Koh Lanta
Long, laid-back Andaman island — west-coast sunsets, Old Town stilt houses, and easy family beaches
Listing data updated
About Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is the Andaman's unhurried island: 25 kilometers of west-facing coast where the beaches get quieter and wilder the farther south you drive, and where the nightlife means a beanbag bonfire bar rather than a bucket strip. It's quietly become the region's family and long-stay favorite. The water is calm and shallow on the main beaches, the one coastal road is flat and sane to drive, and a month here costs what a week does on Phi Phi.
The island rewards moving down its coast: Klong Dao and Long Beach in the north carry the resorts and restaurants, Klong Khong the beach-bar scene, and by Kantiang Bay the jungle comes down to the sand. The far south ends in Mu Ko Lanta National Park's lighthouse headland. On the east coast, Lanta Old Town's century-old teak stilt houses (a former Chinese trading port) face a mangrove sea, and the island's long-settled mix of Thai-Chinese, Muslim, and Chao Ley communities gives it a lived-in feel the resort islands lack. Day boats reach the Trang islands, Koh Rok's snorkel reefs, and the celebrated dive pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.
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Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April
Avoid: May – October (monsoon; many businesses close)
Avg. temperature
24°C – 33°C(75°F – 91°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & European school holidays
Getting there
Minivans from Krabi town and airport reach the island in 2–2.5 hours via the Lanta Noi bridge and one short car ferry (฿300–400). High-season ferries and speedboats connect from Krabi, Phi Phi (~1 hr), Phuket, and south to Koh Lipe. There's no airport, so Krabi's is the gateway.
Getting around
- •Motorbike rental (฿250–300/day; one main road runs the west coast)
- •Tuk-tuks and songthaews along the beach road
- •Rental cars — Lanta's flat main road is Thailand's easiest island driving
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
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Things to Do in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta offers 151 curated places to explore across 10 categories. Choose from 23 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 20 restaurants and dining spots. Visit 4 temples and cultural landmarks. Explore 17 beaches and islands. Book from 38 activities and tours.
Browse by category below or scroll down to see top-rated picks in each category. Every listing includes Google ratings from verified visitors, price ranges, and direct booking links where available.
Book ahead in Koh Lanta
The best-reviewed tours Klook sells in Koh Lanta, with today's prices. Most cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
Pick where to stay in Koh Lanta
Browse live hotel rates across the major booking sites.
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- Filter for free cancellation
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Hotels & Resorts
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Pimalai Resort & Spa
Koh Lanta's grande dame — 100 acres of jungle hillside spilling onto Kantiang Bay, with pool villas, a top-rated spa and the island's most polished luxury.
Long Beach Chalet
Beachfront resort on Koh Lanta with thatched chalets, an infinity pool, and a relaxed tropical atmosphere.
Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort
Upscale beachfront resort on Koh Lanta offering private pool villas, two restaurants, and a spa.
Lanta Sand Resort & Spa
Beachfront resort on Koh Lanta offering contemporary rooms with balconies, direct beach access, and a spa.
Restaurants & Food
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Yawee Restaurant
Cheap, unfussy Thai cooking on Route 4245, and the kind of place that fills up at lunch.
View Point Restaurant
A budget-friendly hilltop restaurant on Koh Lanta offering sweeping views and Thai food all week.
Same Same But Different Restaurant
A popular mid-range dining spot on Koh Lanta, open daily for lunch and dinner.
Mama Dang Kitchen
A well-loved Thai kitchen in Koh Lanta serving home-style dishes at mid-range prices, open daily.
Temples & Culture
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Lanta Old Town
Koh Lanta's original port on the east coast, one street of century-old wooden shophouses on stilts, with seafood restaurants over the water and a weekend market.
Tham Khao Mai Khew
A sacred cave temple on Koh Lanta offering a rare glimpse into the island's spiritual and cultural heritage.
Koh Lanta Statue
A striking cultural landmark on Koh Lanta, offering a glimpse into the island's local identity.
Koh Lanta Community Museum
A glimpse into Koh Lanta's multicultural heritage, housed in a historic old district building by the sea.
Beaches
View allKantiang Bay
Kantiang Bay is southern Koh Lanta's horseshoe of jungle-backed sand — the beach that convinces people to extend their stay. Steep green hills wrap around both headlands, the swimming is good year-round in season, and sunsets fill the whole bay. It's far enough from Lanta's busier northern beaches (
Long Beach (Koh Lanta)
Long Beach — Phra Ae to locals — is Koh Lanta's signature stretch, some four kilometers of wide golden sand and casuarina shade on the island's west coast, big enough that it never feels crowded even in peak season. The swimming is the island's most reliable — it shelves more steeply than neighbouri
Nui Bay
A small sheltered cove on Lanta's west coast, forested hills behind, and far fewer people than the big beaches.
Bamboo Beach
A quiet, accessible beach on Koh Lanta's north end, popular for its calm waters and relaxed atmosphere.
Islands
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Koh Lanta
A laid-back island in Krabi offering coral-fringed beaches, diving, and a genuinely local atmosphere.
Koh Kradan
Koh Kradan is the Trang islands' star — a slender, jungle-backed island inside Hat Chao Mai National Park whose east-facing main beach topped a global best-beach ranking in 2023. The formula is simple, powder-soft white sand, water that shifts from glass-clear to deep turquoise over a snorkelable h
Koh Ngai
A tiny Trang island with one long east-facing beach, no town and no roads, just turquoise shallows, coral you can swim to, and three islets in the view.
Markets & Shopping
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Old Town Lanta Street Market
A weekend street market in Koh Lanta's historic Old Town, open Saturdays and Sundays.
Koh Lanta Monday Market
A weekly morning market in Sala Dan offering a local shopping experience on Koh Lanta.
Wednesday Market
A weekly morning market in Sala Dan offering a local shopping experience every Wednesday.
Lanta Plaza 555
A convenient shopping center in Sala Dan serving both locals and visitors to Koh Lanta.
Activities & Tours
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Mu Ko Lanta National Park
A steep two-kilometer jungle loop, cheeky monkeys and a beach with lifeguards at the end of the island.
Following Giants Koh Lanta Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
No riding, no shows, just walking with elephants through forest on the island's quiet inland road.
Lanta Elephant Lover by Lanta Elephant Conservation
Ethical elephant sanctuary near Klong Jak Waterfall offering feeding, forest walks, and gentle water care with well-cared-for elephants.
Phoenix Divers - Koh Lanta Diving, Freediving, Snorkeling
Sharp instructors, clear briefings and proper food on the boat, though the decks do get crowded.
Nightlife & Bars
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Why Not Bar
Barefoot beach bar with live guitar, an 8:30pm fire show and mains around ฿150–250.
The Indian Bar
A popular all-day bar in Sala Dan serving drinks from morning until 2am, seven days a week.
The Sound Shack Bar
A laid-back budget bar in Sala Dan with a great vibe, cold drinks, and late-night hours on weekends.
Rock Beach Bar
A laid-back beachside bar on Koh Lanta open daily, offering drinks and relaxed coastal vibes.
Wellness & Spas
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Faikham Lanta Traditional Thai Massage
Highly regarded traditional Thai massage studio in Koh Lanta, open daily with flexible evening hours.
Layana Resort and Spa
Intimate beachfront resort and spa on Ko Lanta offering ocean villas, private jacuzzis, and highly personalized service.
Taaya Spa
A highly regarded day spa on Koh Lanta offering traditional Thai wellness treatments in a serene setting.
Anchan Massage
A well-regarded massage studio in Saladan offering daily treatments from 10am to 10pm.
Transportation
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Thung Yee Peng Pier
A local ferry pier in Sala Dan serving as a key departure point for boat connections around Koh Lanta.
Getting to Koh Lanta and Onward
Onward from Koh Lanta
Live Krabi → Koh Lanta departures on 12GoEvery route in Thailand, compared
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Frequently Asked Questions about Koh Lanta
How do you get to Koh Lanta from Krabi?
Minivans from Krabi airport or town take 2–2.5 hours (฿300–400). Since the Lanta Noi bridge opened, only one short car ferry remains, between Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai. In high season, boats also run: ferries from Krabi and Phi Phi (~1 hour), speedboat chains south to Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, and Koh Lipe. In the monsoon the boats stop and it's minivans only.
Which beach should you stay on?
Klong Dao or Long Beach in the north for families, restaurants, and easy logistics; Klong Khong for the backpacker beach-bar stretch; Klong Nin for a balance of quiet and comfort; Kantiang Bay in the south for scenery and splurge resorts. The island is long, so pick your area first, because dinner is a drive, not a stroll, if you get it wrong.
Is Koh Lanta good for families?
It's arguably Thailand's best family island: calm, shallow west-coast water in season, a flat main road, resorts with pools at every budget, and a low-key evening scene. Swedish and Danish families have wintered here for decades, and some beaches have more kids than backpackers in January. The main caution is the monsoon, when surf and rip currents make swimming genuinely risky.
Is Koh Lanta open in the low season?
More than Koh Lipe, less than Phuket. From May to October many beachfront bungalows, bars, and dive shops close, boat connections stop, and the sea turns rough. But the island stays livable, minivans still run, and the resorts that stay open discount heavily. It suits low-season long-stayers more than beach-holiday visitors.
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