The best things to do in Koh Mak are taking a boat over to Koh Kham, kayaking to Koh Rayang Nok, riding a moped around the island and watching the sunset at Talay Time. We’ve just spent three nights here at Lazy Day Resort, and it was the last island of our trip and my favourite for switching off.
Below I’ll tell you what the island’s like and why it still feels like real Thailand. You’ll also learn about the 16 best things to do in Koh Mak, plus what it all costs, where to stay, how to get here and how long to give it.
I have to say, Koh Mak isn’t packed with attractions, and that’s the whole point. Our hotel had no pool and no bar, so we got straight out on a moped on our first day.
We didn’t get to everything on this list, so I’ve said where we did something ourselves, and the rest comes from my research. We paid for our stay ourselves so this is not a sponsored post.
Just so you know: some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our 600+ free guides going.
What is Koh Mak like?
Koh Mak, or Ko Mak, is a small, flat island in Trat province, between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, near the Cambodian border. It’s about 16 square kilometres, so you can drive all the way around it in about 20 minutes.
It’s an even more rustic, authentic Thai island than its neighbours, which is very rare to find these days. There are no 7-Elevens and nothing westernised, and everybody working here is super friendly. It’s not a party island either, and we were told there’s a sound curfew at about 10pm. I’ve compared all three islands in Koh Chang vs Koh Kood vs Koh Mak.
Why Koh Mak still feels like real Thailand
None of this is by luck. The locals have worked really hard to keep mass tourism out, and the island has won awards for it.
The families who own the island
Most of Koh Mak is still owned by five families, all descended from Luang Prompakdee, who bought the island’s coconut plantations in about 1904. They’ve never sold to outside developers, so there are no high-rise hotels or huge resorts, and most places to stay are small and family run.
The Koh Mak Charter
In 2018 the community wrote its own eight-point charter, and it’s posted up at the piers. The rules you’ll notice are no ferries bringing cars, no jet skis, no foam or single-use plastic, and no loud music late at night, which is where the 10pm curfew comes from.
Thailand’s first low carbon destination
Koh Mak was chosen as Thailand’s first low carbon destination by DASTA, the government’s sustainable tourism body. It’s why you see bikes and golf buggies instead of cars, and why the whole island has its own waste system.
The awards Koh Mak has won
Koh Mak was named in the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories in 2022, and in 2023 it came second in its category at the Green Destinations Story Awards at ITB Berlin, the world’s biggest travel trade fair. It made the Top 100 again in 2025.
Why it can be hard to get a room
Because they’ve kept it small, there are only about 750 rooms on the whole island. When I tried to find somewhere else to stay on our first day, everything was booked up, so book early, especially between November and March.
Is there much to do in Koh Mak?
There’s enough to fill five days, but it’s not the island for a packed itinerary. It’s mostly little islands you can see from the beach, a few great places to eat and drink, and getting out on a moped. If you want loads to do every day, Koh Chang has a lot more to offer without the charm of Koh Mak.
Koh Mak areas to know
- Ao Kao: The long beach on the south west, where we stayed, with the most hotels and places to eat.
- Ao Suan Yai: The long beach on the north west, looking out at Koh Kham.
- Ao Nid: The main pier in the south east, with the museum and a cooking school.
- Laem Son: On the east side, looking out at Koh Kradad, the island with the deer.
Koh Mak’s little islands and beaches
1. Take a boat over to Koh Kham
Koh Kham had by far the best water we saw on the whole trip. It’s super turquoise, and only about 5 minutes away by boat.
The boat cost us 350 baht each, and your ticket gets you a free soft drink or water on the island. Our tip is to ask at Prompakdee Resort rather than the boat office next door. They give you a WhatsApp number, so you can call the guy whenever you want picking up, and it’s basically your own private boat.
There’s an abandoned resort on there too, which was meant to be a luxury resort about 20 years ago. It’s like bunkers inside and had a lot of bad energy, but the island itself is gorgeous. I’ve read the last boat back is at about 4pm.
2. Kayak over to Koh Rayang Nok
We hired a kayak from Hidden Beach Resort and paddled over to Koh Rayang Nok in just 15 minutes, although it took us more like 20 to 25 to get back. It was literally just us and a couple of other women on the whole island.
We paid 600 baht, and that came with four Singhas and two waters, so I’m not even sure we paid for the kayak! You can get a boat over too.
3. Spend a day on Ao Suan Yai
Ao Suan Yai is the long beach on the north west, with Koh Kham right in front of it. I’ve read it’s about 2km of pale sand with shallow water, so go for a swim at high tide.
4. Swim on Ao Kao
Ao Kao is the beach we stayed on, and apparently it’s the easiest one to swim from, whatever the tide. Our end of it was lovely, with no sandflies at all.
5. See the deer on Koh Kradad
Koh Kradad is the flat island off Laem Son, and it’s famous for its herd of around 400 to 500 deer. Apparently a small boat from Laem Son takes about 5 minutes and costs around 350 baht return, and the entry fee includes a tractor ride round to see the deer. Ask at your hotel, because the boats are run by locals.
6. Go snorkelling or diving at Koh Rang
For proper coral, take a day trip to Koh Rang National Marine Park, a short boat ride west. I’ve read snorkelling trips are around 800 to 1,000 baht plus a 200 baht park fee, and Koh Mak Divers do two dives from about 3,100 baht. Check your travel insurance covers you for diving.
Exploring Koh Mak
7. Ride a moped or a golf buggy around the island
This is the first thing I’d do. The roads are flat, with no big hills, and you can hire a moped for 300 baht a day or a golf buggy for 1,000 baht from your resort. As soon as we were happy with our room we went straight out, and we were instantly like, wow, this island’s super cool.
If you do ride, check your travel insurance covers you on a moped.
8. Learn the island’s story at the Koh Mak Museum
The Koh Mak Museum is in an old wooden house over the water at Koh Mak Seafood, by Ao Nid Pier. It was set up by a descendant of one of the old families, and it’s meant to be free, or by donation.
9. Take a Thai cooking class
Smile Koh Mak Thai Cooking School is near Ao Nid Pier. We didn’t do it this time, but it’s on my list for next time.
10. Have a drink at Hidden Beach Resort
Hidden Beach Resort only has about 8 rooms, so we couldn’t get in, but it has a little bar and it’s a nice spot for a drink. The American guy who runs it has been on the island for 10 years and taught us loads about Koh Mak.
Food, drink and sunsets on Koh Mak
Some of the best food of our whole trip was on Koh Mak, and there’s a lot of vegan food here too. I’ve read Pak Pak is a lovely vegan restaurant, with dishes like Massaman jackfruit curry.
11. Have lunch or dinner at Cha Cha Beach Club
Cha Cha Beach Club was amazing. Steve said it was the best gyros he’s ever had, and the drinks are really good. It’s all Western food, and their Instagram says it’s closed on Mondays.
12. Get a sandwich at Ball Cafe
Ball Cafe did the best sandwiches I think I’ve ever had, on homemade bread. It’s on the road behind Ao Kao and does breakfast and lunch.
13. Watch the sunset at Talay Time
Talay Time is an amazing sunset bar we stumbled across at the southern tip of the island, and it felt like a real hidden gem. The drinks were good, but I wouldn’t stay for dinner.
14. Have a drink at Blue Pearl Bar
Blue Pearl Bar is a little wooden bar at the end of a long pier, between Ao Suan Yai and Ao Pra. If you’ve flown through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, you’ve probably seen it already, because that pier has been on the big ad campaigns there.
I’ve read it belongs to Cococape Resort, it’s open from about 10am to 9pm, and non-guests pay an entry fee that includes a drink. There’s no food menu, so eat before you go.
15. Stop at BaanYai Beach Bar, but bring spray
BaanYai Beach Bar is a beautiful beach bar further up Ao Kao, but there were loads of sandflies and mozzies, so we didn’t stay long. Bring spray, and put it on before sunset.
16. Have a massage at your hotel
The best massage I had on our entire trip was at Lazy Day. It cost 500 baht, which was 100 baht more than at White Sands next door, but it was so worth it. We paid 1,500 baht each for one somewhere else, and mine wasn’t anywhere near as good.
What I’d skip on Koh Mak
The long wooden pier at Cinnamon Art Resort is in a lot of guides, but it’s super run down and the resort has closed. It’s about 50 baht each to walk onto it, and there’s a lot of rubbish washed up around it, so I don’t think it’s worth going to.
What things cost on Koh Mak
This is what we actually paid on Koh Mak.
| What | What we paid |
|---|---|
| Boat from Koh Kood | 450 baht each |
| Moped for a day | 300 baht |
| Golf buggy for a day | 1,000 baht |
| Boat to Koh Kham | 350 baht each |
| Kayak and drinks | 600 baht |
| Massage at Lazy Day | 500 baht |
| Massage elsewhere | About 400 baht |
| Lazy Day, 3 nights | Just under AU$400 |
Bring cash too, because I’ve read there’s barely an ATM on the island.
Where to stay on Koh Mak
We stayed at Lazy Day Resort on Ao Kao, and I’d definitely stay again. I thought I’d messed it up when we arrived, because it’s old school beach huts with no pool or bar, but waking up looking at the ocean from our bed was incredible. I’ve written it all up in my Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak review.
See prices and availability at Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak
White Sands next door looks more modern and has a rooftop bar, for about AU$650 for three nights. Friends we met on Koh Kood loved Mira Mantra, with its infinity pool five metres from the beach.
How to get to Koh Mak
We came over from Koh Kood on the Boonsiri boat for 450 baht each, hotel to hotel, and our hotel booked it for us the night before. In high season, book a couple of days ahead.
From Koh Chang, the boats to Koh Kood stop at Koh Mak on the way. It’s all in my guide on how to get to Koh Kood from Koh Chang, and getting to Trat from Bangkok is in how to get to Koh Chang from Bangkok. It’s a long day, so have your travel insurance sorted before you set off.
How many days do you need on Koh Mak?
I’d give Koh Mak about five nights. We had three and could easily have spent a week here. Most people only give it two, which definitely isn’t enough. If you’re island hopping, save it for last like we did, because it really is the proper disconnect island.
When is the best time to visit Koh Mak?
High season on Koh Mak is from November to March, and the dry weather usually carries on into April. The rainy season runs from about late May to October, when a lot of places close. We came at the very start of November, and there weren’t many people around at all.
Is Koh Mak worth visiting?
Yes, Koh Mak is so worth visiting. It feels like real, old school Thailand, and it made me realise this is how Steve and I always used to travel. It’s not the place for nightlife, and that’s exactly how the locals want to keep it. But if you want to switch off completely, you’ll love it.
You can see what it’s like in our reels on Instagram at @itsannieandsteve.
See prices and availability at Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak
If you’re booking a trip to Koh Mak, sort your travel insurance when you book your flights.
Have you been to Koh Mak? Let me know your favourite thing to do in the comments below, I’d love to hear!
Travelling to Koh Kood and Koh Chang as well? Check out my other articles
I only ever write honest content that will help you plan your trip. Below are some articles that might help with the rest of yours.
My Koh Mak articles
- Lazy Day Resort Koh Mak: My Honest Review
- Koh Chang vs Koh Kood vs Koh Mak: Which Thai Island Is Best?
My Koh Kood articles
- The Beach Natural Resort Koh Kood: Thailand’s Hidden Gem
- Where To Stay On Koh Kood: My Honest Hotel Guide
- How To Get To Koh Kood From Koh Chang, ferry times included
