Koh Ngai aka Ko Hai

Koh Ngai, also referred as Koh Hai, is the most well-known island near Koh Lanta Yai. Located approximately 44 kilometres from the pier in Baan Saladan and about 12 km south of Lanta's southernmost tip, it is administratively part of Krabi province and under protection of Mu Koh Lanta National Park. Admission Park fee is 400 THB per adults and 200 TB per children, free under three years. Despite this, the island is more easily accessible from the coast of Trang province, for accuracy from Pak Meng Pier located only 15 km away on the mainland opposite, around 20-minute trip by speedboat. The charming Koh Ngai is quite large, 4 km in length and 2 km in width, and characterized by a triangular shape with a mountainous interior mostly covered by tropical rain forest, in the centre, and coconut plantations in the south. Like any other seaside destinations and islands of southern Thailand, the tiny Koh Ngai is rich of stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear waters surrounded by pristine coral reefs. Most of the western coast is indented with rocky headlands and has small sandbars in the few sheltered inlets, while the eastern side is a succession of white sand beaches. The main beach is 2.2 kilometres long and has an amazing coral reef that lies just off the shore. It covers more than two-thirds of the east coast and it is home to most of the accommodation and facilities on the island. The southernmost side is well known as the best snorkelling area on Koh Ngai, with a huge variety of soft and hard coral, sea fans, and a large number of colourfu tropical fish. On this side of the triangle-shaped island there are other two smaller beaches. Among these the 300-meter strip of white sand located in Ao Kotong bay is the most beautiful and is home a couple of other nice resorts. From here, you can follow a path that goes to National Park Headquarters area and then to the hill overlooking the southern tip of the island. Along the way and on the hill top there are two great viewpoints that allow a 360 degree view of Koh Ngai and the nearby islands including Koh Chueak, Koh Mook, Koh Kradam and Koh Libong. Despite is a tiny island Koh Ngai is relatively developed to tourists. It has about a dozen of accommodation choices, some are new while some a little older. Most are located along the main beach on the east coast, a few on southern beaches. Some of them feature a swimming pool and allow outside guests the use of it; all have restaurants serving fresh seafood, Thai, and semi-Western cuisine, and bars where to spend your evenings. Mini Markets, first aid centers and Wi-Fi are available inside the facilities. There are no roads on the island, so to get from one beach to another is done on foot, or with long-tail boats that can be hired at the resorts, which also organizes excursions to nearby islands for sightseeing and snorkelling. There is a foot path, just a jungle trek, from the main beach on the east coast to the two beaches on the southern tip. Koh Ngai offers a wide range of activities to do, including Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, Sea Canoeing & Kayaking, Swimming, Elephant Riding, and Trekking inside a virgin jungle to admire Crab-eating Monkeys, Monitor Lizards and migrating birds. All this and its quiet atmosphere make the island a little corner of unspoiled and little known paradise in the Andaman Sea.
Getting there - Despite Koh Ngai is part of Krabi province, the island is most easily accessible from the Pak Meng Pier in Trang province. Located only 15 km away on the mainland opposite, the pier is the nearest access to the island. However, from 1st November to 1st May it is also possible get to Koh Ngam from Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta thanks to the Andaman Route, but even from Phuket and the other islands in southern Thailand like Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, Koh Kradam and Koh Mook. Tigerline Ferry and Satun Pakbara Spesdboat run from Phuket to Koh Lipe, and vice versa, without ever setting foot on land stopping in every major island along the route. The two companies make only a round-trip per day, with departure from Phuket at 8:30 reaching Koh Lanta at 10:00 and then Koh Ngai at 11:00 and 11:30: The return trips start from Koh Ngai at 12:20 and 14:30 reaching Koh Lanta at 13:30 and 15:30. The tickets from Koh Lanta to Koh Ngai, and vice versa, cost between 450 and the 600 THB, depending on the company. During the monsoon season, the only solution available to get to Koh Ngai is to reach first the Trang coast and from there use the boat services from Pak Meng Pier. The speedboat trip will take around 25 minutes, 45 minutes with a long-tail boat and close to one hour with the ferry. A long-tail boat that can carry up to 10 people can be rented individually, or split the cost with other tourists, for about 1,500 THB, while a speedboat will cost 5,000 THB, up to 12 people, and 10,000 THB for one that can carry up to 30 people. If you're heading to one of resorts on the island, they normally provide the speedboat service from the Pak Meng Pier to their docks. Boats leave several times during the day, usually in the morning, around noon and early afternoon, and cost is about 350-450 THB for one-way. Trang is well connected by efficient bus service to other resorts in southern Thailand and the costs are low, 130-150 THB from Krabi and 400 THB from Phuket or Samui. The bus station is located 45 km from the pier and the trip takes around 45 minutes by taxi, 1,000 THB one-way, or shared minivan, 350-450 THB per person one-way. If you are in Bangkok, the buses leave from Sai Mai Tai Southern Terminal, about 1,000 THB for a ticket on first-class bus and 700 THB for a second-class bus, a 12-hour trip. There are also two daily trains from Bangkok to Trang, but have a higher cost and take even more time. Definitely from Bangkok the best way to get to Trang and then Koh Ngam is the airplane. Air Asia e Nok Air offer a convenient transfer package to Koh Ngai that includes the flight from Bangkok to Trang, the minibus to Pak Meng Pier, and the boat to the island, bookable directly from their website. There are five daily departures and the ticket, if booked in advance, will cost around 1,800-2,200 THB.Read More