• The usual beach items: sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, flip flops
• Refillable drink bottle or cup – NO GLASS/ PLASTIC (we also provide cups at the festival)
• Enough cash (1x ATM on the island that usually never works) and credit card
• Jacket or long sleeve shirt for riding your bike at night
• Coconut oil – works best to keep sand flies off your skin
• Mosquito and bug repellent
• Any special medication you need

There are no banks on the island, but there is an ATM near the police station (it never works). Some of the larger resorts will accept credit cards, exchange money (dollars/ euros/ pounds) or indeed allow cash withdrawal against a credit card, at a surcharge of 2% to 5%.

Globalism has not arrived on Koh Mak yet so you will not find any chain shops like Family Mart of 7/11. Despite you can find many local family-run businesses from minimart and food courts to handmade jewellery and clothes shops. They have most everyday items, but if you know you need something specific and are unsure if the island will have it, bring it with you to be safe. 

This may be a small island, but that doesn’t mean that you have to compromise in terms of cuisine. There is a range of eateries, cafés and restaurants. Here are some of our highlights and recommendations for you to check out:

For brunch, By The Sea hits the spot; The creamiest milkshakes, the huge smoothie bowls, and the filled wraps and panini options.

Ball Café is another quaint breakfast stop off with its fruit shakes, coffee and breakfast sets, and quite possibly the best desserts on the island.

For fresh seafood then the aptly named Koh Mak Seafood is the go-to restaurant. Dine in the Thai-style restaurant offering views of Ao Nid Bay.

Kon Gin Sen serves up the classic Thai favourites and you can get your fix of spicy somtam, grilled chicken and sticky rice.

To satisfy your pizza cravings the Little Red Oven does the job. This pizzeria uses a hot stone oven to create an authentically good thin crust pizza.

Ao Soun Yai beach is a very photogenic location. The prime spot is Day Bed Beach Club, which is the name of the restaurant at the Seavanna Resort that overlooks it all. They have a wide selection so you can expect a mix of Western and Thai dishes.

On the main road you can find the reasonably priced Mong Food Market beside Monkey Island Resort. Try their tasty noodle dishes, and their fresh coconut ice cream for dessert.

Not only is Little Moon the location for our New Year’s Eve party, but it also serves up some delicious Thai classics. The Isan favourite ‘Larb moo tod’ is highly recommended if you enjoy spicy minced pork salad.

Almost every resort rents out motorbikes (200-300THB/ day) or bicycles (100-200THB/ day), just ask your receptionist directly. If you don’t feel like riding yourself you can call the island cabs – 50THB per person per trip during the day and 100THB at night.

Here are some numbers you can call: 

• +66-62-359-8254 Khun Ler
• +66-83-309-6273, +66-98-579-6293 Khun Lom
• +66-62-359-8254 Khun Luap
• +66-61-152-8017 Khun Mos

Most resorts have internet access with wifi in the common areas and rooms. This comes from the telephone companies’ towers, which dot the landscape, so do not expect especially high speed access. Mobile coverage is 3G. Electricity is 24 hours across the island, with just the odd exception.

Koh Mak has a small clinic on the road leading down to Ao Nid Pier and this can deal adequately with the usual day to day problems. More serious cases will involve transfer to Trat on the mainland, where there are two options, the public hospital or the private one, Bangkok Trat. Health insurance is strongly advised. Although the area has not 100% eradicated malaria, cases are extremely rare and anti-malarials should not be required.

• Koh Mak Clinic (Public) – 039 524 042, 089 093 4629, Emergency 1669
• Koh Mak Rescue – 087 905 5886
• Bangkok Trat Hospital (Private) – 039 532 735
• Trat Hospital (Public) – 039 511 040/1

Koh Mak is known as Thailand’s “eco island”, through their low carbon project, the island’s community have agreed on a set of rules to preserve its beauty for future generations. They include the prohibition of foam packaging, the discouragement of engine-powered water sports such as jet skis and banana boats, opposition to tourists bringing vehicles to the island, avoidance of agricultural chemicals, and a ban on 24-hour convenience stores. 

  With this in mind please participate to maintain this hidden paradise: 

• Use our FTTM tote bag (or any other cloth bag) to go shopping
• Respect our waste separation (food waste/ plastic/ bottles/ cans)
• Don’t throw cigarette buds on the floor/ beach
• Return any empty bottles/ cups to the bar
• Participate in Trash Hero beach clean up