Ko Mak: Island, History and Community Experiences

Ko Mak is an island in Songkhla Lake. Archaeological traces, a history of trade and community activities on the water and on land give the destination several distinct themes.

Location and orientation

Ko Mak lies northeast of the centre of Pak Phayun District. The approximately 500-metre-long Ko Mak–Pak Phayun Bridge connects the island to this centre. This gives you two clear points of reference for planning: the island itself and the district centre to which it is connected by the bridge. If you are considering Ko Mak as a hotel destination, this distinction helps you avoid confusing locations on the island with the name of the district centre.

Traces of the Stone Age and a history of trade

Archaeological evidence suggests that Ko Mak was inhabited during the Stone Age; more than 100 ancient stone axes have been found on the island. Another historical period dates to around the 6th Buddhist century (B.E. 501–600): Ko Mak was then an urban settlement called Seng Chi. Seng Chi was considered a thriving trading centre and a centre of maritime transport.

These historical references point to different periods and ways of life: possible settlement during the Stone Age, and the later history of urban trade and maritime transport. For travellers interested in a destination’s past as well as its island setting, they offer two concrete points of interest.

Khai-Nai-Hin salted eggs and community learning activities

The Khai-Nai-Hin Group in Ban Khao Chan on Ko Mak makes salted eggs using a natural recipe without chemicals. The eggs are coated with washed brown and grey gravel and sand. If you would like to buy eggs or learn about the production method, you can contact the group.

A learning station for making Khai-Nai-Hin salted eggs is documented as a community learning activity of the Ko Mak tourism group. Other documented learning activities for the Ko Mak community tourism group include making sand sculptures and shrimp traps. Alongside the finished product, the focus is also on practical aspects of production and design.

Kayaking, fishing culture and boat routes

On Ko Mak, you can kayak around the island while observing local life and numerous waterbirds. A boat trip on Songkhla Lake offers a close-up look at local fishing culture. Boat routes for visiting islands in Songkhla Lake are also documented as a community activity of the Ko Mak tourism group.

The water activities offer different points of focus: kayaking combines circling Ko Mak with birdwatching, while the boat experiences focus on local fishing culture or island visits. Depending on your interests, you can choose between a trip around the island and experiences on the lake.

Community and conservation of aquatic resources

As part of responsible tourism, the Ko Mak community tourism group operates a water bank to conserve aquatic resources. For interested visitors, this initiative complements the creative and water-based activities with a focus on resource conservation. If you plan to take part in a learning activity or participate in the water bank, confirm dates and options with the group in advance; for the water bank, you should also check its current status.

Discover more destinations: Khuha Sawan, Nong Thong, Khuan Khanun.

View the main travel guide: Phatthalung.