{"id":160187,"date":"2023-02-09T13:24:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T12:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/koh-ngai\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T12:58:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T10:58:50","slug":"koh-ngai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/koh-ngai\/","title":{"rendered":"Koh Ngai: A Quiet Island Paradise in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Turquoise waters, pure nature and a snorkeling paradise<\/strong> literally on your doorstep: Koh Ngai (also called Koh Hai) is one of the most beautiful islands in the southern Andaman Sea<\/strong> in Thailand. If you are looking for peace and quiet and want to relax, then this is the right place for you! <\/p>\n\n

Where is Koh Ngai located?<\/h2>\n\n

The small island of Koh Ngai is still a real natural paradise<\/strong>. It is only a cuddly 5 square kilometers in size and is located south of the island of Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea<\/a>. Here are some of the most beautiful islands in Thailand and Koh Ngai is definitely one of them! It is only 15 kilometers to the nearest pier on the mainland, Pak Meng Pier. The next largest city on the mainland is Trang<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

The best places to stay on Koh Ngai:<\/strong>Budget\/mid-range: Koh Ngai Seafood<\/a>Upscale: Coco Cottage Resort<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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What you can do on Koh Ngai<\/h2>\n\n

It\u2019s easy to list the activities on Koh Ngai. Snorkeling, sunbathing, relaxing, and unwinding<\/strong>: there isn\u2019t much else to do. You can stroll up and down the beautiful beach or explore the underwater world. In fact, there are small coral reefs right off the beach. The water is crystal-clear and turquoise blue. <\/p>\n\n

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The impressive hornbills live right in the neighborhood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

If you need some exercise, you can also rent a kayak<\/strong> almost anywhere. If the water is calm, you can also paddle to one of the small inhabitated islands nearby. <\/p>\n\n

You can reach Paradise Beach<\/strong> on the other side of the island after a short hike through the jungle. There\u2019s a small beach there. However, the only resort there is closed. So be sure to bring enough water and food with you. Sturdy shoes are helpful. <\/p>\n\n

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Day trip to Koh Ngai<\/h2>\n\n
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If you\u2019re short on time, you can also take a day trip<\/strong> to Koh Ngai. Tours are offered from several islands around Koh Ngai as well as from the mainland. These usually include additional stops. You can either book a spot on one of these tours or charter an entire boat once you\u2019re there. However, this is usually only worth it if you\u2019re in a larger group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can find day trips to Koh Ngai*.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Small disadvantages in paradise<\/h2>\n\n

If you are accommodated on Koh Ngai, the excursions can sometimes spoil the paradisiacal atmosphere, depending on the day of the week. On weekends<\/strong>, several boats can dock one after the other. However, the main beach is very spacious, and there are always longtail boats carrying small groups heading to Koh Ngai. So the crowds are spread out quite well. <\/p>\n\n

More annoying are the loud longtail boats<\/strong> crisscrossing the waters off the coast, which serve as a reminder that you\u2019re still relatively close to civilization\u2014the mainland is clearly visible from Koh Ngai.<\/p>\n\n

Thailand really is a fantastic travel destination and <\/strong>incredibly diverse. Why not take a look at my other articles on Thailand<\/a> and see for yourself! <\/p>\n\n

How expensive is Koh Ngai?<\/h2>\n\n

Koh Ngai is one of the more expensive vacation destinations in Thailand. This gives the island a kind of exclusivity<\/strong> and Koh Ngai is still not overcrowded like many other islands. However, this exclusivity also has its price.<\/p>\n\n

Prices<\/strong> are higher than elsewhere in Thailand (e.g., a serving of spring rolls costs 140 THB, approx. \u20ac, and a large bottle of water for the day costs 40 THB). Restaurants typically add a 10% service charge and a 7% tax to the final bill. <\/p>\n\n

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Where to stay on Koh Ngai<\/h2>\n\n

Since the island is relatively small, there aren’t many places to stay. Unlike on other islands, it\u2019s best to decide in advance where you\u2019d like to stay and book right away. For one thing, accommodations here fill up quickly during peak season<\/strong>; for another, when you arrive by boat, you\u2019ll be dropped off right in front of your resort<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

There is a pier<\/strong>, but if your resort is located a bit further up the beach, the only way to get there would be to walk along the beach with all your luggage. However, the more expensive resorts usually find a convenient way to pick you up from the boat, luggage and all. That\u2019s because there are no roads, scooters, or any other means of transportation on Koh Ngai<\/strong>. It\u2019s best to contact your resort again after making your reservation. <\/p>\n\n

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Koh Ngai Seafood<\/h3>\n\n

Koh Ngai Seafood<\/strong> consists of a few small bungalows on the beach. The bungalows are simple, but are all facing the sea and even from the two cabins located in the second row you’ll have a sea view. There is no hot water (but that is really not bad considering the tropical temperatures) and electricity is also only available from about 6pm until about 8am in the morning.<\/p>\n\n

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Just don’t get the very first bungalow next to the restaurant, it’s not quite as heavenly in terms of noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book Koh Ngai Seafood here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Coco Cottage<\/h3>\n\n
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If I had seen Coco Cottage<\/strong> before, I would have booked right here! In person, I found the small plant much prettier and more atmospheric. I would even say I could have spent an entire 2-week vacation here without really doing much and recover like never before. The restaurant is expensive, but a pleasant change from the other locations, and the service so nice that I became a regular here pretty quickly, even though I lived two resorts away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book Coco Cottage here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What you need to bring to Koh Ngai<\/h2>\n\n

Be sure to remember that you’re going to a nearly deserted island <\/strong>! Here there is no 7Eleven like elsewhere in Thailand, which is open around the clock and which supplies you with everything. Some resorts have small “stores<\/strong>” where you can stock up on essentials, such as water for the day or if you run out of toothpaste. But it’s best if you bring everything with you beforehand. <\/p>\n\n

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Here’s a list of things you should pack:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n