Ko Libong

Ko Libong is the largest island in Trang Province, located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Kantang District. Part of Hat Chao Mai National Park and the Libong Archipelago Wildlife Reserve, it is known for its extensive seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and as a habitat for endangered dugongs. The island hosts a traditional Muslim fishing community, quiet beaches, and rural landscapes, offering a low-development, nature-focused destination distinct from more commercial Thai islands.

Visitors can expect a quiet, rural island with flat terrain, rubber plantations, fishing villages, and long beaches such as Hat Thung Yaka and Hat Yao. The interior is dotted with small Muslim communities, mosques, and homestays. The coastline features mangroves and seagrass beds visible at low tide. Exploration is typically by bicycle or motorbike on concrete roads. Activities center on nature observation, boat trips to view dugongs and birds, and experiencing local village life. There are no large resorts or nightlife.

Ko Libong has long been inhabited by Muslim fishing communities and was historically part of the coastal trading network of Trang. Its seagrass ecosystem has been recognized for decades as a critical dugong habitat, leading to its designation as a wildlife reserve in the 1980s.

The island is home to a predominantly Muslim community with traditional fishing culture, mosques, and village lifestyles. Local livelihoods center on fishing, rubber cultivation, and community-based tourism, preserving a rural coastal culture distinct from mass tourism islands.