Koh Mak Island Escape

By Paula Parker

Koh Mak is a wonderful destination for an island escape, and more so if you are in search of somewhere to relax that so far hasn’t been overdeveloped or overrun with mass tourism.

The small, picturesque Island of Koh Mak is situated in the eastern Gulf of Thailand between the larger islands of Koh Chang and Ko Kut.

After an incredible journey through Cambodia, we were looking for a peaceful island escape, a place where we could relax and recuperate before making our way back to Phuket.

We considered staying on the larger Islands of Koh Chang or Koh Kut, but after some research, we finally decided that the smaller Island of Koh Mak was what we needed.

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Koh Mak is not a party island like Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan or Ko Phi Phi.

So if you are looking for full moon parties, nonstop nightlife, girly bars, noisy jet skis, and banana boat rides, this may not be the type of Island escape you are looking for.

What you will find at Koh Mak is an island paradise, a peaceful oasis with unspoiled, mostly deserted, palm-fringed beaches, scenic beach bars and restaurants, and, throughout the interior, coconut groves and rubber plantations.

Koh Mak Beaches

Whilst there are many hidden beaches at Koh Mak, the three nicest beaches are Ao Suan Yai Beach, Ao Phra Beach and Ao Kao Beach.

Ao Suan Yai Beach

Ao Suan Yai Beach is located on the northwest coast with stunning views across to the picturesque island of Koh Kham.

The long, curved bay is one of the best beaches on Koh Mak for sunset views.

Ao Phra Beach

Ao Phra Beach is also located on the northwest coast, at the eastern end of Ao Suan Yai.

There is a headland and the Cococape Resort, which separates the two beaches.

Whilst this beach is not one of the two main beaches, we found it to be one of the best beaches on Koh Mak.

Ao Kao Beach

Ao Kao Beach is located on the southwest coast with views across to Ko Rayang Nai and Ko Rayang Nok.

Ao Kao is the most popular and liveliest area on Koh Mak as it has the highest concentration of accommodation, restaurants, and cafes.

Where to stay on Koh Mak

Happy Days Resort at Ao Suan Yai Beach Koh Mak

Koh Mak has a variety of accommodation options from basic bungalows to boutique resorts.

The beachfront at Ao Suan Yai is home to some very good accommodation, including the boutique Seavana Resort and Koh Mak Resort.

These two resorts take up the majority of the beachfront. At the northern end of the beach, you will find the beachfront bungalows of Happy Days Resort.

Ao Kao has a lot more accommodation options to choose from to suit all budgets. You can see the full list of resorts and bungalows on Koh Mak.

Overall, our personal favourite and the best resort on Koh Mak is Mira Montra The Beachfront Resort, which is located on Ao Phra Beach. The resort is ideal for couples or for those travelling with kids.

Getting around Koh Mak

Cinnamon Boardwalk at Ao Taan Beach, Koh Mak

Ko Mak can be explored by motorbike or bicycle; the island is relatively flat with lots of paved pathways, which are ideal for either motorbike or bicycle.

Because of the heat, we decided to hire a motorbike; we didn’t have too many issues navigating our way around the island.

However, I must admit we did get lost a couple of times.

On the upside, by getting lost, we found so many amazing places, enjoyed incredible views, found hidden beaches, and came across the most unusual sculptures.

Things to do and see at Koh Mak

The best thing to do at Koh Mak is to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility, but if that gets a little too much, there are a few activities and places to explore.

Explore the Island of Koh Kham

A must-do when staying at Koh Mak is to explore the small, picturesque island of Koh Kham with its powder-soft white sand and crystal-clear water.

The island is great for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

There is no accommodation on Koh Kham, just an unfinished resort, which is interesting to walk through. There is also a small beach hut that sells soft drinks and water.

To enter Koh Kham, you will have to pay an entrance fee of 200 Baht per person on arrival, which includes a complimentary drink.

Koh Kham can be easily reached by kayak from Ao Suan Yai Beach in less than 20 minutes. If you are not up to kayaking, you can take a boat from Koh Mak Resort.

Kingdom of Somchai’s Affection at Koh Mak

During our time exploring Koh Mak, we came across some unexpected and very graphic sculptures.

We later found out from a local that what we had found was an abandoned art garden known as the Kingdom of Somchai’s Affection.

The art garden is not far from Koh Mak Resort on the road that leads to Happy Days Resort. This is worth checking out, but make sure you wear some mosquito repellent, or you will get eaten alive.

Activities at Koh Mak

There are also quite a few activities available at Koh Mak. Here are a few suggestions

hire bicycles or a motorbike to explore the island
Take a bicycle tour
Visit Koh Mak Temple
Muay Thai Classes
Diving or Snorkeling Tours
Stand-up paddleboarding
Kayaking
Windsurfing
Thai cooking classes

Koh Mak Travel Tips

There are no 7-Elevens on Koh Mak but there are a couple of small local convenience stores that sell basic supplies such as water, snacks, toothpaste, sunblock, and mosquito repellent.

There is one ATM at Koh Mak, but as we found out, it hardly ever works, so take enough cash for your entire stay. Some of the larger resorts take credit cards, but always check before you arrive.

Sandflies and mosquitoes can be a problem on Koh Mak. However, just remember to use mosquito repellent and coconut oil, which we found stopped us from getting any bites.