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Andaman Islands
Koh Lanta
A long, relaxed island with long sunset beaches, a charming old town and a slower pace than Phi Phi.
📅 2–4 nightsBeachQuietAuthentic
A long, relaxed island with long sunset beaches, a charming old town and a slower pace than Phi Phi.
Why Koh Lanta? A long, relaxed island with long sunset beaches, a charming old town and a slower pace than Phi Phi.
Koh Lanta is the antidote to Phi Phi: a long, low island in Krabi province with wide west-facing beaches, mangrove backwaters and a sleepy old town, where the rhythm slows and the sunsets go on forever. Most visitors stay on Koh Lanta Yai, the larger of two islands linked by a bridge, which stretches about 30 km from the port village of Saladan in the north to a jungle-clad national park in the south. It draws couples, families and long-stayers who want the Andaman scenery without the party.
Give it two to four nights to properly unwind. That leaves time for a couple of lazy beach days, a scooter ride to the southern tip and a boat trip to snorkel the crystal waters offshore.
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The nearest airport is Krabi International, from where minivans and taxis reach Lanta in about 2.5-3 hours, using one short car-ferry crossing from Hua Hin pier to Lanta Noi and then a bridge to Lanta Yai; this road route runs year-round. In high season ferries and speedboats connect Saladan with Phi Phi, Ao Nang and the Trang islands (about 1-2 hours), and some continue to Phuket. The island is long and thin, so rent a scooter to move between beaches - it is the standard way to get around, with quiet roads once you are off the main strip, though the southern hills are steep. Grab, tuk-tuks and taxis exist but are limited and pricier.
The beaches run down the west coast, getting quieter as you go south. Klong Dao, near Saladan, is broad, shallow and popular with families. Lively, backpacker-friendly Long Beach (Phra Ae) has the most restaurants and bars; Klong Khong is the mellow, hammock-and-fire-show middle, with rocky shallows at low tide; and Kantiang Bay in the south is more secluded and upmarket, close to the national park. Klong Nin and little Nui Beach sit in between. Choose north for convenience and nightlife, south for peace and scenery, and note that some southern resorts close in the rainy months.
At the southern tip, Mu Ko Lanta National Park has a photogenic lighthouse, a short jungle trail and a resident troop of monkeys - keep food out of sight and do not feed them. On the east coast, atmospheric Lanta Old Town is a string of weathered wooden stilt houses, Chinese shophouses and laid-back cafes over the water, with a strong heritage of the Chao Le or Urak Lawoi sea people. Kayak tours paddle through the mangroves and sea caves nearby, and inland you can hike to small waterfalls and limestone caves. Muslim, Buddhist and Chinese communities live side by side, so dress modestly away from the beach.
The big day trip is snorkelling at Koh Rok and Koh Haa, among the clearest waters in the Andaman, usually by speedboat with a national park fee. The popular four-islands tour takes in Koh Mook, where you swim through a dark tunnel into the hidden beach of the Emerald Cave, plus Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Chueak. Experienced divers go further to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, deep pinnacles famous for soft corals and, with luck, manta rays and whale sharks. Wear reef-safe sunscreen, never touch coral and choose operators that respect park rules.
Beachfront restaurants and seafood grills line the west coast, many laying out the day's catch on ice for you to pick by weight, and Lanta Old Town has some lovely waterside places for fish curry and grilled squid. Southern Thai flavours run spicy and rich, so try massaman and gaeng som. Saladan's evening stalls are good for cheap roti and satay. Nightlife is deliberately low-key - reggae bars, fire shows on Klong Khong and Long Beach, and a cold beer as the sun sinks into the sea. Perfect for those who came to switch off.
The best time is from November to April, when the Andaman Sea is calm and clear, speedboats run to all the islands and the beaches are at their finest. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher seas; many island-hopping routes stop, a number of resorts close and Koh Rok and other marine park areas are usually shut. The upside is empty beaches, green hills and low prices, and the road link means you can still reach the island. Christmas to February is busiest, so book good beachfront rooms early.
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All hotels in Koh Lanta →2-4 nights to unwind, see the south (national park) and snorkel around the nearby islands.
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