Koh Mook, Thailand

The island of Koh Mook, Thailand is quiet, beautiful and has fewer tourists. It’s about 15 minutes off the mainland’s southern Province of Trang in the Andaman Sea. There are two ways to get to Koh Mook : the local ferry (250 baht/person) or a private long tail boat (350 baht/person). The local ferry is cheaper but does take a bit longer to get there, about 45 minutes, the private long tail boat takes 20 - 30 minutes. There is the option if you are staying at a resort that they have private speed boats that come to the mainland to get you.

Our hotel on the mainland helped us book our transportation to Ko Mook. The day we booked we were originally told our pick up was at lunch time (12:00 pm) for the pier. We ended up double checking this the night before we left because all of us had heard different times. Ranging from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm none of us heard the same time, turns out our bus was coming at 11:00 am.

Of course the bus actually arrived at 10:45 am, another beautiful SEA quality we say 11:00 could be earlier, could be later but around that general time. Ryan had made a quick run to the bank for exchange, so the bus actually went and picked everyone else up and came back for us. We figured out the bus will wait up to 15 minutes, thankfully we only use 5 of those minutes waiting for Ryan’s return. We did later find out the island had places for exchange but it was not a good exchange rate.

We loaded up and were on our way to the port. We arrived at the pier and in true Thai fashion, it was organised chaos. People, scooters, luggage, food and supplies everywhere! Being loaded into long boats or local ferries. We had everything short of cows and chickens on our ferry. These ferry’s or even the long boats are how they get all the food, cleaning, building etc supplies out to the islands.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

Photo Credit: V.Gray

As always the departure time is a rough estimate as well. The ferry was supposed to leave around 12:30 pm. We left after 1:00 pm. Which was fine. We just hung out and watched as our ferry and other boats were loaded up. It's a slow, beautiful ride up the channel to the open Andaman Sea. Looking around at the mountains, forests and small huts along the banks on the way.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

There is something so calming about travelling by boat, especially the local ferry as the motor is a bit quieter and you move at a slower pace. You get a great opportunity to see everything from the water and take it all in.

We spent a total of 4 days on Koh Mook. If you are looking to island hop for more than enough time, you could do it for 2 days easily. However, we were going to relax, catch up and see some sights. As you arrive on the island the island's pier is under construction. The road way is barely wide enough for two tuc tuc's. So they pull over and weave around each other. People also have to stand on the ledge to let tuc tuc's and scooters by, it is very narrow.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

The island itself is also under construction, developing better roads and buildings. The island does have a few resorts already but not nearly as many as other places. It is off the beaten path and not a big tourist destination (yet). There are loads of day trips from Koh Mook to other islands for snorkelling or diving and smaller short trips to do around the island as well.

Our first afternoon on the island we simply dropped our bags at the hotel, walked to Hau Leam beach and lay about in the sun until we got hungry. We looked at a few tourist spots on our walk to the beach and talked about what we wanted to do the next day. We decided we would take a walk from the hotel to Chari Beach.

Chari Beach was 2.5 km from the hotel, so we all packed our bags for the day and headed out right after breakfast hoping to beat some of the Thai heat. This was a really interesting walk, taking us through the village away from the resorts and main tourist area.

Photo Credit: V.Gray Photo Credit: V.Gray

It's an easy walk, some paved stone roads and some sandy roads. You really can't get lost trying to find the beach because of the amount of tuk tuks going by taking tourists to the beach. Half way through the walk we also found a map of the island posted on the side of the road, this also let us know we were on the right track.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

As you come to Chari Beach the first part you see is a large open field area with palm trees and a few vendors along the back of the beach in the shade. The vendors have tables, chairs or some beds with umbrella’s you are welcome to use. The cost is if you order a drink or food you go to the vendor whose chairs you are using. You will also find men there selling long boat rides to the Emerald Cave or Koh Kradang for snorkelling. Speed boats come in and out throughout the day dropping off or picking up tourists who are island hopping.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We found some chairs in the shade, ordered a few smoothies while taking in the beauty of the Chari Beach before it got really busy.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

We spent the entire day on the beach.​​ There are a few restaurants off to the one side on the cliff. Which were perfect for lunch with a view, plus the food was good. We ended up moving down the beach to find shade . We ended up finding happy hour and beach swing that Alanae and I spent some time on.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

By the end of the day we had been approached by men selling boat rides for the following day for Emerald Cave and snorkelling at Koh Kradan. We had declined every time. We were figuring out if we should pay for a tuk tuk ride (50 baht/each $1.92 CAD/each) back to the hotel or take a long tail boat (50 baht/each $1.92 CAD) to see the island a different way while giving us a chance to maybe see turtles, manatees AND Marc had never been on a long boat.

The only catch with the long boat was low tide setting in so we would have to leave by 5 pm and someone else wanted to join our boat. We were all fine with this, at 5 pm the 4 of us loaded into the boat (the 5th person cancelled) and we headed off around the island to the main pier.

This is where things got a bit interesting. The tide was low, there was another boat at the docking point our captain wanted (he actually ended up hitting the other boat). So he took us along the side of the pier. Which ended up in the captain and the 2 boys having to get out and push/pull the boat into dock. The boys didn't wear their shoes in the water, when Alanae and I looked down into the water the sea urchins were EVERYWHERE!

Photo Credit: V.Gray Photo Credit: V.Gray

I am still unsure how but luckily neither of the boys stepped on any sea urchins. So we did not have to worry about allergic reactions or have to head to the mainland to the hospital. The captain wanted the boat put beside the mainland ferry. Which for us to deboard his boat, meant we had to climb up into the ferry, cross it and then up the side of the pier. Before we left we spoke to our captain about a boat tour to the Emerald Cave and snorkelling the next day. We scheduled to meet him at 8 am at the pier the following morning.

The next morning we got up and headed to the pier to meet our boat captain. He must have recognized Marc because of his height and Ryan’s beard. He started the boat and moved around to the front of the pier for us to load in and head to the Emerald Cave. When we first booked he tried to get us to go in the afternoon (after 3 pm), we said no we wanted to go early and beat the crowds. Looking back now he was probably trying to get us to go early because the sun would have been better and the colours would have been more vibrant.

We arrived at the Emerald Cave after a short 5 - 10 minute boat ride. There were already 4 or 5 long boats and a few speed boats out front of the cave entrance. You can only access the Emerald Cave beach during low tide. When the tide rises the entrance to the cave and beach disappears. Well the tour started with a laugh, we all grabbed life jackets, masks and flex tubes. Then the captain tells us he only has one set of fins and one lantern! Ryan took the fins and Marc led the group with the one lantern.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie Photo Credit: R.Cowie

Swimming through the 80 metres of cave was really cool. You could hear the waves crashing in other parts of the cave and feel the waves moving you through the cave. There are two tunnels once you enter the cave and we were told to strictly stay to the right, do not go left. When you turn the corner in the cave and came out into the cove/beach area it is really surreal that a spot like that exists.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

There is not a lot to do once you are at the beach. It's a small beach in a cove, with a little bit of trees and rocks. We walked around the beach, took a few pictures however due to the amount of people coming in we did not stay long. We may have spent 15 minutes tops before deciding to swim back out and head snorkelling at Koh Kradang.

Photo Credit: Local in the cove

Leaving the cave the water was a bit higher and there were more people swimming through. Some tour groups hold lines swimming in together, with upwards of 15 people per line. We were glad to be leaving when we saw them. Leaving the cave we swam more of the emerald coloured water than we did swimming in. This visibility was not great but we did see some fish swimming about below us.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie Photo Credit: R.Cowie

Riding over Koh Kradang to snorkel was a beautiful boat ride. Calm waters, light breeze and the sun was shining. The captain said he would give us an hour of snorkelling around the area. When we went to jump into the water the captain stopped us saying it was only a metre deep. Down the ladder we all went, taking off in all different directions.

Photo Credit: R.Cowie

The water was so warm and inviting, the colours in the reef were beautiful and the fish were everywhere. I find when snorkelling it is really easy to lose track of time and if you come by boat, sometimes that too. If you come by boat, you have to swim BACK to the boat which sometimes can feel like a feat after an hour of snorkelling in the sun.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/05f7d2_6a9d0ee4ea644a3eb4480ec6a8d06732/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Video Credit: R.Cowie

After an hour or so of splashing about in the water, we started to head back to the boat. Once we were all on board the captain offered to take us to shore for an hour on Koh Kradang. With no plans for the rest of the day, we headed to shore for beers on the beach and little rest in the shade.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

There was no dock or pier for the boats, so we climbed down the ladder into the water and walked to the shore. Once on this beautiful beach we went looking for beers. The boys both found spots in the shade to hang out, while Alanae and I bounced about in the waves enjoying ourselves and chatting. Koh Kradang was beautiful. It's mainly a resort and snorkelling island destination, it's not very big but it is a bit pricey. We wanded out to the boat, climbed in and asked to change our drop off location. We had paid for the tour to end back at the main pier. But we had no plans and we asked if the captain would drop us off at Chari Beach instead.

He agreed to change our drop off location, they are usually very easy going on these slight changes. So we headed off towards Chari Beach straight across the sea and what a ride! The swells were a bit larger than they were going over to Koh Kradang, we all hung on to the bars on the boat, the waves were so large Alanae and I faced the boys behind us and we were all soaked. One wave hit the boat hard enough that we all thought we might be going over. It was quite the ride, we were all happy when we finally reached Chari Beach.

We spent the rest of our day in the shade, trying different cocktails and snacks before heading back to the hotel. We took a tuk tuk back to the hotel this time.

Travelling you get to meet many exciting and interesting people, sometimes even people who live close to your area back home. At our hotel we met a gentleman from Japan, who had been travelling for 56 years. He has lived in and worked in many places all over the globe, you would have thought he was over 200 years old but really he is in his mid 70's (but looked younger). We also met 2 retired Canadian couples. One couple from the Ottawa area and the other from the Mississauga area. Listening to their stories and why they travelled was so inspiring. Besides all of the amazing food we get to try, the places we see, the experiences and memories we make, meeting people from different walks of life is one of my favourite parts of travelling.

Our last full day on the island and together as a group, Alanae, Ryan and I spent a majority of the day laying on Ao Panka Beach. While Marc took on the heat hiked to the viewpoint on the island and to Sabia Beach. The agreement was if it was nice he would message us and we would join him, however his message was it wasn't worth it and he didn't bring enough water. So we stayed put, enjoyed the sunshine and waited for him to join us.

We ended our time on the island with a slight sunburn, some good food, a few beverages, games at the bars and talking about our future travel plans. We have been lucky enough to become good friends with Marc and Alanae, sharing common interests and a passion for travelling.

Cheers!

Photo Credit: A local on the island

Map of Ko Muk.

Photo Credit: V.Gray

**Please note that all opinions and views expressed in this post are my own, from my own experiences. If you would like to see more pictures follow me on Instagram vikki.gray **