A neat house for opportunity travellers together with those seeking a novel laid-back location. Image - http://www.laoliangresort.com/ Lao Liang Yai together with Noi are 2 lumps of limestone rising precipitously some 80m from the Andaman roughly midway betwixt Ko Lanta together with Ko Lipe. I root spotted them a few years dorsum amongst their bigger neighbor Ko Phetra, from Ko Sukorn some distance to the east. Sukorn’s viewpoint was high plenty to run across the Sun catching 2 rather enticing looking beaches, 1 for each Lao Liang, which made them a must to see some day.
Lao Liang Noi - you lot tin only run across purpose of Lao Liang Yai tucked inwards to the due south at left. The Sun aint just catching the beach hither - this was on deviation on an uncharacteristic rainy belatedly Nov day. Michael together with Vinnie who run an opportunity society based at Ao Nang, along amongst a Bangkok partner X-site Diving, conduct maintain established a luxury tent resort on Lao Liang Noi, the smaller of the twins.
This house is a natural to attract CLIMBERS AND DIVERS looking for novel locations. From what I empathize the climb sites arrive at from beginners to quite challenging grades together with the dive-sites are attractive, conduct maintain some fantabulous spots for beginners together with exclusive inwards that the Ko Phetra bird's nest grouping which has some variety of ownership championship on the three islands won't allow other outfits, exclusively the resort which pays them rent.
This house is a natural to attract CLIMBERS AND DIVERS looking for novel locations. From what I empathize the climb sites arrive at from beginners to quite challenging grades together with the dive-sites are attractive, conduct maintain some fantabulous spots for beginners together with exclusive inwards that the Ko Phetra bird's nest grouping which has some variety of ownership championship on the three islands won't allow other outfits, exclusively the resort which pays them rent.
tezza takes his root ever climb. This is something I've ever wanted to exercise but avoided because I couldn't afford some other time-consuming interest.
This is close every bit high every bit the 2 beginners' climbs I did went. Other climbers told me at that spot are routes roofing all but the most hard grades on the European scale. This together with many other routes are less than 50m from the tent section.
FISHERMEN AND KAYAKERS are also catered for.
I'm a novice kayaker together with didn't trust my photographic boob tube camera to drib dead along dry out when I grabbed a kayak together with circumnavigated Lao Liang Noi. This took less than an hour, but I should warn that the combination of air current together with tidal electrical flow made rounding the north-west together with north-east corners difficult. I'm real experienced amongst the body of body of water thru surfing, didn't worry together with worked at it, but maybe novices should stick to the beach-side of Lao Liang Noi together with to crossing to Lao Liang Yai which is a relatively curt distance amongst no other problems. Experienced kayakers would honor the roughly isle affair no problem.
The dorsum of Yao Noi (western side) rises sheer out of the water. There are multiple ropes which the climbing outfit has strung upward to aid the birds nesters from Phetra who conduct maintain some variety of ownership claim on the Lao Liangs. And large sea-level undercuts inwards the limestone where inwards several places you lot tin ask heed waves swashing against the dorsum of caves some distance in. (image - http://www.laoliangresort.com/)
SNORKELLERS volition honor the coral together with fish off the northern halt of Laoliang’s resort beach pretty proficient amongst fifty-fifty amend materials accessed via the snorkelling trips at Ko Ta-Kiang aout 10 km farther east.
You tin run across 1 of the proficient coral bommies only off the beach at Ko Ta-Kiang. The surface area also has prissy plate coral together with proficient fish life. The commercial angling boats inwards the background are a proficient sign for you lot rod-fishermen.
That is Ko Phetra inwards the background, maybe twice the size of the Lao Liangs together with some 5km farther south. It is off-limits to visitors, but Vinnie got permission from the birds-nesters for us to go. However in 1 lawsuit they heard at that spot were to live some Thai guests amongst us, the withdrew their invitation - maybe they were thinking of some Bangkok land-grabbing spies or something.
It rained during my snorkelling trip together with therefore this is a http://www.laoliangresort.com/ image.
But my fourth dimension on the isle showed it is real nicely suited for quite a few other categories of travellers:
- THOSE LOOKING FOR H5N1 COMPLETELY LAID BACK LOCATION
Places don’t teach much to a greater extent than relaxed than Lao Liang Noi. Only 1 pocket-size resort, no roads, villages, tracks etc together with few other visitors - the handful of boats I saw from the mainland all headed for Lao Liang Yai which has a bigger beach together with a pocket-size pretty rustic visitors’ surface area which tin sell drinks, food, fruit etc.
You tin oftentimes honor a large department of the beach all to yourself. The best snorkelling off the beach is found betwixt the northern halt hither together with the north-east corner inwards the background, on the fringing reef drop-off which is close 50m out. That's Ko Libong inwards the background.- PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE GOOD SERVICE AND FOOD
More than one-half the guests during my see where middle flat Thais from Bangkok. Several resort owners conduct maintain told me such people are to a greater extent than demanding than most western guests together with therefore if you lot run across plenty of Thais at a given location it commonly agency the service flat has stepped upward somewhat. This was for certain the instance at Laoliang where the staff, led yesteryear Vinnie together with the gorgeous Safina were amazingly hard-working, cheerful together with attentive.
Thais non exclusively ensure proficient standards but seem ever to teach maximum enjoyment from their holidays. Always a prissy atmosphere inwards a house amongst a proficient percentage of local tourists.Note that fifty-fifty though the Bangkok purpose owning society is adventure-orientated, the Thai visitors during my remain were ordinary tourists.
And THE FOOD. An oft-heard western gripe inwards LOS is small Thai helpings. Well you lot fang-merchants won’t conduct maintain to purchase seconds together with thirds at Laoliang because all meals are buffet-style amongst seemingly unlimited quantities together with a large variety. Traditional Thai breakfasts or eggs whatever style, cereals, fruit, unlimited toast together with jam, tea java etc is a neat way to start the day. The BBQ fish together with prawns every 2nd or together with therefore nighttime don’t drib dead downward also badly either, particulary every bit they are bought fresh that 24-hour interval from the sea gypsy hamlet on neighbouring Lao Liang Yai.
- ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCERNED TRAVELLERS
Vinnie together with Michael conduct maintain late taken over direct management of the isle from an employee of their Thai partners, together with are inwards the procedure of rebuilding together with refurbishing fundamental areas. The rebuilt bath block was sparkling together with they opened a newly built beachside bar amongst side yesteryear side sitting-cabanas piece I was there.
Part of the refurbishing involves plans for H2O recycling together with mayhap desalination, the latter powered yesteryear battery banks which collect excess ability from the generator together with mayhap solar panels. Michael apparantly has plans for rainwater collection also - something that may non brand also much feel for a resort opened upward dry out flavour exclusively - but believe me, Nov together with Apr tin teach a fair amount of atmospheric precipitation together with other dry out flavour months tin conduct maintain curt acuate storms. At acquaint all H2O must live shipped from the mainland.
Vinnie together with Michael conduct maintain late taken over direct management of the isle from an employee of their Thai partners, together with are inwards the procedure of rebuilding together with refurbishing fundamental areas. The rebuilt bath block was sparkling together with they opened a newly built beachside bar amongst side yesteryear side sitting-cabanas piece I was there.
Part of the refurbishing involves plans for H2O recycling together with mayhap desalination, the latter powered yesteryear battery banks which collect excess ability from the generator together with mayhap solar panels. Michael apparantly has plans for rainwater collection also - something that may non brand also much feel for a resort opened upward dry out flavour exclusively - but believe me, Nov together with Apr tin teach a fair amount of atmospheric precipitation together with other dry out flavour months tin conduct maintain curt acuate storms. At acquaint all H2O must live shipped from the mainland.
This materials is a go inwards progress but I was amazed at the amount done since the resort opened for the novel flavour - Vinnie showed me some before-pictures. Thing is, I'm going to conduct maintain to drib dead dorsum together with banking concern check the house some fourth dimension inwards the close futurity when this materials is finished.
Rubbish, the bane of together with therefore many Thai resorts, is shipped out, at that spot is a no-plastic bottles policy together with the beach is swept for the common junk which drifts inwards from angling boats together with the mainland. The grounds are also assiduously manicured - this is 1 spot which passed the tezza no-ring pulls, no cigarette butts examine amongst ease. Michael together with Vinnie's long term aim is to exercise a model sustainable resort inwards the Andaman region. Ideally, they would similar to exercise Laoliang every bit a 'educational' resources centre for other resorts together with Parks.
Rubbish, the bane of together with therefore many Thai resorts, is shipped out, at that spot is a no-plastic bottles policy together with the beach is swept for the common junk which drifts inwards from angling boats together with the mainland. The grounds are also assiduously manicured - this is 1 spot which passed the tezza no-ring pulls, no cigarette butts examine amongst ease. Michael together with Vinnie's long term aim is to exercise a model sustainable resort inwards the Andaman region. Ideally, they would similar to exercise Laoliang every bit a 'educational' resources centre for other resorts together with Parks.
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ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
The tents are inwards three rows inwards a nicely wooded surface area betwixt the beach together with the cliffs, the lower parts of which are clad inwards rainforest.
Each tent is divided into 2 sections - living together with sleeping. H5N1 musquito naught covert to each department agency mozzies volition honor it hard to teach into the inner sleeping area. The outer living surface area has a daybed, table, light, fan, fancy human foot mat for entry (with a bowl of H2O for sandy feet exterior the zip). Each department was close 2.5 x 3.0 thousand amongst plenty of headroom for a tall person, giving a full surface area every bit large every bit most flash-packer bungalows. Bath towels, privy paper, together with a paw towel were provided. Outside each tent were a deck chair together with beach chair together with a hammock lurked nearby.
The inner sleeping surface area had comfy thick mattresses together with pillows, cushions together with 2 sheets addition a blanket. H5N1 2nd ability outlet made it slow to transfer the fan together with reading calorie-free from the living section. My tent genuinely had twin extra-sized singles which could live pushed together to shape a bigger double bed than the 1 shown here. tezza's budget betoken together with shoot Olympus can't exercise the fancy low-light, wide-angle shots, together with therefore both the to a higher house images are from Laoliang.com THE BAR
Traveller Ruese from Carmel, California hams it upward inwards the opened-that-night beach-side bar. Small beers were 50 to lx baht when I visited, closed to budget bungalow average together with cheaper than some I visited this trip.
The beach bar is flanked yesteryear 2 sitting cabanas (bar hidden behind) which double every bit prissy lounging areas during the day. MORE ON ACTIVITIES
Crustacean-spotlighting. Laoliang has these rather large tree-climbing crabs.
Island visits - our snorkelling boat pose into Ko Loa Liang Yai for luncheon together with some beach time. There is a ramshackle daytrip surface area run yesteryear the locals behind the photographic boob tube camera together with a real pocket-size sea-gypsy angling hamlet at the halt ot the beach out of frame to the left. That is our resort island, Loa Liang Noi, inwards the background. We also swam into Ko Ta-Kiang's pocket-size beach afterward our snorkel there.
Bouldering. Climbing-guide Elliott checks out some routes nether the cliff overhang straight behind the tent section. It varies betwixt a 2 to 3m "fall" to soft sand hither - Elliott landed on his feet every time.
Fishing - together with non only tiddlers. This is a loaliang.com shot. Note the high background trash levels are non acceptable nether Vinnie together with Michael's novel management.PRICE
H5N1 await at Laoliang’s website costs page http://www.laoliangresort.com/Packages.html shows a arrive at of packages including nutrient together with transport, addition a daily charge per unit of measurement (currently 1600baht per individual high season, 1300 shoulder) if you lot brand your ain way to the isle (Michael told me at that spot volition live promotions of 1200 per 24-hour interval for longer stays). Not budget.
But the way I looked at it was to compare amongst similar operations inwards Thailand together with overseas:
In Thailand the closest I conduct maintain experienced is the Similan Island Snorkelling live-aboard trip yesteryear Poseidon. This trip's location is every bit spectacular, the nutrient every bit proficient - but the action is to a greater extent than mono-focused together with the living weather way to a greater extent than cramped. Daily damage is similar.
In Commonwealth of Australia the local aboriginal community runs a luxury tent resort at Cape Leveque inwards the semi-arid Kimberleys of northern West Australia. Isolation together with H2O shortage agency costs for supplies are similarly high. The beaches are fifty-fifty better, the landscape non quite every bit spectacular - but you lot conduct maintain to live on the sentry for sea-going saltwater crocodiles (up to 6m long - crikey!!) together with you lot can’t dive or climb. The daily tariff is three x Laoliang's.
Another viewpoint is to convey a location amongst similar activities together with landscape (this agency the Railay surface area or Phi Phi), remain inwards a non also flash bungalow, consume to the same touchstone together with quantity + unlimited tea, coffee, water, together with hire snorkelling gear together with kayaks - I reckon you lot could easily give the axe 1600 a day. And those places aint just uncrowded together with exclusive locations similar Laoliang.
GETTING TO LAOLIANG.
Tigerline tin teach you lot at that spot on their real fast ferry from nearby Hat Yao pier or from a multifariousness of islands betwixt Phi Phi together with Lipe. They conduct maintain a minibus service to Hat Yao from Trang, Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket together with connections to Surathani, Khao Lak, Hat Yai together with Bangkok.
You tin brand your way independently to Hat Yao pier on the minibus from Trang’s northern minibus station.
Tigerline’s fare from Hat Yao was 750baht when I bought my meshwork ticket, but Michael together with Vinnie negotiated a 500 baht fare the 24-hour interval earlier I left. This is pretty comparable to accessing the Trang islands from Lanta or the Trang mainland piers when the character together with speed of the boat is taken into account.
Tigerline didn’t opened upward it’s 08/09 operations until November24 - Laoliang resort had been operating a calendar month or together with therefore earlier this - access inwards such circumstances is yesteryear the resort’s render long tail out of Tasae, 1 of the mainland piers for Ko Sukorn. You tin teach to the pier from Trang yesteryear catching a songthaew or a Satun motorcoach every bit far every bit Ban Na on the primary north-south highway together with some other songthaew to the pier.
TRANSPORT UPDATE NOV 2012 - I only read a user written report on 1 of the booking websites (I recollect it was Agoda - prissy you lot tin mass that way now) maxim Tigerline ceased calling into Laoliang inwards 2011. This individual hired a longtail from 1 of the mainland piers together with found it real expensive - I'd live looking at the resort website for information on its render boats.
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GENERAL ISLAND UPDATE NOV 09 - a frequent visitor to Laoliang who is friends amongst the operators only sent me this information:
tezza- this is the give-and-take on laoliang: The National Park volition live operating the resort WITH LIR this season. They convey aid of the restaurant, maintenance together with aid of the beach environment, shopping, ensuring H2O render etc.
The Laoliang Island Resort staff takes aid of guests, activities, tents together with the bar.
H5N1 ready amount from every invitee goes straight to the Park Service.
If Park stays truthful to their word; this tin live the best of both worlds.
Email Mike at the laoliang site to teach to a greater extent than details.
UPDATE - NOV sixteen - I haven't been able to teach dorsum to Laoliang together with can't run across me doing it whatever fourth dimension soon, but my favourite move site TRAVELFISH has a proficient upward to engagement department HERE. Seems the tent accommodation has shifted a fleck to to a greater extent than affordable levels (although no bargain) together with access, which had teach tricky in 1 lawsuit TIGERLINE started to non telephone phone in, is a trivial to a greater extent than orderly.
The Laoliang Island Resort staff takes aid of guests, activities, tents together with the bar.
H5N1 ready amount from every invitee goes straight to the Park Service.
If Park stays truthful to their word; this tin live the best of both worlds.
Email Mike at the laoliang site to teach to a greater extent than details.
UPDATE - NOV sixteen - I haven't been able to teach dorsum to Laoliang together with can't run across me doing it whatever fourth dimension soon, but my favourite move site TRAVELFISH has a proficient upward to engagement department HERE. Seems the tent accommodation has shifted a fleck to to a greater extent than affordable levels (although no bargain) together with access, which had teach tricky in 1 lawsuit TIGERLINE started to non telephone phone in, is a trivial to a greater extent than orderly.
Leaving Laoliang - the beachside tents tin live only seen inwards the background. The upright is a seismic sea wave tower. Tigerline's depression long fast ferry rocks along at the stride of a speedboat - got me into Hat Yao pier yesteryear the scenic coast of Ko Libong inwards less than forty minutes together with upward from Lipe inwards nether 90. CONTACT:
Laoliang's website for western invitee is -
http://www.laoliangresort.com/
Email -
http://www.laoliangresort.com/
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If you lot see Laoliang you lot mightiness also live interested inwards nearby:
Ko Libong together with Hat Yao
Ko Sukorn
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If you lot conduct maintain whatever extra information or corrections, delight post them here. If you lot conduct maintain questions, delight post them on THE FORUM which tin live accessed close 3/4 the way downward the INDEX page.
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