Koh Kham is a tiny private island situated off the coast of Koh Mak, famous for its abandoned luxury resort and unusual black volcanic rock formations. We spent the day here during our 4-night stay in Koh Mak and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. We did nothing more than sunbathe, swim, take photos and explore the unfinished resort but the time simply flew by. For the first few hours, we had the entire island to ourselves: no other tourists or boats pulling up, just a couple of friendly local dogs running along the shore.

If you’re planning a trip to Koh Mak, then we highly recommend visiting Koh Kham for the day. It’s easy to reach, effortless to explore and relatively cheap (a small 200-300 THB entry fee applies). You can either take a longtail from the Koh Mak Resort area or rent a kayak and paddle there from anywhere on the northwest coast. The two main beaches of Koh Kham are undeniably beautiful - defined by talcum-white sand, shallow turquoise waters, and swaying palm trees - but the star of the show is the abandoned resort which gives the island a slightly mysterious feeling.

Koh Kham - Arriving — *Arriving at Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - Empty Beach — *Black volcanic rock beaches of Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - Dogs — *Dogs roaming around Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - Ananya Hideaway — *Abandoned resort on Koh Kham*

Where is Koh Kham?

Koh Kham is located approximately 1 kilometer off the northwest coast of Koh Mak, in the east of Thailand by the Cambodian border. The island is only a few minutes away by boat, and is close enough that you can clearly see its white sand and black rocks from several different vantage points on Koh Mak. These islands are part of the Trat archipelago group, also known as the Koh Chang Islands, which also include Koh Chang and Koh Kood. Together they make for a fantastic island-hopping circuit, a great alternative to the popular Gulf Islands or remote Trang Islands.

Why Visit Koh Kham?

Visiting Koh Kham is like wandering around an art installation. Everything seems perfectly arranged: from the pristine and manicured white sand, to the photogenic black rocks and sandbars, to the geometric skeletal structures of the abandoned resort that are slowly being reclaimed by nature. We’ve visited many different Thai islands and none quite compare to Koh Kham’s aesthetics.

Koh Kham does look a little staged though. Apparently the white sand was imported from the UAE and meticulously laid by the resort’s developers, and it doesn’t feel as wild as some of the other islands in the area such as Koh Wai. That being said, there’s still something special about Koh Kham, like you’re in the middle of a curated film set. We took way too many photos here - it’s hard not to when the island is so photogenic!

Koh Kham - Sand Bar — *Beaches of Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - White Sand Beach — *White sand beaches of Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - Beach Chairs — *Swing chairs*

History of the Abandoned Resort

The abandoned resort on Koh Kham was named Ananya Hideaway, an ambitious project that was meant to have luxury villas with private infinity pools and large glass frontages. However, construction came to a sudden halt after the developer faced insurmountable permitting issues and legal disputes. It got so bad that the property was raided by Thai marines and National Park officials, forcing all work to stop.

The project was left in limbo and then put for sale for a whopping asking price of 1.8 billion THB (over $50 million USD). Since construction stopped in 2014, the jungle has slowly started to reclaim the site, weaving vines and foliage through the skeletal frames. If it had been completed, it would’ve become one of the most extraordinary small-island resorts in the world.

Koh Kham - Abandoned Luxury Resort — *Ananya Hideaway*

Koh Kham - Resort Stairway — *Ananya Hideaway*

What to See & Do on Koh Kham

White Sand Beaches Straight Out of a Postcard

If you’re coming to Koh Kham because you’re a beach-lover, then you certainly won’t be disappointed. The sand, although probably imported, is some of the whitest and softest we’ve experienced in all of Thailand. It’s a striking contrast to the rougher, golden sands that typically make up Koh Mak beaches. The two main beaches of Koh Kham are immaculately clean, and wrap around one side of the island, forming secluded bays with crystal-clear waters.

When we arrived early in the morning, the water was like glass and we had the entire beach to ourselves. We dropped our day bags, jumped straight into the water, and spent the next few hours swimming, floating and relaxing with nobody else around. Later in the day, when the tide shifted out, the black volcanic rocks emerged out of the water and made for some captivating photos.

Koh Kham - Powdery White Sand Beach — *Perfectly white sand beaches*

Koh Kham - Day Trip from Koh Mak — *Perfectly white sand beaches*

Dramatic Black Volcanic Boulders

Apart from Ananya Hideaway, our favorite aspect of Koh Kham was the black volcanic rocks which are scattered around one of the island's main beaches. These jet-black boulders stand out beautifully against the white sand and turquoise waters, making it an Instagrammers dream! Unlike the white sand, the rocks are completely natural to the area - forming from an ancient volcanic crater that existed millions of years ago.

Koh Kham - Black Volcanic Rocks — *Unique volcanic rock formations of Koh Kham*

Koh Kham - Volcanic Rocks in Water — *Swimming in between the rocks*

Ananya Hideaway: Abandoned Luxury Resort

Koh Kham’s abandoned resort is the ultimate “ruin aesthetic” and travel photography destination. The bleached white concrete frames, curved pathways and half-built staircases give the resort an eerie, haunting vibe. Walking around Ananya Hideaway, you’ll see:

Overgrown foundations
Staircases leading to nowhere
Empty pool structures sculpted in unusual shapes
Minimalist concrete shells now reclaimed by nature
Trees, vines and foliage creeping around the different ruins
Viewpoints looking out at the beach and Koh Mak in the distance

We spent a good few hours wandering around the structures and taking photos, with Kat acting as the lead role in a “forgotten movie set”. After our visit to Koh Kham, we also did some research on the architect - Duangrit Bunnag - who designed the structures to blend in naturally with the island’s contours. It’s such a shame that his vision didn’t get fully realised, but in many ways the abandoned resort has become a bigger tourism attraction than he probably imagined.

Koh Kham - Big Swing — *Big swing at the abandoned resort*

The Beach Shack With Surfboards

One cute little spot that we loved in Koh Kham was the beach shack/kiosk. It wasn’t manned during our visit, so we couldn’t get any drinks or snacks, but it still served as another subject in the “open-air art gallery”. We took photos of its weathered charm, vintage surfboards, and palm tree background. Just know, you can’t actually hire the surfboards or get surfing lessons, they’re for decor purposes only.

Swimming, Sunbathing & Total Relaxation

While not everyone is interested in aesthetics, there’s still plenty of natural beauty to enjoy on Koh Kham. The beaches are ideal for total relaxation, whether you want to lounge around in the sun all day or wade through the shallow waters. We spent hours lying in the sun, listening to music, taking the occasional dip and finding shaded spots to read. Even when more boats pulled in at midday, the island still felt quiet and peaceful.

The Magic of Arriving Early

On our Thailand travels, we’re finding it increasingly difficult to have beaches all to ourselves, due to the sheer number of tourists that visit every year. But in Koh Kham, we still believe this is possible. If you take the early morning boat, like we did at 9:30 AM, chances are you’ll have not only a beach but an entire island all to yourself for a few hours. Koh Mak is a sleepy island, so most people cruise over at around midday, giving you a small window to enjoy Koh Kham without anyone else there.

Koh Kham - Taking the Boat — *Taking the early morning boat*

Koh Kham - Untouched Beaches — *Crystal clear waters of Koh Kham*

How to Get to Koh Kham

The best way to get to Koh Kham is to take the longtail boat from Koh Mak Resort, on Ao Suan Yai Beach, a short trip that takes no more than 10 minutes. The price normally includes the entrance fee of 200-300 THB per person, a fee that contributes to maintenance. The great thing about Koh Mak is that it only takes 15-20 minutes to go from one side of the island to the other. So no matter where you’re staying, it won’t be a long scooter ride to Koh Mak Resort. In the dry season, the boats usually run every hour from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Koh Kham - Boat Trip from Koh Mak — *Arriving to Koh Kham from Koh Mak*

Where to Stay: Little Moon Villa

Staying on Koh Mak is an absolute no-brainer. Getting here from Koh Kood or Koh Chang is logistically harder and costs more. In terms of accommodation, we can’t recommend Little Moon Villa enough. It’s where we stayed for 4 nights and it became one of our favorite hotels in all of Thailand. The boutique resort offers beautiful villas with balconies facing the sea, spacious rooms equipped with comfortable beds and a massive bathtub, and a fantastic on-site restaurant that serves delicious Thai food and baked goods.

Koh Mak - Little Moon Villa Sunset — *Little Moon Villa*

Tips for Visiting Koh Kham

Stay for the Entire Day: The final boat back to Koh Mak leaves at 4:00 PM, so you’ll want to arrive early and spend at least 5-6 hours there. Despite being a tiny island, there’s more things to do than what you might think. We were surprised by how quickly the time passed on our visit to Koh Kham - a sure sign that you’re having fun.
Pack Lunch & Water: The only place to get snacks and water on Koh Kham is the small kiosk, and from our experience, it’s not always going to be open. So packing your own lunch and bringing enough water for the day is crucial.
Bring a Good Camera: Koh Kham is tailor-made for travel photography. A good quality camera phone will do the job, but to capture its essence bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera if you have one. Your photos will look incredible.

Koh Kham - Relaxing — *Packed bag full of lunch and snacks*

Koh Kham - Golden Sands — *Pristine beaches of Koh Kham*

Koh Kham: Discover the Abandoned Resort & Black Rock Beaches