Ko Ngai

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Plain and simple, Ko Ngai is a small, beautiful upmarket resort island. The only locals you'll see here are those working in the tourism industry, so Ko Ngai lacks the charm found on islands with local villages like Ko Muk and Ko Bulon Lae. As impersonal as Ko Ngai may be, however, the island boasts one of Trang's best beaches -- a long sliver of white sand with stunning views of distant limestone karsts, Ko Muk and the mainland. So if a comfortable (and expensive) resort holiday in an idyllic tropical island setting is what you have in mind, then Ko Ngai is for you.

Ko Ngai is home to 11 resorts, all but one of which are perched along the main beach running the length of the island's east coast, with a single high-season-only spot occupying isolated Paradise Beach to the south. With comfort-minded resorts, Ko Ngai is a good option for families, as well as couples looking for a romantic island getaway.The trend here is for full service upmarket spa resorts, and the budget options that were once the mainstay of Ko Ngai have been slowly squeezed out.

For some, this is reminiscent of the over-development seen on Ko Phi Phi and Ko Samet. For others, it will be a welcome relief from the basic accommodation of the other islands. Whatever your take, it's hard to deny the island's beauty, and you can take solace in the fact that most of the island is still protected as a national park, evident in the pairs of noisy hornbills that occasionally swoop out over the beach.

Ko Ngai's most popular pastime, by far, is simply lounging on the sand, swimming and breathing in the fresh tropical air. Many also visit for the renowned snorkelling and diving, and several reefs are just a short kayak ride away. As with the other islands in the area, most resorts will be happy to organise snorkelling trips to sites further afield.

For those who prefer to explore on foot, there are some lovely hiking trails winding through the island's lush and hilly southern end. To reach these, walk along the wall that divides Fantasy and Tanya resorts near the the southern end of the beach, towards the jungled hill to the west. The trails go up and down some fairly steep grades at points so wear shoes rather than flip-flops if possible. Once down the western slope though, Paradise Beach and a tranquil viewpoint that forms the island's peninsular southwest tip are easily within reach.

Ko Ngai is a tiny island with nothing that even resembles a road. There are no ATMs, although the higher end resorts do accept major credit cards. There are also no health clinics or shops of any kind -- the only businesses are the resorts themselves -- so be prepared to rely on them exclusively for all your needs.

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Text and/or map last updated on 21st December, 2011.

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Some extra stuff on Ko Ngai

Travelfish's review on Ngai is very good, paticularly in its cover of the accommodation. Here is some other info visitors might find useful:
*The main beach at 2.2km is pretty long and differs in quality. The northern 30% gets the tidal blues - at high tide there was virtually no beach when I visited and at low tide big expanses of rock and sand were exposed. So if you are staying here you may need to walk down to at least mid beach where things improve. The best part of the beach is maybe 30% from the southern headland adjacent Mayalay Resort - plenty of sand at high tide and not too many stones in the water. It is still only a meter deep at the fringing reef 70m out, but you can swim well before this.
*I snorkelled the fringing reef from Malayay north to adjacent Seafood resort - several hundred metres of okay coral and fish by Thailand standards.
*Ngai has some good walking tracks. Take the jungle tracks starting inland from Malalay's restaurant or from up past the staff quarters at Ko Ngai Resort (follow the signs from reception). These meet and then go on to Paradise Beach on the south of the island Paradise Resort had already closed for the low season) and then on up thru the National Park grounds to Sunset Viewpoint. A side track before Paradise leads to deserted Ao Mung beach.
There is a short walk along the coast between the main beach and Ko Ngai Resort.
*Budget accommodation wasn't. Shoulder season and pretty normal fan bungalows were between 700b and 1k. Camping's tents were 500. Note some mass-booking sites had very good deals on the midrange joints.
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By tezza (dabbler)
Written on 7th June, 2012 after a visit to Ko Ngai in April, 2012

Also reviewed by tezza: Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park, Coral and Raya Islands, Haad Nopphara Thara, Haad Sai Khao, Kanchanaburi, Khao Lak, Ko Bulon Lae, Ko Kho Khao, Ko Kut, Ko Lipe,

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