By Kylian Dev
Where is Koh Ngai, Krabi or Trang?
Both: the province says Krabi, the boat says Trang.
Officially Koh Ngai belongs to Krabi, at the southern end of the province, but the easier way in is through Trang province and its pier, and its nearest neighbours are Koh Mook and Koh Kradan in the Trang islands.
Koh Ngai is also called Koh Hai, and you will see both names on signs. To the north, Koh Lanta is the base for the classic longtail “4 Islands” trip, which stops here; see our Koh Lanta day trips guide. For the wider group, read our guide to the Trang islands.
What is Koh Ngai like?
Small, jungle-covered and built around its resorts.
Koh Ngai is a small island covered in jungle, with a soft-sand beach along the east coast and a handful of resorts. There is no town and no market; life happens at the resorts, which is why the island suits people who want everything within a short walk.
Where to sleep on Koh Ngai
Resorts, mainly, from simple to comfortable.
Simple bungalows near the sand at the more modest resorts sit alongside air-conditioned rooms with a pool and restaurant on site, and larger beachfront villas for couples and families.
This is the island in the Trang group with the most comfortable resorts, and the one where “everything on site” is the norm. The trade-off is that you eat where you sleep. Bring cash for the few extras you need.
Beaches, snorkelling and diving
Long white sand in front, coral on the rocks.
The east-coast beach is long, with soft white sand and calm, shallow water in the high season. Snorkelling is decent around the rocks and easy from the resort, and Koh Ngai is known for its diving, arranged through the resorts.
- Swim and paddle in the calm water in front of the resort
- Snorkel around the rocks at the end of the beach
- Book a dive or a snorkelling trip with your resort
For more reef and fewer buildings, Koh Kradan is a short boat trip away, and is better for snorkelling straight from the sand.
When is the best time to go?
From November to April, when the sea behaves.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| November to April | The dry season: calm water, boats running, resorts open |
| May to October | The south-west monsoon: rough seas, unreliable boats, many resorts on Ngai closed |
Like the rest of the Trang islands, Koh Ngai depends on the season. Read the rainy season guide before you book outside the dry months.
How do you get to Koh Ngai?
From the mainland pier in Trang, or from Koh Lanta in season.
Most visitors come through Trang province, with a road transfer from Trang town or Trang airport to the Pak Meng pier, then a boat. Krabi airport also works if you then cover the road (see our Krabi airport guide).
In the dry season, boats also run between Koh Lanta and Koh Ngai, which makes it easy to combine the two; see our Krabi to Koh Lanta guide and the island hopping guide.
Who Koh Ngai is not for
Comfort, but not much more.
A resort island. Koh Ngai has no village, no market and no nightlife. If you want to meet the local community or wander from restaurant to restaurant, choose Koh Mook, next door.
Koh Ngai or the other Andaman islands?
Four small islands, four different holidays.
Next door, Koh Kradan has the whiter, emptier beach. Far to the north, Koh Yao Yai and Koh Phayam are much more rural. To see where these islands sit on the map and which fit your dates, use our when to go page.