Koh Lao Leang Phi

Ko Lao Leang Phi is one of the two limestone islands that make up Koh Lao Liang off the Trang coast, its twin being Ko Lao Leang Nong a short paddle away. Both islands are inside Mu Ko Phetra National Park and were, for years, southern Thailand’s best-known rock-climbing destination, with a seasonal tented camp and around 60 bolted routes on the cliffs. That’s changed: Mu Ko Phetra National Park now prohibits climbing on the islands, rangers are stationed to enforce it, and the tented camp operation has closed — recent reports from operators who used to run trips here describe visits as day-trip snorkeling only, with no accommodation on the island.

If you’re visiting now, that means bringing your own snorkeling gear, food, and water, since there are no facilities or rental shops. Coral reefs sit close to the rocky shoreline and the water is clear enough for good visibility outside the monsoon, but the main reason people came here for over a decade — climbing the cliffs and sleeping in a beach camp — is no longer on offer. Longtail boats run from Hat Samran pier on the mainland, roughly an hour’s crossing, either on an organised day tour or a chartered boat.

Watch out: Older write-ups (including some of our own past coverage) describe an active climbing camp here — that’s now out of date. Confirm current activity options with your boat operator before booking, since the closure has been in place long enough that some tour listings still haven’t caught up.

Like the rest of Mu Ko Phetra, the islands close to visitors for the monsoon, roughly June to September or October depending on the year, when swells and wet rock make the crossing and any shoreline activity impractical. November through February is the calmest, clearest window for a day trip.

Insider Tip: Since there’s no longer an overnight camp, plan this as a half-day stop combined with nearby islands rather than the multi-day trip older guides describe — ask your Trang-based operator whether they combine Lao Liang with other Mu Ko Phetra snorkeling stops on the same boat.

This is a genuine change from how the island is often still described online, so treat any older source (including trip reports more than a couple of years old) as potentially stale, and check directly with a Trang boat operator before planning around climbing or camping here.