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Koh Mak - Thailand's Family Island
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Koh
Mak is one of Thailand's secret treasures, situated in the
Marine
National Park
in eastern Thailand
. The island is just 16 km² and is located in the
Gulf
of
Siam
it is approximately 10 kilometers by 5 kilometers with a costal perimeter
of 27 Kilometers. This is a Family Island so if your looking for nightlife
and partying Koh Mak is not for you. Surrounded by 50 additional
small islands, in the marine national park Koh Mak is an ideal destination
for all travelers who desire beautiful tropical surroundings
unspoiled by mass tourism.
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There is only a population of
around 600 and Koh
Mak is the biggest privately owned island in
Thailand and is probably one of the safest places on the planet to bring your
family as almost everyone on the Island knows each other, crime is
virtually unknown
.
Amongst 10,000 palm trees, there’s a temple,
three fishing villages, rubber plantations, white sand beaches, a
primary school, a health center, a
diving
school, a few shops, two internet café’s, a
Taxi
and a few small resorts.
There is also a small information
center where you can book boat trips etc. Exploring the island by
motorbike, mountain bike or on foot is easy with the good road network
around the Island along the coast and inland through the coconut groves and
rubber plantations. If you tire of basking on the different beaches, kayaks can
be rented to explore the coves and the nearer offshore Islands. There are trips
both for diving and snorkeling which can be booked. You can also privately rent
a boat to go diving snorkeling or fishing. You can visit several other Islands
including the larger Islands of Koh Chang and Koh Kood by
daily ferries and speedboats or by renting a boat at the pier. Other near
Islands are Koh Kraden where you can see a herd of wild deer. Koh Maichee
where there is an oyster farm and Koh Rayang a tiny tropical Island with a
beautiful beach just 1 kilometer from Koh Mak.
With the
stunning white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters Koh Mak is fast
becoming famous for its scenery. The British newspaper The
Sunday Times recently included Koh Mak as one of the 'Top Ten Beaches
in the World', and the past few years has seen the island's beauty also
attracting film makers looking for an authentic tropical location.
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