Koh Libong Thailand – Your Quick Travel Guide
In a nutshell
The biggest island in the Trang province, Koh Libong is a secret jewel that hasn’t yet succumbed to the mass tourism and the hordes of western tourists flocking every year to the majority of the southern islands in the Andaman Sea are almost unheard of here.
Why go to Koh Libong
Even if the beaches of Koh Libong cannot be compared to those of some of the neighbouring provinces’, the island is a great destination for everyone who is searching for more than just white sands and clear sea waters.
A large part of the 40 square km island is in fact completely uninhabited and renting a motorbike will give you the freedom to explore the most remote sides of Koh Libong, where small beaches, hiking trails piercing the slopes of the rolling hills, limestone caves and a few small fishing villages hide.
And if you’re lucky enough you might even spot the real draw of Koh Libong, dugongs, an endangered marine mammal also known as ‘’sea cow’’ because it feeds on sea grass. It is actually not so easy to encounter if you go by yourself (but still possible from a viewpoint), so a boat trip will give you more chances – it is even better with a kayak tour since the engine of the boat usually scares these shy animals away.
With just a bunch of resorts on the western beach and no bars or clubs, the nightlife is completely non-existent on Koh Libong. Ideal for families and couples, the island can also be an attractive destination for backpackers searching for a tranquil spot to get away from the mass tourism, while party people will most probably remain disappointed and should consider one of the many other nearby options.
When to go to Koh Libong
The dry and cool season between November and April is the best time to visit Koh Libong. Some of the resorts stay open all year round and you can expect good discounts on room rates during the rainy season, but be aware that the risk of spending few hours every day on the porch of your bungalow waiting for the rain to stop – especially from July till October – is quite high. November and December are good months for bird watching, since thousands of birds migrating from the coldest regions of Russia to the south stop on Libong every year.
Where to stay in Koh Libong
There are only 4 resorts on the island, all of them located on the western side on Tungyaka beach.
Libong Beach and Libong Relax Beach are next to each other and are very similar in ebery way. Both of them offer quite simple wooden bungalows with Libong Relax being slightly better due to a recent minor renovation. Prices ranges from THB1000 to THB2500 depending on the size of the bungalow, location (beachfront or not) and air-con or fan. All the rooms come with private bathroom and cold water. Libong Beach is open all year round while Libong Relax closes for 2 months in August and September. Out of the high season expect the rates to drop down half the price.
Sunset Resort has a more secluded location a bit farther from the previous two options and offers a better value for your money. The bungalows are newer and better furnished, but outside the peak season it looks like it’s not maintained as good as you would expect. Prices start from THB900 for a fan bungalow.
Andalay is a high-end resort offering a number of beautifully designed and well-furnished bungalows surrounding the only swimming pool on the island. They also have a Spa and they rent out motorbikes and kayaks. Rates start from THB6000 in high season.
In all the 4 properties reservation is not necessary outside the peak season of December and January.
Where to eat in Koh Libong
All the resorts have attached restaurants and the overall quality of the food is better than we expected.
Libong Beach attracts a lot of customers also from the other resorts as it offers better food at reasonable prices. With a wide English menu with mainly Thai dishes and a few options of western food (burgers are quite good) this is the place where you’ll probably end up for the majority of your meals. Expect to pay THB70 for a basic Thai dish and THB250 for a whole fried fish.
Inexpensive Thai restaurants offering fried rice, noodles and few other simple dishes can be found in Lang Kao village, close to the resorts.
How to get around Koh Libong
Once you get to the pier, a motorbike taxi will take you to your resort for THB100. If you don’t have a reservation, just ask the driver to drop you off in Baan Lang Kao from where everything is within walking distance.
If you’re planning to spend your holiday lying in the beach, swimming and eating you will need no other mean of transportation. But Libong is a big island, and exploring its remote coastline should be on your checklist when you go there. The best way to do it is to rent a motorbike for THB300 a day at any of the resorts. Rental shops are also available at the pier if you want to save the money on taxi.
How to get to and from Koh Libong
Regular ferry service connect Koh Libong with Hat Yao pier in Trang province. Ferries run multiple times a day all year round with the last departure of the day at 4.00pm. Ticket is THB50 and the trip takes 20 minutes. During the low season expect the ferries travel less frequently and with occasional cancellations due to the sea conditions or the lack of passengers.
From Trang there are minibuses leaving every hour from the bus station to Hat Yao and the ticket is THB100. Check our Trang article to check how to get to Trang from different destinations in Thailand.
If your next destination is one of the other southern islands, there are regular speedboats from Hat Yao to Phuket, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, Koh Muk and Langkawi in Malaysia.
Is Koh Libong a safe place to visit?
When riding a motorbike be careful on the steep and dirty roads that cross the island. They may be particularly slippery – especially during the rainy season. Look out for big monitor lizards which can appear from the forest – they can be big enough to cause an accident.
There is a small clinic on the island but for anything serious issue it’s better to get back to Trang.
