Koh Lanta is located in the southern part of Thailand, in the province of Krabi.
Koh Lanta is an island still not very touristy, ideal for a relaxing holiday, but which at the same time offers many things to do.
The island is quite large and boasts a large number of beautiful and often deserted beaches.
In this definitive guide on Koh Lanta I wanted to share with you all the tips and information to organize your trip, visit the island and to make the most of your stay in one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand.
TRAVEL TIPS AND INFORMATION KO LANTA
How to get to Koh Lanta
Getting to Koh Lanta is very simple. The most convenient point to get to the island is from Krabi.
There are 3 ways to go to Koh Lanta from Krabi:
Minivan: in my opinion it is the best, cheapest and most comfortable solution.
The minivan travels most of the way by road and arrives at the Molo di Hia Hin, where he gets on a ferry, which in about 15 minutes of crossing (you can stay in the car) reaches Koh Lanta Noi.
In total, allow about 2-3 hours of travel from Krabi Airport.
The advantage of the minivan is that it takes you directly to your Koh Lanta hotel and picks you up at your facility, if you are sleeping in Krabi.
There are several agencies at the airport that offer this service. The cost is about 400/500 Bath (11/14 €) per person. There are no fixed times, minivans leave when they are full. Please note that the last minivan leaves at 16.00, so if you miss it you will have to sleep a night in Krabi.
There are also private taxis if you want, but they cost around 2.500 Bath.
Passenger Ferry: departs from the port of Krabi town (15 minutes by taxi from the airport cost about 350 bath) or from Ao Nang (30 minutes by taxi at the cost of about 600 bath) and arrives at the pier of Saladan.
From Krabi Town: one departure per day, 11: 00/11: 30. About 2 hours of crossing. Cost 480 bath.
Da Ao Nang/ Railay Beach: 1 departure per day, 10:30 am. About 2 hours and 15 minutes of crossing. Cost 580 bath.
Always check the timetables and the departure pier, they are often subject to change.
Speedboat: generally you buy a complete package with transfer by minivan to the pier from where the fast boat leaves and then you will be taken directly to your hotel. The cost should be around 1800/2000 Bath per person. The trip in total will take about 1 hour and a half.
Caution: In the low season, May to October, passenger ferries and speedboats from Krabi do not operate. The only option at that time is via minivans.
In addition to Krabi you can also reach Koh Lanta from other islands of the Andaman;
- Koh Lipe: about 5 hours by ferry or 3 hours by speedboat (Bundhaya Speed Boat).
- Phuket: about 2 hours and 30 minutes by ferry.
- Phi Phi Island: about 1 hour by ferry or 30 minutes by speedboat.
How to get around Koh Lanta
There is no public transport on Koh Lanta. The most popular solutions for getting around the island are two: tuk-tuk or scooter rental.
In my opinion the best, cheapest and most fun option to visit Koh Lanta is by scooter, you will have the possibility to go around the island independently and to reach any place, whenever you want.
You can rent a scooter anywhere: restaurants, hotels or travel agencies. I usually prefer to rely on the structure where I stay, also because they generally do not ask for a passport as a deposit. In any case, as advice in the guide Organize a Do It Yourself Trip, bring a photocopy of your passport.
Anyway, just stroll the streets and compare the prices, every place on the island is full of scooter rentals.
The cost of renting the scooter is approximately 250 bath (7 €) per day.
I recommend renting the vehicle for the entire period, you save money and you will have more freedom in travel. For a month we paid 3.500 Bath (approximately € 96,00).
Koh Lanta is quite large, so always having your own transport is a big advantage.
The roads are mostly asphalted (just pay attention to the potholes), there is very little traffic and it is easy to get around, as there is only one main road that runs through the whole island.
For fuel, the cheapest rates can be found at petrol stations, around 29 Bath (€ 0,8) per liter. We usually stocked up on Saladan's. Otherwise throughout the island there are bottled fuel outlets, the cost is around 40 bath (1,10 €) per liter.
When to Go to Koh Lanta
The best time to go to Koh Lanta is during the dry season, which coincides with the tourist period and runs from November / December to April.
Keep in mind that at the beginning of the dry season, some showers can still occur; so still better if you choose the months of January and February, when the days are mostly sunny.
The climate is warm all year round with an average of 28-32 ° C
The rainy season runs from May to October. During this period the island will be almost deserted, but even in the very high season Koh Lanta is never crowded. The advantage of the low season is that the prices are certainly lower.
The weather in that period, however, is unpredictable, there could be only short rains or whole cloudy days. Unfortunately we cannot know this.
How much to stay in Koh Lanta
The length of your stay depends on your needs and what you want to do.
The island can be toured with the scooter even in a single day. But if you want to dedicate some time to the various beaches, the main attractions and some excursions around Koh Lanta, I think that at least a week is the time needed to visit the island and at the same time relax a bit.
Where to sleep in Koh Lanta
In my opinion the Long Beach area is the best, located in a good position in the northern part of the island, it is full of restaurants and clubs and offers a beautiful and wide white sand beach.
But as always it depends on what you are looking for; so you may prefer the most beautiful and isolated beaches in the south or choose a central solution.
To better understand which area to choose, you can read the detailed article: where to stay on Koh Lanta.
What to do in Koh Lanta
Lanta Island is quiet and relaxing, but you never get bored. A place not invaded by mass tourism and where nature is still unspoiled.
So let's see what you can do during your stay in Koh Lanta.
Explore the island
Take a scooter and travel the island from north to south. Explore every corner of Koh Lanta, admire the landscape and the jungle that covers the center of the island, go to the discovery of deserted beaches and get ready to meet monkeys, monitor lizards and sea eagles.
Old Town
The only real point of interest on the east coast is the Old Town. Here you will find shops and restaurants built on wooden stilts overlooking the sea, recommended for a leisurely lunch.
The Old Town is ideal for spending a few relaxing hours and for a bit of shopping; the costs are lower than in other areas of the island and it is possible to find particular souvenirs.
Lanta Animal Welfare
Animal lovers will love the Lanta Animal Welfare, a non-profit sheltering association that takes care of stray, sick or ill-treated cats and dogs. You can volunteer, make a donation, take a guided tour of the center, adopt an animal or walk a rescue dog on established routes.
Yoga on the beach
Yoga enthusiasts will be happy to start the day with a nice group lesson directly on the beach. The main Yoga centers are located in the northern area between Long Beach and Saladan.
Muay Thai
Are you fascinated by martial arts? Why not try ancient Thai boxing. There are various gyms where you can participate in training sessions.
I found myself very well at Lanta Muay Thai Gym in the Long Beach area.
Sunset
Ending the day with a sunset drink is what it takes. Particularly in the northern area, on the beaches of Long Beach, Klong Khong and Klong Dao, there are many places to relax in front of a wonderful sunset, admiring the unique colors, different every day.
beaches
The most popular activity on Koh Lanta is relaxing on one of the island's many beaches. There is something for all tastes, from the long beaches in the north full of resorts, clubs and restaurants, to the wild and unspoiled bays in the south.
In my opinion the most beautiful beaches are Bamboo Bay, Nui Bay and Kantiang Bay. The advice is to rent a scooter and see them all, from north to south.
ALSO READ: The Best Beaches of Koh Lanta
National Park
In the extreme south of the island, just after Bamboo Bay is the Koh Lanta National Park. A fee of 200 Bath per person is charged to access the park. It is possible to go hiking in the park or relax on the beach.
Excursions to Koh Lanta
Although Koh Lanta is not among the best places for snorkeling and diving, you can join an excursion to the many islands in the surroundings, rich in marine life and beautiful backdrops.
Koh Rok and Koh Haa
One of the best experiences you can have if you are on Koh Lanta is a day trip to nearby Koh Rok and Koh Haa. Here you will find dream beaches and unique backdrops.
ALSO READ: Isole Koh Rok
The 4 islands
This is a day trip where you will visit 4 different islands and snorkel. But the real highlight is the visit to the Emerald Cave, you swim for about 80 meters under the cave until you reach a lagoon. Generally we leave at 9.00 in the morning to return at 16.00
Nightlife
Koh Lanta is a very quiet and not very chaotic island. It is not ideal for those looking for unbridled nightlife or for those who want to go to the disco every night.
However, there are still areas where you can spend pleasant evenings, including live music and fire games on the beach. In particular the Klong Khong beach where there are some clubs with reggae music and where they often organize beach parties.
But also Long Beach and Klong Dao offer several beach clubs. Also in Klong Nin there are clubs and restaurants on the beach for a quieter evening.
Cost of living
Koh Lanta is not too expensive an island. But let's see some examples of prices to get a general idea.
As for the food in the typical Thai restaurants it is possible to eat with about 250/350 Bath (7/10 €) in 2. For example, a Pad Thai can cost around 60-80 Bath (about 2 €). While in mid-range restaurants a meal for two will cost you around 650 bath (around € 18). Prices go up if you order western and imported foods.
I found it more expensive to shop in supermarkets. In fact, we spent more on breakfast (almond milk and biscuits) than on going out to dinner. We often bought the already cut fruit, mango (40 Bath), papaya (20 Bath) or watermelon (20 Bath) at street stalls, very good and cheap.
For accommodation it depends a lot on the type of structure and location. They range from around € 10 per night for a hostel to over € 200 for a 5-star resort.
Laundries are quite cheap: about 40 bath per kg.
For the excursions the prices offered by the various agencies are more or less all the same, for example Koh Rok + Koh Haa costs about 1300-1500 Bath.
There are several ATMs on the island but keep in mind that Thai banks charge a fee of about 200/300 baht for each withdrawal (maximum 20.000 bath) plus you have to calculate the possible commission from your bank.
Otherwise there are many currency exchange points, the most advantageous ones are in the village of Saladan.
Conclusions
In this complete guide on Koh Lanta, the result of my experience after a month of stay, I wanted to provide you with all the advice you need to organize your stay on the island.
If you have other doubts, comment on the article or write to me in private, I will be happy to help you.
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