Koh Chang vs Koh Mak: Which Is Better for a Holiday?
Koh Chang vs Koh Mak: big jungle island or small, slow escape
Koh Chang and Koh Mak are neighbours in Trat province, only 30 minutes to an hour apart by boat. They offer very different holidays.
Koh Chang is big, mountainous and busy. It has jungle waterfalls, nightlife and hundreds of hotels. Koh Mak is small, flat and quiet. You can cycle around it, kayak to a tiny island and spend the evening at a sunset bar.
This guide compares them on getting there, beaches, activities, getting around, food, halal options and cost. It ends with a clear verdict.
- The main Koh Mak guide is a year old. I Am Koh Chang's Koh Mak guide was last updated in October 2025. Its prices may have gone up since then.
- No single source compares daily costs. For Koh Chang, Visit Thailand Today puts a budget day at about ฿1,100 and a mid-range day at about ฿2,800. For Koh Mak, I Am Koh Chang gives separate room and food figures. I've used those instead.
- Ferry prices to Koh Mak differ by source. Explore Koh Chang (updated 19 October 2026) lists ฿550 from Laem Ngop. 12Go lists a slow boat at ฿300 and speedboats from ฿450. I've used the newer Explore Koh Chang prices.
- Several boats are suspended or seasonal. Explore Koh Chang says some Laem Ngop sailings are "suspended indefinitely." Most island-hopping boats stop from June to September.
- No halal restaurants found on Koh Mak. I couldn't find any halal or Muslim-friendly restaurants listed on the island. Koh Chang has a few Muslim-friendly options on White Sand Beach, such as Taste of India and Alaturka. None are certified.
Koh Chang vs Koh Mak at a glance
| Factor | Koh Chang | Koh Mak |
|---|---|---|
| Size and feel | Thailand's second-largest island, mountainous and busy | About 16 km², flat and quiet |
| Getting there from Bangkok | Wins. 999 bus ฿329 plus car ferry ฿90 | Bus to Trat plus boat ฿550 |
| Mainland boat | Wins. Car ferry, about 30 to 45 minutes, runs all year | Passenger boats only, ฿500 to ฿550, 30 to 60 minutes |
| Beaches | White Sand, Klong Prao, Kai Bae | Wins. Ao Suan Yai and Ao Kao, calm and uncrowded |
| Water for kids | Some beaches have strong waves in low season | Wins. Very shallow and calm |
| Nature and waterfalls | Wins. Jungle, Klong Plu and Than Mayom | Flat coconut and rubber plantations, no waterfalls |
| Things to do | Wins. Snorkel trips, mangroves, Bang Bao, trekking | Kayaking to Koh Kham, snorkelling, diving, cooking class |
| Nightlife | Wins. Lonely Beach bars and fire shows | A few small sunset bars |
| Restaurants | Wins. Many Thai and international restaurants and night markets | Smaller choice, but enough for a short stay |
| Getting around | Hilly roads, scooter ฿200 to ฿300 a day | Wins. Flat, bicycle ฿150 to ฿200 a day, songthaew ฿50 |
| Muslim-friendly food | Wins. A few options on White Sand Beach | None found |
| Budget room per night | Wide choice at every price | About ฿800 to ฿1,400 |
| ATMs | Wins. Many along the west coast | One ATM, often empty |
| Ideal stay | 3 to 5 nights | 3 to 4 nights |
| Best for | First-timers, families wanting activities, nightlife | Couples, cyclists, quiet beach breaks |
Cost row highlighted. Koh Mak size and prices from I Am Koh Chang.
Getting there
Boats to Koh Mak leave from Laem Ngop and Laem Sok
Koh Chang is easier to reach. The 999 bus from Bangkok's Ekkamai or Suvarnabhumi costs ฿329. The car ferry adds ฿90. The trip takes about 6 hours. The car ferry runs all year.
Koh Mak has no car ferry. Explore Koh Chang lists these boats:
- Laem Ngop to Koh Mak: ฿550, 50 to 60 minutes
- Laem Sok to Koh Mak: ฿500 to ฿550, 30 to 45 minutes, with Koh Kut Express, Boonsiri or Chonratee
- Boonsiri bus and boat combo from Bangkok: ฿1,100 all-in
You can also fly Bangkok Airways to Trat. A private transfer from Trat Airport to Laem Ngop costs ฿975.
Verdict: Koh Chang is cheaper and easier to reach.
Beaches
Ao Suan Yai, Koh Mak's best beach
Koh Mak wins for calm, quiet beaches:
- Ao Suan Yai: about 2 km of white sand with calm water and sunset bars, according to I Am Koh Chang. Explorer Tom calls it the island's highlight.
- Ao Kao: the busiest beach, with restaurants, cafés and bars
- Ao Pra: quieter, with very clear water
Explorer Tom warns that Koh Mak's beaches are very shallow. At low tide, you may have to walk a long way out before the water gets deep enough to swim.
Koh Chang has longer, busier beaches. North White Sand Beach has the best sand. Kai Bae and Klong Prao are quieter.
Verdict: Koh Mak for calm, empty beaches. Koh Chang for proper swimming.
Nature and activities
Kayaking to Koh Kham is a Koh Mak highlight
Koh Chang wins. It's covered in jungle, with waterfalls like Klong Plu and Than Mayom. There are snorkelling trips, the Salak Khok mangroves and the stilt village of Bang Bao.
Koh Mak is flat, with coconut and rubber plantations and no rivers. I Am Koh Chang lists these activities:
- Kayak to Koh Kham: kayak hire ฿150 an hour, plus an island entrance fee of about ฿200
- Koh Rang snorkelling trip: ฿800 to ฿1,000, plus a ฿200 marine park fee
- Diving with Koh Mak Divers: 2 fun dives from ฿3,100
- Smile Cooking School: about ฿1,500 for four dishes
Explorer Tom says kayaking to Koh Kham was his personal highlight.
Verdict: Koh Chang for adventure. Koh Mak for gentle days on the water.
Nightlife and restaurants
Evenings on Koh Mak mean sunset drinks by the sea
Koh Chang has the Lonely Beach bar scene, fire shows, night markets and many restaurants.
Explorer Tom says "there simply isn't much happening" on Koh Mak at night. Evenings mean dinner and a drink by the sea. I Am Koh Chang lists sunset bars like Talay Time and The Coral Club. Explorer Tom says he never felt he was missing anything over four days.
Verdict: Koh Chang for evenings out. Koh Mak for quiet sunsets.
Getting around
Koh Mak is small and flat enough to cycle
Koh Mak is easier. It's small and flat. I Am Koh Chang lists these prices:
- Bicycle: ฿150 to ฿200 a day
- Scooter: ฿250 to ฿300 a day
- Songthaew: about ฿50 per person to most places
Koh Chang's roads are steep and winding. Shared songthaews run along the west coast. Visit Thailand Today lists scooters at ฿200 to ฿300 a day.
Verdict: Koh Mak for easy cycling.
Halal food and Muslim-friendly travel
Neither island is easy for halal food. On Koh Chang, Taste of India and Alaturka on White Sand Beach are the best Muslim-friendly options.
On Koh Mak, I couldn't find any halal restaurants. I Am Koh Chang lists Pak Pak Vegan, which is a safe choice for vegetarian meals. Seafood restaurants like Koh Mak Seafood in Ao Nid are another option. Ask about pork and cooking oil before ordering.
Verdict: Koh Chang is easier. On Koh Mak, bring snacks and stick to vegetarian or seafood dishes.
Hotels and cost
Koh Mak prices from I Am Koh Chang:
- Simple fan or air-con bungalow: ฿800 to ฿1,400 a night
- Mid-range beachfront room with breakfast: ฿2,800 to ฿4,500 a night
- Food for a solo budget traveller: ฿200 to ฿400 a day
Koh Chang has the widest choice of hotels. Visit Thailand Today puts a budget day at about ฿1,100 and a mid-range day at about ฿2,800.
Verdict: both are good value. Koh Chang has more budget choice.
Which should you choose?
Choose Koh Chang if:
- It's your first island trip in Trat.
- You want waterfalls, jungle and lots of tours.
- You want restaurants, nightlife and ATMs nearby.
- You want easier halal-friendly food.
Choose Koh Mak if:
- You want a quiet, slow beach holiday.
- You like cycling and kayaking.
- You're a couple looking for sunsets and peace.
- You have young kids who need calm, shallow water.
Can you do both? Yes. Boonsiri runs from Koh Chang to Koh Mak for ฿600, taking about 1 hour. The Koh Chang Express speedboat costs ฿600 and takes about 30 minutes. Both run mainly from November to May.
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Bring cash to Koh Mak. The single ATM is often empty.
- Go between November and April. Many Koh Mak resorts and boats close or cut services from May to October.
- Check the tide before swimming at Ao Suan Yai.
- Plan your meals. Halal food is very limited on both islands.
- Combine both islands. Spend 3 nights on Koh Chang for activities, then 3 nights on Koh Mak to relax.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting nightlife on Koh Mak.
- Arriving at Laem Ngop after the last boat to Koh Mak.
- Planning to island-hop between Koh Chang and Koh Mak from June to September.
- Running out of cash on Koh Mak.
Sourced from I Am Koh Chang Koh Mak Island Guide, Explore Koh Chang How to Get to Koh Mak, Explorer Tom Koh Kood or Koh Mak, 12Go Koh Mak Travel Guide, Visit Thailand Today Best Islands Near Koh Chang and Visit Thailand Today Koh Chang vs Koh Samet.