🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
First, let's be honest: getting to Koh Mak takes effort. You catch a boat from Laem Ngop pier in Trat province, which takes around 45 minutes to an hour, and during monsoon season from May to October, boats run far less often and many hotels and restaurants close for long stretches. If your plan is to photograph a calm sea at sunset, November to April is when the skies are clearest and the water is at its stillest.
Koh Mak's geography really helps with photos. The west side of the island (Ao Kao, Ao Suan Yai, Ao Phrao) faces straight into the sunset, while the east side is quieter and better suited to morning shots. The island is flat and easy to cycle, so you can hop between several spots in a single evening without much effort.
Ao Kao Beach — the most convenient base and the leaning coconut palm
Ao Kao sits on the southwest side, a long stretch of white sand where the water stays shallow before it gradually deepens, with gentle waves and easy strolling. It's the part of the island with the most hotels, restaurants, and beach bars. The signature shot at Ao Kao is the coconut palm leaning out over the sea that plenty of people come specifically to photograph, especially in the late afternoon when the light turns golden.
- Faces west — you get the sunset straight on, though a small island blocks the horizon from a few angles
- Wooden jetties in front of the resorts (like the Makathanee area) — walk out for leading lines of weathered planks against clear water
- Beach bars — several spots to sip a drink while you wait for the evening light, good for groups of friends or couples
- Beginner-friendly — better facilities than the other beaches, so if it's your first time on Koh Mak, this is the easiest place to start
Shooting the leaning coconut palm
Arrive about an hour before sunset and you'll catch both the golden light and water that hasn't dropped too far. If the tide goes out hard, the sand turns muddy and the reflections disappear. Checking the tide table beforehand really pays off.
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 — the best sunset spot on the island
Ask anyone who lives on the island where to watch the sunset and most will say Ao Suan Yai, on the northwest side. It's a long curving beach that faces fully west with an open, unobstructed horizon, and you can see Koh Kood, Koh Wai, and Koh Chang in the distance. When the sky is clear, the light pours across the whole beach until the water glows orange-gold.
This stretch has resorts like Seavana and Cococape with wooden jetties and seaside bars, so you can order a drink and sit waiting for the evening light. At the western end of the beach near Islanda there's a small rise that overlooks the entire length of the sand — a panoramic angle a lot of people love.
Cococape jetty (Blue Pearl)
A simple wooden pier reaching out into the sea, with a small bar at the end — great for silhouettes against the evening sky
Beach in front of Seavana
Fine sand and beach chairs, perfect for watching the sun go down with a drink in hand — good for couples
Hilltop angle at the far end (near Islanda)
Overlooks the long sweep of beach and the surrounding islands — ideal for panoramic shots in the late afternoon
The Cinnamon wooden bridge (the Bridge of Dreams)
At The Cinnamon Art Resort there's a wooden bridge stretching several hundred metres out over the sea, with a swing and a hammock at the end for photos. It's become a photo landmark people know as the 'Bridge of Dreams'. Walk to the far end and the water surrounds you on all sides — it works in the bright midday light and again just before sunset as the sky starts to change colour.
Straight talk
This bridge is inside a resort, and parts of it are reserved for guests at certain times. If you're not staying there, ask the resort first whether you can come in to shoot and whether there's an entry fee. Don't climb on or sit in the swing beyond the stated weight limit, for your own safety.
Laem Tukkata — rocks and clear water in the evening
Laem Tukkata is on the west side of the island, a rocky cape with a small pebble beach that has a different feel from the white-sand stretches. In the evening the light reflects off the clear water and the rocks, perfect for quiet, uncrowded photos. It's a spot a lot of couples like to come and shoot.
- Rocky, pebbly ground — wear comfortable shoes and watch for slippery footing at high tide
- Few people — good for anyone who wants calm and isn't keen on competing for angles
- Lovely evening light — come close to sunset for warm tones on the water and the rocks
Quiet spots on the east side — Ao Nid and Ao Lom
The east side of the island — places like Ao Nid and Ao Lom — is much quieter. Ao Nid pier is where some boats come and go, with a long wooden jetty for minimalist shots. This side faces east, so it suits early-morning photos or capturing a still sea mid-morning more than it does sunsets.
Planning one evening to hit several spots
The island is flat and cycling across it doesn't take long. Try starting at Ao Kao in the afternoon, then slowly work your way over to finish at Ao Suan Yai for sunset — that way you get both the leaning coconut palm and the open horizon in one day.
Travelling responsibly + what to know
- Bring cash — goods and services on the island cost more than on the mainland, ATMs are limited, and many places take cash only
- Pack out your rubbish — Koh Mak markets itself as a low-carbon island, so carry a bag for your own waste and don't leave it on the beach
- Check the weather before swimming or diving — especially outside peak season, when wind and waves change fast; always ask the boat crew or your resort first
- Bring a torch or phone light — some roads have no lighting, and cycling back after sunset gets dark quickly
- Respect resort property — many wooden jetties and bars sit inside resorts, so if you're not a guest, buy a drink or ask before coming in to shoot
Plan a full trip around Koh Mak
See the Koh Mak guide →