Sugarcane Villa — Two-Bedroom Villa on Koh Mak

The villa sits in the centre of Koh Mak, between Ao Kao and Ao Suan Yai, which is the practical place to be if you do not want to be tied to one beach. Both bays are a short ride away — Ao Kao for the long swimming beach and sunsets, Ao Suan Yai for the calmer water and the piers — and the village kitchens, minimarts and coffee stops listed on where to eat are closer from here than from either end of the island.

Inside, it is a two-bedroom house rather than a hotel room: both bedrooms have air conditioning, there is a kitchenette for breakfasts and simple cooking, and the roof terrace with its carved Thai doors is where most guests end up in the evening. The shared tropical pool is a few steps away, and a set of snorkelling equipment comes with the house for trips out to the reefs at Koh Kham and beyond.

It works best as a long-stay home, and the rates are built that way — weekly from ฿15,000 in low season and ฿27,000 in high season, with monthly bookings 20% below the weekly equivalent and a 15% discount for solo travellers. Minimum stay is seven nights; Christmas and New Year (24 December to 10 January) runs at the peak rate with a ten-night minimum. Guests who work remotely use the co-working space that comes with the villa, and free use of the tennis courts and gym means training does not need a separate booking — though structured coaching can be added through the Stay & Train packages.

Bicycles and scooters can be arranged on request, which is how most guests get around — see getting around Koh Mak for what that costs and what the roads are like. If you are still deciding when to come, the season guide explains how low and high season differ in weather, crowds and price.