Budget Bungalows Archives - Koh Mak Island Travel Guide

Pano Resort

Pano Resort Ko Mak is a nice small guesthouse with a friendly and personal touch. It is located near the southernmost point of Koh Mak where the only noise you hear is from the wind, the waves and the birds.

The small resort consists of 3 houses with 2 rooms each. Every room has an ensuite bathroom (with warm water) and large private balcony. Underneath the houses, where it is shady, you can relax in a hammock and feel the sea breeze. All the houses open onto the sea and behind them is a small restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The beach nearby is a bit rocky but it is only a 15 minute walk to the main beach were you can find other resorts, restaurants, and beach bars.

Recommended if you want to get away from it all and love good Thai food & sunset views.

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Check prices and availability at Makathanee Resort on Booking.com

Koh Mak Holiday Beach Resort

Koh Mak Holiday Beach Resort is a budget resort where you’ll get an AC room for a decent price a stone’s throw from a quiet, sandy beach. The aging bungalows won’t wow you, but they are clean, bright and all have great views south to Koh Rayang and Koh Kood. ( The island of Koh Rayang Nai is just offshore and at low tide you can easily walk to this small uninhabited island that is home to a shrine of one of the founder’s of Koh Mak. )

There are two types of rooms, some closer to the beach than others and both have either fan or air-conditioning. A large garden area opens onto the beach, on the right side of which you’ll find the resort’s massage area and also a large restaurant. The massage is popular not just with visitors but with locals as well who are regular visitors.

At the rear of the resort is Koh Mak Disc Golf course, run by Pom the owner of the resort. He’s a big frisbee addict and tournaments are often held there. Good fun even if you aren’t a serious frisbee addict.

Getting to the busier area of the beach is easy enough – it’s only a few minutes walk east along the sand, so at Holiday Beach you’ll get a quiet place to stay which isn’t too remote. If you are on a limited budget and your room requirements are limited to ‘something with air-conditioning by the beach’ and you want a small resort with very friendly, helpful owners then Holiday Beach is a recommended option.

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Check prices and availability at Koh Mak Holiday Resort on Booking.com

Koh Mak Green View Resort

Koh Mak Green View Resort is another of the secluded, often unknown resorts on Koh Mak. It is situated on the peaceful northern coast on a long stretch of red sand beach. The water here is very shallow, so swimming is only possible at high tide, but you can literally walk for miles along the sand or follow dirt tracks inland or along the coastline through small fishing hamlets if you want to explore.

The resort provides accommodation in sturdy, but plain, wooden fan and airconditioned bungalows and has a beachfront restaurant. The resort decoration features some unusual giant sculptures of a crab and a peacocks

You’ll probably want to rent a scooter if you stay here for more than a couple of days though. But if you just want a cheap place to chill out and do nothing well away from the temptations of cocktails and BBQ seafood then this would suit you. It is also a good spot to rent a kayak from and to paddle over to Koh Kradad to see the deer herd.

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Check prices and availability at Green View Resort on Booking.com

Koh Mak Buri Hut Natural Resort

Koh Mak Buri Hut Natural Resort is built on a slope overlooking Ao Nid Bay in the southeast of Koh Mak. The resort has a small private beach but this is more a place to stay if you just want to chill out and aren’t solely here to lie on the beach all day.

There are two distinct styles of bungalows large wooden ‘Bali’ style huts and circular concrete ‘African’ bungalows which are pretty well equipped and include a fridge and TV. The resort also has a pool and free wi-fi for guests which are both added incentives to attract guests away from staying in the busier resorts.

And when you throw in free transport to the main beaches and a volleyball court, free kayak hire plus the fact that they guarantee there are no annoying sandflies in the vicinity and you have pretty good value for money. ( But they also have free karaoke which you might find yourself subjected to if a Thai or Russian tour group is staying, which is quite often.)

Check prices and availability at Koh Mak Buri Hut on Booking.com

Baan Koh Mak Resort

Baan Koh Mak is ideally situated in the centre of Ao Kao Beach on the southwest shore of Koh Mak. The 18 bright and airy bungalows were totally renovated and remodelled in 2013 and are built around a central garden area with virtually all rooms having a view of the sea from the balcony. The rooms are quite small, but if you plan to be out and about all day they have everything you need – a double bed, western bathroom with hot water shower and airconditioning.

On the beachfront you’ll find the resort’s ‘Beach Cafe’ which is open from early morning until late night. In the evening an outdoor restaurant and cocktail bar is set up on the beach. There’s also a beach volleyball court if you fancy some exercise in the sun. As you’d expect sea kayaks can be hired and the resort can arrange all trips, tours and motorbike rental. The main road runs past the rear of the resort and lining it you’ll find several shops and restaurants within a few minutes walk.

If you want a mid-price AC bungalow with excellent restaurant and cheap cocktails to hand then you can’ t really go wrong here. The bungalows are well under 2,000 Baht / night in High Season

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Check prices and availability at Ao Kao Resort on Booking.com

Kham Nature Resort

Kham Nature Resort ( formerly TK Hut ) offers comfortable, but aging bungalows set amidst causarina firs adjacent to the beach. This is a well known and well established budget resort which receives many repeat visitors who return for it’s no-frills, laid back atmosphere. The resort has recently been taken over, tidied up and renamed. The old bungalows have been refurbished and, whilst not luxury, are comfortable enough for anyone on a budget.

The beach directly outside the resort is a bit rocky at low tide, but walk to the west a couple of hundred metres and you find a better stretch of sand.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby and the resort’s beachfront restaurant is also rated highly for it’s BBQ nights. Well worth heading there for a meal if you are staying in this part of Koh Maak.

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Check prices and availability for Kham Nature Resort on Agoda.com

Monkey Island Resort

Monkey Island Resort has expanded over the years and now has around 40 bungalows. These range from 500 Baht / night Fan huts to 3,000 Baht/night AC Family rooms.

It’s a nicely designed bungalow resort, with room types all based on primates. Book a two bedroom Gorilla Hut if you’re a family or Baboon Hut for a simple bungalow with shared bathroom. You’ll see murals of rasta monkeys on walls and the resort is known for it’s late night music bar. This is the main spot on the island for anyone wanting to stay up after 9pm.

The restaurant is a bit pricey, but is also one of the best on the island. The owner originally ran several Thai restaurants in Bangkok before heading to Ko Maak for a quieter life.

Monkey Island Resort is the type of place people either love or hate, it you want a cheap bungalow, good beach, handy location then it ticks all the boxes. It even has a small pool, although this is more for cooling off in than for swimming. But, if you want attentive staff and more peace & quiet then it might not be for you.

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Check prices and availability at Monkey Island Resort on Booking.com

Ao Pong Resort

Relax on the southern tip of Koh Mak. Ao Pong Resort provides great value, budget accommodation in recently renovated Fan and AC bungalows by a small private beach overlooking Ao Nid Bay.

This quiet area of the island is ideal for anyone wanting to get away from the main tourist areas and see some of the local life. It isn’t totally off the beaten track, 5 minutes by scooter and you are at Ao Kao beach or the local community near Ao Nid pier, where there’s a variety of small shops and restaurants.

But the location makes Ao Pong Resort one of the best places on the island for chill out, swimming, snorkeling, watching corals and underwater life. There are seven, good standard bungalows and restaurant on the beach at Ao Pong Resort. Each bungalow is equipped with double bed, fan and bathroom with running water. Three out of seven older bungalows are air-conditioned. And the new additions, brand new ( 2016) Seaview Deluxe bungalows are a big improvement.

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Check prices and availability at Ao Kao Resort on Booking.com

Baan Ing Kao

Baan Ing Kao is one of Koh Mak’s forgotten resorts as it isn’t the sort of place most visitors to the island ever find for themselves online. People stumble across it whilst they are on the island and this also explains why there are very few reviews of Baan Ing Kai anywhere – despite it being over 10 years old.

These ‘old skool’ backpacker’s huts are hidden away on Ao Kratung beach a kilometre or more from the nearest other resort. Reaching it involves a bumpy motorbike ride , or lengthy trek on foot, along a part paved, part dirt track which heads up and over a rather steep little hill. So if you do stay here you will earn bonus backpacker credibility.

The resort is built alongside what was once a busy fishing hamlet but is now a rather run down collection of fisherman’s huts. The simple ensuite, fan bungalows are built on the hillside above the water and all have great views over a small beach towards Koh Rayang.

This is definitely a place for just kicking back and chilling if you are on a tight budget. Simple Thai and seafood is available from the restaurant but as far as amenities go. Kayaks, mountain bikes and scooters can be rented from the resort though.

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Booking Baan Ing Kao:

Book Baan Ing Kao via their website