Paradise on Ko Ngai

Ko Ngai (เกาะไหง) is an island district in Krabi Province, but actually it can better be reached via Trang in the Southern Andaman Coast. Like many other coastal destinations in southern Thailand, it is known for its diving and long white beaches.

Understand

Ko Ngai (Hai) is a tiny island measuring 4 km long and 2 km wide. Mountainous and covered by tropical forest, much of the coastline is indented with rocky headlands, while the eastern part has some beautiful sand beaches, and in the south coconut plantations and more beautiful smaller beaches. The island has a white beach and clear water and is surrounded by magnificent corals.

Don't be surprised to see crab-eating monkeys and monitor lizards coming down from the mountains. In the uninhabited western and northern parts of the island, bird watchers should have a field day looking out for migrating birds. Snorkelling is easy along the western and southern coast, where some reefs can be accessed directly from the beach.

Get in

Ko Ngai or Ko Hai is an island that is administratively in Amphoe Ko Lanta of Krabi, but easier to access from Trang (from Pak Meng Pier, 15 km distant on the mainland opposite, in Trang Province). Standard ferries take about one hour. A boat can be rented for 1,500 baht (10 people) or 6,000-10,000 baht (for 20-40 people). A faster speedboat connection from Pak Meng Pier is also available, departing around the same time. It takes just 20 minutes.

From Ko Lanta there is no scheduled ferry service to Ko Ngai although it is possible to rent a private longtail from Saladan (Ko Lanta) during high season (Nov-Apr). Another possibility is to buy a snorkelling trip from Ko Lanta and leave the boat at Ko Ngai.

Get around

There are no roads on the island, so getting around from one beach to another is done on foot, or longtail boats that can be hired at the resorts.

There is a foot path (jungle trek) from the main beach in the east to two beaches in the south, the westernmost of which has the Ko Ngai Paradise Resort. From there, you can follow a path that goes to national park headquarters area and then to a hill with a two viewpoints.

An accurate map of the island can be found at OpenStreetMap

See

Enjoy the view from the main (east) beach to the karst outcrops.

Chateau Hill has great views from its hillside pool area.

Do

• The hills of Ko Ngai offer some spectacular jungle trekking amid virgin jungle.
• Take a kayak and see the island from the sea at a distance.
• Most of the resorts offer trips to nearby islands for sightseeing and snorkelling. Emerald Cave on Ko Mook is one of the more popular attractions.

Eat

All the resorts have restaurants that serve fresh seafood, Thai, and Western dishes. Thapwarin Resort has a notably good restaurant with friendly staff and high quality cuisine with wide selection of dishes. Fantasy Resort boasts an impressive-looking restaurant.

Drink

All resort restaurants offer beer, many of them offer wine as well. CoCo Cottage has a bar with a long selection of cocktails.

Sleep

• Coco Cottage Resort. On the Andaman Sea giving you a view of a white sand beach and clear sea water. 1,300-4,850 baht. 
• Koh Hai Camping (On the main beach, near Fantasy Resort), ☏ +66 81 7288317, wicha_36@hotmail.com. Provides large tents instead of hotel rooms, shared simple showers. 
• Koh Hai Fantasy Resort and Spa. 1,200-7,800 baht. 
• Koh Ngai Resort, ☏ +66810877667. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Offers a wide range of activities including scuba diving lessons, diving tours, snorkelling, sea canoes. 1,200-16,000 baht. (updated Oct 2022)
• Thapwarin Resort, ☏ +66818943585. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. On the beach, high-end air-con bungalows. Good restaurant. 1,400-5,500 baht. (updated Oct 2022)