Where should I stay on Koh Tao for a diving course?

Sairee Beach. Most dive schools are based there, many bundle accommodation with courses, and being able to roll from bed to briefing to boat is exactly the convenience you want mid-course.

Which part of Koh Tao is best for non-divers?

Chalok and the southern bays for calm swimming and an easy pace, or an east-coast cove like Tanote if snorkelling is your thing — some of the island's best reef sits within fin-kick of the beach.

Is Koh Tao good for families?

Yes, with the right base. Chalok Baan Kao and Shark Bay offer sheltered, shallow water and a quieter scene than Sairee. Just note the island is hilly and taxis are pricey, so pick a bay you're happy to mostly stay in.

Do I need a scooter on Koh Tao?

Not if you stay on the west side — Sairee and Mae Haad connect by an easy flat walk. For the east and south coasts you'll want wheels or boat rides, but be honest about your riding: Koh Tao's hills are steep and its roads unforgiving for beginners.

Where to Stay on Koh Mak: Two Beaches and a Bicycle

A small island that is flat

Koh Mak sits between its two much bigger neighbours, Koh Chang and Koh Kood, and is nothing like either. It is small, low and almost entirely planted with coconut and rubber, and most of it is still owned by a handful of local families rather than by developers.

The practical result is the thing visitors notice first: the roads are flat. On Koh Chang the hills make cycling a joke; here a bicycle genuinely works, and half the island rides one. The other thing you notice is the quiet — the community has deliberately kept jet skis and loud beach development off the island.

Transport

Tickets & connections

Search tickets on 12go

Affiliate link. If you book through it we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Tours

Tours & activities

See tours on GetYourGuide →

Quick guide

Which beach

Ao Kao — the main beach, most rooms and restaurants, sunsets
Ao Suan Yai — longer, emptier, views across to Koh Chang
Ao Nid — the pier side, mangrove and boats, no swimming beach
Ao Pra — the remotest corner, very few places
The island is flat: a bicycle is genuinely useful here

Ao Kao: the main beach, and the sunset

Ao Kao on the south-west side is where most of the accommodation is: a long, shallow, palm-backed beach with a handful of restaurants and bars strung along it, and the island's best sunsets straight ahead of you.

It is the sensible first choice. There is enough here that you can walk out for dinner and have a real choice, the swimming is easy, and the island's small centre with shops and a couple of dive operations is a short ride away.

Good to know

Before you book

Koh Mak is the closest base for snorkelling trips to the Koh Rang marine park.
There is no real nightlife. A few beach bars, and they close early.
Bring cash — card payment and cash machines are limited.
Boats run from the Trat mainland piers and also connect to Koh Chang and Koh Kood.

Ao Suan Yai and the quieter corners

Ao Suan Yai on the north-west side is longer and emptier, with a big view across the water to the mountains of Koh Chang. There are fewer places to stay and fewer places to eat, which is exactly the point for some people.

Ao Nid on the east is the working side, with the pier, some mangrove, and boats rather than sunbathers. Ao Pra in the far south-west is the most remote corner of an already remote island. Wherever you stay, distances are small — the whole island is a bicycle ride across.

Scooters parked along a quiet island road

Frequently asked questions

Which beach is best on Koh Mak?

Ao Kao for most visitors: the widest choice of rooms and restaurants, easy swimming and the sunset. Ao Suan Yai if you want fewer people and a bigger view.

Is Koh Mak good for families?

Very. It is small, flat, quiet, with shallow water and almost no traffic — one of the easiest Thai islands to have small children on.

Can you cycle on Koh Mak?

Yes, and it is the best way to see it. The island is flat and the distances are short, which is unusual among Thai islands.

How do you get to Koh Mak?

By speedboat or ferry from the piers near Trat, roughly an hour. There are also boats to and from Koh Chang and Koh Kood in high season.

Where to stay on Koh Mak