Where to stay in Koh Mak

Thailand is a beautiful country with stunning islands and beaches, but it can also be crowded with tourists. If you want to escape mass tourism from places like Phuket or Pattaya, you can visit Koh Mak to explore its pristine beaches, and relaxed atmosphere.

Koh Mak is a small island (around 16 square kilometers), located on the east of the Gulf of Thailand, in Trat Province. It is right next to the more popular Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

There are so many things to do on Koh Mak. You can enjoy the laid back island atmosphere, explore the calm beaches, enjoy delicious local food, watch the stunning sunset, and island hopping.

You can reach Koh Mak from Bangkok by taking a public bus or minivan to Laem Ngop Pier, followed by a one-hour boat ride to the island. Another option is to take a flight from Bangkok To Trat Airport, then take a taxi to the pier, followed by a boat ride to the island.

I had a wonderful 3 day holiday on Koh Mak, and in this article, I will share with you my personal experience on where to stay in Koh Mak, the best beaches and areas to stay on the island.

Best Areas to Stay in Koh Mak

The most popular areas and beaches to stay in Koh Mak are Ao Kao Beach on the South West Coast, and Ao Soun Yai Beach on the North West Coast. These are the main beaches of Koh Mak with lots of resort options to choose from.

There are several hotels and resorts scattered around the island on other locations like Ao Pra Beach and the east coast. It is a relatively small island, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily get around on foot, motorbike, bicycle, and Golf Car.

I prefer staying near the Walking street and Ao Kao Beach because it offers convenient access to all the amenities. I can easily walk to a range of restaurants, massage shops, mini marts, cafes, bike rentals, travel agencies, and beach bars. Ao Kao Beach is also located right next to the walking street.

There weren’t many street lights at night, so being within walking distance of various amenities was helpful. You can also save money if you use a taxi (local songthaew) to travel to the walking street for dinner.

I enjoyed my stay at The River Retreat Koh Mak. It was located in a perfect location just within walking distance from the walking street with a range of amenities and Ao Kao Beach. I will give more detail of my personal experience staying in Koh Mak at the end of this article.

My top hotel picks in Koh Mark:

Best Places to Stay in Koh Mark

1. Ao Kao Beach (South West Coast)

Ao Kao Beach is one of two most popular beaches on Koh Mak. The beach has a long coastline stretching approximately 3 km along the southwest coast of the island (from Big Easy Resort on the western side to Lazy Day The Resort on the eastern side of the beach).

Ao Kao has crystal clear water, fine sand, and a quiet atmosphere. It is lined with all kinds of trees including coconut trees. The beach is ideal for swimming, chilling, sunbathing, kayaking, and taking a long walk. It also has stunning views of the Koh Rayang Nai and Koh Rayang Nook in front of it.

There are several resorts, restaurants, cafes, bars, and massage parlors along the shore. The beach is also home to the pier of Leelawadee Speedboat.

You will first arrive at Ao Kao if you use the Leelawadee boat to get to Koh Mak from mainland Trat, or Kai Bae Hut Speedboat from Koh Chang and Koh Kood. The pier is located in front of Makathanee Resort and within walking distance from the island’s main street.

As Ao Kao Beach is a long beach with resorts scattered around its coastline, I will divide hotels and resorts on Ao Kao into three areas: Central area, Western area, and eastern area.

The Central area of Ao Kao is the most popular location on the beach due to its proximity to the main beach. You’ll see the pier and many resorts located in this part of Ao Kao. I prefer staying in this central location for easy walking distance to all amenities.

In the back of Central Ao Kao Beach is the island’s main street. It is around 1km long street running parallel with Ao Kao (100m from the beach). The street is lined with lots of tourist amenities such as restaurants, massage shops, minimarts, tour agencies, laundries, and motorbike rental services.

There is nothing much on the back street of the western part of Ao Kao Beach. If you are staying at one of the resorts in this part like Big Easy Resort, you need to walk around 10 minutes to reach the main road for restaurants and shops.

There are several big resorts on the eastern side of Ao Kao like Lazy Day, White Sand Beach Resort, or Island Hut Hotel. If you stay at these resorts, you’ll need to walk at least 500 meters inland to the main roads for restaurants, minimarts, laundry services, and other amenities.

The famous place to watch the sunset, Banana Sunset Bar, is located close to the eastern side of Ao Kao beach. Make sure to visit this spot in the late after for the magnificent sunset views.

Where to stay in Koh Mak in Ao Kao Beach:

Places to stay in the Central area of Ao Kao Beach:

Baan Koh Mak

Baan Koh Mak is a nice beachfront hotel located in the central area of Ao Kao Beach. It is just steps away from the main road where you can find a range of restaurants, minimarts, massage parlors, and bike rentals. You can rent an EV golf buggy, scooter, or bicycle to explore the island.

They have nice beachfront bungalows with beautiful ground. The onsite beachfront TaLay Bar is a great place to enjoy a drink and chill at the beach, especially at sunset.

Maka Thanee Resort

This resort is located in the central location on the beachfront area of Ao Kao. It is also steps away from a range of tourist amenities on the main street. The pier is located in the front of the resort, which is convenient for those arriving by speed boat from Mainland and Koh Chang.

By The Sea Koh Mak Boutique Guesthouse

By The Sea is a good hotel located in the central area of Koh Mak. It is right by the beach and is a short walking distance to the main street with various restaurants, grocery shops, and an ice cream shop.

Miss You Beach Resort Koh Mak

The lovely hotel is located in the perfect location, within a short walk to the main street and is right on the central area of Ao Kao Beach. The hotel has an onsite small beach bar with lots of hammocks, and offers free kayaks. You can choose a bungalow with sea views for the best experience.

Resorts in Eastern Ao Kao Beach:

Koh Mak White Sand Beach

This is a beautiful resort located on the eastern side of Ao Kao Beach. The hotel has a beautiful setting and is surrounded by palm trees and coconut plantations. You can choose to stay in a bungalow with a roof terrace and ocean views. Its location is a great place to watch a peaceful sunset.

The hotel has a tennis court, clean pool, well-equipped gym, and beautiful garden. You can rent a scooter or golf buggy to get to the town center for around a 10 minute drive.

Lazy Day The Resort

The resort is located in a quiet area at the eastern end of Ao Kao Beach. It is a good base for a relaxing beach holiday. I recommend renting a scooter to explore the island for 200-300 baht per day, or if you are with family, you can consider renting a golf cart for 1000 baht per day.

Resorts in Western Ao Kao Beach:

Sabai Beach Resort

Sabai is located right on the beach in the western part of Ao Kao Beach. It is around 400m from the main street where you find restaurants and shops. It is in a quiet area but still easy access to all tourist amenities.

BaanYai Koh Mak

BaanYai is a nice beachfront hotel in Ao Kao Koh Mak. It is not far from the main street, where you can find restaurants, massage shops, and minimarts. The hotel has a lovely beach bar and restaurant where you can enjoy the meals, and use their facilities like sunbeds, umbrellas, and chairs.

2. Ao Soun Yai Beach (North West Coast)

Ao Soun Yai Beach is a 2km long beach located on the north west coast of Koh Mak. This is one of the two main beaches on the island, beside Ao Kao Beach.

Ao Soun Yai Beach is home to several big beach resorts like Koh Mak Resort, Seavana, and Prompakdee Kohmak Resort. There are couples of beach bars and restaurants that belong to the beachfront resorts.

They are Pineapple Bar, I Talay near Koh Mak Resort, Seavana Beach Pool-Restaurant and DayBeds Beach Restaurant near Seavana Resort, and Thai Sabai near Prompakdee Resort.

Ao Soun Yai Beach is home to Panan Speedboat Pier, located at the right font of Koh Mak Resort. It is the arrival point for many visitors from Koh Chang and mainland Trat. From this pier, you can book a boat to Koh Kham island.

The beach has white sand, crystal clear water, and is lined with coconut trees and palm trees. It is a good spot for swimming and sunbathing. The beach also has stunning views of smaller islands like Koh Kham island in front of it.

This area is also close to Somchai’s Love Garden, which is one of the must-visit places on the island. It is just 10 minutes walk from Panan Pier and Koh Mak resort. You can admire artwork of the island’s famous artist Somchai.

To reach the island’s main street for more restaurants and shops, you need to take songthaews, rent a motorbike or golf cart. It is just a 5 minute drive away. You can walk during the daytime, which is around 30 minutes.

Best places to stay in Koh Mak in Ao Soun Yai Beach:

Koh Mak Resort

Koh Mak resort is a big resort located on Ao Soun Yai Beach. This is the first resort you will see if you arrive from the mainland by Panan boat, Koh Chang or Koh Kood by Bang Bao Boat.

The resort offers bungalows with a private white sandy beach. It is home to an onsite I-Talay beach bar and Pineapple Dessert Bar where you can enjoy meals, drinks, and watching sunset.

They have spacious bungalow options for families and you can rent a SUP board from the hotel. The minimart, boat ticket counter to Koh Kham, and tourist information center is right next to the hotel.

Seavana Koh Mak Beach Resort

Seavana is a beautiful beachfront resort with a private beach on Suanyai Bay. You can stay in a beautiful seafront bungalow, enjoy the peaceful beach holiday, and explore its facilities like outdoor pool, and its onsite restaurant and bar. It is just 5 minutes drive from the island’s main road for more dining options.

Happy Days Resort

Happy Days Resort is located in a secluded area in the north part of Ao Soun Yai Beach. If you like something remote, this is a good choice. Again, the island is small, so you can easily get around with rental motorbike, golf buggy, or songthaew taxis.

3. Koh Mak Town Center

There are a range of hotels and hostels in the town center of Koh Mak. This is around the walking street and the street connecting walking street and Ao Soun Yai Beach. If the beachfront resorts are too expensive for you, you can find some good hostels and guest houses in this area.

This area is home to lots of restaurants, bars, massage places, laundry, minimarts, and motorbike rentals. Some of the island’s famous restaurants and shops are located in the town center. You can find some good shops here like Mong Kitchen, Totti Rent Scooter, or Jan Jao Massage.

Where to stay in Koh Mak Town Center:

Good Time Sports Village Koh Mak

Good Time Hotel is located inland, on the road connecting Ao Kao beach and Ao Soun Yai Beach. From the hotel, you can easily walk to the walking street, and two major beaches of the island. An easier way to explore is to rent a motorbike and a golf cart.

The hotel has a well-mainted grounds with lots of plants and trees, so you’ll be surrounded by nature so much. They also have an onsite swimming pool, the outdoor gym, and well-decorated rooms.

Hanoii House

This is a lovely boutique guest house located in the central area of Koh Mak. It is midway between two famous beaches on the island: Ao Soun Yai and Ao Kao. You can rent their golf buggy or scooter to explore the island easily. A range of tourist amenities are within a short walk from the hotel.

Baan TaLay Hostel

This hotel is located right at the heart of the main street of Koh Mak. It is a few steps away from a range of good restaurants and Ao Kao Beach. It is a really good base to explore the island. You can rent a scooter from them, or at the Totti rental shop next door.

4. Ao Pra Beach (North West Coast)

Ao Pra Beach is the next bay located to the left of Ao Soun Yai Beach. This area has a quiet atmosphere and there are two major resorts located here including Cococape and Mira Montra Resort. The road to these resorts are lined with rubber trees.

If you want a quiet holiday on a private tranquil beach, these resorts are good choices. You can rent a motorbike and EV golf buggy to get to the main town, which is 5-10 minutes drive away. There isn’t much in the immediate area.

Where to stay in Koh Mak in Ao Pra Beach:

Koh Mak Cococape Resort

This resort is located on the northwest coast of Koh Mak between Ao Pra beach and Ao Soun Yai Beach. It is home to Blue pearl bar and Ao Pra Pier. If you are not staying in this resort, you might pass its gate when visiting Cape Tukata from the main town.

From its gate, you can see the board that said you need to pay a 200 baht entrance fee to the bar if you are an external visitor. You can stay in a nice bungalow with the views of the pier and the ocean. The location is relatively good, which is a few minutes drive to the main town.

Mira Montra Resort Koh Mak

This resort is located a bit further away from the main town, offering a relaxing beach holiday. They offer free shuttle service between the hotel and the pier. They have a private beach area and you can use their paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel equipment for free. It is best to rent scooters or golf carts to get around and explore the island when staying here.

5. South East Coast

South East Coast is the area where you can find popular names like Ao Nid Pier, Koh Mak Seafood, Wat Samakkhitham, and Cape Kradun. Much of the area in this part is surrounded by rubber plantations.

Ao Nid Pier is the main pier of Koh Mak, where you can take Boonsiri speedboat services to other islands in the area like Koh Kood.

There are a range of resorts and hotels on the South East Coast. If you want somewhere secluded and remote, these places are good options. You can rent a vehicle to explore the island easily.

Where to stay in Koh Mak’s South East Coast:

Plub Pla Koh Mak Retreat

This hotel is located in a tranquil area on the south east coast of Koh Mak near Ao Pai and Cape Kradun. If you are looking for a calm, privacy holiday in the middle of the jungle, this is a good choice. It is best if you rent a scooter or golf buggy to explore around.

Koh Mak Buri Hut Natural Resort

This is a good quiet place to have a relaxing holiday on the south east coast of Koh Mak.The resort has an outdoor swimming pool and multiple onsite restaurants.

You can get to other beaches and the main town center by renting a scooter and using songthaew services. The hotel offers shuttle services from the pier.

Seabreeze @ Koh Mak

Seabreeze is a nice accommodation on Koh Mak’s south east coast. It is very close to the island’s main pier and the beautiful Koh Mak temple. The hotel has a swimming pool with views of the ocean.

6. North East Coast

The North East Coast is quieter and further away from the amenities than other beaches on Koh Mak. There are just a few hotels in this area, including Cinnamon Resort, Little Moon Villa, or The Mak Trat.

This area is home to a few secluded and remote beaches like Laem Son Beach, Ao Tan Beach at Cinnamon, and Ao Ta long near Koh Mak Green View Resort.

Of all the attractions in this area, I recommend visiting Laem Son Beach. The beach is home to a nice beach restaurant where you can enjoy the meals and chill at the beach.

From Laem Son, you can book a boat to Koh Kradat island. The road to Laem Son Beach is a narrow dirt road with lots of bumpy sections. I did it on my bicycle, you can manage to do it on a scooter, but avoid visiting after the rainy day.

Where to stay in Koh Mak’s North East Coast:

7. Laem Tukata

Laem Tukata is the south western end bay of Koh Mak. This area is very quiet and there are just a couple of resorts here. To access this area, you will need to drive through the rubber plantation. If you want something remote and secluded, Laem Tukata is a good choice.

Cape Tukata cape is a good place to visit for little rock climbing to enjoy the views of the sea. The small pebble beach next to the cape is a good spot for chill.

If you are staying here, it is best to rent a scooter to get around the island and get to the main town for food. The resort can offer dining options, but there are no independent restaurants or amenities in the immediate area. A drive to the main street is around 10 minutes.

Where to stay in Koh Mak near Laem Tukata:

Where did I stay in Koh Mak? My personal experiences

I traveled to Koh Mak in mid December, which is part of the high season in Thailand. I booked a hotel at the last minute and I didn’t have many options. So, my recommendation is to book your hotel in advance at least a few weeks ahead of your holiday.

The River Retreat Koh Mak was available at the time of my booking and I had a great experience at this hotel. I enjoyed my stay thanks to its central location and cozy rooms.

Location

The hotel is located on the main street of Koh Mak. It is just a stone’s throw away from a range of restaurants, local supermarkets, and shops. Ao Kao Beach is within a 3 minutes walk from the hotel.

I liked to have dinner at Mong Kitchen, rent a bicycle at Totti Rent Scooter, and have a good massage at Jan Jao Massage. All of these places are within a short walk from The River Street.

Amenities

My room was a triple room with a lake view. The room is spacious with one double bed, single bed, and bamboo table and chair. There are amenities such as a mini fridge, a kettle, tea, and towels. The bathroom is also clean and spacious.

I like the deck area with hammock, table, and chair and the views of the garden and the small lake. It was very peaceful and chill seating in this area after exploring the island.

The downside is that there are lots of mosquitoes (like everywhere else on the island). You just need to use the spray insect repellent often and wear long sleeved clothes. Also remember to keep the door open all the time. They have a mosquito net inside the room so you can use it.

Another small problem is that the road to the River Retreat is a dirt road, so it was a bit of a struggle for me to drag my suitcase into the reception area to check in. The staff later helped to carry it to the room. They also helped me to organize a taxi to the pier.

I would stay at the River Retreat again. Its central location right next to the main street and Ao Kao Beach makes it a good base to explore the island. The rooms were comfortable and clean, so it was overall a good choice for me.

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If you are someone who likes a slower pace of life, you should visit Koh Mak. It is a very small island and you will likely bump into the same person many times. It is a good place to experience authentic local life and enjoy a peaceful beach holiday away from the crowds.