Koh Ngai: The Paradise Island Travel Guide!
Koh Ngai, also named as Koh Hai, is a tiny but incredibly beautiful islet in the Andaman Islands in Thailand. The island captivates with its powder-sugar white palm beach, crystal clear water and the unique atmosphere. A real paradise for beach vacationers and for all those who long for a time-out. If you love it quiet and tranquil, this 5 km² small island is just the right place for you. Dreamlike, idyllic and with a lot of privacy, all this promises a trip to Koh Ngai. There are no streets, no noise, no nightlife and even larger stores, such as a 7Eleven, are not to be found here. For this, a paradise that is unbeatable in Thailand.
In this travel guide, you will find all the important information about Koh Ngai. We also share our experiences and give helpful tips about beaches, hotels, getting there and activities.
Good to know!
Koh Ngai is the perfect island for those seeking peace and quiet, and who like to stay a little longer! For a perfect stay, we can recommend the Thapwarin Resort in beach location.
Many visitors combine a trip to Koh Ngai with Island Hopping in Thailand. This is probably one of the coolest ideas to explore all the many gorgeous island gems in the area!
From Koh Ngai you can enjoy spectacular day trips by longtail boat. Worth visiting are the neighboring island of Koh Mook with its famous Emerald Cave and Koh Kradan island!
A Waterproof Backpack is a useful companion in Thailand to protect your phone, camera or other valuables from getting wet while boating, kayaking or snorkeling.
General information about Koh Ngai
Koh Ngai, or Koh Hai, is a small island in southern Thailand and belongs to the province Krabi. It is located in the Andaman Sea, between the famous islands of Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, and is about 14 kilometers from the mainland. With a size of only 5 square kilometers, this island is mini small. It has a dense jungle, a few lovely resorts and not to forget an absolutely breathtaking 2-kilometer-long palm lined beach that makes Koh Ngai a true Thai dream island. Also beautiful is the directly offshore house reef, where you can watch countless colorful fish while snorkeling!
Most of the resorts and bungalow complexes also run a small restaurant that provides food and drinks. From time to time, you will also come across a small, cozy beach bar where you can enjoy best the phenomenal sunsets of Koh Ngai. A diving school has also set up here. However, there is no ATM on this quiet island and also there are no real shopping facilities. Be sure to bring enough cash and buy everything you need for your vacation on the mainland beforehand.
The best time for your visit is from November to the end of April because in this period the monsoon is already over. In the rainy season, such as July and August, you must expect heavy rainfall, ferries do not run regularly, and many hotels are closed. Even in October, you have no guarantee for good weather.
Best Things to Do on Koh Ngai
The island Koh Ngai is an absolute feel-good place in Thailand! With the small islands in the distance, the turquoise sea and the soft white sandy beach, the island brings a smile to every vacationer’s face. Please remember to bring your camera because this island is a guarantee for great vacation photos. In the hinterland of the island, you have the opportunity to hike through the jungle to a small hill. The climb is rewarded with an incredible view. Also great excursions can be made from Ko Ngai.
Koh Ngai Beach – Beaches on Koh Hai
As already mentioned, Koh Ngai is a wonderful place to relax and just enjoy the gorgeous scenery while lying in a hammock. The main beach of the island has a length of about 4 kilometers and is therefore ideal for long and extended walks. The most beautiful view of this dream beach is probably from the sea. The best thing to do is to borrow a kayak to take some great pictures of the island and explore the wonderful coastal landscape.
Diving & Snorkeling on Koh Ngai
Snorkeling on Koh Ngai is a really wonderful activity because the island has an offshore reef where you can discover many colorful fish and corals. So don’t forget to bring your diving goggles and snorkel for your island trip, you won’t regret it! If you don’t have snorkeling equipment, you can also borrow it from one of the hotels or the dive center on the island. There are also some great diving areas around the island, which are served by the local diving schools.
Tip: Recommended is the Ko Hai Divers team of Britta from Germany and Beltran from Spain! Whether you are a beginner or a professional, they will show you the best dive spots at Koh Ngai.
Camping on Koh Ngai
On the island there is a small selection of beach bungalows and hotels in different price category. In general, the accommodations on Koh Ngai are a bit more expensive than on other places in the country. There are a handful of lovely resorts on the island, but if you are on a backpacking trip, and you are looking for cheaper options, we can recommend the Koh Ngai Camping Restaurant. The campground is very basic, but the tents are clean and the beds comfortable. Showers are taken outside, and electricity is only available during the day.
There is already a little bit of Robinson Crusoe feeling. The whole team was fantastic, and the bar provides guests with fresh coconuts, cold beer and freshly cooked curries. For backpackers traveling to Koh Ngai and looking for a cheap accommodation, this camp is certainly the right choice!
Things to do near Koh Ngai
Highly recommended for a trip from Koh Ngai are the nearby Emerald Cave and the beautiful beaches on Koh Mook. Especially, a visit to the cave is an absolute highlight in the region and should not be missed. You will also find some snorkeling spots around the island.
Another destination from Koh Ngai is the small island Koh Kradan. Here you will find an incredibly beautiful coral reef right on the turquoise beach, which is perfect for snorkeling.
If you are planning Island Hopping in Thailand, you should not miss these islands!
How to get to Koh Ngai
Getting to Koh Ngai is easy to organize. But you have to know that the island Koh Ngai is tiny, so it doesn’t have its own airport. The nearest airports are in Trang and Hat Yai, but you could also take a flight to Krabi and continue to Koh Ngai by ferry.
Speedboats are operating among others from Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta and Trang. For the timetables and to book your ticket, you can check out 12Go.Asia.
There are different possibilities on how to get to Koh Ngai. You can also take the ferry from Koh Lanta (Ban Sala Dan Pier) to Koh Ngai, that journey will take just about 40 min. It’s also easy to reach from Koh Phi Phi (Ton Sai Pier) by ferry (1 h 40 min). If you are coming from Trang, take the ferry from the Pak Meng Pier (1 hour).
A recommended page to check the timetables and book your ticket online is 12Go Asia:
Where to Stay on Koh Ngai
For planning a visit to Koh Ngai you can find some nice accommodations. However, since there are only a few hotels on the island, but it is in high demand, we definitely recommend you book your favorite hotel in advance! If you are looking for a recommended place to stay on Koh Ngai, then we can give you these accommodation tips along the way…It’s worth a look!
- Fantastic Beach Hotel: The Kaimuk Thong Resort is a great hotel and is located on the most beautiful section of Koh Ngai. In addition, a good price-performance ratio scores.
- Beachfront Hotel: The Thanya Beach Resort is one of the best hotels on Koh Ngai! The rooms are new and cozy, and a wonderful pool also delights its guests.
- Pretty Cottages: The Coco Cottage delights its guests with wonderfully pretty cottages with their own terrace in a great setting. What more could you want?
- Dreamlike Bungalows: The Mayalay Beach Resort scores with dreamlike bungalows made of bamboo and palm leaves, and with super location at the most beautiful part of the beach.
Although Koh Ngai is really tiny, this island is one of the best islands to visit in Krabi. Perfect for a few relaxing beach days in paradise. Have a great journey!
Find the best accommodation on Koh Ngai:
Read more about South Thailand:
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Koh Mook: A Paradise Island in South Thailand
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Koh Kradan: A Travel Guide to Paradise!
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Koh Lipe: Ultimate Thailand Island Experience
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Koh Bulon: Backpacking to Thailand`s Paradise!
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Koh Jum (Koh Pu): A Paradise Island Guide
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Meaning that if you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
8 Comments
That beach looks particularly inviting! And it’s so cool that you can also do jungle trekking while you’re there, added bonus!
We’ve been talking about wanting to be somewhere warm, and that definitely fits the bill. I’m normally someone who can’t sit still when I’m away, but I’m very much persuaded that a hammock here, followed by a big swim, would be entirely perfect. And I’d be really happy to get that Robinson Crusoe feeling – it’s still one of my favourite books!
Some pretty pictures of the island there! And the prices of resorts are so reasonable! Thanks.
What a beautiful place. Makes me want to grab a hammock and jump on a plane (or a few) … and boat. I love the photos too. So relaxing and peaceful.
We are travel bloggers and still haven’t been to Thailand! What’s wrong with us? LOL Soon though, very soon we are hoping to visit. This sounds like a great place to stay!
What a beautiful place Koh Ngai is! It seems so idyllic and the perfect place to take photographs. Did you go jungle trekking?
I really can’t wait to get back over to Thailand and this time to fully explore the islands, they are just completely stunning, we will be adding this to our list!
Koh Ngai is perfect place for relaxed holidays amidst nature. The views are really terrific specially those sunset ones. Nice information on accomodation too.