If your idyllic preconceptions of the Thai islands have been slightly tainted by crowds and overtourism found elsewhere, set aside some time to visit Koh Libong, a more relaxed and underdeveloped patch of land that’s ideal for families looking to switch off.
When you’re Thai island hopping with kids, try to think of Koh Libong as your recharge station. This isn’t the place to stay up late eating and drinking, and you’ll notice immediately that there are fewer resorts, less tour options, and the beaches aren’t perhaps as visually appealing as elsewhere in the region. But the real charm of Koh Libong lies in its uniqueness, a place to slow down for a few nights, step back from the crowds and fall asleep listening to the sound of the ocean.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, and I receive a small commission.
About Koh Libong
Of all the islands you might visit in this part of the world, Koh Libong feels the most separate. Unlike many of its neighbours, the pace of life here is slower, with only a few small-scale resorts to choose from. The noticeable Muslim influence adds a gentle rhythm to island time, and you won’t find any late-night parties, booming music or Western restaurants on Koh Libong. For many visitors, this is exactly what they’re looking for, particularly if they’ve just arrived from altogether busier islands, such as Koh Lipe or Phuket.
Getting to Koh Libong
Click here to book your ferry to/from Koh Libong
Koh Libong is only 5km from the Thai mainland at Hat Yao Pier, from where you can arrange onward travel to Trang and beyond. It’s inexpensive and straightforward to hop onto a longtail boat to take you back and forth to Hat Yao.
If you’re coming to Koh Libong from the other Thai islands, access is via that ferries which connect the major tourist centres. Travelling north, Koh Libong is the usually the first stop on the route from Koh Lanta to Phuket. The ferries only run during the high season (mid-October to mid-May), outside of which you’ll be limited to accessing the island via Hat Yao Pier. The easiest way to book tickets is via the excellent 12Go website, where you can also check routes, timetables and availability.
Ferries arrive at Banphrao Pier, located in the north of the island.
How to get around the island
When you arrive at Banphrao Pier, you’ll be met by helpful tuk-tuk drivers who can take you to your accommodation. These predominantly Muslim women drivers are kind and reliable, so it’s a good idea to get their WhatsApp number if you need to get around the island during your stay.
Tuk-tuk fares are fixed at THB100 per person, fitting two passengers with luggage.
Where to stay
Where we stayed: Le Dugong Libong Resort
Accommodation on Koh Libong is on a much smaller-scale than you’ll find on the other Andaman Islands, both in terms of selection and size. Unlike in places like Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, which are stocked full of resorts, the options in Koh Libong are scattered around and less polished.
Le Dugong Libong Resort is on the west coast of the island and, despite some initial reservations, turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. The staff aren’t especially professional (it’s more homely than that), and English is only loosely understood, but once you get checked in they tend to leave you alone to enjoy the resort.
The chalets are lined up close to the beach (about 15m away), with a patch of grass separating you from the sand. With powerful air-conditioning, private bathroom and a balcony, it’s a peaceful spot to let a few days drift by. Another bonus was the onsite restaurant that serves a basic breakfast (included in the room rate) and then stays open until around 9.00pm for lunch and dinner. They also serve alcohol if you fancy a beer watching the sun set.
The beach here is fine, not the cleanest (a mixture of plastic and stones) but fine to sit on for a few minutes, a game of frisbee and a base to splash in the sea. The water is warm and clean, with low-key snorkelling an option, although it’s not the same amazing experience available elsewhere.
What to do on Koh Libong
Relax.
Koh Libong isn’t really somewhere you visit to get busy or to tick off numerous bucket-list activities. The other islands nearby have that in abundance so your time here is best spent at the beach, reading, catching up on family time, playing cards and enjoying long leisurely lunches. We were grateful our accommodation’s restaurant was open all afternoon as it allowed us to have a late lunch or drink if we wanted to. Wherever you stay, try to find somewhere with its own restaurant too.
If you do tire of chilling out, ask around at your accommodation for a longtail boat tour of neighbouring Koh La Liang. On the half-day trip (THB2500 plus National Park fees), you’ll visit caves, enjoy isolated snorkelling, beach time and squid fishing, before heading back to Koh Libong to get busy relaxing again.
Where to go next
Koh Lipe is the closest island heading south, with Langkawi in Malaysia another two hours away. The next major stop north are the islands of Koh Kradan, Ngai and Muk, before you reach the larger resorts of Koh Lanta and Phuket.
Many travelling families take the chance to combine several of the islands into one exotic island-hopping trip, check out our full guide to Thai Island Hopping with Kids for more information.
FAQs
Koh Libong is accessible either via a short hop on a longtail boat from the mainland at Hat Yao Pier, or a ferry to/from the other nearby islands including Koh Lipe, Koh Ngai, Koh Lanta and Koh Muk.
The high season runs from mid-October to mid-May, with the few weeks after Christmas (late-December) considered to be peak time.
It depends how keen you are for switching off and chilling out, but we’d recommend at least two or three days on Koh Libong.
Yes, although there are fewer obvious activities, Koh Libong is a great island to visit with kids. They’ll appreciate the space and break from crowds, and there’s plenty of time to relax on the beach or back in the air-conditioned resorts.
Final thoughts on Koh Libong
If there’s one first-world problem associated with visiting the Thai islands, it’s that they can sometimes feel busy and heavily tourist focused. And that isn’t a complaint necessarily, having a reliable and well-oiled tourist infrastructure around your trip can be huge positive, especially when travelling with children.
However, sometimes it’s nice to escape the crowds and slow down for a few days. As soon as you arrive at Koh Libong (often as the only passengers to disembark the ferry), you’ll notice the pace has dropped, the air is quieter, and life feels good. It’s never going to be a place you’ll spend an entire fortnight but, for a few nights at least, you’ll love sitting back and soaking in those chilled Thai vibes on Koh Libong.
You may also like to read:
Thai island hopping with kids (2 week itinerary)
Thailand with kids travel guide
Top 10 things to do in Bangkok with kids