see Koh Chang from here on a clear day!
Ao Pra Beach – Located next to Suan Yai Beach, Ao Pra only has one resort on it (Mira Montra) so there’s pretty much nothing here, but it’s a beautiful sandy beach with plenty of shade.
Day trip to Koh Kham
My day trip to Koh Kham was one of my favourite things I did on my trip to Thailand. It’s a volcanic island with crystal clear water and bright white sand, just a short boat ride from Suan Yai Bay. Tickets for the boat cost 350 THB return (ÂŁ7.50) and you can buy them on the beach. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can kayak over.
The main reason people come here is to relax and enjoy the incredible water. It’s also a brilliant snorkelling spot as there’s lots of coral reefs surrounding it. Although it’s an uninhabited island, there is a small bar where you can get drinks and snacks.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai, meaning Thai boxing, is the national sport of Thailand and you’ll be able to watch Muay Thai fights in bars and stadiums across the country.
If you fancy learning how to do it yourself, Koh Mak is a great place to learn. The Phoenix Muay Thai Gym runs private and group classes for all levels, even if you’re a complete beginner.
The group classes cost 500 ฿ for 60 minutes, and they take place at 9:00am and 15:30pm everyday except Sunday, when the gym closes for the day.
Snorkelling + Diving
Koh Mak is located in the Mu Ko Chang National Park, which has loads of incredible dive sites.
Koh Mak Divers is the only dive school on the island and they run diving and snorkelling trips mainly around Koh Rang (around 45 minutes away from Koh Mak).
Even if you’ve never dived before, they do introductory lessons where you’ll learn the basic skills before doing your first dive.
Cinnamon Scenic Boardwalk
This 500m boardwalk is located at The Cinnamon Art Resort and Spa on Ao Tan Beach, in the north of Koh Mak.
The resort is no longer open but you still need to pass through it to get to the boardwalk, and you’ll need to buy a ticket to access it. Tickets are 50 THB per person (around ÂŁ1.10).
It’s a nice walk with beautiful views over the ocean, the water here is absolutely incredible, but make sure you go at high tide!
Take a cooking class
One of my favourite things to do when I travel is to take a cooking class. Smile cooking school on Koh Mak is the perfect place to learn how to make delicious Thai food. They run two classes a day – one in the morning from 10am – 2pm, and one in the evening from 3pm – 7pm.
During the class you’ll learn how to make 4 Thai dishes and they’ll provide you with a recipe book so you can recreate them at home. The class costs 1,500 THB (ÂŁ32) pp and that includes transport from your hotel, and all of the ingredients needed to make your dishes.
Visit the nearby islands
Koh Mak is located in the Gulf of Thailand, and is part of a group of more than 50 islands in the Mu Ko Chang National Park.
This part of Thailand was my favourite, as it was a lot quieter than the rest of the country, and away from the main tourist trail. I spent a few days on Koh Mak, Koh Kood and Koh Chang and I’d recommend you do the same.
It’s just a short boat ride between the islands so it makes sense to see a few if you’re coming all this way!
Koh Chang
Koh Chang is the most developed island in this area, there’s more accommodation choice here than on Koh Mak, and although it’s definitely not a party island, there is a bit more nightlife.
The beaches are beautiful here too, and there’s also waterfalls to explore.
Koh Kood
Koh Kood is smaller than Koh Chang but bigger than Koh Mak, and is steadily growing in popularity. The beaches here are absolutely stunning, and probably my favourite out of the three islands.
There’s also a traditional fishing village where you can enjoy a fresh seafood lunch, and incredible mangrove forests you can kayak through.
Best restaurants in Koh Mak
12Bar Koh Mak | This Japanese restaurant was my favourite place to eat in Koh Mak. They serve a selection of meat and vegetarian dishes including sushi, tonkatsu, karage and rice dishes.
M.A. Bistro | I had a delicious dinner at M.A. Bistro, they serve Western/fusion dishes like mushroom pasta, steak, smash burgers and falafel bowls. It’s really highly rated and very popular, so I’d recommend booking a table.
Blue Pearl Bar | Blue Pearl Bar is located at the Cococape resort on their private beach, 200m from Ao Soun Yai beach. The bar is at the bottom of a boardwalk and it’s was one of my favourite places for cocktails at sunset.
Q Bar | Do not miss this place on your trip to Koh Mak, it was one of the best curries I had in Thailand. It’s really popular so you’ll probably need to wait for a table.
Thai Sabai bar | This bar is located on Suan Yai Beach and it was one of my favourite spots for a drink in Koh Mak. They have seats on the sand that are great for watching the sunset, and there’s a really good atmosphere here – there’s always music playing and the owner is hilarious.
White Sand Rooftop Bar & Beach Club | This rooftop was a short walk from my hotel so I went a few times to watch the sunset with a cocktail. It’s split over two floors with tables and comfy chairs, and beautiful views over the ocean.
Where to stay in Koh Mak (best areas)
Travel tip: As Koh Mak is a small island, there’s not loads of choice when it comes to accommodation, so I’d recommend booking in advance so you don’t miss out.
My top suggestion is to stay on Ao Kao Beach (where I stayed). It’s the most popular beach on the island and has the most choice of accommodation. There’s shops and restaurants on the road behind the beach as well so you won’t have to go far if you need anything.
Best hotels in Koh Mak
Lazy Day The Resort
Lazy Day The Resort is where I stayed in Koh Mak. It’s located on Ao Kao Beach, and if you book a beachfront bungalow (where I stayed), you’ll wake up with stunning views of the ocean.
The accommodation is fairly basic but the bungalows have everything you need – you get a small fridge, bathroom, large bed, and a private terrace with sun loungers.
There’s a restaurant and bar and breakfast is included in your room rate, and you can also hire scooters from the hotel which is really convenient when you’ve just arrived and want to start exploring straight away.
It’s a really relaxing and peaceful location and you’ll pretty much have the beach to yourself as other people don’t tend to walk down as far as the resort.
Mira Montra
Mira Montra is one of the few high-end resorts on Koh Mak, and is the perfect place to stay if you want to completely switch off.
It’s the only resort on Ao Pra beach so there’s not many amenities around, but the hotel has a restaurant, private beach access and a large swimming pool.
The rooms are spacious and modern, most of them have sea views and some are located on the beachfront.
How long do you need on Koh Mak?
I’d recommend spending at least three full days on Koh Mak, and then visiting the nearby islands of Koh Chang and Koh Kood. In total, plan to spend a week to ten days across the three islands. It’s a long journey there so you want it to be worth it.
Can you walk around Koh Mak?
Koh Mak is a relatively small island, but not quite small enough to walk around. Most people travel around the island by scooter, but you can also hire bikes and golf carts. The roads in Koh Mak are quiet so driving a scooter here feels really safe.
Is Koh Mak worth it?
Yes, visiting Koh Mak is so worth it. Even though it takes a little longer to get here, the idyllic beaches with hardly any people on them more than make up for the journey, it’s a beautiful island and the perfect place to unwind.
Tips for planning your trip to Koh Mak
Sort your international driving license before you arrive
Scooters are the most popular modes of transport in Thailand, and you need an international driving license to ride one.
Although you probably won’t be asked for it at the hire place, if you get stopped by the police they’ll want to see it.
If you’re in the UK, you can get one in less than 10 minutes by taking your driving license and a passport photo into a post office branch.
Make sure you have travel insurance
You can never predict what might happen whilst you’re in Thailand, so having travel insurance is essential.
I use SafetyWing for my travel insurance – their online dashboardkeeps your documents in one place so they’re easy to find if you need them, you can add extras such as technology cover, children under 10 are free of charge and you can even start the policy when you’re already on a trip (a lot of companies don’t let you do this).
Know the rules with your visa
If you’re travelling from the UK or the US, you can stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without needing a visa. If you stay for longer, you’ll need to pay 500THB for each day you overstay. If you do want to stay for more than 1 month, go to your nearest immigration office to apply for a 30 day extension.
I’ve written a full guide that covers everything you need to know about Thailand visas, and what happens if you overstay.
