🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Adang, and Koh Rawi are a cluster of islands ringing Koh Lipe inside Tarutao National Park in Satun province. Most people use Koh Lipe as a base and take a longtail boat out to the surrounding islands on a day trip. The two spots people talk about most are Hin Ngam Beach, a shore made entirely of round black stones, and Chado Cliff on Koh Adang, a high viewpoint. The two places have completely different characters but sit close together, so you can easily do both on one trip.
Koh Hin Ngam, the round black-stone beach with no sand
Koh Hin Ngam is a tiny island south of Koh Adang, about a 15–20 minute longtail ride from Koh Lipe. What makes it special is that the beach has no sand at all — just smooth, round black pebbles of roughly the same size lining the whole shore. They were formed over a long time by waves wearing down volcanic and sedimentary rock until they turned perfectly smooth. When a wave washes up and wets them, the whole beach turns jet-black and glossy — a scene you rarely see in Thailand. The stones aren't sharp, so you can walk on them, but they're slippery when wet, so watch your footing while you're taking photos.
Another thing the people of Koh Lipe pass down is the curse of Chao Pho Tarutao, which forbids visitors from taking the stones home. The belief is that anyone who takes one will run into nothing but bad luck until they send the stone back to the island. True or not, the side effect is that it has kept the stone beach beautiful and intact for decades — and under park rules, removing stones from the park is already against the law anyway. Just take photos and keep the memory instead.
When the beach looks its best
Hin Ngam glints most when the stones are wet. If you want the photo of the whole beach gleaming black, go while waves are still reaching the shore or just after the rain stops. Early-morning or late-afternoon light makes the stones shimmer far more than the harsh midday sun.
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Koh Adang and the Chado Cliff viewpoint
Koh Adang is the second-largest island in Tarutao National Park after Koh Tarutao itself, sitting right across from Koh Lipe — just a few minutes by boat. The island has a park ranger station, white-sand beaches, a campground, and a forest trail up to the viewpoint. The highlight is Chado Cliff, a viewpoint on a high cliff that, as the story goes, was once a lookout for pirates. Climb up and you'll see all of Koh Lipe, its Pattaya Beach, longtail boats drifting offshore, and the sea fading from emerald green to deep blue, all from above. It's the most photogenic view in this area.
- The trail up Chado Cliff — about a 15–30 minute walk up from the beach over packed dirt mixed with tree roots and rocks. It's fairly steep, and the last stretch needs you to grab on with your hands. Wear sneakers or shoes with good grip — don't go in flip-flops.
- When to climb — early morning or late afternoon when the sun is gentler. Midday is hot and there's no shade along the way, so carry water up with you.
- Chado Noi (Little Chado) — a lower viewpoint that's easier to reach, good for anyone who can't handle the steep trail. The view is still plenty good.
- Koh Adang white-sand beach — the water is very clear and good for swimming. This is where tour boats usually stop for a dip after the cliff climb.
Koh Rawi and Jabang Channel, the inner-zone snorkeling spots
The inner-zone longtail trip from Koh Lipe usually tacks on Koh Rawi and the Jabang Channel since they're on the same route. Koh Rawi has long, quiet white-sand beaches like Hat Sai Khao and the bays beside it — a good place to sit, rest, and have lunch by the shore. The Jabang Channel is a snorkeling spot famous for purple and pink soft corals that sway with the current — the snorkeling highlight of this area. But Jabang has strong currents at times, so you need to wear a life vest and listen closely to the boat guide about the tide.
Koh Hin Ngam
A beach of glossy round black stones across the whole island, no sand. The highlight is photographing the wet, gleaming black stones. No taking stones home. Plan on about 20–30 minutes here.
Chado Cliff, Koh Adang
A viewpoint on a high cliff with a view over all of Koh Lipe and the emerald sea. About a 15–30 minute climb, steep enough to need your hands.
Jabang Channel
A snorkeling spot for purple and pink soft corals swaying with the current. The water is deep with strong currents at times — a life vest is a must.
Koh Rawi white-sand beach
A long, quiet beach with clear water, good for a swim and a lunch break. A rest stop along the inner-zone trip.
How to get to Koh Hin Ngam and Koh Adang
The easiest and best-value option is to use Koh Lipe as a base and buy an inner-zone longtail trip right on the beach. Every island mentioned here is on the same inner-zone route. To reach Koh Lipe itself, take a speedboat from Pak Bara Pier in Langu district — about an hour and a half — then transfer to a longtail to reach the beach.
- Inner-zone longtail trip (join-in) — departs from Koh Lipe and stops at Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Adang, Chado Cliff, Koh Rawi, and the Jabang Channel, running half-day to full-day. Around 550–700 THB per person, including snorkel gear and a life vest, but not the park entry fee.
- Private longtail charter — pick your own spots and timing. Around 1,500–2,500 THB per boat depending on the number of islands and the time, good for a group of 4–6 or anyone wanting to dodge the tour crowds.
- Tarutao National Park entry fee — 40 THB for Thai adults, 20 THB for Thai children; 200 THB for foreign adults, 100 THB for foreign children. Collected at the checkpoint on Koh Adang or Koh Lipe. The ticket covers the islands within the park and is valid for several days, so keep it to show.
- Getting to Koh Lipe — a speedboat from Pak Bara takes about 1.5 hours, with several departures a day in high season. You arrive at Pattaya Beach by longtail shuttle to shore.
What to know before you go
The Adang-Rawi islands and Koh Lipe close every year during the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October, because the seas are rough and boats don't run. The season to visit is November to April, with the clearest water around February to April. Always check with the park before planning, since the open and close dates shift with the weather.
How to plan the inner-zone trip for the best value
You can do the inner-zone trip as a half-day for just the highlights, or a full day to cover every island without rushing. The two feel quite different, so choose based on your time and energy.
Half-day inner-zone trip (highlights only)
Full-day inner-zone trip (cover it all, no rush)
Getting ready before the trip
- Shoes you can climb the cliff in — Chado Cliff is steep with tree roots. Sneakers or shoes with good grip beat flip-flops by a mile.
- Sun protection and a hat — the whole trip is out in the sun and on an open boat, and the sun is strong. Reef-friendly sunscreen is better for the coral.
- A dry bag — getting on and off a longtail soaks you easily, so keep your phone, camera, and cash in a dry bag.
- Cash — the outer islands have no ATMs. Pay for the trip, the park fee, and food in cash, and bring enough.
- No taking stones or coral — Hin Ngam stones and coral can't be removed from the park. It's against the rules and, by local belief, considered bad luck.
- Allow for the tides — some spots like Jabang depend on the tide, and morning and afternoon trips look different. Ask the boatman first.
Honestly
In high season the inner-zone trip gets crowded, and Koh Hin Ngam and Chado Cliff can be packed at times. If you want photos of the stone beach empty, or the Chado Cliff view with no one in it, take the earliest morning boat or charter your own — it's worth more than a mid-morning join-in trip when several tour boats land at once.
Want to do Koh Lipe in full? Check out our Koh Lipe guide and Satun travel guide next.
See the Koh Lipe guide →