Koh Maak

[ThaiPauly]

I have heard that this is a very quiet island, close to my favourite island Koh Chang,very good for relaxing and chilling out.

Has anyone been there or know much about it?

Cheers

TP?

[dantilley]

I spent Christmas 2004 there and had a very good time, I'd love to go again some time.

It's probably the quietest island I've been to, but it still has some kind of infrastructure so you can use the Internet and get cash advances on your credit card, so you're not completely cut off as you are on islands like Ko Wai or (to an extent) Koh Lipe.

I stayed in a great guest house called Sunset Resort; very easy going and with fantastic staff and a great restaurant. Really friendly and down to earth, was a very difficult place to leave! Quite basic and backpackerey, though, so if that's not your thing then there are other more upmarket places on the island.

I must admit that the beaches aren't some of Thailand's finest, but they're OK. Sandflies were also a bit of a problem when I was there. It also takes a while to get to, 4 or 5 hours on the ferry, but if you're planning on being there for a while then that probably won't matter.

All in all, if you're looking to relax and get away from it all then it should fit the bill. But if you want to be relaxing and getting away from it all on a picture postcard beach, then you're maybe better of looking towards Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lipe or Koh Lanta.

[DUMPSTER]

Spent Songkran there. It takes around 2.5 - 3 hrs by ferry, if i remember correctly and maybe 45mins -1 hr by speedboat. It is never 5 hrs unless the ferryman gets lost!! I stayed at Koh mak resort which is on the best side of the island imo. The food was also very good with a nice selection. The island is quite strange in that it is very calm on one side and very blustery, with rough sea, on the other. It's so calm on koh mak resort side that you can go canoeing and it feels like you are on a lake. The beach is also very nice unlike the other side of the island. So if you go make sure you stay koh mak resort side otherwise you will be very disappointed. I have booked to go again.

I also styaed on Koh mun nork, near rayong, last new year and that was very disappointing. Nice beach but very poor service and food from the only resort there. I would not recommend or go again.

Koh mak resort is great for the 3 days/2 night package.

[dantilley]

Spent Songkran there. It takes around 2.5 - 3 hrs by ferry, if i remember correctly and maybe 45mins -1 hr by speedboat. It is never 5 hrs unless the ferryman gets lost!!

Right - I stand corrected. It was almost 2 years ago that I did this ferry journey, that must be why I remembered it wrong!

[Nawtilus]

Its not even 3 hours if it is from Koh Chang, you must have gone direct from the mainland ?? Unless I have my Koh's mixed up, but it is the first stop after departing Chang right ? and possibly an hour maybe 90 minutes.

We stayed here last year, while it was nice, we had kids and the mossies were hot and the island was very hot, no breeze on that side at lleast at that time of year.

We left early and went to another island we knew and like a lot.

I like Maak, particulalry the snorkelling around the pier and lots of fish about, but I think I would stay in the other resort that was a little nicer next time.

[ThaiPauly]

Its not even 3 hours if it is from Koh Chang, you must have gone direct from the mainland ?? Unless I have my Koh's mixed up, but it is the first stop after departing Chang right ? and possibly an hour maybe 90 minutes.

We stayed here last year, while it was nice, we had kids and the mossies were hot and the island was very hot, no breeze on that side at lleast at that time of year.

We left early and went to another island we knew and like a lot.

I like Maak, particulalry the snorkelling around the pier and lots of fish about, but I think I would stay in the other resort that was a little nicer next time.

Are you saying that there are better islands around the area than Koh Maak?

regarding the Mozzies, what time of year did you go?

PS. Thanx to eveyone else for your help too? The more info I can glean the better, the reason I ask is because I am considering buying a holiday home there, which means that I would spend 4 months a year there, no matter what the developers say...its YOUR opinions that will help me make my mind up.

Cheers

TP

[raro]

Been to Koh Maak twice and stood at the Baan Koh Maak. Very quiet island those days (two years ago) but lots of construction going on. If you're looking for a getwaway, the right place to be!

[DUMPSTER]

Are you saying that there are better islands around the area than Koh Maak?

Koh Kood, and Koh Laoya are very nice and better imo

regarding the Mozzies, what time of year did you go?

I had no problems with mozzies. Of course if you wear shorts and sandals in the evening with no protection you will get bitten. But that's just about anywhere in Thailand isn't it?

The more info I can glean the better, the reason I ask is because I am considering buying a holiday home there, which means that I would spend 4 months a year there.

Koh Mak is nice for a short break only imo. If you are looking for some kind of retreat then it could be a possibility. It still isn't that popular like some of the other islands.

I also tried to book into a popular resort on Koh Kood for xmas but was told they are only operating on weekends, Friday and Saturday leave on Sunday. So that Island must be pretty quiet during the week. It appears this small group of islands are basically busy on weekends and public holidays.

Hope that helps

Edited September 25, 2006 by DUMPSTER