The Lo Ba Kao beach area is located in the northeast of Phi Phi Don island. The place is considered one of the most remote and inaccessible on the island, meaning there aren’t very many people here, but there’s plenty of tropical exoticism. Lo Ba Kao is an almost straight beach line with light sand, a clean seabed and good accommodation choices along its entire length.
On the left side (when looking at the sea) there’s a riverbed (or not quite a river) that separates the beach from rocks on the left side of the bay. Current in the river only occurs during low and high tide, because it’s mainly seawater that flows around the beach from the right and fills a sizeable depression behind Lo Ba Kao.
Beach Overview
An excellent beach for an entire holiday. Lo Ba Kao Bay is surrounded by mountains on both sides, whilst behind Lo Ba Kao beach lies an almost flat plain that ends at Loh Lana Beach. Actually, there are three beaches within walking distance here: Lo Bakao, Lana Beach and Nui Beach – it’s on the opposite side of the hills, but it’s difficult to explain in words – have a look at the map at the end of the article. The distance between beaches is probably about 1,640 feet (500 metres).
The sand is fine, light yellow, and you’ll encounter quite a bit of rubbish until hotel staff from the beachfront properties clear it away. The beach is looked after, though considering its shallow waters, this isn’t particularly difficult.
Swimming
The beach is extremely shallow, and at high tide it completely floods the sandy strip. To preserve the shore from erosion, the Thais were forced to build protection from wooden boards and concrete barriers, which has of course affected Lo Ba Kao’s attractiveness.
As with all beaches on Phi Phi Don, tides play a huge role at Lobakao. Essentially, at high tide and low tide you’ll see two completely different beaches. Unfortunately, I was there during low tide, so I didn’t really like any of the beaches in that area. The water recedes 980-1,310 feet (300-400 metres) from shore, making Lo Bakao beach absolutely unsuitable for swimming.
I didn’t see any waves either, but I suspect they only occur during storm season.
Sunbeds and Shade
There’s no shade at Lo Ba Kao whatsoever. You can find a few relatively dense palms on the shore, but they all grow on resort property. Most likely you’ll be asked to leave if you settle down without being a hotel guest. The remaining palms are very tall and provide no natural shade.
There are plenty of deck chairs here, but again, they’re all behind little fences on private property, and I didn’t notice even a hint of beach equipment rental. From what I observed, only guests of nearby resorts feel comfortable at Lo Ba Kao. Independent travellers aren’t welcomed here and are promptly chased away from private areas.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The area behind Lo Ba Kao beach is very quiet and peaceful, without nightlife. There are literally a couple of restaurants at hotels, a couple of local restaurants, a couple of massage places – and that’s it. Essentially, the entire village in the bay consists of several small streets and commercial buildings; everything else belongs to hotels.
When strolling around the Lo Bakao area, there are signposts everywhere showing distances and time for where and how to go. You wouldn’t get particularly lost here anyway, but for a first visit such signs can be very useful. Among the attractions here are neighbouring Nui beach, a bridge, one viewpoint and a cave. Not much, but still more than at some Phi Phi Don beaches.
Accommodation
If you don’t count the small village nearby, accommodation at Lo Ba Kao is represented by a large five-star resort, next to which there are several bungalow-type resorts, the most decent of which I’ve listed below.
- Villa 360 Resort and SPA
- Phi Phi Phu Chalet Resort
- Phi Phi Ba Kao Bay Resort
On the slopes adjacent to Lo Ba Kao bay stand two establishments without their own beaches but with excellent sea views:
- Pp Red Tuna Hut
- Phi Phi Villa Resort
The link below will take you to a general list of hotels on Phi Phi Don, but click on the map icon and there you can decide on accommodation options at Lo Ba Kao Beach. The island is so small that hotelscombined doesn’t even try to divide hotels by beaches.
How to Find the Beach
The beach is quite far for walking, so the optimal option for tourists is by boat. You’ll need a tourist map, a pointing finger and two hundred baht one way.
