Accommodation on Ao Kao Beach comprises boutique resorts, bungalow operations, guesthouses and a small hotel spread out right along its 3km length.
You can find something to suit all tastes, for couples, for families, for backpackers, with prices across the board from 350bt for the most basic fan room to 4,500bt for a beachfront villa.
Prices given are for the peak period (outside of Xmas/New Year weeks) via booking sites, not the hotel websites. They are intended as guides only.
You can jump straight to to each section:-
- Resorts
- Bungalows
- Far Western End (Laem Tookata)
- Villas and Houses for Rent
- Selected Others
- About the Beach
Ao Kao Beach Resorts
At the far eastern end, you’ll find 3 excellent resorts in a row on the sand. Lazy Day The Resort makes a nice spot for couples, with large bungalows from 3,500bt if booked via its site. Next door, Ao Kao White Sand Beach Resort, the premier resort on Ao Kao Beach, goes from 3,600bt for one of its garden villas, 4,600bt for the seaview style. Continuing along, Palm Beach Resort is pitched at families, 3,500bt for a 4 person bungalow.
In the central area, about another 1000 metres down the beach, the hip choice, By The Sea, starts at 2,500bt for garden view to 2,900bt for its king size rooms by the pool – minimum stay period of 3 nights in peak. Baan Koh Mak, another long running boutique style resort, offers standard a/c bungalows, prices again from around 2,100bt in peak season.
Beyond them, the small hotel, Makathanee Resort ranges from 2,400bt to 3,800bt for its beachside and poolside villas and rooms, with family suites too at 5,500bt to 7,700bt.
Recommended Resorts on Ao Kao Beach
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B):
B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
Resorts are listed by location from Ao Nid end of Ao Kao Beach (east) to the Makathanee end (west).
Lazy Day The Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
At the far eastern end of the beach, spacious differently styled a/c ensuite bungalows on mini stilts, each with an outdoor terrace , either with direct sea view or in the rown behind. Beach bar, massage salas, in-house restaurant, nice jazz music, very laid back location. Accessed either off the Ao Nid road or by walking to the end of the beach, motorbike would be useful but not essential. Popular and well run resort, well worth a look.
Ao Kao White Sand Beach Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
On the beach next door to Lazy Day, family friendly resort with large selection of brushed concrete, stylishly designed a/c villas, each with large roof terraces, either in the garden (with a small central swimming pool) or oceanfront. Restaurant by the sea, kayaks, SUP, mountain bikes, tennis (indoor and outdoor) club. WiFi.
Palm Beach
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
Alongside Ao Kao Resort, small German owned resort with 8 rooms in brightly painted single or double storey buildings – 6 doubles, 2 quads, 1 with a roof terrace. All ensuite rooms are a/c and come equipped with TV, DVD, kids’ beds for free. Small swimming pool and restaurant. A well run operation that could suit families with a lovely stretch of beach on its doorstep.
By The Sea
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
Centrally located on the ocean, boutique style guesthouse with selection of ensuite a/c rooms (pool view, sea view and garden view) in a three storey block overlooking the swiming pool. Small spa, fusion restaurant, lots of chill out areas on the sand. Cafe for breakfast and lunch too at the entrance by the road and they also run Pak Pak further along the street, Koh Mak’s vegan restaurant. Recommended, Koh Mak’s hip spot.
Baan Koh Mak
Per Night: BBB
Sea-side
In the center on the beach on the main strip , 18 stylish a/c ensuite bungalows including 2 family set-ups, all spaced around a grassy area with a popular restaurant and separate beach bar (Talay) looking out over the sea. Kayaks, motorbikes, mountain bikes all available.
Makathanee Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
At the western end of the main strip, small hotel style resort, with beach-side bungalows or behind, either pool-side family rooms, honeymoon and deluxe suites or hotel rooms in the compact 3 storey block. Restaurant and coffee shop, Head in the Clouds sunset bar, swimming pool, own pier, information centre.
Ao Kao Beach Bungalows and Rooms
At the eastern end of the beach, Home Hug opened in 2023. It is actually an offshoot from Ao Kao Resort, taking around 7 bungalows from the main resort and setting up under a new name. Prices are from 2,000bt per night for the tent style to 3,000bt for the beachfront double. There’s a restaurant on site and the owners have a well recommended diner, Homehug (Mong and Jam), up on Ao Nid road.
Also at this end and just down from Palm Beach, Island Huts offers fan huts off the beach for 350bt, with a couple of comfortable a/c bungalows on the sand at 1,200bt per night.
More centrally, Monkey Island has renovated a few rooms now to go with its Monkey Schocks restaurant/bar and cannabis outlet still running. The larger beachside Gorilla bungalows go at 1,000bt to 1,500bt a night or the Baboon hut is a bit cheaper, with packages available too.
Next door, Rayang Nature comprises more deluxe wooden bungalows (once part of Monkey) from 1,500bt upwards, all of them dotted around the garden by the sea.
Meanwhile, Joe’s Corner Hostel, up by the road in the centre of Ao Kao, offers garden rooms from 1,300bt a night, walk-in
Alongside, Ball Cafe, has a double room upstairs from its little diner and two additional adjoining rooms down the side, all ensuite, 1,400bt with breakfast. On the lagoon behind, The River Retreat also offers fan doubles or doubles tents from 800bt, with triple rooms for families on the water at 3,800bt.
Behind Makathanee neart the start of the road leading to Ao Suan Yai Beach, Hanoi House has stylish modern bungalows or rooms in the main building from 1,400bt (cheaper deals possible). Next door, AP Guesthouse has motel style rooms in an L-shaped single storey block, slightly cheaper.
Head away from Makathanee, Twocans Resort has upgraded over the last couple of years (very similar in style to Hanoi House…) – garden view rooms are from 1,500bt. Continue on and you’ll find 4 other cheap bungalow operations on the beach – Miss You and TK Huts (Kham Nature), once one resort but now in two parts followed by BaanYai Guesthouse (formerly Baan Chailay) and Sabai Beach Resort. Expect prices in the range of 1,500bt to 2,500bt with some requiring a minimum stay 2/3 nights in peak.
For another traveller option, try Big Easy at the far western end of the beach, where their large wooden bungalows (with great terraces) make for very peaceful getaway, 1,500bt a night for the cheapest option.
Recommended Bungalows on Ao Kao Beach
Bungalows are listed by location from Ao Nid end of Ao Kao Beach (east) to the Makathanee end (west).
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B):
B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
Island Huts
Per Night: B – BB
Sea-side
At the far eastern end of the beach, very basic little fan beach huts with bathrooms (cold water) attached and a 4 a/c choices on the sand. Clean and well-maintained, friendly. Restaurant by the sea, deckchairs with the bungalows. A deservedly popular backpacker choice that also has WiFi, bicycle, motorbike hire and ever flowering lovely orchids. Book direct only +66 87 428 5544 (Nun on WhatsApp) or call +66 98 126 9103
Hanoi House
Per Night: BB
Sea-side
Behind Makathanee at the start of the road which links across to the north west coast, 5 modern brushed-concrete style bungalows in the garden and appartment rooms (with balconies) in the 2 storey hotel block. A/c, ensuite (hot water), double beds as standard. Breakfast, motorbikes for rent. Good deals on packages. Recommended.
Big Easy
Per Night: BBB
Sea-side
At the far western end on the beach, accessed down the tracks after Holiday Beach at the very end of Ao Kao/Ao Kra Tueng road. A very quiet and private resort comprises just 7 wooden styled a/c bungalows, boasting huge verandahs. Good restaurant. WiFi.
Bungalows at Far End – Laem Tookata
In the far south west corner at an area known as Laem Tookata, Baan Ing Khao was sold in 2021, with a new development coming on this site. The other two tiny bungalow operations are now used by locals only, so you can rule out staying in this area for 24/25 season.
To get to these bungalows, you follow the road behind Makathanee Resort which leads to the steep hill by Good Time Resort. Turn left towards Cococape Resort and then keep on this road for about 10 minutes until you see the road branching to the right. If you nip up here, it will bring you out at the top of a steep slope down to the old Baan Ing Khao or at its very end, a private house and the path up to Pebble Beach.
Along the way from Cococape, you’ll also pass the backs of the Villa Edena, Mira Montra and on the left hand side, the track down to Hidden Beach Resort – see immediately below.
As you would expect, hidden away down the track which leads to Laem Tookata, a quiet and private bungalow resort of ten or so wooden style a/c ensuite cabanas with small balconies and great views raised up on stilts just back from the sea. Breakfast available, shared kitchen, chill out area and ever expanding beach bar and party area (now complete with ashore wooden boats). WiFi.
Villas and Houses to Rent
At the eastern end of Ao Kao near to the entrance to Island Hut and roadside businesses such as Q Bar and the Island Shop, you can rent a huge Lanna style villa with 5 bedrooms – Koh Mak Garden Villa, available through Rent by Owner. It sits in a secluded garden, with the rooms split either side of a central terrace area.
Right at the other western end, you’ll also find a few houses to rent on the corner just past the entrances to Baanyai Guesthouse and Sabai Beach (see their location below). They are easily walkable to the central restaurant strip and if you walk straight through those resorts, there’s a decent stretch of beach too.
Follow the road round and opposite the entrance to the now defunct Holiday Beach, Villa Edena sits at the top of the private road – 2 bedrooms, sleeps 6 with small pool and sea views, check web for booking direct.
Other Bungalows and Guesthouses in Ao Kao Beach and Laem Tookata
Other Bungalows and Guesthousess are listed by location from Ao Nid end of Ao Kao Beach (east) to the Makathanee end (west).
Dara Villa
Per Night: BBB
Roadside at the eastern end by the turning to Island Huts, new home of Holiday Beach‘s Dara in what was Swiss Sawasdee. Rooms in the rear, famly and double.
Joe’s Corner
Per Night: BB
Modern hostel by the road in the centre of Ao Kao,. Built on two floors, with a/c double rooms, bathrooms ensuite, red brick, natural materials, wood style, terrace upstairs. More renovated rooms by the creek. Wi-Fi, no restaurant but breakfast available.
Baan Talay Hostel
Per Night: BB
On Walking Street opposite Makathanee, 7 ensuite a/c rooms along a small corridor with a garden view. Breakfast available, bar too .
Twocans Bungalows
Per Night: BB
On the road behind Makathanee and TK Huts, standard bungalows in a small garden area combined with a new 2 storey accommodation block. No restaurant yet but motorbikes available and WiFi. Clean and well run.
TK Huts
Per Night: B-BB
Formerly Kham Nature, at the northern end of the beach, handful of well spaced out a/c bungalows stylishly decorated inside with seaview, family room, WiFi. Peaceful spot, no restaurant. Easy walk to the strip, just steps from the sea.
Miss You Resort
Per Night: BB
Effectively the other half of TK Huts from when that resort split in two. More basic than its neighbour with standard bungalows and a large family room, but of course same garden area by the sea. Sometimes open restaurant. WiFi.
Sabai Beach Resort
Per Night: BB-BBB
Formerly Sky Beach, towards the northern end of the beach, 8 rooms in total, a/c bungalows on the beach, with restaurant and cafe/bar. Peace and quiet.
BaanYai Guesthouse
Per Night: BB- BBB
Formerly Baan Chailay, towards the northern end of the beach, handful of a/c and fan bungalows at this small German bungalow set-up with its own restaurant, Krua Ton Hom.
The Beach – Ao Kao Beach Resorts and Bungalows
It would take about 15 minutes to walk from one end of Ao Kao Beach to the other. Bear in mind that it does get quite tidal, so that stroll along the sand gets trickier when the tide is up. At night, you would definitely need a torch.
Just behind the beach in the area that stretches from behind Monkey Schocks, past By The Sea and Baan Koh Mak up to Makathanee Resort and Twocans, there is a small strip of restaurants and shops, all low key like Koh Mak itself.
If you stay at the eastern end, Ao Kao White Sand Beach Resort and its neighbours, it is a good 10 minutes walk along the road to this strip, though they do have a few of their own eating options and minimarts at that end. From the other end at Big Easy, it’s a bit nearer.
UPDATED July 24 for 24/25 Season
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