Koh Mak, an island to the south of Koh Chang, is definitely worth a visit if you plan on staying in this part of Thailand for all of your holiday. It is a mid size island which is becoming increasingly popular with families due to it’s deserted beaches and lack beer bars and ugly concrete block hotels.  It’s a haven for people who want to avoid the bright lights and over development of larger islands and beach resorts but still want more than just  a basic  beach hut.

But rather than try to have an extensive Koh Mak section on this site I’ve included a page of basic information.  For more details on Koh Mak, visit my new ( June 2010) Koh Mak website – www.koh-mak.com Between them these two sites will give you all the info you need to know about the island.  The former is better for practical tourist details the latter for insights into the island’s history and living and working on Koh Mak.

The map below shows all the points of interest and resorts on the island.  Click the icons for more info.

Koh Mak is a relatively small, island, far more the typical desert island model than the mountainous Koh Chang and Koh Kood. It lies approximately 20 kilometres south of Koh Chang and covers an area of 16 square kilometres.  It’s roughly 10km wide and 5km from north to south.

And as most development is limited to the western side of the island, no matter where you stay you are always within a walking or cycling distance of wherever you want to go . . . which is just as well as you can’t expect much in the way of public transport. Coconut palms, rubber plantations and dusty dirt roads account for 90% of the scenery on the island with which equates to this not only being a beach destination but one that’s also suitable for people wanting to explore by mountain bike.

There are 2 villages on Koh Mak, ‘Ban Ao Nid’ on the Southeastern coast is home to around 50 families plus the island’s school, temple and clinic and ‘Ban Laem Son’ which lies in the northwest corner of the island away from virtually all of the tourist development.

As you can see from the above map pretty much all the resorts lie on one of the two main beaches.  But as most resorts are relatively small and there is plenty of undeveloped beachfront land, you’re in no danger of feeling as though you are on a busy touristy island even in peak season.  And it is still easy to head off and find a few hundred metres of beach to yourself.

In the northwest of the island  Suan Yai Beach  offers sun worshipper’s the chance to toast themselves along a 2 kilometre stretch of white sand beach. (For a good photo op. head up the ridge at the western end of the beach, to Koh Mak Villa, for an amazing view north towards  Koh Chang.)  From Koh Mak Villa it’s only 5 minutes walk to the southwestern shore of the island where you’ll find Ao Kao beach, the northern stretch of which is the most developed area on the island which small resorts lining the beach and an increasing number of small cafes and restaurants on the main road which runs along the rear of the resorts.

Other areas of the island that you might visit include:

Ao Nid Pier – Located on the east, Ao Nid Pier is the main cargo pier and has good views south to Koh Kood. From the pier, a pavedroad leads to the centre of the island and then branches off to the various beaches. Call into ‘Ball Cafe’ by the pier for internet, bike here and the lowdown on what’s happening on the island. Ball runs the KohMak.com website. The temple overlooking the bay – Wat Samakkeetham – can be visited and you’ll notice that the Buddha images have definite feminine curves and features – in tribute to the founder of the temple, the mother, and grandmother, of many of the island’s current resort owners, who donated the money to build it.

Ao Pai – Located near Ao Nid Pier, another long beach but one with red sand and stones. Nice to walk on with great views of Koh Kood but not ideal for swimming.

Laem Son – An area of pine trees in the north east of the island with good views to the nearby island of Koh Kradad. This is a good area for fishing.

Nearby islands

Koh Kham – This used to be a popular spot to stay, with only one small resort on the private island.  However, the island was sold and it now being developed and having 20 super luxury villas built on it which you’ll soon be able to rent for around 100,000 baht/night.

Koh Pee – Also just off the northwest coast, is this smaller island, which is  more  a very large rock than anything else.  There isn’t much to see above water but it is a good spot to snorkel.  Rent a canoe and paddle here.

Koh Rayang Nai and Koh Rayang Nok – Just off the western end of Ao Kao Beach you’ll see these two small islands. There’s nothing to see on Koh Rayang Nai,  except one shrine in memory of one of the founders of the island. Koh Rayang Nok, on the other hand is home to a small resort ‘ Rayang Island Resort‘ that caters to people wanting to get away for a while and enjoy the simple life.  There’s a lovely little beach with good snorkelling and peace and quiet.

Koh Kradad – Another, larger, private island just off the northeast cost of Koh Mak.  It’s flat and featureless.  But is home to a herd of deer.

Accommodation

Although there are now almost 30 resorts on the island, the better accommodation and that in prime locations often fills up quickly in high season. Many resorts stiull rely on walk in visitors and send staff to the pier to welcome boats and tout for business.  So if you haven’t booked anything in advance but have a couple of places in mind that you’d be happy to stay at then during most of the year you’ll be able to find a room when you arrive.

However, an increasing umber of resorts are taking online bookings and if you want the  best beachfront rooms or  to get a better rate at a more upmarket resort, then it pays to book in advance.  You’ll find several budget and mid-range resorts along with my recommendations in the Koh Mak Hotels section on this site and pretty much all the resorts listed on Koh-Mak.com

Getting to Koh Mak

*The details below are for High Season.  During the rainy season, June – September, not all services run, although you can still get to the island from the mainland.  Boats from Koh Chang to Koh Mak dont operate from June-September. *

From Laem Ngop

By slow boat: Daily departure at 1500, return from Koh Mak at 0800. Takes around 3 hours. 300 Baht

By speedboat: Panan Speedboat Schedule from 1 October 2009 – May 2010.  Ticket price 450 baht/person each way.

Monday – Thursday 2 times a day

Departure from Koh Mak Resort at 9:00 am and 13:30 pm
Departure from Laem Ngop  14:00 pm and 16:00 pm

Friday-Saturday -Sunday 3 times a day

Departure from Koh Mak Resort 9:00 am , 12:00 pm and 13:30 pm
Departure from Laem Ngop  10:30 am 14:00 pm and 16:00 pm

There are also daily speedboat services from Laem Sok, a pier on the peninsula south of Trat.  However, for the vast majority of foreign visitors to the island who are heading this way from Bangkok, the Laem Ngop pier is much more convenient and easy to reach.

From Koh Mak to Koh Kood

By speedboat: From Ao Nid pier daily at 0950 and 1350. Return at 0930 and 1300. Takes around 20-30 minutes. 350Baht ( In 2009-10  high season )

From Koh Chang to Koh Mak

By slow boat: Daily departure at 0900 from Bangbao. Return at 1200. Takes 2 hours. 400 Baht ( in 2009-10 high season )

By speedboat: Daily departure at 1200. Return at 1030. Takes 40 minutes. 600 Baht ( in 2009-10 high season )