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 4,000bt if booked via its site. Next door, White Sand Beach Resort goes from 4,200bt for one of its garden villas, 5,200bt for the seaview style. Continuing along, Palm Beach Resort is pitched at families, 3,800bt for a 4 person bungalow but they also have doubles at 2,800bt.
In the central area, about another 1,000 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 2,500bt in peak season.
Beyond them, the small hotel, Makathanee Resort ranges from 2,400bt to 3,900bt for its beachside and poolside villas and rooms, with family suites too at 4,200bt to 6,200bt.
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 row 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.
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, one of Koh Mak’s hip spots.
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, Baan Ao Kao has an interesting selection of accommodation comprising 2 bubble tents on platforms with separate private bathrooms, 2 standard and 3 double (with seaview) bungalows. Prices are from 800bt for the tent, 1,200bt per night for the standard, 1,600bt or the beachfront double. There’s a restaurant on site.
Also at this end and just down from Palm Beach, Island Huts offers classic fan huts off the beach for 350bt, larger ones on the next rows and on the front increasing in price, topped by a couple of comfortable a/c bungalows, also bang on the front, 1,500bt per night.
Back at the main road near the turning down to Island Huts, the compact Koh Mak Garden View has either a whole family house (2 bedrooms with doubles and sofa bed too) for 2,200bt or doubles at 1,100bt (low season).
More centrally, Monkey Island Resort offers older rooms either on the beachfront, in the area behind or in a short motel row style immediately next to its reggae bar/restaurant Monkey Schocks. The larger beachside bungalow goes at 2,800bt a night in high season, the others are cheaper but look for deals on all rooms. Note, the rooms adjacent to that bar and live music area will be noisy.
Central Area and Back Road
Meanwhile, Yo’s Corner Hostel, up by the road in the centre of Ao Kao, offers upstairs and garden rooms from 1,500bt a night. A little further along on the lagoon behind, The River Retreat comprises bell tents from 600bt, bamboo huts from 1,000bt, with triple rooms for families on the water at 2,600bt – bar and restaurant too. Roadside, Baan Talay Hostel has just a handful of twins or doubles behind its raised tiny restaurant area at 1,350bt a night.
At the the start of the road behind Makathanee leading to Ao Suan Yai Beach, Koh Mak Living is a well run under-the-radar spot – just a few a/c wooden cabanas, some with their little terraces on the river – assume 2,300bt a night (maybe more in peak). Further up on the other side, Hanoi House has stylish modern bungalows at 2,000bt or rooms in the two storey motel style building from 1,700bt. Shortly before, AP Guesthouse has its own motel style rooms in an L-shaped single storey block, around 1,800bt a night
Head away from Makathanee on the Ao Kao road and Twocans Resort is very similar in style to Hanoi House – garden view rooms are from 1,600bt, bungalows at 1,800bt and the queen double at 2,500bt (upstairs in the 2 storey block).
On the Beach
Continue on and you’ll find 4 other cheap bungalow operations actually 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 a very peaceful getaway, 2,700bt for seaview, 3,000bt beachfront, 3,200bt family – add 200bt for peak 15/12/26 to 15/1/27.
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 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: BBB
Road-side
Midway down the Makathanee road which links over 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.
Koh Mak Living
Per Night: BBB
Road-side
At the start of the same road as Hanoi above, 5 to 6 a/c ensuite cabanas (with fans too) set around the courtyard, some with their terraces looking out over the river. Fridge, tea and coffee making facilities. Very near to the action but still very peaceful. Massage centre at the front, helpful staff. WiFi.
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.
Book via their website.
Bungalows at Far End – Laem Tookata
Located in the far south west of the island, Laem Tookata is a lovely little cove which overlooks the offshore island of Koh Rayang Nok. Formerly a bit of a backpacker haven with cheap bungalows, it now has just one place to stay, Laem Tukkata Beach Resort, which opened in 2025. Accommodation is around 8 rooms in either adjoining rooms by the sand or oceanview ones in the large buildinG behind – assume 3,300bt for high season with breakfast for the beachfront.
To get to these bungalows, you follow the road behind Makathanee Resort which leads to the steep hill by Good Time Sport 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 resort or at its very end, a private house and the path up to Pebble Beach and the viewpoint.
Along the way from Cococape, you’ll also pass the backs of the Villa Edena (book via AirBnB), Mira Montra and on the left hand side, the track down to Hidden Beach Resort – see immediately below – 3,000bt to 3,500bt per night.
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. WiFi.
Laem Tukkata Beach Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBBB
Sea-side
Down at the far south west corner of the island in Laem Tukkata, this new resort features 2 identikit sets of either adjoining beachfront rooms or oceanview rooms in the two storey building behind – well appointed, practical, clean design. Restaurant in the middle.
Motorbikes for rent, can organise taxis, kayaks on hand for exploring the coast and when the tide is OK, the sea is good for swimming. Note, that it is a good 20 to 25 minute walk to the action at Ao Kao Beach near Makathanee Resort so without transport, this may not suit everyone.
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 Facebook, around 10,000bt a night. 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 including Little White 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 or AirBnB for booking direct.
Other Bungalows and Guesthouses in Ao Kao Beach
Other Bungalows and Guesthousess are listed by location from Ao Nid end of Ao Kao Beach (east) to the Makathanee end (west).
Koh Mak Garden View
Per Night: BBB-BBBB
Roadside at the eastern end by the turning to Island Huts, family house or double rooms in the garden – compact, breakfast available.
Yo’s Corner
Per Night: BB
Modern style 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. Wi-Fi, co-working space.
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. 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. Easy walk to the strip, just steps from the sea. Sips bar is next door so noise will travel.
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. Sips bar is next door so noise will travel.
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 May 26 for 26/27 Season
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