Koh Hin-ngam

Ko Hin-ngam is a small islet inside Mu Ko Tarutao National Park, a few minutes by boat from Koh Lipe, covered entirely in smooth black pebbles instead of sand. The stones — rounded by tides rather than any obvious geological seam — are the whole point of the stop: waves dragging across them produce an audible rattle, and the contrast against the turquoise water is the reason every island-hopping itinerary out of Lipe includes a quick call here.

The single most important thing to know before visiting: taking a stone off the island is prohibited under national park rules, and locally it’s treated as more than a regulation. Legend holds that Chao Pho Tarutao, the island’s guardian spirit, curses anyone who removes a pebble — with bad luck ranging from family trouble to accidents. It’s not just folklore talk; the park office genuinely receives packages of returned stones mailed back from overseas every year by people trying to reverse their luck. Leave the pebbles where they are.

Because the island is entirely rock with barely any shade, most visitors treat it as a 30-60 minute photo-and-swim stop within a longer island-hopping day rather than a destination in its own right. Snorkelling just offshore reaches coral close to the rocks, and the compact size means there’s little walking involved beyond the shoreline itself.

Insider Tip: Wear closed water shoes rather than flip-flops — the pebbles shift underfoot and get uncomfortably hot in direct midday sun.

Watch out: Ko Hin-ngam sits inside Mu Ko Tarutao National Park’s seasonal closure, roughly mid-May to mid-November, when boats stop running to the outer islands for the monsoon. Confirm the park’s current open dates before booking a trip outside the November-April window.

Most operators pair this stop with Ko Adang or a swing past Sunrise Beach on the way back to Koh Lipe.