Koh Ngai Thailand – Snorkeling And Travel Tips

Koh Ngai is a small tourist island in Krabi Province in Thailand, near Trang in the Southern Andaman Sea. This idyllic island offers total relaxation while being close to nature: it has no villages or concrete roads but long sandy beaches, lush tropical forests, and nice coral reefs. Koh Ngai (or Koh Hai) is a perfect holiday destination for travelers who love active holidays (like us!) including snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. Should you decide to visit this lovely island, we prepared this guide for you focusing on snorkeling but including other useful information such as how to get there, what hotel to choose, and what activities you can do.

How Is Snorkeling In Koh Ngai?

Although there is coral almost all around the island, off-beach snorkeling is possible on the east and south coasts only.

The first 20-40 m from the shore is a flat, sandy area along the main beach, so there is not much to see in the shallows. To find some decent marine life, you need to swim out to the reef.

We found the best snorkeling in front of the Thanya Resort and Kaimuk Thong Resort. Moreover, the reef in front of the Coco Cottage and Thapwarin is also nice.

The most beginner-friendly Koh Ngai snorkeling is in front of Koh Ngai’s Resort and along the south coast, at Paradise and Muang beaches. The reef here is not that lively, and there are fewer fish, but since the water is calm and shallow, it is perfect for kids and beginner snorkelers.

What To See While Snorkeling In Koh Ngai?

Let’s be honest: there are better snorkeling spots in Thailand than Koh Ngai; the reef around the island is not so colorful, and the visibility often gets bad due to the tidal and wave conditions, but still, you can see some interesting coral species and sea creatures here.

Most corals are hard corals, mainly staghorn, fire, and table corals. In some places, there are soft corals too; we saw a few Gorgonian corals.

Despite the reef being not so vibrant, you can see a great variety of reef fish: rabbitfish, white collared butterflyfish, bannerfish, snappers, blue tangs, parrotfish, and anemonefish are the most common.

In the shallow water close to the shore, there are sea stars, sea clams, and urchins. If you are lucky, you might spot small reef sharks, moray eels, or even turtles! Macro creatures, like nudibranchs and feather duster worms, are also abundant.

How To Get To Koh Ngai?

This small island is easily reachable from Krabi, Phuket, and also from Trang. Several companies operate a daily speedboat service from these locations in the main season, usually from October to April, depending on the weather conditions. In case of rough seas, speedboat services might be suspended, and transfers are re-scheduled.

The island has no airport. If your main flight arrives in Bangkok, first, you must fly to one of the nearby airports, such as Phuket, Krabi, or Trang, and continue your journey by boat (see details below).

Speedboats can stop only at the main pier. From here, you need to take a longtail boat to your resort (50-100 THB extra cost), except if you are staying in the Koh Ngai Resort which is directly near the pier, so you can walk there.

From Krabi

If you are coming from Krabi, speedboats depart from the Klong Jilad Pier. The journey takes about 2 hours (with short stops at other islands), and you might need to change boats in Koh Lanta.

Should you arrive straight from Krabi Airport (as we did), choosing a combined van + boat ticket is best so a minivan will pick you up from the airport and take you to the pier, where you can catch the speed boat.

From Trang

Boats from Trang to Koh Ngai are departing from Hat Yao Pier. Getting to the island takes about 90 minutes.

From Phuket

The transfer from Phuket to Koh Kradan is a little longer than from Krabi or Trang, it takes about 2.5-3 hours. The speedboats depart from the Rassada Pier in Phuket and also stop at Koh Mook and Koh Kradan.

Tip: If you are staying in Phuket too, don’t miss out on visiting Phuket’s snorkeling beaches!

From Koh Lanta

If you are staying in the nearby Koh Lanta, you can get to Koh Ngai by a shared longtail boat transfer; which is an affordable way of getting to the island.

From Koh Lanta, you can visit Koh Ngai on a day trip too: book a Four Islands tour and you will be taken to the area’s most beautiful snorkeling spots, including this island.

Where To Stay In Koh Ngai?

The choice of accommodation in Koh Ngai is small compared to bigger islands like Lanta or Mook. Therefore, the room rates are a bit higher, but still, there are nice places in all price categories, budget and superior, too.

Travelers who like backpacker-style places find affordable bungalows (Sea Open Resort), while there are also resorts with full facilities such as air-con rooms and swimming pools.

If your priority is snorkeling in Koh Ngai, we recommend choosing a resort in the middle of the main beach, because this is where you have the best access to the reef.

Coco Cottage

The island’s top resort is definitely the Coco Cottage! This eco-chic resort is an ideal place to stay for those who wish to experience the perfect sense of Thailand, enjoy warm hospitality and look after the environment at the same time.

Coco Cottage combines design with functionality. The bungalows feature natural-style decor, including wooden furniture and bamboo ceilings. The bathroom is rustic yet artistic, with an outside shower. If you want to relax, swim and snorkel, this is your place!

Thanya Beach Resort

Thanya Beach Resort has nice bungalows with beach view in a well-maintained tropical garden. This accommodation features traditional Thai-style rooms with a seating area and a private open-air bathroom. The on-site restaurant serves delicious food. This resort is a good deal if you want to spend more than a day on this beautiful island close to the best Koh Ngai snorkeling area.

Thapwarin Resort

We stayed in the Thapwarin Resort, which is a popular, mid-range resort. It offers garden and beach bungalows and family villas, all featuring air-conditioning and hot water. The room rate includes a rich buffet breakfast with freshly cooked eggs, toast, sweet pastries, a variety of local fruits, and good coffee.

The resort’s main attraction is the beautiful jungle-like garden with a little lake in the middle. Make sure to take some photos of the in-house monitor lizard who regularly goes for a swim in the lake!

The beach in front of the resort provides access to the island’s coral reef. Although it is a rocky beach, getting into the water is not too difficult, even if it is low tide.

Cliff Beach Resort

Cliff Beach is the furthest resort from the pier, built on the top of the hillside. Therefore, it is a secluded, quiet place, the best choice for privacy seekers and honeymooners.

The spacious rooms feature modern furnishing, A/C, and colorful wall artwork. The resort has a private cliff-top pool to enjoy fantastic views of the nearby little islands. The beach in front of the resort is rocky, but you can swim out to the coral reef at high tide.

Kaimuk Thong Resort

Kaimuk Thong is a lovely, budget-friendly accommodation along the island’s main beach. The bungalows are simple but clean, and the staff is very friendly. Guests can enjoy drinks at the property’s bar or relax in the hammocks and swings at the beach. Should you do some snorkeling, the reef is available with a short swim directly from the beach.

Koh Ngai Resort

The Koh Ngai Resort is one of the oldest hotels on the island, right next to the arrival pier. Its rooms are a little basic (there are garden and beach bungalows), and the area can be noisy because it is close to the jetty, but it is significantly cheaper than the popular resorts on the main beach.

Snorkeling is possible in front of the hotel, while the main beach is reachable by a short walk. If you are on a budget, consider staying here.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Koh Ngai?

The region has a tropical climate. The air and sea temperatures are fairly consistent all year round (averaging around 27-28 degrees Celsius /80-82 F), but the monsoon determines the travel season.

The best time to visit Koh Ngai is between November and April when the weather is sunny and hot. Cloudy days with light rain are always possible, especially in the transition time at the beginning and end of the dry season, so prepare yourself accordingly.

The rainy season runs from May to October. In this period, it rains heavily, so tourism activities in the area are very limited. The region’s national parks (Simland Islands, Surin Islands) shut down, and most resorts also close their doors. You can get to the island by private longtail boats only, since speedboat services stop too.

Should you come to Thailand during this period, choose islands in the Gulf of Thailand, such as Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, where the seasons are the opposite! Snorkeling in Koh Tao is top-notch, but there are some snorkeling beaches in Koh Phangan, too.

Things To Do On Koh Ngai Other Than Snorkeling

No doubt, the best things to do on the islands are lying on the beach and snorkeling, but let us recommend some other activities to make the most of your vacation!

Booking A Boat Trip

Many beautiful attractions near Koh Ngai are best visited on a day trip. We recommend this private longtail boat excursion that includes visiting the famous Emerald Cave in Koh Mook, the neighboring Koh Kradan island, and the beautiful reef at Koh Chueak.

Hiking To The Viewpoint

If you like hiking, don’t miss out on going up to the viewpoint on the island’s southwest end. The jungle trail starts on the main beach behind Thanya Beach Resort and takes you to the east end of Paradise Beach. From there, go to the west end of the beach, where the trek continues up to the viewpoint.

Since the trail goes through the jungle, don’t forget to apply effective mosquito repellent and take sports shoes with you!

Kayaking

Kayaking is the best way to explore the island’s beauty. You can rent a kayak at many places on the main beach for ~100THB/hour. Most resorts also offer rentals.

A recommended route is heading towards the pier and then continuing towards the sacred pinnacle at the southern corner of the island. Stop at Paradise Beach for some snacks and drinks, before making it back to the main beach or your resort.

Another great trip is paddling to the rocky outcrop of Koh Ma, which you can reach in 15-20 minutes; here, you can observe flying foxes and jump into the water for some snorkeling.

Hornbill Bird Watching

The island’s lush forests are inhabited by rich wildlife, including sea eagles, geckos, lizards, and bats, but the most special animals are definitely the hornbills! These beautiful birds look like toucans, but hornbills live in Asia and Africa, while toucans in Central and South America. The most significant difference is their beaks.

In Thailand, there are 13 hornbill species that can be seen usually in national parks only, so don’t miss out on observing them when on the island! Search them on the trees along the main beach!

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