Paradise in the tourist haven of Thailand
Koh Ngai is a small island off Koh Lanta, on the southern Andaman coast- a 4km long and 2km wide island of bliss. Koh Ngai is a water baby’s paradise, best appreciated for it’s white sandy beach, emerald waters and thriving sea life.
Getting there:
From Phuket, take a boat to Koh Lanta and onwards to Koh Ngai. Expect the journey to take 3–4 hours and set you back by 600–800 baht.
From Krabi, take a taxi/bus to Trang, hop on to a long tail boat and you are in Koh Ngai within the hour.
Chilling in Koh Ngai:
If you love unexplored, off the grid beaches, then Koh Hai beach is the place for you. While it retains it’s rustic charm, it has the convenience of every modern day comfort.
Snorkel off the shore, bum on the sandy shores under the shade of massive palm trees, read a book while enjoying that cold one- the beach is yours, away from the hordes that crowd the beaches of Phuket. Do not miss out on exploring the islands of Koh Kradan and Koh Mook. Rent a long tail boat for half a day and head out snorkelling in Koh Kradan- the aquatic life, corals and pristine white sands are a delight to experience. Follow up with some thrilling cave diving into the emerald waters to explore Koh Mook. It is an unforgettable adventure and will most certainly end up being the highlight of your holiday.
Staying in Koh Ngai:
There are about seven resorts in Koh Ngai, all on the beach of Koh Hai. I had the opportunity to stay at Fantasy Resort and Spa as well as Coco Cottage Resort. Both places are stunning, but I did end up staying longer in Fantasy Resort. Fantasy Resort has a pool, which I always appreciate and enjoy in the evenings. While they have no vegan options at the breakfast spread, their chef whipped up some vegan Thai vegetable curry rice for me on request. The view from the rooms at Fantasy resort is incredible and their restaurant makes super yum vegan meals. The beach at Fantasy is not rocky, so you can head out for long swims into the Andaman sea.
Coco Cottage Resort is a high-end glamping experience. The snorkelling off Coco is marvellous, but swimming can be tough on account of it being the rocky end of the beach. They do not offer special vegan options at breakfast, but have soymilk available.
Grabbing a vegan bite:
Thai food is usually cooked fresh at most restaurants and is easy to veganise and customise for allergies. Green Thai curry, Massaman curry and Tom Yum soup were my top favourites. Not everyone may understand how to veganise your meal, so it’s best to list the ingredients you would like to avoid in your meal. Order a vegetarian dish and specify you would not like any fish/oyster sauce, butter, cheese etc. in your meal. Since not all Thai people are proficient in English, it’s best to be patient and calm while explaining your order and you shall have a delicious, piping hot vegan meal to indulge in! If you are feeling particularly adventurous, request for Thai level of spice and see if your taste buds live up to the challenge.
Drinking in Koh Ngai:
Singha and Chang are the local beers to sample. You could also try the fresh Mango juice at the stall next to Fantasy Resort. Best to try your luck early in the day, since the fruit comes in by boat to the island and they run out of mangoes by afternoon.
Hot Tip:
Carry everything you think you need since there is no real supermarket on the island. A couple of resorts have small stores selling essentials at a premium but you may not find everything in these shops. Also carry plenty of water and vegan snacks; you could end up saving a bit of money!
