Serene, laid-back and very, very tropical, Ko Maak is undoubtedly a jewel in the crown of the Ko Chang island group. The island receives far fewer visitors than Ko Chang so it’s a great place to relax on a quiet beach. Ko Maak has about 500 laid-back locals, most of whom originate from the family of Chao Sua Seng, a coconut baron who settled here about 100 years ago. Today, coconut and rubber trees dominate most of the island’s landscape. Tourism is the growth industry, but Ko Maak is progressing a lot slower than Ko Chang and you get the feeling that’s the way the locals like it — the island has only recently gained 24hr electricity. There are two piers, one at Ao Suan Yai in the island’s north-west and the other at Ao Nid at the south-east. There’s no public transport on the island but all of the bungalow operations and resorts are happy to pick you up from the pier if you call ahead. If you don’t book you’ll no doubt be greeted at the pier by half-a-dozen or so locals, who will tell you what’s on offer at their place and gladly take you there in the back of a pickup or motorbike.
Orientation
Ko Maak is about 40kms south of Ko Chang and is the third-largest island in the archipelago. The two main beaches are sandy, scattered with rock, and sparsely populated with bungalows. Most of the bungalows line Ao Kao in the south-west, while Ao Suan Yai has just a handful. Next to the Ao Suan Yai pier you’ll find the Koh Maak Resort with interent access and postal services at reception. There’s also a dive shop, coffee shop and a rather expensive general store. Next to the Ao Nid pier is a coffee shop with internet access and a cheap local minimart. A stroll from here reveals the Ao Nid Restaurant and a Buddhist temple. In the middle of Ko Maak is a police station, a small medical clinic and the school.