🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Mak sits in Trat province, a small island between Koh Chang and Koh Kood. It's known for being quiet and for sea that's still clean. The island's main beach is Ao Kao, running along the southwest side. The sand here is soft and white, easy on bare feet, and the water stays shallow far out and fairly calm — kids can wade in and weaker swimmers feel safe. Just as important, the beach faces west, which turns the late afternoon into the whole island's sunset spot.
Read before you go — the real deal on Koh Mak
Koh Mak is a long trip. You take a boat from Laem Ngop in Trat, roughly 45–60 minutes. Things cost noticeably more on the island than on the mainland because everything has to be shipped over by boat. Bring enough cash — there are few ATMs and they run empty often, and many places take cash only. During the monsoon, May–Oct, there's heavy rain, rough sea, and some boat runs are cancelled. Plenty of resorts and restaurants close for the season. If you're going in those months, check with your accommodation first that they're open and the boats are running.
What Ao Kao is like, and why it's the main beach
Ao Kao is the longest continuous stretch of sand on Koh Mak. The sand is white and fine, and the seabed slopes out shallow for tens of metres, with water clear enough to see the sand below and only gentle waves — better for an easy swim than the other beaches on the island. Because it's long and shallow, resorts of just about every price band line up along it, which makes Ao Kao the island's accommodation strip, dining strip, and viewpoint all in one.
- Location — the island's southwest side, facing west out to sea, so you get the full sunset
- Sand / water — soft white sand, shallow water that slopes out far, clear, gentle waves — good for swimming and for kids to play
- Facilities — restaurants, bars, a minimart, massage shops, motorbike/bicycle rental and dive shops all in the same stretch
- Islands offshore — you can see Koh Rayang Nok and Koh Rayang Nai not far out, and kayak across on a calm day
Want more out of Koh Mak? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The best time of day at the beach
Ao Kao works all day, but each part of it has a different mood. For the clearest, calmest water, come in the morning before the wind picks up. The time everyone waits for is the evening, when the whole beach faces the sunset together.
- Morning (7:00–10:00) — the calmest, clearest water and the fewest people, good for walking and photos of an empty beach
- Midday (11:00–15:00) — strong sun, good for swimming, kayaking, or ducking into a beachfront spot for a drink
- Evening (17:00–18:40) — the golden hour. Sunset is around 18:00–18:40 depending on the season; grab a seat near the sand by about 17:00 for a good spot
High season vs. monsoon
The calm, clear-water stretch runs roughly Nov–Apr — good weather, boats running on full schedules. May–Oct is the monsoon: lots of rain, rougher waves, water murkier than usual, and some boat runs cancelled. Many resorts on Ao Kao close for renovations during this time. If you're going in the rainy months, always call ahead to check your accommodation and the boat schedule first.
Resorts and places to stay along Ao Kao
Ao Kao has stays across several price bands, from simple bungalows to small beachfront boutique resorts, and most are a few steps from the sand. These are the names that come up often in reviews and are still open. Prices depend on the season and room type, and you should book ahead in high season.
Ao Kao White Sand Beach Resort
One of the best-known resorts right on Ao Kao. Tropical-style bungalows with a pool, the seaside Goodview restaurant, and a rooftop bar. A few steps to the sand, about 15 minutes from the restaurant strip.
Lazy Day The Resort
Easygoing beachfront bungalows on Ao Kao with hammocks out front, leaning into a relaxed, unhurried mood. Good if you want to fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Koh Mak Cococape Resort
Affordable seaside bungalows with a deck for watching the sunset and the over-water Blue Pearl bar under the same group. Snorkel gear available to borrow.
Baan Koh Mak
Air-conditioned bungalows on Ao Kao with the cute little beachfront Talay Bar. Good if you want a simple place close to the restaurant strip.
Makathanee Resort
A beachfront resort with its own Makathanee pier — speedboats from the mainland dock right here, handy if you arrive on that run. Rooms across several price levels.
Plub Pla Koh Mak Retreat
A quiet boutique resort on a small beach on the southeast side (not the main Ao Kao beach), with open views toward Koh Kood and an infinity pool. Good for couples after some peace.
Seaside spots and places to eat around Ao Kao
Behind Ao Kao there's a small road that's the island's restaurant strip. One walk down it turns up Thai food, Isan grill houses, beach bars, cafes and ice-cream shops. These are the places that come up often and are still open. Prices are rough estimates from reviews and may shift with the season.
Ao Kao Beach Club
A beachfront bar and restaurant that a lot of people rate as the easiest place to sit and watch the sunset. Fresh drinks, cocktails, whole young coconuts, punchy Thai food — tom yum is a frequent order. You can sink into the sand and watch the sun drop for a good long while.
Goodview Restaurant
The seaside dining room at Ao Kao White Sand Beach Resort. Dinner with a view of the beach and the sunset, with a Thai and seasonal-seafood menu. Open to non-guests.
Kon Gin Sen
A long-running Isan spot on the road behind Ao Kao, across from Cha Cha. Known for whole fried fish, som tam and sharp-flavoured larb with sticky rice. Open kitchen, friendly prices.
Cha Cha Beach Club
A livelier beachfront spot that's part bar, part bistro, with smoothie bowls, pasta and Thai fusion. There's a happy hour in the evening, plus a pool table and deck chairs out on the sand.
By The Sea
A small, boutique-feel bar on Ao Kao with an indoor bar and an outdoor area of low tables and beanbags. Good for a quiet drink as a couple or small group, with live music on some nights.
Pivo Grill
A grill house on the road behind Ao Kao with draught beer and a simple menu. Good for an easy, wallet-friendly dinner before or after the sunset.
Food Garden
Right next to Kon Gin Sen, with a big choice of grilled dishes and Thai food. You sit on raised bamboo platforms in a garden — easygoing and friendly.
Little Red Oven
A thin-crust pizza spot at the entrance to White Sand Beach Resort, with open-air courtyard seating. Good if you want a break from Thai food and something Western.
Things to do at Ao Kao Beach
- Swimming and beach walks — shallow, gently sloping water with light waves makes for an easy swim, and you can walk the long white-sand beach end to end
- Kayaking — many resorts have kayaks to borrow; paddle out to Koh Rayang Nok and Koh Rayang Nai off the beach on a calm day
- Snorkelling — Koh Mak Divers is near the beach and runs trips to nearby islands. Always check the weather first
- Bike / motorbike rental — cycle or ride around the island to other beaches and viewpoints. Some stretches of road are dirt and narrow, so go slow
- Watching the sunset — the main evening activity. Pick a beachfront spot, order a drink, and wait for the sun to slip below the sea
Getting to Ao Kao Beach
Koh Mak has no car ferry — you leave your car on the mainland and take a passenger boat to the island. From Bangkok, drive or take a coach to a pier around Laem Ngop in Trat, then catch a boat across.
- Speedboat — from a pier on the Trat side (e.g. Laem Ngop), about 45–60 minutes, roughly THB 450–600 per person each way depending on the operator and season
- Slow ferry — runs at certain times, slower but cheaper, good if you're not in a rush; fewer departures than the speedboat
- Once on the island — many resorts have a pickup at the pier; if not, rent a motorbike or bicycle and ride over to Ao Kao, which is close by
- Monsoon season — May–Oct, some boat runs are cancelled, so check schedules with the boat operator before you set out
Travel light-touch on Koh Mak
Koh Mak markets itself as a low-carbon island, and waste is hard to deal with here because it all has to be shipped back to the mainland. Carry a bag and take your own bottles and straws back with you rather than leaving them on the beach. Choose reef-friendly sunscreen if you're going to snorkel. Respect the island's quiet — keep the noise down in the evening — and support local businesses so the island still has life next season.
Plan a full Koh Mak trip — where to stay, the beaches, and what to do
See the Koh Mak travel guide →