chiang mai province

GPS Location
Pak Meng Pier
N7° 49.658’
E99° 32.681’
South
Nature/Relaxation
Wifi @ Snorkel, scuba gear, kayak rental English spoken
The crystal clear water of Ko Rok, one of islets in Ko Ngai archipelago.
H o w T o G e t T h e r e
From Trang town, take
Highway 4046 and then
4162 for 38 km. At the
beachfront junction, turn
right. The pier is about
1 km away.
You can also take a van
from Tha Klang Road in
Trang town (N07º 33.536’,
E099º 36.174’). It leaves
from 7 a.m. Early ride
advised as boats usually
stop running around 10 a.m.
Right (Top to Bottom):
Swallows build their
nest on the cliff of
Ko Ma.
Snorkelling is popular
among visitors
besides lazing on the
pristine beaches.
Ko Ngai
Like a natural bathtub
TRANG PROVINCE. The island is more easily accessible
from Trang and perfect for island-hoppers who enjoy taking
things at leisurely pace and for those who enjoy lazing on the white
powdery sand. The sea of this archipelago contains various shades
of blue and dipping in its clear, calm water feels like being in a giant
bathtub.
Timing is the key, though. The depiction above is only available
when you plan your holiday correctly. The lure of these islands is
so great that it draws tourists by the thousands on a bad day. Avoid
weekends and Thai public holidays at all costs, and we strongly
recommend against buying a hectic one-day trip tour.
Ko Ngai (sometimes pronounced Ko Hai), is the best base for
island hopping due to its greater number of accommodation.
On its pristine beach, you will face Ko Chueak and Ko Ma, the
nearest snorkelling sites. And on a clear day, the sharp contrast
between the immaculately white sand and the blue ocean is
simply breathtaking.
Every resort here offers snorkelling trips to the two aforementioned
islands. However, the underwater landscape might not be as
impressive as the view above the water. You will see extensive
patches of Staghorn coral and a bit of soft corals at Ko Ma.
Fish are aplenty although with little diversity. The boat trip will
invariably take you to Emerald Cave which gains its name from
the emerald green water at the entrance (look beneath the surface
and you might spot a large school of fish swimming by). After
swimming through a 80 m dark passage, you will find yourself
on a tiny beach enclosed in a forested limestone cliff and an open
sky overhead.
You May Kiss the Bride Underwater.
You can also choose to go an extra mile to Ko Kradan, arguably the
most beautiful island of the Trang sea. It is the site where underwater
weddings organized by TAT take place on Valentine’s Day every
year. The island is blessed with a stretch of fine white sand on the
east side and coral reef in the northeastern waters.
If suddenly you miss your share of green while on Ko Ngai, there
is a 30-minute trail cutting through rubber tree and coconut groves.
The entrance of the trail is hidden behind Thanya Resort. The trail
will take you to the west of the island which is quite isolated with
only one resort. Be warned that the trail can be steep at some
points and it is advisable to bring along mosquito repellant.
Our final recommendation: during sunset when there is still light,
bring your beach book and lay down next to the trees on the beach.
Chances are you will see hornbills flying by and perching in pairs.
A blissful way to end the day.•
Discover N Ko Ngai
is a great base for hopping
among the islets of
Trang Sea. Enjoy
swimming and sunbathing.
You may also have a
very good chance of
spotting hornbills.
Feel Y Invest and
choose a relatively
‘fancier’ accommodation,
since it can alter your
experience considerably.
Some resorts are very
aesthetically pleasing
and wisely adopt local
resources as building
materials.
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