| Koh Hai or Koh Ngai as locals call it is a nearly untouched island in front of the Trang coast. The inner part of the island is covered in dense jungle whereby the west coast which faces the mainland has many palm- lined white sandy beaches. The only with 5 square kilometres relatively small island is an ideal spot for people who are looking for a lonely place with a lot of privacy. In front of the coast there are some coral riffs which can be explored and also the surrounding marine national park offers a change in location. Due to his small size and the missing infrastructure outside of the resorts, Koh Hai is recommended just for a short stay for about 3 to 5 days. |
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| Beaches |
| Koh Hai has many white and sandy beaches for sunbathing and swimming to offer. In front of nearly all beaches it is possible to snorkel within short distance of the coast and there you can explore the large variety of underwater inhabitants of the region. |
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| Activities & sight-seeing |
Despite his small size the island and his neighbouring islands offers a varied program consisting of fantastic beaches and natural and almost unknown diving spots.
Trekking
The inner part of the island can be easily explored by foot. Travellers can crest after a short jungle trekking tour the highest mountain in the middle of the island for a great view over the coast and the nearby marine national park.
Koh Mook
Another possible excursion is to the nearby island Koh Mook. On this island you can visit the Emerald Cave which is called Tham Morakot by the locals. The cave can be reached through a long limestone channel that is connected to the sea. In the inside you will find an admirable lagoon surrounded by high cliffs.
Snorkel & diving
Snorkel opportunities can be find around Koh Chueak and Koh Hai. The underwater world with tropical fishes and corals is fascinating. When divers are lucky enough, they can catch a glimpse of the rare Dugongs, a sea cow species which can only be found around this region in Thailand. For people who are interested in diving, they can contact the Rainbow Divers who are during the high season (from November to April) around the island. The two professionals from Germany are organising all sorts of trips and day tours into the region.
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| Getting there & getting around |
Koh Hai can be reached from airport in the nearby city Krabi or Trang. A flight from Bangkok to Trang is the far cheaper and faster way, but there are just two flights a day, which makes it sometimes difficult to get a seat. Also in combination with the ferry which is leaving in the morning it is not easy to get to it on time after arriving at the airport. The alternative is a flight to Krabi with a transfer further to the pier in Pak Meng. The cheapest but longest trip is with the train which is operating daily from Bangkok to Trang. There will be also a transfer to the pier necessary.
From the pier in Pak Meng you will travel further with the ferry to Koh Mook and then to Koh Hai. Another opportunity is to take the speedboat from your hotel or resort. When leaving the pier, a national park fee of 200 THB will be charged. The trip with the ferry or a long-tail boat will take about 40 minutes. The speedboats from the resorts are with 15 minutes a lot faster. |
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| Climate |
As everywhere in the Andaman Sea the best time to visit the Island is from November to April. The low season starts around Mai, which means there are fewer tourists around the area. The weather is often good till the end of June with just a couple of short showers mostly in the evenings and nights. These months are a recommendation for people who want to be in a private atmosphere.
From July until the end of October it is rainier and it can rain for a couple days in a row. During this time, there can be junk from the sea pushed in by the strong winds. When the weather conditions are too bad, the ferry service will be shut down and so we do not recommend the island as the last station before returning to the airport for the trip back home. |
