Over 32 million tourists visited Thailand in 2016. It’s not surprising. With its idyllic beaches, vibrant night life, stunning temples, jungle adventures, elephant camps, and extraordinary cuisine, it’s impossible for tourists to resist the charms of Thailand. As lovely as these attractions are, sometimes the heart yearns for some peace and quiet, to indulge in the delights of doing nothing, and to go somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Few would look at tourism-driven, party-loving Thailand as a destination to seek solitude. This is where Thailand pleasantly surprises you. Far beyond the touristy hot spots of Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui, lie Thailand’s best kept secrets – two sleepy tropical islands, Koh Kut and Koh Mak, untouched and unspoiled by tourism. These two hidden gems are ideal to escape mundane routines and the stress they bring along. Or for honeymooners to spend some undisturbed cozy time together.
Situated close to the Cambodian border, reaching these relatively remote twin islands is an expedition in itself. It requires a flight from Bangkok to Trat, from there a taxi to the ferry and thereon a boat ride to the islands. But we assure you the destination is well worth it!
Koh Kut
To put it simply, Koh Kut, also known as Koh Kood, is a bewitchingly beautiful green jewel in the Gulf of Thailand. Most of this mountainous island remains covered in verdant rainforest while its coast is dotted with palm-fringed white sand beaches. There are a couple of luxury resorts here that attract some tourists. But, accommodation on Koh Kut mainly consists of homestays and budget guesthouses.
At Koh Kut, life takes a relaxed barefoot approach. Electricity is scarce causing people to rely on solar power or generators. Landlines are non-existent. Internet coverage is sparse. The only ATM on the island was installed as recently as 2015. Post 9pm, the island sleeps; there is virtually no night life here.
© josef knecht / Wikicommons
If this isn’t a paradise for solitude seekers, we don’t know what is. Here, days are spent leisurely on a hammock snuggling a book or gloriously tanning on the beach. When that becomes tiring, getting pampered at a spa seems like a fine thing to do. In the evenings, chirping birds bid adieu to balmy sunsets, reminding you to grab a beer and unwind some more. Dinners are relished in rustic family-run restaurants dishing out authentic Thai food, the way it’s meant to be.
© mama / Flickr
But if you must do something, then you can hit the crystal-clear sea on a kayak. If that’s too much of an effort, you can take a stroll in a fishing village. Or perhaps take a dip in one of the waterfalls on the island.
Whether you choose to do something or nothing, Koh Kut is tranquility at its best.
Koh Mak
© James Preston / Flickr
If Koh Kut is laidback, then its twin, Koh Mak is warped in its own time. An hour away by boat from Koh Kut, this island seems almost untouched by the 21st century! Unlike other Thai islands, tourism and commercialization hasn’t encroached Koh Mak at all. Even today, the island comprises of rubber plantations, thousands of coconut trees, tiny fishing villages, and stretches of picture-perfect isolated beaches.
Much of the credit goes to the five families, who own most of this island. Together they have successfully guarded the island’s pristine beauty from rampant development. Just like the island, accommodation and restaurants on Koh Mak are simple, small, and family-run.
© James Preston / Flickr
Koh Mak’s placid languor is infectious. There’s blissfully little to do here. Naturally, relaxation is the prime activity to indulge in. But the ethereal allure of the tiny satellite islands bordering Koh Mak, compel you to kayak and explore them. The daring can even swim up to one of the islands! When you’re not swimming or idling, wheeling across the island on two wheels can be rather gratifying. Foodies can learn the tricks of Thai cooking at Smile Koh Mak, a waterfront cooking school.
Adventure seekers can head out to the neighboring Koh Rayang Nok island for snorkeling. Or dive in the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park and get mesmerized by schools of colorful fish creating kaleidoscopic designs.
Koh Mak’s easy and uncomplicated way of life casts a spell that’s hard to get rid of. It lingers on much after you’ve left the sunshine isle.
Koh Kut and Koh Mak are perhaps the Thailand’s last unspoiled islands. They offer an unadulterated island experience, and a glimpse of Thailand before its affair with tourism began and certainly one of the best offbeat places to visit in Thailand.
Note: There are no ATMs on Koh Mak. Carrying ample dosh is highly recommended.
So book your flights to Thailand on EMI and explore the unexplored!
