This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy for more information
Complete guide: The best things to do in Koh Mook, Thailand
Occasionally there are still paradises to be found, but they are becoming increasingly rare. Welcome to Koh Mook, a lesser-known hidden gem in the Andaman Sea and a must-visit Thai island.
Imagine a small tropical island, where you can still ride your bike from one beach to another without cars or endless shopping streets full of trendy restaurants. We immediately lost our hearts when we visited Koh Mook during our last Thailand trip!
Unlike the beautiful but very touristy Koh Lipe, Phuket, or Koh Lanta, Koh Mook still has an authentic Thai island vibe. It is an island where you can enjoy the sunset without mass tourism, with a lonely reggae bar tucked away somewhere in the bay on a secluded beautiful sandy beach full of palm trees.
If you are traveling through the south of Thailand, Koh Mook should be on your list! It is easy to combine with Koh Lipe or Koh Lanta because it lies exactly in the middle of these two islands.
Let’s dive into the best things to do in Koh Mook, with fun tours to take, lovely places to eat, and hidden spots you have to go to.
How to get to Koh Mook
From the mainland (Trang)
Koh Mook or Koh Muuk is located off the coast of Trang.
When you arrive in Trang by train or plane, you can grab a taxi to take you to the Hat Yao pier (45 min drive), where the longtail boats to Koh Mook leave. The island is another 30-45 min boat ride away from the Trang coast and the mainland.
From another island (Koh Lanta, Phuket, Koh Lipe)
You can also choose to go from Koh Lanta or Koh Lipe to Koh Mook by ferry.
- From Koh Lanta to Koh Mook: a 2.5-hour boat ride by speed boat.
- From Koh Lipe to Koh Mook: a 2-hour boat ride by speed boat.
Getting around on the island
Koh Mook is a small island and many places can be reached by foot. However, it is also fun to rent a bicycle or a scooter to reach the beaches on the other side.
Another option is to take a motor taxi (a scooter with an extra side piece that fits up to 4 people). They drive you anywhere around the island.
TIP: If you arrive at the pier with the ferry, consider taking one of these motor taxis, even if you are staying in the village. Walking down the pier with your luggage in the burning sun, isn’t really fun and they are very affordable.
What to do in Koh Mook
Koh Mook is mainly known for the Emerald Cave, which is indeed absolutely amazing! However, there is far more to do on and near the island! So let’s explore the best things to do on Koh Mook, including all of our best tips for this beautiful Thai island.
Visit the Emerald Cave
The Emerald Cave is probably the most visited point in Koh Mook, and with good reason.
From the outside, you can only see a cave. But when you go inside, it turns out to be a dark tunnel. At the end of that tunnel, there is a hidden open spot with towering cliffs, a lush jungle, and a tropical beach. A true hidden paradise!
To arrive at the secret beach, you have to swim 100m in the dark. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight, because it is pitch dark! The cave used to be an old hiding spot for pirates. Now, you’ll probably only see a few monkeys (if you are lucky like we were).
You can only reach the Emerald Cave by boat or by kayak.
If you want to go by yourself, you can rent a kayak at Charley Beach. It takes about 30 minutes to paddle. Be aware though you are peddling on the sea, so don’t forget to check the tides before you go (also for entering the cave). You cannot enter the tunnel with the kayak, but you can tie it up just outside the cave.
You can also book a tour to go by boat to the Emerald Cave. Your guide will go with you in the water and normally has a flashlight. Usually, these tours are combined with other Koh Mook highlights such as snorkeling and a visit to Koh Kradan. We booked a tour with our guesthouse, PK Family House, and can highly recommend them!
TIP: We recommend that you visit the Emerald Cave in the morning or the afternoon (depending on the tide). Unfortunately, the Emerald Cave can be really crowded with big boats coming from Koh Lanta or other islands. Our tour guide advised us to go in the afternoon and we were almost completely alone.
Sunset at Charley Beach
Charley Beach is located on the west of Koh Muuk. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Mook and is ideal for swimming or watching the sunset.
If you go all the way to the left of the beach, there are two lovely reggae bars. Sit down under an umbrella, while you enjoy a fresh coconut. From here, you’ll have a beautiful view of Charley Beach and the surrounding area.
You can easily reach Charley Beach by bike (30 minutes), scooter, or motor taxi from the center of Koh Mook.
You can also spend the night on Charlie Beach. There is Longbeach Bungalow, not luxurious but it has everything you need. A little further from the beach, you can also find some nice hotels such as Mookies Bungalows. It is only a 5-minute walk from Charlie Beach.
TIP: If you arrive around 4 pm you can enjoy a delicious cocktail and something to eat at one of the many local tents or the reggae bars. Then go for a swim and stay around because you will be rewarded with a breathtaking sunset.
Have dinner in one of the many restaurants.
Just outside the center, you will find many local restaurants on the south side. One of our favorites is the Mookdara Restaurant. You can go there for breakfast, lunch or dinner with a view of the sea.
Do you fancy delicious coffee? Then go to Sugar’s coffee restaurant.
A nice breakfast place is Miss Island Bakery. They make their own bread and delicious smoothie bowls.
Spotting manatees and turtles on the pier
At high tide, the manatees and turtles come to the Koh Mook pier in search of seagrass. You can easily spot them from the tower or from the pier itself. The locals are also enthusiastic when they see the manatee and will certainly help you spot it.
TIP: The best time to see the manatees and turtles is at low tide
Snorkeling on Koh Kradang
Koh Kradang is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places for snorkeling in Thailand. From Koh Mook, you can take a tour that takes you to the best places for snorkeling. This is especially true at the southeastern point where you have a beautiful reef off the coast.
You can let yourself be floating away with the current. On Koh Kradang itself, there is also a nice restaurant and a few resorts, including the nice Reef resort. You can also combine Koh Kradang with Koh Muuk.
The beach of Koh Kradang is one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand!
Have breakfast at Miss Island Bakery Restaurant
If you are looking for a tasty breakfast, this is the place to be. You can find smoothie bowls, croissants, omelets, and much more. You can enjoy delicious coffee from the north of Thailand in the cozy garden between the palm trees.
The service is super friendly and attention is paid to every detail. Just pay attention to the different spoons you get with your coffee, for example.
Bike tour on Koh Mook
What could be more wonderful than riding through the local villages by bike? You can easily get to Charley Beach from the pier via the small roads. There is not much traffic (only taxi scooters).
You can stop anywhere along the way for something to drink or eat. For example, on the highest hill on the road to Charlie Beach, there is the Hilltop Café. Here it goes uphill a bit, but don’t expect Mont Ventoux conditions.
Make sure you have enough water with you and that you have tested your brakes in advance. We stayed at PK Family House where they have free bicycles available. If you don’t feel like cycling, you can also rent a scooter.
Hike to the viewpoint
From the center of Koh Mook, you can hike to one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island. Count on about 1 hour of walking through the beautiful jungle to get there. From the viewpoint, you can continue hiking to Lu Dong Beach or Sabai Beach (steep descent). You can also snorkel on both beaches.
Make sure you have enough water with you because there are no facilities on the beaches.
Our favorite restaurants in Koh Mook
Where to stay in Koh Mook
We stayed in the PK Family House in the center of the village. The advantage is that it is not far from the ferry, you get free bicycles and the rooms are clean. You also have a large refrigerator available, air conditioning, and a small terrace. The owner also appears to be the grandson of Madame Yoohoo on Koh Lipe. He gives you advice about what you can do and you can also arrange transport and tours with him. Highly recommended.
There are still many resorts in Koh Mook. Do you fancy something more luxurious? Then you can go to the tip of the island, on Pearl Beach. There you have the luxurious Sivalai Beach Resort. Keep in mind that you have to watch out for stingrays in the sand on the north side of the tip. So you should swim on the south side.
If you prefer to stay somewhere central on the island, Mook Lamai Resort is the best option. There you also have a lovely swimming pool.
View on Google Maps
Save this article for later on Pinterest
Other articles about Thailand
