Planning a day trip to Koh Adang, or a few nights on this quiet island?

Our traveller guide has everything you need to know.

Koh Adang is an unmissable day trip from Koh Lipe, and it’s not just because of the spectacular views on offer from its nature trail.

At 6km long and 5km wide, it’s quite a bit larger than its neighbouring little sister island - an increasingly densely covered tourism destination in the Andaman Archipelago and the main jumping off point to reach Adang - and manages to feels a world away.

Uninhabited save for a few bungalows, the guests of a solitary resort, and those who work at the Visitor’s Centre, it is blissfully uncommercialised and lacks any of the trappings of mass tourism one tries their best to avoid in southern Thailand.

Some will talk about it as a deserted island, a hidden paradise, or a place that nobody visits.

However, that’s a bit hyperbolic, as this isn’t necessarily somewhere you’ll visit for a long time or that most of travellers should view as an alternative to staying on nearby Koh Lipe: for the majority it’s going to be a day trip destination to hike and enjoy its pristine, quiet beaches, but certain travellers will adore the opportunity it gives to stay somewhere that feels much more isolated and close to nature.

In our short, definitive guide to Koh Adang, we’ll help you decide what’s best for your travel style and to plan ahead. We’ve shared personal advice and travel tips on how to get to the island, the viewpoint hike, the beaches, and the three accommodation options and two restaurants on the island if you plan on staying for longer than a day trip.

This is our guide to Koh Adang, Thailand.

koh adang essentials

What / Uninhabited & undeveloped island in the Taratuo National Park
Reach / 10-minute longboat ride from Koh Lipe
Do / Spectacular viewpoint hike, quiet beaches & excellent snorkelling
Stay / In a tent, a bungalow or at Adang Island Resort
Know / Unmissable day trip from Koh Lipe, or peaceful place to stay for 1-2 nights
Bring / Cash, suncream, bug spray, and plenty water (or a filter bottle)
Know / Two restaurants, no shops, and no bars

How to Get To Koh AdanG From Koh Lipe

Wherever you’re travelling from in Thailand, all boats lead to popular little Koh Lipe island.

Unless planning on staying a night or two at the Adang Island Resort, who will arrange transport for guests between the islands, the majority of you will be travelling independently from Koh Lipe for a day trip.

The most direct and dependable route is to head to Sunrise Beach, where you will find a sign for 'boat taxis' and a person sitting under a tree (next to Benny's Restaurant, here on Google Maps). Let them know you want to go to Koh Adang, and it’s 100 baht per person each way in a long boat.

We asked what time the Koh Adang boat taxis started, and were told around 9am. So, you could opt to head over here to Sunrise Beach at the crack of dawn, enjoy the sunrise, grab coffee/breakfast at one of the beachfront restaurants, then head over to climb the hill in Koh Adang!

It’s a good idea to pay for your return journey (another 100 baht) at the same time, and you can either arrange a collection time or alternatively, the person will give you a small plastic card with a telephone number to call when you wish to be picked up - when we called up there was already a guy waiting, otherwise she would have sent someone over for us. Don't lose the card as it acts as proof that you have paid for your trip back!

It's only a short boat ride over to Koh Adang, but the boat will go slowly to avoid the coral and occasional swells, so expect it to take 5-10 minutes. You may have to wade a little bit in the sea up to your knees in order to board the boat.

You'll be dropped off at the beach near the Ranger's Station (Google Maps), or on the blue plastic jetty if it’s still in place.

If staying elsewhere on Koh Lipe, you will also be able to find boat taxi stations on Pattaya Beach and Sunset Beach to run you over for around the same price, but with a slightly longer journey time to/from Koh Adang.

As mentioned, if staying at the Adang Resort, contact them in advance to arrange your complimentary guest shuttle from the boat terminal in Koh Lipe; if staying at the campsite, you’ll need to make your own way there as described above.

The koh adang National Park Fee

Both Koh Lipe and Koh Adang are part of the Taratuo National Park, and when you board the speed boat from the mainland to Koh Lipe, you will have to pay the National Park fee. This is 200 baht per adult / 100 baht per child), and valid for five days.

Therefore if you're visiting Adang no more than five days after you arrive in Koh Lipe you will not have to pay another national park fee. Upon arrival there were signs stating to keep your ticket on your person to show when requested but we were never asked.

If you are staying on Koh Lipe for more than five days and visit Koh Adang once your original ticket has expired, you may need to buy another upon arrival at Koh Adang - this can be purchased from the visitor centre / Ranger's Office next to where the boat drops you off.

The best things to Do in Koh Adang

Hike Up to the Koh Adang Viewpoint

The opportunity to work off some of the pad thai and massaman curries we’d indulged in and to stretch our legs on a hill trail was most welcome.

This is the main reason most people visit Koh Adang, as the viewpoints on Chado Hill (also Cha-Do Cliff) offer spectacular vistas over the entirety of Koh Lipe and the shimmering Andaman Sea; the manageable ascent is also a great way to give yourself a sweaty break from eating and lying on the beach.

The trail begins to the right of the visitor’s centre, past the restaurant and toilet block: it’s also clearly sign-posted as Chado Cliff. This section of the island feels more like a Swedish holiday camp in terms of set-up than rustic Thai island, but it’s a positive in terms of organisation and structure.

The trail itself is relatively short but the incline is quite significant, and in the heat and humidity can feel quite tough (especially in the various sections that are exposed to the sunshine). Additionally, the ground is very uneven, with lots of tree branches, and various large rocks that you'll need to clamber over - we found ourselves using our hands for stability a couple of times.

In total, you’re going from sea-level to about 600 metres up.

Andrew did the hike in Birkenstocks and Emily in Teva strap-sandals but many we saw chose to wear trainers, and this is not a bad idea at all; we absolutely wouldn't recommend doing it in flip flops. It’s best to wear sports / hiking clothes, or something loose, lightweight, and comfortable.

Along the trail you'll find three designated viewpoints: the first has somewhat of an obstructed view, so we'd recommend not lingering too long and instead continuing on to the second and third, both of which provide truly spectacular views over the blues below, Koh Lipe and beyond.

We took 45 sweaty minutes to reach the third and final viewpoint, and this included time to stop and take photos; any traveller of reasonable fitness should have no problems reaching the top in less than an hour.

If you or a member of your group are really really struggling, you could knock it on the head at the second viewpoint, but we’d always encourage you to make it to the top instead of turning back.

The return journey is obviously faster, but limited by the steepness of the descent and the various rocks that can be trickier to negotiate on the way back down. Watch your footing, and pay attention to avoid slips or slides.

Due to the heat, we’d recommend trying to start early complete the Koh Adang hike before 11am. We were the first on the trail at 9.30am, but about a dozen or so other early-risers soon joined us at the top, and it was noticeably busier on the way down.

Top Tip // We spotted a large group of monkeys towards the end of the trail, just hanging out and playing in the trees. We'd heard that the monkeys here can be a little aggressive but there was no indication that they wished to interact with us and we strongly advise against trying to interact with them or get too close - just watch and enjoy!

Plan // Love to hike? Then take on the much more challenging Dragon Crest Mountain, Krabi.

Spend a Couple of Nights

Whilst Koh Lipe is by no means as busy as many other southern Thai islands, if you're visiting during high season (as we did), it can still feel a little too crowded and congested in parts.

So, if you'd like to escape and experience a true island hideaway with very few facilities or other souls, consider spending a couple of nights at one of the three accommodation options on Koh Adang:

The Adang Island Resort

If we were to head back to Koh Adang, this is probably where we'd stay.

Located around a-30 minute walk from the Visitor's Centre, this Adang Island Resort is the only privately-owned property on the entire island and is a fantastic option for those that still want the amenities of a hotel, but in a deserted island location.

We wouldn’t class it as high-end of luxury though.

The accommodation is composed of various brick huts and rooms, spaced around a bar / restaurant area and an inviting guests-only pool, and located on a small stretch of white sand. The restaurant was surprisingly good, and not as expensive as we expected given the extra distance that deliveries have to arrive from, and the other great thing about staying here is the access to kayaks, SUP boards and snorkelling gear for free.

A night or two would be enough for us, but some people may wish to consider flipping things around and basing themselves here, and going to Koh Lipe for day trips instead.

To reach the Koh Adang Island Resort, you'll need to hop in one of their regularly scheduled boats that depart from Koh Lip to Adang. As of our visit in January 2024, they were at 8.30am, 10.30am, 1.30pm, and 3.30pm, but we'd recommend getting in touch with the hotel prior your arrival so they can advise you further. These boats are free of charge for guests and allow you to get to and from Koh Lipe as you wish.

As we mention above, the resort can also be accessed via a dusty trail from the visitor's centre in around 30 minutes, but it’s not one to attempt with your suitcase or after dark. We’ve shared more on this trail in an upcoming section.

Bungalows

If you don't fancy the resort, the second accommodation option in Koh Adang are the National Park bungalows.

Whilst these are not super fancy, we were actually surprised at how comfortable and large they were given what we'd read online. All of them have air conditioning (although electricity only operates on the island from 6pm to 6am), a private bathroom and a cute little veranda area. Many also have ocean views and are a short walk from a brilliant stretch of beach. Per night, the bungalows cost 1500 baht.

It's recommended to book these in advance, but we did note that when we visited (during the peak month of January), more appeared to available than occupied. If you'd like to be on the safe side and make a reservation in advance, you have two options: call the National Park - their number is 074 783 597 and we'd recommend getting somebody who speaks Thai to call - or try to book via the official website (although it often doesn’t load for us)

If you arrive without a reservation, just head to the Visitor's Centre when you arrive.

Camping

For those that don't mind a bit of a back-to-basics experience, consider camping within the National Park.

If travelling with you own tent, it’s just 80 baht per person to set up camp or alternatively, you can rent a tent plus camping gear (a sleeping bag and sleeping mat) at a cost of 340 baht for two people (this includes the camping fee). Those tents are also already set up and you don't need to reserve in advance; just head to the visitor's centre when you arrive and they'll sort you out.

For those camping or staying at the bungalows, your food options are limited to what and when they serve in the small restaurant on this side; the only other alternative is to walk to the Koh Adang Resort and eat there.

Travel Tip // Note that the island and the resort closes down to tourism outside of the dry season, so please double check before making any plans to stay/visit from May to November.

Hang Out at the Koh Adang Beaches

If you’re making the effort to come here to do the hike, you absolutely deserve to cool off in the impeccable waters and chill for a few hours on the pristine dragonfruit flesh sands.

Post-hike, unless you are continuing along to the waterfall (covered in the next section), you should simply take the easy option and head to either section of beach to the right and left of the blue boat jetty. To the left, it’s a beautiful 1.3km stretch backed by pine forest, but we opted to plonk ourselves down to the more intimate one to the right (here on Google Maps).

If you are staying at the Koh Adang Resort, then you will have a trio of other beaches on your doorstep and would also be able to venture out on the kayaks to find even more remote and lesser visited swimming holes and sunbathing spots on the island (feel free to share your favourites in the comments!)

Wherever you chose, note that you’ll need to bring everything with you for the beach (towels, suncream) and there’s not many shaded areas except under a couple of trees. As we explain further in our ‘Travel Tips’ section, there are only two places to eat on the island as well.

Walk to Pirate Waterfall

Located to the north of the Adang Resort, you'll find Pirate Waterfall; the trick is locating the trail startpoint as it's not entirely straightforward. Indeed we found ourselves clambering through thick forest on a Bear Gryll’s mission before deciding it couldn't possibly be the way someone had told us and retracing our steps.

The start point is officially located here, along the same trail that heads through the forest to the resort). On the beach, you’ll see the path going up and into the trees, and you need to hold on to the rope, walk up, GO LEFT almost immediately, and then continue straight. It should be pretty obvious that you’re on the right track, but there are also be some red plastic ties on trees as indicators.

You'll continue straight for around 20 minutes, by which time you’ll have passed a few signs for the waterfall and the accommodation, and then have two options: either turn right following the sign just before the resort or alternatively head straight into the resort and then ask the staff to point you in the direction of the easier, more well-trodden trail. From here, it's around a 30-minute walk.

Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see this waterfall ourselves as after getting halfway there we were reliably informed by someone who had visited the day before that the falls had run dry (one of the few bad things about not being here during the rainy season!). There therefore seemed little point persevering, especially when the alternative was a cold beer.

The sections of waterfall trail that we covered were largely flat and doable in sturdy sandals.

Based on our experience, if visiting Koh Adang in dry season (November-April) and you’ve already summited the viewpoint, we’d forgive you for opting for the beach over the waterfall.

Go Snorkelling

The water here is unbelievably crystal clear - there is good reason why neighbouring Koh Lipe is often referred to as ‘The Maldives of Thailand - and makes the ideal location for a bit of snorkelling.

If you're not staying at the resort (where they provide free snorkel gear), you can rent them from the restaurant at a cost of 50 baht per set for the entire day.

For those basing themselves in Koh Adang rather than Koh Lipe, full-day snorkel tours can be arranged either by the resort if you're staying there, or alternatively you can take the boat across to Koh Lipe and book one yourself.

Travel Better Tips For Visiting Koh Adang

There are two places to eat on the island: the National Park restaurant and Adang Resort. The former is located by the Visitor's Centre and will be where you eat if camping or staying in the bungalows. Prices range from around 100 baht for a simple fried rice dish to around 250 baht for a curry. The other option is the restaurant at the resort. As mentioned earlier, the menu here is expansive and food excellent, additionally non-guests are more than welcome to dine here.
If staying in the National Park, note that there is only electricity between the hours of 6pm and 6am.
Internet and phone reception is surprisingly excellent.
Bring bug spray as the mozzies can supposedly become quite vicious in the evening given you're surrounded by forest - we use and recommend non-deet Incognito bug spray.
There are multiple shower and toilet blocks scattered about - but bring your own toilet roll!
Bottled water is available, but do the island, the world and your pocket a favour and opt for a travel filter water bottle instead. We used our trusty Water-To-Go filter bottles for the Koh Adang day trip, filling up in the toilet block sinks, as well as for the month in Thailand. Find out more about how filter bottles work in our explainer guide, and you can get a 15% discount with ‘ADR15’ when purchasing on the Water-To-Go website.
It should go without saying, but there are no ATMs here so bring plenty cash with you (you'll also only be able to pay in cash).