Ibrahim Jabbari
Five Chinese-Thai families whose ancestors arrived in the 19th century still cultivate much of the land on Koh Mak, a star-shaped island near Koh Chang in the eastern Gulf of Thailand.
Intimate, family-friendly resorts sit among pineapple farms, rubber groves, villages and pink-tinted sand overlooking the satellite isles. The largest of these is Koh Kradat, curiously home to a herd of deer that first arrived by order of King Chulalongkorn more than a century ago.
Eight miles west of Mak, Koh Rang is a brilliant undeveloped island with powdery sand and reefs in crystal water, protected by the Mu Koh Chang Marine Park.
Sandflies are an occasional problem on Mak and should that be the case, nearby Koh Kood is another fine alternative.
Getting there: Ferries depart regularly from Laem Ngop, and high-season speedboats connect Koh Mak to Koh Chang and Koh Kut.
