Koh Mak Island Guide - Paradise for Digital Nomad in Thailand
After a lengthy and exhausting journey spanning around 15 hours, I finally set foot on the island, and the sight before me made every moment of the trip worthwhile. Visit Article for How to Reach Koh Mak, Transportation and Visa.
Initially, my expectations weren't too high, given the less promising views during the five-hour drive from the mainland. However, the island's atmosphere was a pleasant surprise, drawing me in with its unique charm. It felt wonderfully designed, not flashy, possessing a primitive yet oddly elegant quality. There was a simplicity in its composition, with elements carefully integrated into the natural surroundings. Everything felt natural, and the additions complementing the island's innate beauty were tastefully done.
What brought this charm to the island that so many touristic places don't have?
Koh Mak is different from typical Thai destinations because it prioritizes authenticity through a local-led ecotourism approach. The island maintains its natural beauty without big hotels, fast food stands, or tasteless nightclubs with bar girls. Unlike many places in Thailand, you won't find 7-Eleven stores here. Instead, Koh Mak thrives with small, locally-owned hotels, unique art bars, and family-run businesses. The limited 500 hotel rooms also help keep the number of tourists in check.
In Koh Mak, the island's limited bed capacity ensures a calm escape without overwhelming crowds. Every corner of the island is open for exploration, free from monitoring or reminders of boundaries. One can visit the nicest resorts and enjoy their daily facilities, even if you're not staying there. The beaches, bars, restaurants are open for everyone to enjoy without any entrance fee. The island is still almost entirely covered in coconut groves, fruit orchards, and the rubber plantations of the locals. There is absolutely no safety issue, I gave up with collecting my motorbike keys and locking my bungalow door a few days after my one month residency.
In 2022, Koh Mak earned recognition as one of the Top 100 Good Practice Stories by Green Destinations, a global organization dedicated to promoting sustainable travel destinations. In 2023, the island achieved second place in the Governance, Reset, and Recovery category at the Green Destinations Story Awards. This accomplishment solidified Koh Mak's reputation as a pioneering low-carbon destination in Thailand. The island's initiatives, including promoting solar-powered boats, urging businesses to use electric vehicles, and discouraging foam and plastic packaging, contributed to winning the silver medal. Solar panels are found all over the island, and their design is carefully thought out to blend in with nature, ensuring they don't harm the beauty of the natural environment.
How was this possible?
While many of Thailand's islands are either government-owned or controlled by various business groups, Koh Mak distinguishes itself as the largest Thai island entirely owned by locals. This exclusive community-ownership model empowers residents to run the island's development, free from external influences. This model does even involve its visitors to the community, specifically if you are a long term visitor or a digital nomad.
How to get involved?
Trash Hero
Every Saturday morning, especially during the high season, a Beach Cleaning Event takes place, drawing many participants, including visitors. Not only does it contribute significantly to the environment, but volunteering for such initiatives can also be a sustainable way to connect with others on the island, making it an excellent opportunity for solo travelers or digital nomads to meet fellow enthusiasts or potential dates : )
Animal Clinic:
The dogs are all over Koh Mak, extremely friendly and very healthy thanks to the Animal Clinic contributors and volunteers. Small non-profit clinic providing free-of-charge access to medical care for dogs and cats of Koh Mak. The Animal Clinic rely on donations and and run by volunteers. There are lots of ways one can help support the clinic and the animals of Koh Mak. Activities include social media, painting, cleaning, gardening, dog baths, and giving cuddles to the furry friends.
The entire community, both locals and visitors contribute to the maintenance of the clinic and well-being of the little ones accordingly. There are several events organised to collect donations and visitors of the island volunteer to sell t-shirts at several locations to organising concerts.
Remote Work & Co-working
Picture this: a seamless blend of sun-soaked beaches and a buzzing community of remote workers. Koh Mak boasts lightning-fast and reliable internet, ensuring your virtual office runs smoother than a tropical breeze. Co-working spaces on the island are not just places to work – they're creative hubs, designed to inspire and elevate your productivity. And guess what? Networking events here are more than just meetups; they're lively gatherings that spark collaborations and friendships. Koh Mak is not just an island; it's a dynamic hub for digital nomads to thrive and connect!
Eat & Drink in Koh Mak
One of my absolute favorite aspects of the island is its refined and delicate gastronomy, mirroring the overall excellence that defines Koh Mak. Here, you find everything you need, and it's all of impeccable quality – no more, no less. Unlike other Thai or Asian destinations, there are no street food stands or junk food temptations. For those seeking a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle beyond a fleeting tourist experience, Koh Mak is truly an ideal haven. The island boasts well-established, neat, and clean gastronomy hubs offering a diverse range of options, from authentic Thai cuisine, Seafood to international and Western delights. It's a place where your culinary cravings meet quality and conscious choices.
Sports & Recreational Activities
In addition to tennis and pickleball playgrounds, community tournaments, and yoga classes, there's a gym on the island. This fitness hub offers a space dedicated to Muay Thai training. But that's not all – the gym provides access to private coaching, ensuring a personalized fitness journey for every individual. Koh Mak has lots of water activities, like kayaking and stand-up paddling. There's also a family-run dive shop where you can take PADI courses and join daily dive or snorkel trips to Koh Chang National Marine Park nearby.
Koh Mak emerges as an idyllic haven for those seeking a departure from the classic Thai tourist attractions. If your heart yearns for calmness, self-possession, and the prospect of a long-term habitat where sustainability and a peaceful lifestyle intertwine, then Koh Mak is your undiscovered paradise. This charming island not only offers a let off from the hustle and bustle but also serves as a canvas for those looking to craft a mindful and harmonious existence. With its pristine beaches, vibrant community, diverse activities, and commitment to sustainable living, Koh Mak beckons as more than a destination—it's an invitation to make a home in the embrace of nature's beauty and the gentle rhythms of island life.
I want to conclude this article with a personal reflection as usual. I recall a legendary scene from "Nomadland," directed by Chloé Zhao, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. Fern, a modern-day nomad who lost her job, travels in a van throughout the American West and camps in Bureau of Land Management sites. Swankie, one of the remarkable characters in the movie, is portrayed by a real-life nomad named Charlene Swankie. Fern encounters Swankie during her journey across the American West, and Swankie shares her own experiences and wisdom about life on the road. The scene I'm referring to is the following: Swankie is diagnosed with a deadly cancer, and she has 7-8 months more to live. When Fern hears the story, she is speechless, doesn't know how to react, aligning with the overall genuine dynamic of the movie. Then Swankie takes over and rocks the scene:
"I’m gonna be seventy-five this year and I think I’ve had a pretty good life. I’ve seen some really neat things kayaking all over the country... A moose family on a river in Idaho. Big white pelicans landing just six feet over my kayak on a lake in Colorado. Or... coming round a bend of a cliff and finding hundreds and hundreds of swallow nests on the wall of the cliff. And the swallows flying all around, reflecting in the water so it looks like I’m flying with the swallows. And little babies are hatching out. Egg shells are falling out of the nest and landing on the water right next to me, these little white shells. And... it was just so awesome, Fern! I felt I had done enough. My life was complete. I felt like if I were to die right then, it would be perfectly fine."
In Koh Mak, I encountered a wise Thai elder on his aged motorbike with a carriage attached to it, weathered by the sun, his body is skinny as a skeleton at around 45 kilograms, shirtless, without shoes. His loyal dog joyfully stood and rode alongside on his front legs in front of the motorbike, embracing the wind, and traditional lively Thai music echoed loudly from his open air speaker. Despite missing teeth, man's big smile defined the perfect island scene, capturing the authentic joy of everyday life. The memory of this scene will stay with me, forever. If I happen to have a scene similar to Swankie one day, I will tell Fern that "it would be perfectly fine, I have seen that picture."
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