Koh Mak, the betel nut island, is the third largest island of the province of Trat after Koh Chang and Koh Kood. The island resembles a shamrock in shape, lies about 350 kilometers southeast of Bangkok and 35 kilometers from the mainland. It’s size is about 16 square kilometers and a radius of about 27 kilometers and it is not part of the Mu Koh Chang National Park.

Koh Mak, often also written Koh Maak, is in contrast to Koh Chang a flat island. There are some roads on Koh Mak, a few of them are of tarmac or concrete but most of them are dirt tracks. But the island is easily passable with rented scooters for those who have a little bit of experience in riding motorbikes.
On Koh Mak there are some wonderful flat sandy beaches but not all of them can be easily reached. The two main beaches are in the west and in the south of Koh Mak, where almost all of the bungalow resorts are located.
Koh Mak was the first island in Thailand to have wireless Internet, but it was stopped again at the beginning of 2006. Currently there are internet cafes located at the west coast and at the Ao Nid Pier.
There is a big generator on Koh Mak that supplies the island with electricity 24 hours a day.
Also mobile phone connection is available at most of the places on Koh Mak.
Beside a small post office at Koh-Mak-Pier you will find a police box, a medical center and the island school at the road to Ao Nid, where the temple is located.

Koh Mak is the biggest island in Thailand that is privately owned. It is reported that Koh Mak was populated first by Chao Sua Seng, who ran a coconut plantation at the end of the 19th century, during the term of King Chula-Longkorn (Rama V). Later Koh Mak was bought for 300 Chang (the former currency in Thailand, 1 Chang = 80 Baht) by Khun Mae Mulee, the wife of Luang Prompakdee (Plian Taveteekul). Their descendants, who belong to the “Teveteekul Clan”, still own the biggest part of Koh Mak.
Most of the island inhabitants, at the moment around 500 people, are fishermen or make their income from the profit of the coconut and rubber plantations. But because of the increase in tourism since the 80’s, more and more of the locals earn their money from the bungalow-resorts and restaurants on Koh Mak.

The best time for a visit on Koh Mak is between the beginning of November and the end of February. At this time it is relatively cool, dry and mostly sunny.
It gets hotter and hotter until the end of May, but a visit during these months is still pleasant. Even during the monsoon Koh Mak is worth a journey because it doesn’t rain every day all day.

At the moment (May 2005) there are neither banks nor ATMs on Koh Mak, so you should take enough cash money with you if you want to stay on this wonderful island. Some of the bungalow resorts change money and / or traveler cheques but the exchanging rates are worse than in the banks at the mainland or on Koh Chang.

Besides relaxing and reading at the beach you can swim and snorkel at one of the beautiful beaches. There are also 2 diving schools located on Koh Mak, mopeds and mountain-bikes can be rented to explore the island on your own. The small villages, the temple at Aow Nid and the view points on Koh Mak are worth a visit. There is a surfing school, boats can be hired and boat tours are available to the nearest islands. Also apparently archery is possible on Koh Mak and of course traditional Thai massages can be enjoyed.

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