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 kilometres 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 has quietly become the region's family and long-stay favourite — 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.
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April
Avoid: May – October (monsoon; many businesses close)
Rainy season
May – October
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. No airport — 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 148 curated places to explore across 10 categories. Choose from 22 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 20 restaurants and dining spots. Visit 5 temples and cultural landmarks. Explore 16 beaches and islands. Book from 36 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.
Pick where to stay in Koh Lanta
Browse live hotel rates across the major booking sites.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Agoda
Asia-focused selection
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
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Hotels & Resorts
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Long Beach Chalet
Laid-back resort with thatched chalets & an infinity pool, plus a beachfront restaurant & bar.
Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort
Upscale rooms & villas, some with private pools, plus 2 restaurants, a beachfront bar & a spa.
Lanta Sand Resort & Spa
Contemporary quarters with balconies in an elegant resort offering direct beach access & a spa.
Anda Lanta Resort
Modest beachfront getaway offering an outdoor pool, a Thai/European restaurant & loaner kayaks.
Restaurants & Food
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Yawee Restaurant
View Point Restaurant
Same Same But Different Restaurant
Mama Dang Kitchen
Temples & Culture
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Lanta Old Town
A charming strip of old wooden shophouses on Ko Lanta's quieter southern shore, with cafes, craft shops, and a scenic pier.
Lighthouse Koh Lanta, Waterfall Bay
Tham Khao Mai Khew
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 kilometres 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
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 snorkellable h
Markets & Shopping
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Old Town Lanta Street Market
Koh Lanta Monday Market
Activities & Tours
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Mu Ko Lanta National Park
A quiet jungle and coastal national park at the southern tip of Koh Lanta, with monkeys, sea views, and a short trail.
Following Giants Koh Lanta Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
An ethical elephant sanctuary on Koh Lanta where welfare comes first and riding is never on the agenda.
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
PADI-certified dive centre in Sala Dan offering scuba courses, freediving, and snorkeling trips across the Andaman Sea.
Nightlife & Bars
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Why Not Bar
Beachfront bar on Ko Lanta Yai with live music, fire shows, and affordable drinks in a barefoot-casual setting.
Wellness & Spas
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Faikham Lanta Traditional Thai Massage
Layana Resort and Spa
Intimate beachfront resort and spa on Ko Lanta offering ocean villas, private jacuzzis, and highly personalised service.
Transportation
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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 — 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 — 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.
Planning your trip to Koh Lanta?
Essential planning guides for every Thailand trip — costs, timing, visas, and safety.