🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Mak is in Trat province, a small star-shaped island sitting between Koh Chang and Koh Kood. It's known for its quiet, clean seas and its low-carbon-island approach. The island has several bays, and the two best known are Ao Kao on the southwest side and Ao Suan Yai on the northwest. Both face west out to sea, so you can catch the sunset from either — but they have different characters. Ao Kao is the busier accommodation-and-restaurant zone, while Ao Suan Yai is longer, quieter, and far less crowded — better suited to anyone who wants open sand and calm.
Read before you go — the real story of Koh Mak
Koh Mak is a long trip: you take a boat from a pier on the Trat mainland (Laem Ngop or Laem Sok), about 45–60 minutes out. 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 on the island and they run dry often, and many places take cash only. Services on the island are limited and shops close early. During the May–October monsoon there's a lot of rain, the sea gets rough, some boat runs are cancelled, and many resorts and restaurants close for the season. If you're going then, check with your accommodation and the boat company first to confirm they're open and boats are running.
What Ao Suan Yai is like, and how it differs from Ao Kao
Ao Suan Yai is one of Koh Mak's longest unbroken stretches of sand, running about 2 kilometres along the northwest shore. The sand is fine and white, the water clear and blue, and the seabed is fairly shallow with gentle waves — easy for swimming. The clearest difference from Ao Kao is that there are only a few beachfront resorts here, clustered along the southern half near the pier, while the northern end is still open sand with no resorts at all. You can walk a long way without seeing anyone. If you like quiet and privacy, you'll prefer this beach.
- Location — on the island's northwest side, facing west out to sea, so you get the full sunset
- Length — the beach runs about 2 km, one of the longest on the island, with the northern half still open sand and no buildings
- Sand / water — fine white sand, clear blue water, shallow with gentle waves — easy for swimming and strolling
- Atmosphere — quieter and more private than Ao Kao, with fewer resorts and restaurants — good for a calm break
- Island off the beach — Koh Kham is visible not far offshore, with fine white sand; you can take a boat or kayak out 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.
Ao Suan Yai pier, where the boats dock
In the middle of Ao Suan Yai there's a wooden pier reaching out into the sea — one of the spots where speedboats from the mainland drop passengers onto the island. If you come in on a boat that lands here, you're right on Ao Suan Yai from your first step, which is handy if you're staying nearby.
- Wooden pier mid-beach — Panan speedboats and Bang Bao boats dock here, dropping people in the middle of Ao Suan Yai
- Koh Mak Resort pier — Koh Mak Resort has its own pier off the beach, handy for onward boats to Koh Chang and Koh Kood
- Check the pier before booking — Koh Mak has several piers (Ao Suan Yai, Ao Nid, Makathanee), and each boat company uses a different one; match it to your accommodation so you don't have to cross the island by road
About the piers and boat schedules
Koh Mak has no car ferry — you leave your car on the mainland and take a passenger boat across. The last boat to the island usually leaves around 4 pm, so if you arrive late you may miss it. Check the schedule with the boat company in advance, and arrange your resort's pickup for the pier your boat actually lands at.
When the beach is at its best
Ao Suan Yai is good all day. Mornings are calm, clear, and very quiet — perfect for a long walk along the sand. The time most people wait for is the evening: because the beach faces west, you get the full sunset over the sea, just like Ao Kao, but in a quieter setting.
- Morning (7:00–10:00) — water at its calmest and clearest, beach empty and barely a soul about — great for walking and photos
- Midday (11:00–15:00) — strong sun, good for a swim, a kayak out to Koh Kham, or ducking into a beachfront spot for a cold drink
- Evening (17:00–18:40) — the golden hour; sunset falls around 18:00–18:40 depending on the season — set up 30–45 minutes before for the best light
Travel season vs. monsoon
The sea is at its clearest and prettiest from around November to April — good weather, all boats running. March–May is hot but good for snorkelling with clear water. May–October is the monsoon: lots of rain, rough waves, water murkier than usual, some boat runs cancelled, and many resorts on Ao Suan Yai close for renovations. If you're going in the rainy season, always call ahead to check your accommodation and the boat schedule first.
Resorts and places to stay along Ao Suan Yai
Ao Suan Yai has only a few beachfront resorts, most of them clustered along the southern half near the pier. Because the beach is long and the resorts are few, each one gets a wide, quiet, private stretch of sand out front. These are the places that come up most often in reviews and are still open. Prices depend on the season and room type, so book ahead in high season.
Seavana Koh Mak Beach Resort
The newest and most modern resort on Ao Suan Yai, with a decent-sized pool, daybeds by the sand, the Daybed restaurant that people praise for its food, and a rooftop for watching the sunset. Review scores on the booking platforms are high — a good fit for couples and anyone after a comfortable stay.
Koh Mak Resort
A long-established resort that's been part of Ao Suan Yai for years. Some bungalows sit right on a private stretch of white sand, and it has its own pier off the beach — handy for connecting onward to Koh Chang and Koh Kood. The grounds are spacious and shaded.
Prompakdee Koh Mak Resort
A small resort just up from the pier, with simple, affordable bungalows and an easy walk to the sand and the pier. A good pick for anyone on a tighter budget who still wants to stay on a quiet beach.
Happy Days
Bungalows at the northern end of the beach, built entirely from coconut wood in a simple style that blends into the surroundings. They sit in the zone where the beach is still open and at its quietest — ideal if you really want to get away from the bustle.
Seaside spots and places to eat around Ao Suan Yai
Because Ao Suan Yai is quieter than Ao Kao, there are only a few beachfront spots here — but enough for an easy meal, a coffee, and a drink at sunset. Many are inside or near a resort. The prices below are rough estimates from reviews and can shift with the season. If you want more options, it's a short motorbike ride over to the Ao Kao area.
Daybed Restaurant (Seavana)
Seavana's beachfront restaurant, often praised for its food. The menu runs to Thai dishes and seasonal seafood, and you can have dinner with a view of the beach and the sunset. There are daybeds by the sand, and in the evening you can head up to the rooftop to watch the sun go down. Open to non-guests.
I Talay
A food-and-drinks spot right on Ao Suan Yai, and a popular pick for a laid-back sunset. There's food and cold drinks, and you can settle into the sand and watch the sun drop below the horizon for as long as you like.
Sabai Bar
A beach bar that's a popular hangout on the Ao Suan Yai side — relaxed and easy, with drinks and cocktails. Good for stopping by in the evening to wait for the sunset, or for staying on after dinner.
Pineapple Cafe
A small café near the Ao Suan Yai pier, focused on coffee, cakes, and desserts. Good for a stop while waiting for a boat or before heading out, with an easygoing, friendly feel.
Things to do at Ao Suan Yai Beach
- Take a long walk — the beach runs about 2 km, and the northern half is still open sand; you can walk a long way and barely meet anyone, ideal morning or evening
- Swim — the water is clear, shallow, and gentle, easy for both kids and weaker swimmers
- Kayak out to Koh Kham — Koh Kham sits not far off the beach with pretty white sand; paddle or take a boat out on a calm day, and check the weather first
- Watch the sunset — the main evening activity; pick a beachfront spot or a resort rooftop and wait for the sun to drop below the sea, quietly
- Rent a bike or motorbike — ride around the island over to Ao Kao and other viewpoints; some roads are dirt and narrow, so go slow
Getting to Ao Suan Yai Beach
Koh Mak has no car ferry — you leave your car on the mainland and take a boat across. From Bangkok, drive or take a coach to a pier on the Trat mainland (Laem Ngop or Laem Sok), then catch a boat over to the island.
- Speedboat — from a Trat mainland pier, about 45–60 minutes (some companies are faster), roughly 450–600 THB per person each way depending on the company and season; some runs dock right at the pier in the middle of Ao Suan Yai
- Catamaran / ferry — companies like Boonsiri and other speedboat operators run from Laem Ngop and Laem Sok, each landing at a different pier; check which one before you book
- Once on the island — many resorts offer pickup at the pier; if not, rent a motorbike or bicycle, as Ao Suan Yai isn't far from the central pier
- Monsoon season — May–October, some boat runs are cancelled; check the schedule with the boat company before you set off, and allow time to catch the last boat around 4 pm
Travel responsibly on Koh Mak
Koh Mak positions itself as a low-carbon island, and waste is hard to deal with because it has to be shipped back to the mainland. Carry a bag for your bottles and straws and take them back with you — don't leave them on the beach. If you're going to snorkel, choose a reef-friendly sunscreen. Respect the quiet of Ao Suan Yai, which is the whole appeal here — 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 — accommodation, beaches, and activities
See the Koh Mak travel guide →