Koh Mook stands out as one of the most beautiful Thai islands we’ve visited.
This small island in the Andaman Sea is hilly, covered in lush jungle, and refreshingly free from 7-Elevens, cars, and large crowds.
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Koh Mook’s incredible beaches, lush nature, and chilled vibes make it unique.
With soft white sands and clear waters, it’s an ideal spot to relax, go snorkelling and kayaking, explore hidden coves, or enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Koh Mook is a small island in the Andaman Sea, located in southern Thailand, off the coast of Trang Province.
It lies near other popular islands like Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, and Koh Lanta, making it an accessible and tranquil destination for travellers seeking natural beauty and a relaxed atmosphere.
Koh Mook offers a unique escape that sets it apart from southern Thailand’s larger, more developed islands. Unlike bigger islands bustling with tourists, Koh Mook retains a peaceful, laid-back vibe.
With no cars, or crowded beaches, it’s the perfect place to disconnect and experience a more authentic side of Thailand.
The island boasts stunning beaches like Sivalai Beach, which has powdery white sand and calm waters.
Koh Mook is also home to the famous Emerald Cave, a hidden lagoon accessible only through a small sea cave, offering a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Koh Mook’s small fishing village lets you connect with the warm and welcoming local community. You can enjoy freshly caught seafood, learn about traditional Thai island life, and immerse yourself in a slower pace of living.
At just 4.5 square kilometres, the island is small enough to explore on foot or by bike, making it easy to take in its natural charm without the hassle of long commutes.
Koh Mook is the ideal destination if you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate island experience away from the crowds and commercialisation of larger islands.
The ideal time to visit Koh Mook is during the dry season, from November to April. During this period, the weather is sunny and warm, with calm seas perfect for beach days, snorkelling, and kayaking.
This is also when most local businesses and accommodations are fully operational, making it the peak tourist season.
Read more: 26 Best Travel Tips For Thailand
From May to October, the rainy season is best avoided if you’re looking for uninterrupted outdoor activities. Heavy rains and rough seas are common during this time, limiting access to the island and activities like boat trips or snorkelling.
Some accommodations and businesses may also close temporarily during the low season.
If you prefer quieter travel, the shoulder months of late October or early November can offer decent weather with fewer crowds, though there’s still a small chance of rain.
The ideal length of stay at Koh Mook depends on your travel style and interests. Here’s a general guide:
If you’re combining Koh Mook with other islands in Trang Province, plan to spend 3-4 days here as part of your itinerary. It’s just the right amount of time to appreciate the island’s charm without feeling rushed.
Trang Airport is the nearest to Koh Mook if you are arriving by air. Just an hour’s drive from either Hat Yao Pier or Khuan Tung Ku Pier, where you can take a longtail boat to reach Koh Mook.
Look for ticket booths in the airport as you exit, they sell convenient minivan transfers to the pier. Taxis or Grab vehicles are also waiting outside to whisk you away to the dock.
If you prefer to have everything organised before arrival, you can also pre-book this journey on 12GoAsia.
From Trang City, you’ll need to reach Hat Yao Pier, which serves Koh Mook.
You can hire a private taxi, but as mentioned, I recommend you arrange transport through your hotel or a small travel agency.
Spending a few days in Trang? Book a room at the beautiful VNL Stay!
Ferries to Koh Mook are available from many popular tourist destinations north of the island, including Koh Lanta, Ao Nang, Phuket, and Phi Phi.
You can book your ticket in advance through 12GoAsia or via any local travel agency.
Ferries also operate from the south, from Koh Lipe (another popular island near the Malaysian border).
Check 12GoAsia for the most up-to-date information or to book a ferry to Ko Mook from other islands or destinations in Thailand.
Koh Mook’s curving dirt roads connect the island’s east and west sides, with most of the infrastructure centred around Koh Mook Pier on the east.
This is also where you’ll find the largest concentration of accommodations on the island.
You can easily walk anywhere, rent a bicycle, or hire a scooter (starting from 200 THB per day); many places offer this.
Alternatively, a motorbike/sidecar taxi service operates between the east and west, and rides are 50 baht per person.
Koh Mook has two main beaches, Sivalai Beach and Charlie Beach, which are both stunning.
This beach offers fantastic views of mainland Trang and shallow waters. It is well-maintained, with locals cleaning the beachfront daily of fallen leaves and debris.
This beach has some quality accommodations, including the stunning Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort, which occupies most of the beach.
If your budget allows, I recommend you book one of their gorgeous beach bungalows. You can wake up to the sounds of waves lapping on the beaches each morning.
The best thing about Sivalai Beach is that it’s public (for everyone to use, not just resort guests), so you can lay your sarong down in the shade of one of the trees along this lovely stretch of white squeaky sand and enjoy the good life.
This is where we mostly hung out during our week-long trip to Koh Mook, Thailand.
This beach feels more standard and secluded and reminds me of many other beaches found in Thailand.
Expect a large sandy beach and high cliffs reminiscent of Krabi’s landscape.
This beach is much busier during the day with visitors on the island, and longtail boats come and go as they drop off and pick up guests doing island day trips.
It has no direct accommodation, preserving its natural charm. However, if you choose to stay on this side of the island, several accommodations are just a few minutes’ walk from Charlie Beach.
We ate at several small restaurants and eateries during our week-long stay at Koh Mook. The prices for most dishes were pretty standard.
On average, expect to pay a minimum of 80-100 THB for a basic meal in most places—quite standard for what you would spend on any Thai Island.
There are some great places to eat and a few places we wouldn’t return to – so let me share the best places to eat on Koh Mook Island.
Sugar’s Restaurant – One of our favourite places to eat on the island. The best part is that you can sit right on the beach with excellent views while you dine. My favourite dish here is Pad Krapow Gai (Thai basil, chilli and chicken dish), served on a bed of steamed rice and a fried egg on top for 80 THB. They make some excellent mango or fruit shakes for 50 THB.
Miss Island Bakery – Located directly across from Koh Mook Hostel, this place is always busy, especially during breakfast. Rightly so, they make some excellent breakfast sets and bake freshly baked goods such as banana muffins, wheat rolls, croissants and bagels daily. The menu is huge here as they offer a lot of Western food (which can be pretty pricey), but if you stick to the Thai dishes, they’re tasty and around the same price as other eateries on the island. I loved their small banana muffins for 10 THB a piece!
Perfect Bar and Restaurant—Located just next to Sugar’s restaurant, this restaurant has a similar setup with chairs and tables on the beachfront. It serves some fantastic dishes. I recommend it!
Happy’s Restaurant—This was our go-to dinner spot as it’s located near our accommodation provider, Koh Mook Smile Resort. They make the best Thai food on the island! Plus, they play great evening music, and the portions are generous and tasty! I recommend the chicken and cashew nut stir fry, the Penang curry, and the Thai green curry, which are winners!
Forever Ice Cream Bar—Visit for excellent mango and sticky rice, coconut ice cream, fruit shakes, or coffee during the day!
Koh Mook may be small, but there’s plenty to do when you’re not relaxing or enjoying a meal.
Here are some of our top recommendations:
1) Go Snorkelling – While Koh Mook may not be the top snorkelling spot in Thailand, some decent locations exist between Emerald Cave and Charlie Beach on the west side. Consider booking a snorkelling day trip to nearby Koh Kradan for even better options. We booked a day trip for 500 THB with our accommodation provider, the Smile Resort, and we loved the abundance of marine life we saw around the reef of Koh Kradan.
2) Emerald Cave – One of Koh Mook’s top attractions, this beach is accessible through a coastal cave that I found very tranquil to swim through, it takes less than 5 minutes to pop out into the cove. You need a torch inside the cave as it’s very dark. You can join a tour (we visited Emerald Cove as part of our snorkelling day tour to Koh Kradan) OR kayak independently from Charlie Beach (kayaks were 100 baht per hour when we visited). Check tidal times before kayaking, as it’s best at low tide, and don’t forget a torch. NOTE: All visitors to Emerald Cave must pay 200 THB in cash to the National Park Rangers to visit; they’ll approach you by boat as you get near to the entrance of the cave.
3) Go Hiking—Koh Mook offers a few moderately challenging hikes. The most popular route leads to Viewpoint Koh Mook in the island’s centre and ends at Sabai Beach (accessible by kayak via Emerald Cove). Despite its small size, the island is surprisingly rugged, with steep hills to climb!
4) Relax at Sivalai Beach (Pearl Beach) – Unwind on the beautiful beach with shallow waters perfect for working on the tan.
5) Discover Charlie Beach – Enjoy the natural, palm-lined beauty of this quieter and more secluded beach.
6) Visit Sabai Beach – Accessible by hiking or kayaking, this remote beach is perfect for a peaceful escape. It’s more difficult to reach than the other two main beaches, but it’s doable.
7) Explore the local village – Discover the island’s culture and charm by strolling through the local fishing village. The people are very friendly on Koh Mook and you won’t be hassled to buy anything, it’s very relaxed.
8) Take a boat tour to nearby islands – Hop on a boat to explore the nearby islands, including the stunning Koh Kradan and Koh Ngai.
9) Watch the sunset – Head to the western side of the island, to Charlie Beach, to enjoy incredible sunset views. Either walk back (it takes around 30 min) or take one of the motorbike tuk tuks for 50 THB pp (can fit around 4 people on one of these fun vehicles).
10) Eat mango and sticky rice—Stop by Forever Ice Cream Cafe for a plate of deliciously fresh mango and sticky rice. If you like, order a coconut shake or some coconut ice cream to accompany it. Bliss!
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Once you arrive on Koh Mook Island, you will find many stores or pop-up travel agencies with prices displayed for affordable day trips or experiences on the island.
Join a trip to Emerald Cave for 300 THB pp (not including the 200 THB National Park fee). Or, add a visit to Koh Kradan for 400 THB for the trip.
We booked the most popular day trip (9 am—3 pm) for 500 THB each. This trip visits Koh Kradan with snorkelling (gear included), around 1.5 hours of relaxation time on Koh Kradan, a packed lunch of pad Thai noodles, Emerald Cave (park fee 200 THB is additional), and more snorkelling opportunities on the way back to the pier.
It was a great day out, and I was surprised by how good the marine life was at our snorkel stop on Koh Kradan.
Koh Mook isn’t a large island, so if you plan to visit in high season, take it from me: Book ahead! Especially during the months of December and January, the island pretty much books out!
We had to shuffle around and change accommodations and rooms several times during our week here.
You can stay in the more popular area around the pier (and closer to Sivalai Beach), or find something much quieter near Charlie Beach, it’s up to you.
Here are my accommodation recommendations for every budget:
BUDGET OPTION
Koh Mook Hostel offers clean, comfortable dorms with fan or air conditioning options. Its friendly owners and central location, opposite Miss Island Bakery (one of Koh Mook’s best food spots, especially for banana muffins and a variety of bread), make it an ideal choice.
MID-RANGE OPTIONS
Mook Ing Lay—This charming collection of colourful bungalows is a fantastic option because it is in a prime location near the beach, walking street, and Koh Mook Pier.
Smile Resort Koh Mook is a laid-back, affordable option located near Sivalai Beach on the island’s eastern side. This is where we stayed for the duration of our trip (with a few room changes as we visited in mid January and didn’t book ahead).
Smile Resort offers comfortable, simple bungalows surrounded by lush greenery, just a short walk (10-15 mins) from Sivalai Beach. The resort has a cosy atmosphere, with a small area with complimentary tea/coffee for guests and a sitting area in the shade.
While it may not be as luxurious as other resorts on the island, it’s super clean and affordable, and the women who run this place are fantastic.
TOP RATED OPTION
Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort – This island’s most luxurious accommodation boasts a prime location at the end of Sivalai Beach’s sand spit.
With stunning views from each bungalow and sandy beaches on both sides, it offers unbeatable sunrise views.
The resort features a pool, a decent buffet breakfast, and a bar with unbeatable sea views. It’s worth considering if you have the budget!
After visiting Koh Mook, you can explore several nearby islands, each offering its unique charm:
1) Koh Kradan
Known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, Koh Kradan is a snorkeller’s paradise. It’s peaceful, with stunning beaches and great spots for relaxation. Accommodation in Koh Kradan is quite expensive compared to Koh Mook, so ensure you have accommodation sorted before your arrival if you plan to stay a few days. View accommodation options here.
2) Koh Ngai
This small island features powdery white sand beaches and lush jungle. It’s ideal for those seeking tranquillity and picturesque views. Koh Ngai is a popular honeymooners island, so expect pricier accommodation options. View accommodation options here.
3) Koh Libong
A larger and less touristy island, Koh Libong is known for its dugong population, quiet beaches, and local fishing villages. Accommodation on this island is limited, so I recommend you book well in advance, especially during high season. View accommodation options here.
4) Koh Lanta
A much larger and more developed island, Koh Lanta offers a mix of beautiful beaches, restaurants, and activities, making it a great next stop for more variety. View accommodation options here
5) Koh Phi Phi
For a livelier vibe, head to Koh Phi Phi. It’s famous for its dramatic cliffs, vibrant nightlife, and snorkelling at iconic Maya Bay. This island was ‘discovered’ years ago, so it’s very touristy these days. View accommodation options here.
6) Trang Mainland Beaches
If you want a less commercialised experience, return to the mainland and explore quieter beaches like Pak Meng or Chao Mai.
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If you’re ready to escape Thailand’s more prominent, well-known islands that have become congested with packaged tourists and party-goers, then Koh Mook is the island for you.
Now that we’ve discovered this gem, we hope it keeps its rustic charm and local vibes—we can’t wait to visit again.
We hope you enjoy Koh Mook, Thailand, as much as we do!
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