The beautiful island of Koh Mak

Having seen the beauty of some of the other islands in and around Koh Chang, we decided to visit the island of Koh Mak, (sometimes spelt Koh Maak)

Map of Koh Mak

about 2 hours south by boat (Island Hopper) from the port of Bang Bao on the furthest SW point of Koh Chang. About 16 sq kilometres and with a population of only around 500, it is a low-key resort and almost completely unspoilt by development. Accommodation on the island was fairly basic, mostly beach front huts

Our first beach hut on Koh Mak (Koh Mak ...

with cold water shower. However, the basic level of accommodation was more than compensated for by the beauty and peacefulness of the place

and five days gently slipped by with one change of hut (to TK Hut on te south west of the island)

and one day's exploration by motorbike. Fortunately the island was pretty flat as we hired a bike with no front brakes.

The island is easy to get around, connected by decent roads linking all parts. The interior is largely rubber plantation and coconut trees.

View from the peak of koh Mak

The beaches are typically lined by tall elegant coconuts, the only hazard being the serious possibiity of dropping coconuts. I told Alan he couldn't get hit by a falling coconut as a) it would almost certainly kill him and b) imagine telling everyone your husband had been killed by a coconut - what a daft way to go!! However funny it may sound, it is true to say that numerous people do actually suffer this terrible fate every year although official statistics are hard to come by. Personally, as I've possibly said before, I'm more wary of the numerous lethal snakes that make these islands their home. We are also finding that (I'm guessing they're harmless) Geckos enjoy the comfort of indoors although they can produce some extremely strange and disconcerting sounds.

The Lonely Planet guidebook says that the island is really the weekend playground for Thai people from Bangkok but our experience was otherwise. It wasn't busy (we couldn't figure out where everyone went during the day) but there was a smattering of Germans, Dutch, French and English tourists who probably outnumbered the Thais. And, indeed, contrary to LP it does seem perfectly possible to just arrive and find accommodation as it isnt all booked out by tour groups. However, capacity on the island is limited and there are very few 'upmarket'/luxury resorts, mainly because apparently, one man owns about 90% of the island and he vets all development and investors first. It seems, fortunately however, that he is keen to retain the quiet, unspoilt feel of the place.

Feb 14, 2007

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