Koh Mak Travel Guide: Getting There, Beaches, Where to Stay

Koh Mak is a small island in Trat province in eastern Thailand, between Koh Chang and Koh Kood. Wikipedia gives its size as about 16 km² and describes it as the third-largest island in Trat province after Koh Chang and Koh Kood. Most visitors reach it by speedboat from the mainland near Trat in roughly 50 minutes. There is no car ferry, no nightlife to speak of and no ATM, so it suits people who want long beaches, a bicycle and not much else.

This guide sticks to facts we checked on 16 October 2026 against the sources listed above, hotel websites and the operators' own pages. Where sources disagree we show both numbers and say so. For a comparison of beaches and hotels read where to stay in Koh Mak, or the Thai version, ที่พักเกาะหมาก.

The island in brief

The counts of places to stay differ because they were written in different years and count different things. Treat them as "a few dozen at most", not as a guarantee of choice.

Getting to Koh Mak

Most trips follow the same route: Bangkok to Trat by road or air, to a mainland pier, then a boat. Koh Mak has three main landing points. The Koh Mak Resort pier at Ao Suan Yai and the Makathanee pier at Ao Kao are used by the speedboats, and Ao Nid in the southeast is the island's largest pier and the usual stop for the Boonsiri catamaran, according to koh-mak.com.

Sources disagree here, and you should know where:

• Which pier. Hotel sites send guests to Laem Ngop (Krom Luang) pier, while Boonsiri and 12Go use Laem Sok pier. Both are mainland piers near Trat. Confirm the pier on your ticket before you leave Trat.
• Fares. koh-mak.com and Baan Koh Mak quote THB 450 per person one way. Koh Mak Resort quotes THB 450 one way and THB 800 return on a page marked as updated in 2019, while Islanda and Cococape quote THB 1,100 return. Fares and seasons change, so treat all of these as indications, not prices.
• When the boats stop. koh-mak.com says in one place that the boats between Koh Mak, Koh Chang and Koh Kood stop from June to September, and in another that they stop from June to October, while mainland boats to Koh Mak still run. Ask your hotel for the current schedule.

The booking button on this page opens the 12Go Bangkok to Koh Mak page, which lists real operators (we opened it in a browser on 16 October 2026). It is a partner link, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Most resorts arrange a free pickup from their own pier if you tell them your boat in advance (Baan Koh Mak, White Sand and others say so on their sites).

Getting around the island

The island is flat and small. Wikivoyage says motorbikes and bicycles can be rented at many places, and most beaches and restaurants are within walking distance of each other. koh-mak.com describes a pickup-truck taxi at a flat fare and says resorts in quiet corners provide free transport to the main beaches; Seavana says public taxis run from 9 am to 10 pm. These notes are undated, so ask your hotel what runs today.

The beaches and where people stay

Hotel and guide sources split the island into three areas, which our stay guide uses too.

• Ao Kao, southwest. koh-mak.com says most resorts line this long southwest-facing beach, with small restaurants and shops on the road behind it. This is the practical base.
• Ao Suan Yai, Ao Pra and the headland between them, northwest. A long curving beach with sunset views, plus quieter Ao Pra.
• The north and east shore. Darker sand, mangroves and tracks through fishing and rubber-farming hamlets. Few resorts, so very quiet.

What there is to do

Activity listings on hotel sites and guides cover snorkelling, sea kayaking, cycling, diving, Thai cooking and Muay Thai classes. Wikipedia and Wikivoyage mention that Koh Kham, a small island less than 1 km to the northwest, can be reached by kayak or on foot at low tide, and Wikivoyage warns about sea urchins on its rocks. Wikipedia adds that locals run weekend beach cleanups with Trash Hero. Do not expect a party scene: Seavana's FAQ says some bars stay open until midnight to 2 AM and most are chilled.

Money, power and health

• Cash. Wikivoyage and koh-mak.com both say there is no ATM on the island. koh-mak.com adds that the larger resorts take credit cards and may give a cash advance for a fee. Pay in advance or bring enough baht from the mainland.
• Power. Seavana and Makathanee say electricity runs 24 hours; koh-mak.com says the island joined the national grid by undersea cable after 2016.
• Health. koh-mak.com says there is a small clinic, no pharmacy on the island and that travel insurance is recommended. Bring any prescription medicine with you. This information is undated, so check with your hotel.
• Sand flies and jellyfish. koh-mak.com mentions sand flies on quiet beaches and rare box jellyfish sightings since 2007.

Seasons

Hotels and operators split the year into a high season and a low season, but not on the same dates: Baan Koh Mak lists high season as 1 October to 31 May and low season as 1 June to 30 September, while Boonsiri's 2026 timetable lists a high season from 1 January to 31 May and a low season from 4 June to 30 September. The wet months bring rougher seas and fewer boats, and some bungalows close. Check the Thai Meteorological Department and read Thailand's best time by region before you fix dates.

Where to stay

The stay guide compares the three areas and lists 12 hotels, every fact checked on each hotel's own website. Not every hotel is on the sand: some sit on a ridge or hill, and one takes direct bookings only with a five-night minimum, so read the cautions on each card.

Nearby

• Koh Chang: the bigger island to the north, with a longer list of hotels
• Where to stay in Koh Chang
• Which Thai island suits you
• Getting around Thailand
• Thailand overview

FAQ

Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.