Practical guide
Bangkok to Koh Lanta
A short flight south, then the van and the car ferry to the island
Fly to Krabi and Take the Airport Van
Bangkok to Koh Lanta is about 830 km by road, and Lanta has no airport, so the easy way is a flight to Krabi and a van from there. About 18 nonstop flights a day leave Bangkok's two airports for Krabi, about 1 hour 25, usually for ฿900–2,000 booked a few weeks out. At Krabi airport, vans to Lanta hotels leave from about 08:00 to 20:30 for about ฿400 and take 2 to 2.5 hours, crossing a short car ferry on the way.
Check live Bangkok → Koh Lanta times and seats on 12Go
Leave Bangkok in the morning and you're on the beach by mid-afternoon. The cheap way is the overnight bus from Khao San Road, which runs straight to Saladan pier in about 16 hours 30 for ฿1,290–1,560. It saves money, not much of it, and costs a night's sleep.
Arriving in Koh Lanta
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
This route ends in Koh Lanta. Search Koh Lanta hotels with your dates, or narrow it to the area you're heading for. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
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My pick at each price level in Koh Lanta
Key Facts
About 18 flights a day to Krabi, 1 hour 25
AirAsia, Thai Lion and Nok Air fly from Don Mueang, and Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia from Suvarnabhumi, usually for ฿900–2,000.
Airport vans run 08:00 to 20:30, about ฿400
They drop at your Lanta hotel in 2 to 2.5 hours. A private car costs about ฿2,100–3,300 and goes when you land.
The overnight bus takes about 16 hours 30
It leaves the Khao San area at 19:00 and reaches Saladan pier the next morning for ฿1,290–1,560 on 12Go.
No train reaches Krabi or Lanta
The nearest station is Trang. Overnight trains leave Bangkok at about 18:50 and 20:30, and vans run from Trang to Lanta from 11:00.
Krabi airport is 76 km from Saladan
Every road trip crosses the short car ferry to Lanta Noi. In December and January the line for it can add hours.
The last van from Krabi airport leaves about 20:30
So almost any flight that lands by early evening gets you to Lanta the same day.
Every Way From Bangkok to Koh Lanta, Compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly to Krabi + airport van | About 5 to 6 hours door to door | ฿900–2,000 + about ฿400 | The easy way; vans until about 20:30 |
| Fly to Krabi + private car | About 4 to 5 hours | ฿900–2,000 + about ฿2,100–3,300 per car | Good for families and late flights |
| Fly to Trang + van | About 6 to 7 hours | Flight + ฿400–550 | Morning flights only; vans 11:00–15:30 |
| Fly to Phuket + speedboat | About 5 to 6 hours | Flight + ฿1,260–1,700 | More flights; the boat lands at Saladan |
| Overnight bus from Khao SanSeats on 12Go | About 16 hours 30 | ฿1,290–1,560 | 19:00 departure, straight to Saladan |
| Overnight train to Trang + van | About 17 to 19 hours, with a morning wait in Trang | ฿1,080–1,766 + ฿400–550 | A berth instead of a bus seat |
Flights and the Krabi vans from the site's Bangkok to Krabi and Krabi to Koh Lanta guides; the bus, the Trang trains and vans from 12Go's board, which includes a booking fee; the Phuket speedboat from the Phuket to Koh Lanta guide. Distances from OSRM routing over OpenStreetMap, car ferry included.
Bookable departures · refreshed daily
Bangkok → Koh Lanta: departure times you can book now
Every departure currently on sale through 12Go for this route, by class. Fares are the spread across the classes shown; the exact price for a seat and date is on the booking page.
Bus
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Bus + Van | 19:00 |
| Express | 19:00 |
| VIP Bus | 19:00 |
Times and fares as sold on 12Go, refreshed daily. Services sold only locally — ordinary trains, weekend excursion trains, walk-up pier tickets — are not listed; see the table above for those. Sponsored link: we may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Bangkok → Koh Lanta
Check the overnight bus from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
12Go lists the combined bus tickets from Bangkok to Saladan pier with live seats and e-tickets. Its prices include a booking fee.
Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Flying to Krabi
Krabi is the airport for Lanta. About 18 nonstop flights a day leave Bangkok for it, AirAsia, Thai Lion and Nok Air from Don Mueang and Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia from Suvarnabhumi. The flight is about 1 hour 25, and budget fares booked a few weeks ahead are usually ฿900–2,000. If you're landing in Bangkok from abroad, a Suvarnabhumi flight saves the cross-town transfer to Don Mueang.
My Bangkok to Krabi guide has the flights in more detail. For Lanta, any flight that lands by about 18:00 leaves time for the last airport van.
From Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta
Shared vans run from Krabi airport to Lanta from about 08:00 to 20:30, about ฿399–429 with hotel drop-off, 2 to 2.5 hours. The road crosses a short car ferry to Lanta Noi and a bridge to Lanta Yai, and the van drops you at your hotel.
A private car costs about ฿2,100–3,300 and leaves when you're ready, which is what I'd book with children, a lot of luggage or a late flight. In December and January, allow extra time for the car-ferry line, which can stretch for hours on the busiest days. My Krabi to Koh Lanta guide has the boats from Ao Nang and Krabi Town as well.
Flying to Trang or Phuket Instead
Trang is the other airport near Lanta, 129 km from Saladan. Flights from Don Mueang leave at about 07:55, 09:45 and 10:30 on 12Go's board, and vans from Trang to Lanta leave at about 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30 for ฿400–550, about 3 hours. It's worth it when Krabi fares are high, and only on a morning flight.
Phuket has more flights than either and a speedboat to Lanta. Speedboats leave Rassada pier through the morning and early afternoon and reach Saladan in about 1 hour 30 for ฿1,260–1,700, but Rassada is 35 km from Phuket airport, so it works on an early flight. My Phuket to Koh Lanta guide has the boats.
Arriving in Koh Lanta
Top-Ranked Hotels in Koh Lanta
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Koh Lanta. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#4Lanta Sand Resort & Spa4.4 (950 reviews)
Contemporary quarters with balconies in an elegant resort offering direct beach access & a spa.
Check rates
#5Lanta Pearl Beach Resort4.5 (700 reviews)
Unpretentious bungalows in a laid-back resort, plus straightforward dining & a cocktail bar.
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#6Lanta Lazy Days Bungalows4.7 (332 reviews)
Rustic bungalows in a laid-back beachfront hotel offering a restaurant, a garden & free Wi-Fi.
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By Overnight Bus
The direct bus is a combined ticket that leaves the Khao San area at about 19:00 and reaches Saladan pier on Lanta the next morning, about 16 hours 30, for ฿1,290–1,560 on 12Go. It's the cheapest door-to-island option and saves a night's hotel, at the cost of a night's sleep.
The other way is two tickets. Lignite Tour's 18:40 from Bangkok's Southern Terminal reaches Krabi bus station at 05:40 for ฿715, and the morning vans from Krabi Town reach Lanta in about 2.5 to 3 hours for about ฿410. It's cheaper, but you change in Krabi at dawn.
By Train
No railway reaches Krabi or Lanta. The nearest station is Trang, and overnight trains leave Bangkok for it at about 18:50 and 20:30, 12 hours 35 to 13 hours 20, from about ฿1,080 with 12Go's fee for a second-class berth. Vans from Trang to Lanta leave from 11:00, so you'll have a morning to fill in Trang. It's the most comfortable way to do the trip overland, and the slowest.
Koh Lanta Back to Bangkok
Going back, vans collect from Lanta hotels hourly from about 06:00 to 16:00 and reach Krabi airport in 2 to 2.5 hours, for about ฿380–540. Flights from Krabi to Bangkok run through the day and into the late evening, so a van after breakfast suits an afternoon flight. The airport wants you there two hours before departure, so leave Lanta four and a half to five hours before your flight, more in December and January for the car-ferry line.
The bus back is a van and overnight bus combination that leaves Lanta at about 10:30 and reaches Bangkok 19 to 20 hours later, for ฿1,150–1,350.
Koh Lanta → Krabi Airport
Check the vans from Koh Lanta to Krabi airport
12Go lists the vans from Lanta hotels to Krabi airport, with live seats and e-tickets.
Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
More on getting to Koh Lanta
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Fly to Krabi, about 1 hour 25, and take the airport van to your Lanta hotel, 2 to 2.5 hours for about ฿400. The overnight bus from Khao San takes about 16 hours 30 for ฿1,290–1,560.
About 830 km by road, including the short car ferry. By air it's a 1 hour 25 flight to Krabi and a 2 to 2.5 hour van, about 5 to 6 hours door to door.
No. Lanta has no airport. Fly to Krabi, the nearest, or to Trang or Phuket, and finish by van or speedboat.
Yes. A combined overnight ticket leaves the Khao San area at about 19:00 and reaches Saladan pier on Lanta about 16 hours 30 later, for ฿1,290–1,560 on 12Go.
Not all the way. Take an overnight train to Trang, leaving Bangkok at about 18:50 or 20:30, then a van to Lanta, about 3 hours, from 11:00.
About 20:30. Vans run from about 08:00 and cost about ฿400; after the last one, take a private car for about ฿2,100–3,300.
Take a van from your hotel to Krabi airport, 2 to 2.5 hours, hourly from about 06:00 to 16:00, and fly. Leave Lanta four and a half to five hours before the flight.
Krabi, about 76 km from Saladan by road and the car ferry. Trang is about 129 km away, and Phuket connects by speedboat from Rassada pier.
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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