The best things to do in Koh Lanta are lazy days on the west-coast beaches from Long Beach to Kantiang Bay, a boat trip to the Emerald Cave and Four Islands or snorkelling at Koh Rok, the lighthouse walk in Mu Ko Lanta National Park, a wander through Lanta Old Town and a scooter loop of the quiet south. Allow 4-5 days.
Koh Lanta is a long, forested island in Krabi province, about 30 km from north to south, with a string of sandy bays along its west coast and mangroves, fishing villages and the old port on its east side. It is really two islands: small Koh Lanta Noi, which you cross on arrival from the mainland, and Koh Lanta Yai, where almost everyone stays. A bridge now links the two, replacing the short car ferry that used to cause queues in high season.
Lanta's reputation is simple: it is the calm, grown-up alternative to Phuket and Phi Phi. There are no big nightclubs, no jet-ski strips and few high-rises, but there are long beaches, good-value bungalows, family-run restaurants and easy access to some of the best snorkelling in the southern Andaman. It suits couples, families and anyone who wants a slower week.
The season matters more on Lanta than on most islands. From November to April the sea is calm and everything is open. From May to October the west coast takes the monsoon swell, many smaller resorts and bars close, and island boat trips are often cancelled. Low season is cheap and green, but plan around the weather: see the best time to visit Thailand.
Almost all of Lanta's beaches face west, so every one of them has a sunset. The further south you go, the quieter and more scenic they get.
| Beach | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Klong Dao | Long, flat and gently shelving, close to Saladan | Families with small children |
| Long Beach (Phra Ae) | The liveliest stretch, with beach bars and fire shows | Budget travellers, sociable evenings |
| Klong Khong | Rocky at low tide, relaxed reggae bars | Backpackers, cheap bungalows |
| Klong Nin | Wide golden sand, good restaurants, strong sunsets | Couples, mid-range stays |
| Kantiang Bay | A horseshoe bay framed by jungle hills | Swimming and the prettiest scenery |
| Bamboo Bay (Ao Mai Pai) | Small, secluded, near the national park | Getting away from everyone |
Low tide exposes rocks on several beaches, especially Klong Khong and parts of Klong Nin, so check the tide table before planning a swim. Kantiang Bay has the best swimming conditions in high season. Sunbeds are usually free if you buy a drink, and a fresh coconut or fruit shake costs 60-100 THB at most beach bars.
The most popular day out from Lanta is the Four Islands tour to the Trang islands just south. Boats leave from Saladan or pick up from the beaches, and the classic route combines:
Expect around 1,200-1,800 THB per person by longtail or speedboat, including lunch, snorkel gear and transfers. The Emerald Cave lies in Hat Chao Mai National Park, which charges a separate foreigner fee of about 200 THB in cash. By speedboat the trip takes a full day with less time on the water; by longtail it is slower but more atmospheric. If you fall in love with these islands, it is easy to stay a few nights there instead, as part of one of our Thailand island-hopping routes.
For the clearest water around Lanta, take a speedboat to Koh Rok, a pair of uninhabited islands about an hour south, part of Mu Ko Lanta National Park. The channel between Koh Rok Nai and Koh Rok Nok has shallow coral gardens, reef fish and often turtles, and the beaches are powder white. Day trips cost roughly 2,000-3,000 THB plus the 200 THB park fee, and run from about November to April.
Lanta is also a serious diving base. Koh Haa, a cluster of five small islands, offers easy reefs, swim-throughs and a large cavern called the Cathedral, ideal for beginners. Experienced divers head to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, two deep pinnacles in open water covered in soft coral. They are among the best dive sites in Thai waters and give the best odds in the region for manta rays and, with luck, whale sharks, most often between February and April.
Snorkellers are welcome on most dive boats to Koh Haa at a lower rate. Dive shops close or run a reduced schedule from roughly May to October.
The southern tip of the island, Laem Tanod, is protected as Mu Ko Lanta National Park. From the headquarters you walk a short path over the headland to a white lighthouse on a rocky point, with two small beaches on either side, then loop back on a 2 km jungle nature trail. Entry is about 200 THB for foreign adults, and the road down is steep and bumpy for the last stretch, so ride carefully.
The park is home to a large troop of macaques. They are wild animals: keep food and plastic bags out of sight, never feed them, and do not leave bags unattended on the beach. Come early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when it is cooler and the light on the lighthouse is best.
On the sheltered east coast, Lanta Old Town (Si Raya) was the island's main trading port long before tourism. Its main street is lined with century-old wooden shophouses on stilts over the water, some now converted into cafes, guesthouses and craft shops, and the town is home to Thai Buddhist, Muslim, Chinese and Chao Le communities. Wander it in the late afternoon, then eat seafood on a pier as the tide comes in.
Just south is Ban Sang Ga U, a village of the Urak Lawoi, one of the Chao Le or sea-nomad groups of the Andaman coast. Visit respectfully: it is a working fishing village, not a show, so ask before photographing people and consider buying lunch or crafts locally.
The east coast is also where you can paddle through mangroves. Kayak trips through the Tung Yee Peng mangrove forest, a community-run eco project, cost about 300-700 THB and are calmest early in the day. You will see mudskippers, crabs and kingfishers among the roots.
Lanta's hilly spine is covered in forest and rubber plantations. Two inland outings are worth a morning:
Combine either with a stop at one of the viewpoint cafes on the road over the hills, where you look down on both coasts at once.
Southern Thai food is spicier and more turmeric-heavy than the dishes you get in Bangkok, with lots of seafood and Muslim influences. Look for massaman curry, gaeng som (sour yellow curry), grilled fish and roti from street carts. In Saladan, the island's northern port, several seafood restaurants on stilts over the water sell fish and prawns by weight; a filling meal costs 250-500 THB per person. Our guide to food in Thailand explains what to order.
Lanta is one of the best places in the south for a cooking class. Time for Lime at Klong Dao is the island's best-known school, with evening classes from about 1,800-2,500 THB, and it supports Lanta Animal Welfare, a shelter for stray dogs and cats near Long Beach where visitors can take a dog for a beach walk or join a free tour.
Evenings are low-key: sunset drinks at a driftwood beach bar, a fire show on Long Beach, and a few live-music spots around Klong Nin and Klong Khong. A large Chang or Singha costs about 90-150 THB in bars.
Most travellers arrive through Krabi airport, then take a shared minivan (about 2.5-3 hours, 300-450 THB) or a private transfer (about 1,800-2,500 THB) over the bridges to Koh Lanta Yai. In high season, from about November to April, ferries and speedboats also connect Saladan with Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi and the Trang islands, which makes Lanta an easy link in an island route. Compare routes on our transport tickets page.
For more on renting bikes and staying safe on the roads, read getting around Thailand.
Add a fifth day for Koh Rok or a dive trip to Koh Haa. For accommodation, look for places on the beach that match your style, and see our where to stay in Thailand overview or compare hotels on Koh Lanta.
Four to five days is ideal: time for two or three beaches, a Four Islands or Koh Rok boat trip, the national park and Old Town. Many people stay a week because the pace is so relaxed.
It can be, if you want quiet and low prices, but from May to October many resorts and bars close, the west-coast sea is rough and boat trips are often cancelled. November to April is far better.
Kantiang Bay is the most scenic and has the best swimming, Long Beach is the liveliest, and Klong Dao is best for families thanks to its gentle, shallow water.
Take a shared minivan from Krabi airport or town, about 2.5-3 hours and 300-450 THB, which crosses to the island by bridge. In high season ferries also run from Ao Nang and Koh Phi Phi.
Yes. It is one of the best Thai islands for children, with calm, shallow beaches such as Klong Dao, plenty of family bungalows and a quiet evening scene.