Your Travel Guide to Thailand
All information & tips to prepare your trip in Thailand
The small island of Koh Mook is one of the 3 most famous islands off the coast of Trang, along with Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan. They are no longer as protected from mass tourism as in the past, notably because of a website that classified Koh Kradan beach as the most beautiful in the world (in my opinion unfairly because for less, it is not even the most beautiful in Thailand).
At Koh Mook, there are no large hotel complexes, and the atmosphere resembling a small village with real local life is very pleasant. Whether on the long beach of Hat Sivalai, next to the pier, or the smaller and charming beach of Hat Farang (also called Charlie Beach) on the other side of the island, at Koh Mook, you will find white sand, coconut trees, and a beautiful turquoise sea. On the west coast, at Had Farang, you can observe superb sunsets. Particularly from the Koyao Restaurant, slightly elevated at the end of the beach.
Koh Muk is essentially inhabited by sea gypsies of the Muslim religion who have managed to preserve their island while opening up to tourism. They make a little living from tourism (from mid-November to mid-April) but also from fishing, growing rubber trees, and coconuts.
On the island, you will also find a cave, the Emerald Cave or Tham Morakot in Thai (emerald cave) which owes its name to the color of the water. It is only accessible by sea by swimming through a long tunnel before arriving in a skylight with a magnificent beach. Curiosity on the agenda of all the local agencies which leads to a large ballet of boats coming from neighboring islands, Trang, and Koh Lanta and long lines of tourists in life jackets rushing into the tunnel. Enough to disturb the calm of this small island full of charm which you can only really enjoy by spending the night there.
During the low season (approximately from mid-April to mid-November), tourists are very rare on Koh Mook island, and the majority of resorts and restaurants are closed. Some say the island is closed, but unlike Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan, Koh Mook island has a real local life and is therefore never closed. However, indeed between May and mid-November, there are hardly any tourists, and I do not advise you to go there. The weather can be more unpredictable during the low season. During the low season, there is no boat service between Koh Mook island and the neighboring islands; passage through the mainland or the privatization of a longtail boat is required. The rest of the year, from November to April, you can easily travel from Koh Mook island to Koh Kradan, Koh Libong, or Koh Ngai. Boats to come here from the mainland depart from the Kuang Tung Ku Pier, but there are also van + boat packages from Trang.
Koh Mook island is very popular during the holiday season. If you plan to visit during this period, it is highly recommended to book your room in advance! There is no 7 Eleven on Koh Mook island, just 2-3 convenience stores in the village near the pier. However, there is an ATM (cash machine) on Koh Mook island, in the village , but still, make sure to have enough cash for your stay here just in case it is out of order or out of cash.
On Koh Mook, you will find accommodation in just about every price range. The quality/price ratio is less advantageous in establishments located on the beaches where the majority of the offer is made up of more or less comfortable bungalows. Otherwise inland, you can find accommodation at more affordable prices. The most emblematic resort of the long Hat Sivalai beach is the Sivalai Beach Resort. You will see its bungalows on your left when arriving at the pier. On Had Farang beach and its sunsets, since the dismantling of the Charlie Beach Resort following a court decision, only the Koyao Bungalows and small bungalows at the other end remain but there are resorts with a hundred meters on the path that leads to the beach. In high season, there are food stalls at the top of Had Farang beach.
The best time to come to Koh Muk is from December to March knowing that during the low season from May to the end of October, when it rains the most, tourism activity is very limited and most of the resorts on Koh Muk and other Trang islands are closed.
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