As beach lovers know, Thailand is a year-round island hopping destination. What most visitors don’t know — and it’s one of Thailand’s best kept secrets — is that the islands off the Trang coast are the ideal exotic refuge to match what most people envision when dreaming of a tropical holiday. These stunning islands can be divided into two categories. The first group, which includes Koh Libong, Koh Phetra, Koh Sukorn, Koh Bulon and Koh Lao Liang, is almost unknown to foreign tourists. Even frequent travellers to Thailand have rarely heard these names.

The second group consists of islands known to a handful of beach lovers and visited by locals and expatriates at weekends, yet still overshadowed by the likes of Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta, and Koh Samui. This category includes Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai and Koh Muk, offering beachfront resorts and some of the most pristine beaches in the area.

You Can Take a Day Trip from Krabi

If you don’t have time for a full island-hopping week, don’t write the Trang Islands off your list. With a little planning, you can visit these stunning islands and still sleep in your Krabi hotel the same night. The drive from Ao Nang to Pak Meng harbour — located at the border of Krabi and Trang provinces — takes about 90 minutes through palm trees, coconut plantations and limestone mountains on a mostly straight, well-kept road. GPS is helpful, though road signs are reasonably clear.

We arrived at Pak Meng around 9 AM and boarded a private longtail boat for the day. The harbour has improved significantly in recent years and is now home to small shops and cafés without feeling overtly touristic. Tourists pay a national park entrance fee of 300 THB per person at the park station before boarding their boats. Several tour companies run daily tours with longtail boats, speedboats or yachts.

Koh Muk: The Emerald Cave and Beyond

After half an hour on the water, we arrived at Koh Muk — sometimes spelled Mook, meaning “pearl” in Thai. The island is best known for the Emerald Cave (Morakot Cave), stunning west coast sunsets, and a good variety of accommodation ranging from budget guesthouses to upscale resorts.

The Morakot Cave is reached by swimming through a narrow, pitch-dark sea tunnel that opens into a secret beach inside what looks like a volcanic crater. It can only be visited at low tide, so always check with your hotel or boat captain for the best timing. Weekends can get very crowded, with large groups queuing at the tunnel entrance — try to visit on a weekday if possible. Despite the traffic on our Sunday visit, the hidden beach on the other side left everyone speechless.

After the cave, we cruised along Koh Muk’s west side past Farang Beach to Sivalai Beach, home to the Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort — a peaceful, sandy peninsula with pristine beaches, shallow turquoise water, and wooden villas sheltered by tropical trees. If you plan to stay overnight and aren’t on a strict budget, the Sivalai is a wonderful base. It’s quiet and secluded yet close enough to the local fishing village for an evening walk or a taste of local cuisine.

Koh Kradan: Snorkelling and Sugary Beaches

Koh Kradan is arguably the most well-known of the Trang Islands, famous for its sugary white beaches and turquoise waters teeming with fish. Snorkelling is possible directly off the main beach, and at low tide you can walk or paddle out to the reef without renting a boat.

We had lunch at The Reef Resort on Kradan Beach — a slice of heaven with well-designed beachfront rooms where the distance from bed to white sand is no more than 50 steps. The resort is owned by an Italian and is hugely popular with European visitors, many of them returning year after year. The beach bar, decorated with painted and carved wooden plates left by devoted guests, has a wonderfully personal atmosphere. When you’re done swimming and sunbathing, the Reef Restaurant serves both Thai and Italian food against an unforgettable backdrop.

Koh Chuak and Koh Ngai: Coral, Jungle and Hornbills

After lunch and more snorkelling at Kradan, we made our way to Koh Ngai, pausing along the way at Koh Chuak — a small diamond-shaped limestone islet between Koh Muk and Koh Ngai. Koh Chuak has no beach or accommodation, but its blue waters are rich with fish and soft corals, making it a worthwhile snorkelling stop.

Koh Ngai, our final destination, has aquamarine waters, white sand beaches, and the most pristine jungle among all the Trang Islands. It is home to monitor lizards, snakes, and an extraordinary variety of birds including an estimated 2,000 hornbills.

We visited the Thanya Beach Resort, our top recommendation for guests seeking a romantic escape on Koh Ngai. Balinese-style teak villas face the beach, a spacious swimming pool sits amid a magnificent tropical garden, and frangipani bushes in every colour fill the air with fragrance. It’s no surprise the Thanya is popular as a honeymoon destination. From November to April, Tigerline ferries stop just off Koh Ngai on the route between Phuket and Koh Lipe, while longtail boats can be rented in Pak Meng for independent island hopping.

We ended our afternoon on the beach at Koh Ngai with a final swim. A massive school of fish surfaced around us — expanding and contracting like a living cloud. The horizon slowly shifted from blue to gold as sunset approached.

The Journey Back

Map of Trang islands

We began the return trip to Pak Meng dock just before dark and arrived in Krabi around 8 PM — joyful, relaxed, and enchanted once more by the breathtaking scenery of southern Thailand.

Practical Information

• Getting there: Drive from Ao Nang to Pak Meng harbour (~90 minutes). GPS recommended.
• Boats: Private longtail boats, speedboats and group tours available at Pak Meng pier.
• Park fee: 300 THB per person payable at the National Park station.
• Best time: November to April for calm seas and clear skies. Avoid weekends at the Emerald Cave.
• Where to stay: Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort (Koh Muk), The Reef Resort (Koh Kradan), Thanya Beach Resort (Koh Ngai).
• Ferries: Tigerline ferries connect Koh Ngai with Phuket and Koh Lipe from November to April.

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For travelers craving a peaceful escape away from crowded beaches and busy tourist spots, Koh Libong in southern Thailand offers a truly authentic and serene experience. Nestled among the islands of the Andaman Sea, south of Krabi, this quiet island combines lush rubber plantations, friendly local communities, and a rare chance to see dugongs in their natural habitat.

Koh Libong Thailand

My recent visit to Koh Libong was driven by curiosity and the desire to discover lesser-known Thai islands that preserve their natural charm. What I found exceeded expectations—a place where slow-paced island life, lush greenery, and the gentle presence of marine mammals create a perfect harmony.

How to Reach Koh Libong

Koh Libong is the largest island in Trang Province and is easily accessible from the mainland. To reach the island, I drove to Hat Yao, a long beach area, where I boarded a traditional long-tail boat that whisked me across a canal to the island’s pier in about 20 minutes. The boat ride alone was a scenic highlight, offering glimpses of the surrounding mangroves and quiet waters.

Fish put to dry in the sun

The island can also be reached by sea from nearby destinations like Koh Lipe and Koh Mook, with daily speedboat services available from various providers. For those traveling from Phuket, connecting via Koh Lipe or Koh Mook makes the journey manageable and enjoyable.

Exploring Koh Libong: First Impressions and Local Life

Once on the island, we were greeted by a friendly tuk-tuk driver who took us to our accommodation—the Andalay Beach Resort—about 8 kilometers from the pier. Our driver, a young woman named Cartoon, impressed us with her hospitality and clear communication, despite her limited English. She explained that Koh Libong has a predominantly Muslim population, with a small Buddhist minority, mainly immigrants for work and family reasons.

Local women from Koh Libong Thailand

Interestingly, the economy here is mainly driven by rubber cultivation—not fishing, as many might assume for an island. The rubber trees stretch in endless groves, their sap tapped daily and collected into coconut shells. Along the way, we saw goats, roosters, hens, and even a monitor lizard crossing the road—living proof of the island’s relaxed, rural vibe.

The local community is friendly and welcoming, with signs of tourism slowly emerging—small cafes, homestays, and eco-lodges are sprouting amidst the greenery. Despite the modest development, the island retains its authentic charm.

Staying at Andalay Beach Resort

Our accommodation, Andalay Beach Resort, offers a perfect blend of comfort and immersion in nature. The resort, recently reopened after a two-year closure, features wooden bungalows and spacious rooms that blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. The furniture is simple yet tasteful, and the atmosphere is peaceful.

Dining at the on-site restaurant was a delightful experience—fresh seafood, local flavors, and a front-row seat to the sea. The staff, mostly locals, were professional and friendly, speaking good English, which made our stay even more enjoyable.

The resort’s location right on the beach provides direct access to a quiet, sandy shoreline—ideal for relaxing walks and soaking in the sunset.

Nature and Wildlife: The Search for Dugongs

One of the main reasons for visiting Koh Libong was the hope of spotting dugongs—gentle marine mammals that feed on seagrass beds in the area. We took early morning boat trips to the nearby seagrass meadows, hoping to catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures.

While we didn’t see any during our trip, the experience of being on the water in this pristine environment was rewarding in itself. The island’s commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation efforts makes it a promising place for wildlife enthusiasts and eco-travelers.

Koh Libong’s environment remains relatively untouched, and locals take pride in preserving their natural surroundings. It’s a destination that encourages responsible tourism—an ideal choice for travelers seeking authentic eco-friendly escapes.

Tips for Visiting Koh Libong

• Timing: The best time to visit is between November and April, during the dry season, when marine activities are more enjoyable.
• Respect the Environment: Support local conservation efforts, especially if you’re interested in seeing dugongs or exploring marine life.
• Local Etiquette: With a predominantly Muslim community, dress modestly and be respectful of local customs.
• Travel Light: The island’s infrastructure is simple; pack essentials, sun protection, and some cash, as ATMs are limited.
• Explore Nearby Islands: Consider day trips to Koh Mook or Koh Lipe for a broader experience of the region’s natural beauty.

Final Thoughts: Why Koh Libong Should Be on Your Thailand Travel List

Koh Libong is a rare find—a peaceful island that offers authentic local life, natural beauty, and a genuine connection with Thailand’s marine environment. It’s an ideal destination for eco-conscious travelers, wildlife enthusiasts, or anyone looking to unwind amidst lush greenery and calm waters.

This unspoiled corner of Thailand is proof that some of the best experiences come from venturing off the beaten path. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or a chance to see dugongs in the wild, Koh Libong promises a unique and meaningful escape.

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As beach lovers know, Thailand is a year-round island hopping destination due to the wonderful weather, palm-fringed beaches and warm ocean. What most visitors don’t know, and it’s one of Thailand’s best kept secrets, is that the islands off Trang coast are the ideal exotic refuge to match what most people envision when dreaming of a tropical holiday.

These stunning and very diverse islands can be divided in two categories: the first group, which includes Koh Libong, Koh Phetra, Koh Sukorn, Koh Bulon and Koh Lao Liang, is almost unknown to foreign tourists. Even if you’re a frequent traveler to Thailand, I bet you’ve never heard any of these names.

The second group consists of islands that are known to a bunch of Phangan beach lovers and visited by local tourists and expatriates at weekends, yet they are still overshadowed by the likes of Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

This category includes Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai and Koh Muk, offering a wide range of beach front resorts and guest houses and boasting the most pristine and romantic beaches in the area.

You can take a day trip from Krabi

If you don’t have time for a week or even a weekend island hopping among the second group of the Trang Islands, don’t write them off your list. The good news is that with a little planning, you can take a day trip to these stunning islands and be able to sleep in your hotel room back in Krabi at the end of an adventure filled day.

It’s what we at Fantasia Asia did a few weeks ago, driving our car from Ao Nang to Pak Meng harbour, which is located at the border of Krabi and Trang provinces.

Once you leave the lively Krabi weekend traffic behind, the journey to Pak Meng is a 90 minute pleasant drive through palm trees, coconut plantations and limestone mountains on a mostly straight and well kept road. You should use a GPS to reach Pak Meng easily, however the road signs are quite precise if you know what you are looking for.

We reached the Pak Meng harbour around 9 AM and boarded a private long tail boat for the day. I had visited Pak Meng a few years earlier, while the new pier was under construction, and this time I was very impressed by the improvement of the harbour. It’s now filled with small shops and a few nice looking cafés and restaurants without being overtly touristic. There are a few parking lots a few hundred meters from the National Park station, which is where tourists pay the park entrance fee (300 THB per person) and board their boats.

Several tour companies run transfers and daily tours with local boats (long tail boats) or larger boats (speed boats or yachts).

Itinerary

Koh Mook (Morakot Cave, The Mook Sivalai Beach Resort),
Koh Kradan (The Reef Resort, snorkelling)
Koh Chuak (snorkelling)
Koh Ngai (Thanya Beach Resort)

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Are you looking for a tropical paradise? Do you want to see something more of this enjoyable region washed by the Andaman Sea? Do you want to merge with the beautiful sceneries of white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, lush jungles and vibrant resorts? And above all, do you want to get away from the logic of mass tourism that characterises Phuket, Phi Phi Islands and Krabi?

A glimpse of Koh Lanta National Park

Perfect, you are in the right website, the one that takes you to visit Southern Thailand and gets you to know a series of beautiful, little-known and little-explored islands. Let me be clear: do not expect deserted islands. You can though certainly expect places where you will hardly find annoying masses of tourists, where you can find decent hotels equipped with the right comforts and where, perhaps, there is an attempt to generate a form of sustainable tourism.

Enough said. Follow us now along this enchanting journey which, starting from the island of Koh Lanta, just south of Krabi, takes us all the way to Koh Lipe, a short distance from the Malaysian border. An itinerary particularly suitable for those who want to explore beaches that will enchant you with their beauty and that will leave an indelible desire in your heart to come back in your next vacation to see for yourself all that the Andaman Sea has to offer you.

So, let’s get ready to tackle this itinerary, one that develops through three Thai coastal provinces: Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Koh Lanta – (Krabi province)

Koh Lanta National Park

This is the first stop of our tour. It is an island of remarkable beauty off the coast of the Krabi province where visitors can stay in hotels of various categories that often overlook the white, long beaches of the island. The island of Koh Lanta is already a well-known destination and there are several tourists who reach it, scattering along its entire coast.

Many are the activities that can be practiced in Koh Lanta: snorkelling, kayaking and excursions to nearby and equally enchanting islands can easily be organised.

Koh Lanta has its own merit-making corner

And of course sunbathing, relaxing on the beach and swimming a short distance from the shoreline, where you can ‘soak in’ as if there were no tomorrow.

These are the basis of those ‘non-activities’ that you can practice on any of the islands we will descrive.

In Koh Lanta there is no shortage of restaurants serving delicious Thai dishes as well as international cuisine. Most of them are located on the beach, so not only will you not go hungry during your stay, but you can also satisfy your appetite for a panoramic view of the ocean.

Koh Ngai – (Krabi province)

A corner of Koh Ngai beach

Koh Ngai is an Andaman Sea island located off the coast of Thailand. It is a paradise framed by splendid beaches of white sand and by waters so transparent that they look like panes of glass. It is the right place for those who want to get away from it all, who are not afraid of boredom and who feel good about themselves, perhaps not disdaining simply relaxing on a deck chair with a book in hand. Koh Ngai’s luxuriant tropical vegetation, among other things, offers adequate shelter from the scorching sun during the hot hours of the day.

Next, add up the usual activities such as canoeing, fishing, snorkelling and even diving to access those spectacular coral reefs that make up much of the seascape surrounding the island, easily reachable by local boats.

Koh Mook lifestyle… easy

One of the main attractions of Koh Ngai is the abundance of wildlife, including monkeys, monitor lizards and colourful birds that can be seen almost everywhere on this small paradise island.

Not enough? Then let me tell you that on Koh Ngai you will find little of everything (or none), though some shops can be found on nearby islands. Koh Ngai is the perfect place for fantasising. Just walk away from your hotel, close your eyes and imagine being on a desert island. Dream, and reach the night time, leaving worries aside and abandoning yourself to a deep and restful sleep.

Koh Kradan and Koh Mook – (Trang province)

Relax in Koh Kradan

The only difference between Koh Ngai and these two islands is that they are located in different provinces. Apart from this, everything said for the previous island also stands for the latter two. We can only add that Koh Kradan has a remarkable snorkelling site that can be easily reached by swimming from the shore, and that on Koh Mook you can visit the splendid and unmissable Emerald Cave, through which you access a hidden lagoon that will leave you breathless. Seeing is believing.

Last but not least, Koh Mook, being larger than the others, has a greater number of tourist structures and a village, where you can find local shops and restaurants.

Koh Libong – (Trang province)

This is another must-see destination when visiting the southern region of Thailand. This tranquil island offers visitors the chance to experience traditional Thai culture, with local villages filled with friendly people who will welcome you with open arms and traditional smiles. Here you can practice numerous activities, including trekking in the lush jungle and boat trips to surrounding islands or, alternatively, among the mangroves, looking for wild animals. Koh Libong is truly a unique place we will talk about in more details in the future.

Koh Bulon – (Satun province)

Sunset over Koh Bulon

I last visited the island of Koh Bulon about ten years ago. I was headed to Koh Lipe, but in the end I couldn’t resist Koh Bulon sea, its beaches, its tranquility and the cuisine of Gianluca, a friend who had a restaurant on that island: the Panka Noi Pizza, open from November to the beginning April.

Well, after ten years who knows how this Koh Bulon will have developed, you will say. It is legitimate to wonder, though I assure you that Koh Bulon has not had the growth that much better-known Koh Lipe, our next stop, has had. As a result, Koh Bulon has maintained a good part of the beauty of the past.

But if you insist, I will travel back to the island soon, and I will let you know more about it as soon as possible. What I do know is that Gianluca is always there with his restaurant so I’m also sure I’ll be adequately fed… Rather, if you happen to be in Koh Bulon, go find him: it’s worth it.

Koh Lipe – (Satun province)

Koh Lipe dream beach

And finally here we are at the end of our journey. We are in the Koh Tarutao Marine National Park, where the island of Lipe is located. This is undoubtedly the best known destination of Southern Thailand, an idyllic paradise that is slowly becoming a ‘lost paradise’ with once pristine beaches that now attract ever greater numbers of tourists.

Given our initial comments on mass tourism, perhaps Koh Lipe should be dropped from this list of ours. However, I believe that this island should be forcibly inserted into a southern islands itinerary because, despite everything, it remains, in my honest opinion, an amazing place. I would say that Koh Lipe should be awarded an ‘ad honorem green card’.

Koh Lipe by night

Koh Lipe‘s fame is also supported by the beauty of the surrounding islands, great destinations for day trips, and by the coral gardens that surround it, rich in marine life and a natural paradise for those who intend to snorkel or dive.

In all these years of growth, Koh Lipe has also developed a lively nightlife made up of bars, restaurants and clubs where you can have a drink and listen to music. In short, there is something for all tastes on the island. As you can see, there is no shortage of choice and I assure you that we are talking about quality places.

How to reach the islands

At this point the last thing to tell you is how to reach these islands which, although off the beaten track, are well connected to each other, to the mainland and to the main tourist centres.

Sea sand palms and rest

Scheduled speedboats connect Phuket, Phi Phi Islands and Krabi with each of these islands. Certainly some distances can be long and perhaps not very suitable for those suffering from back pain or seasickness, but in this case there are alternative solutions.

You can travel by car or minivan, privately or by public transport, the latter obviously cheaper, until you reach one of the ports of embarkation closest to your chosen islands.  From there, a traditional ‘longtail boat’ carries you to your destination.

Should you arrive from further afield, for example Bangkok, you can fly to one of the three International airports close to the above islands: Krabi, Trang and Hat Yai.

And for those who have the time and the wish, you could hop on a catamaran cruise which touches each of the destinations described, and perhaps some other pearl of the Andaman where you can have an intermediate stops. In short, even in this case there is no shortage of solutions, the choice is yours.

Photos by Guglielmo Zanchi (Pluto)

WATCH FANTASIA ASIA VIDEO OF THE TOUR HERE:

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