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Koh Mook - the pearl of Thailand
#kohmook
Koh Mook delights with simple life and shows the true face of Thai people. It evokes admiration and disgust. Check it out ...
It is no coincidence that you will find this photo at the top of our title page :-)
How to get to Koh Mook
We can get to Koh Mook from several places, the closest is Trang, we can also try transport from Krabi or, like us, from Phuket.
Where is Koh Mook, how to get there, transfers, travel time!
The cost of ticket from Phuket is approximately 3000 baht both two ways. You will pay a similar price when choosing a transfer from Koh Lipe or Krabi. Remember, if you buy a return ticket, you will always save. We choose the fastest possible speedboat transport, but you can also choose a ferry that will take you a little cheaper.
We start from Rassada Pier and sail between Koh Yao Yai and Koh Khai - about them in another post. After 45 minutes we reach Koh PhiPhi.
There is always a lot of traffic at Tonsai Pier, we drop off some passengers and continue towards Koh Lanta.
Depending on the motorboat, we sit either in rows or on the sides, as above.
On board, apart from the helmsman, there is also a person responsible for the safety of passengers, who takes care of the correct arrangement of luggage and putting on safety vests.
Speedboat speeds up to 80 km / h, so it's fast and loud. Passing near the large ferry, the motorboat makes jumps, gliding on the waves. We believe that it is harmless, although it aroused a lot of emotions among our fellow passengers :-)
Train station on Koh Lanta
The harbor on Koh Lanta is located in the interior of the island, which we reach through a long channel that look's like a snake. We wait 30 minutes for our speedboat to arrive. There is a waiting space and several restaurants on site. We recommend abstinence about meals before the trip, grab the ice cream and move on.
We return along the same channel to the bay, this time at full speed. We feel like James Bond running from bad guys.
The bridge connecting the eastern and western part of Koh Lanta
After another 40 minutes, we reach Koh Ngai, a paradise island 10 minutes away from Koh Mook. On some beaches, the boat moors directly on the beach, passengers jump in waist-deep water :-)
We reach Koh Ngai
The water in this part of the Andaman Sea is emerald green and this is perfectly normal :-)
Koh Ngai
Koh Mook
A few words about the island
"Muk" in the Thai language means a pearl - does the island really deserve this name?
The island is not big, most of the life is concentrated on and around the pier. There is no hospital on the island, just a small medical center. There are also no cars here, only bicycle, scooter or tuk tuk.
Only a few hundred families live on Koh Mook who are engaged in fishing and tourist services. There are no crowds, no big ferry arrives here.
It is intimate, life is modest and leisurely
Transfer from pier
The speed boat leaves us at the end of a 300-meter-long concrete pier. Don't worry, the employees of the transport company always inform the locals how many people will come, thanks to which there will be no shortage of transport for anyone :-) i.e. a tuk tuk on which all suitcases and travelers will pack - we saw a driver who was carrying 12 people - complete madness.
Our travel cost to Koh Mook Sivalai was 250 baht.
At the bottom of the page I am attaching a video of the transfer!
Koh Mook Sivalai is located right on the beach, practically directly connected to the pier. The cottages are situated 500 meters away at the top of the headland. Therefore, 250 baht seems to us a rather exorbitant price for such a transfer. If you don't have a heavy suitcase with you but only backpacks, take a walk along the beach.
Hotel Koh Mook Sivalai
Sivalai Resort consists of houses situated on the peninsula of the same name. The houses are arranged in 2 rows, each with a panoramic sea view. The views are breathtaking. It is fabulously green, nature surrounds us from all sides.
The standard of the bungalows corresponds to the hotel category, but they are slightly worn. They fit perfectly into the area without destroying the beauty of the headland.
At the top of the headland there is a restaurant and bar as well as a sunbathing area with deckchairs and umbrellas.
The beach is accessible on both sides of the headland. It is friendlier on the north side, definitely safer for children. The sand is fine and comparable to Ko Hong or Laem Tong Beach. The descent to the water is perfectly flat without any faults.
You have to remember that it is a headland, so the water flows around it from 3 sides, creating strong currents several dozen meters from the shore, changing their direction depending on the time of day and the weather.
The whole headland is covered with palm trees, everywhere it is aesthetically and beautifully green
The width of the peninsula is not that big, which makes it close to everything, it takes 30 seconds to go from one side to the other.
At low tide, the water sinks, revealing the wealth of underwater life. Various types of snails, crabs and starfish live here. Huge jellyfish also arrived during our stay .
Is it worth staying in this place?
Unambiguously and firmly yes !!!
Koh Mook Sivalai Resort is a phenomenal place.
Daily life on the island
Most of the island life is concentrated in the village by the marina.
In order to get there, we go through the only one school on the island or we choose the way through the beach.
There is a full-size playground next to the school, students play matches every day after 6 pm
At every turn, we encounter herds of local dogs, which of course are usually harmless, unless of course we suddenly start running away.
Walking around the school after dark, we came across a 1-meter iguana, we recommend using flashlights during night walks so as not to come across an unpleasant surprise.
A gate separates the school from the village
The nearby village is basically one main street with restaurants, stalls and cooking facilities. We eat here typical Thai specialties: we were delighted with the fresh crabs and octopus.
When paying the bill, we asked the waitress three times if they had made a mistake with the bill
As cheap as here, we haven't eaten anywhere in Thailand
Seafood straight from the catch and fruit from their own backyard plantations.
We came back here everyday for lunch and dinner
About 50 Europeans live on the island, we met a few, for example, an English teacher, researcher, diver, geologist - they chose slow life
Crabs for 1.5 euro each
No one is impressed by the visit of the goat in the local supermarket
What to do on the island?
The main attraction of the island is the Emerald Cave located on the eastern coast of the island. The exact location on the island can be found in our video at the top of the page.
The tunnel connecting the sea with the cave is about 20 meters long and about 2.5 meters wide.
It is available only during low tides, after which a high wave floods it completely and the entrance to the tunnel becomes invisible.
In high season, you like to be jammed before entering the tunnel
Inside it is warm and humid, in addition, we are accompanied by a specific sound of insects
The caves are definitely worth including on your visiting list in Thailand - just walking through the tunnel is very exciting, and at the end you will be rewarded with an epic spot like from National Geographic movies.
Real life on the island
Delving into the island, we notice that the world has stopped here. On the one hand, we have a beautiful and idyllic landscape that makes us stunned, on the other hand, what looked like rubber production from a distance turned out to be a wicked burning of rubbish, which gave off a terrible stench.
The smell is not felt in the village or in the marina, so it is not bothersome
For a small amount of cash, we can rent a LongTail Boat that moors at the beach. The waters here are calm and the use of LTB is safe.
Is Koh Mook worth visiting?
For us, this place is the quintessence of Thailand: undisturbed peace and quiet, without the hustle and bustle and no rush. Typical Thai cuisine and an amazing beach on Sivalai headland.
Is it worth it?
YES !!!
Koh Mook is a must see on your list of places to visit
Finally, the promised video from a tuk tuk trip to the pier on the island - enjoy ...
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