Koh Lanta, South Thailand

When we speak of Koh Lanta, we are actually referring to an archipelago made up of 52 islands. Some islands are small and uninhabited, and some have only a few accommodation options for tourists. (The word Lanta is believed to derive from the Thai words ‘koh lan daa’ or ‘island of a million eyes’.) 

The main islands are Koh Lanta Yai (big island) and Koh Lanta Noi (small island) which are connected by a bridge. To travel to or from the mainland, you will have to get a 20-minute car ferry. 

Koh Lanta Yai is where the majority of tourism is based and where the bulk of this guide is written about. Koh Lanta Noi is a land forgotten by tourists, with rubber plantations, palm trees, deserted castaway beaches and local Muslim fishing villages. Exploring the empty roads by motorbike (some of which are being overtaken by vegetation!), we didn’t spot one Western restaurant or hotel along the way. 

Although we would recommend that you base yourself in Koh Lanta Yai for convenience, the smaller island is wonderful to explore and will give you a totally different impression of Southern Thai life. Koh Lanta as a whole is a predominantly Muslim island where you’ll hear the melancholy call to prayer whilst lying on your sun lounger along the beach. The faith seems to be followed in a laid-back manner here in Lanta (‘Thai-style’ Islam) and you do not have to cover up or refrain from drinking alcohol. However, we do suggest you don’t ride around topless on your scooter!

Koh Lanta, Thailand – Travel Guide

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We always write our articles before checking if affiliate links are available.

Best Time to Visit Koh Lanta 

Koh Lanta’s dry season falls from November to February and this is by far the most popular time to visit. Bear in mind that increasing global temperatures have made seasons less reliable and heavy downpours can still be present during November. December sees the island at its busiest so make sure you book your accommodation in advance during this time, particularly if you are staying over Christmas or New Year. 

The rainy season is still a great time to visit Koh Lanta, with excellent deals on accommodation, Muay Thai and fitness packages. There are even discounted rates for massages in the low-season months! 

Where to Stay in Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta Yai itself is split in terms of tourism, with the west coast being where you will find most of the hotels, Italian restaurants, pubs, an Irish bar and even Full Moon and ‘mushroom parties’. 

The western side of the island definitely has the best beaches and is where most backpackers decide to stay. As you drive further south from the northernmost tip of Saladan, where the pier is located, the density of touristy shops and restaurants thins and becomes decidedly more ‘hippie’ until you reach the national park at the southern tip of the island. 

The eastern side of the island, due to the fact that its coastline is mostly covered in dense mangrove forests, has been blessed in that it has managed to retain a very local way of life. Apart from the gentrified Lanta Old Town and a few rustic and/or high-end resorts, there is little tourism on this side of the island, and, if you’re willing to drive 20 minutes to a sandy beach, it’s a great place to stay in our opinion. 

Here’s a lowdown on Lanta’s accommodation hotspots: 

WEST COAST (From north to south):

Saladan

The northern port area of Saladan is the most densely packed with shops and restaurants catering to tourists. There are a few quirky coffee shops and budget accommodation options, such as the hipster Lanta Chaolay offering both dorm beds and private rooms. 

WAKE UP @Lanta Hotel is another decent option with budget-friendly private rooms. If you are after a bit more privacy, Lanta Triple Novel has good, clean, private bungalows. De Saran Lanta offers private apartments overlooking the bridge for a great price. They also offer long-term stays. 

“I stayed at De Saran for 5 weeks and had the most amazing experience there. The owner Ake was incredibly friendly and welcoming, helping with cheap motorbike rental and local recommendations. Had an amazing view of the jungle and bee-eaters hung out around the balcony most days!”  – Sheree, Editor at South East Asia Backpacker

Khlong Dao

This 3 km stretch of sand is one of the busiest on the island. There is a huge selection of bars, hotels and resorts, although, for backpackers, there are pretty much no hostels, so shoestring travellers in need of a dorm should look elsewhere. 

That said, if you can stretch to a private room, there are some great options. Khlongdao Sunset Villa is impeccably clean and gets consistently good reviews. Oasis Yoga Bungalows is a great option for those of you hoping to move your body a little; they run daily classes with a discount for guests. 

Long Beach

True to its name, Long Beach (Phrae Ae) is the longest beach on the island and is said to have the best swimming opportunities, with no coral or stones underfoot and few urchins. Hub of Joys Hostel is the most popular place for those on a tight budget looking to meet people. Again, if you’re after private rooms, SER-EN-DIP-I-TY has an excellent reputation and is known for its friendly hosts. Green Pepper, affiliated with the Cooking with Mon cooking school is also a fantastic base for your time on the island. 

Khlong Khong

Just south of Long Beach, you’ll find Khlong Khong, another 2-3 km sweeping sandy beach with more budget-friendly accommodation. This is the place for late-night beach parties and candlelit evening beers. There’s also a very good massage place called Scorpion Massage behind the beach along the main road. 

Mook Lanta Eco Resort has tasteful private bungalows which are a great choice for families. Lanta New Coconut Bungalow is right on the beach, ideal if you’re looking for a Thai-style resort and Andaman Sunflower is a good economical choice for a bungalow experience on Lanta.

Khlong Nin

Halfway down the island, you’ll find the lovely bay of Khlong Nin which has a few bars, restaurants and hotels. The beach is beautiful and the sea is calm for swimming during the high season. There are a few reggae bars dotted around which tend to attract the backpackers. I wonder why… 🤭 

There are some good accommodation options in Khlong Nin. It’s a little bit upmarket, but not necessarily overpriced. Lanta Valom Hideaway boasts particularly good value for money, with spotless bungalows and an excellent on-site restaurant. 

Kantiang Bay

An absolutely gorgeous beach with cliffs and jungle all around, Kantiang Bay is a lovely place to stay that has accommodation to suit all budgets, from small family-run guesthouses to more expensive flashy resorts.

Kantiang Bay View Resort offers cute beachfront bungalow and rooms with garden views. The resort sits next to Why Not Bar which hosts a fire show every evening. 

Nui, Waterfall & Bamboo Bay

These are Koh Lanta’s most undeveloped beaches where can find some quirky accommodation and a few local restaurants. Cliff Lanta Suite is a wonderful option if you are looking to splash out; you can wake up with a beach view. Some rooms even boast outdoor bathtubs!

EAST COAST:

Lanta Old Town

In the centre of the east coast, Lanta Old Town was originally a local Chinese fishing village that’s developed a lively tourism scene over the past 10 years. With wooden houses on stilts over the sea, the old town is charming, picturesque and an alternative scene to the west coast. 

We recommend Sweet Life Guesthouse run by the lovely Mon and Maayan. If you’re looking for something a bit fancy, try Verona Lanta Resort. 

Things to Do in Koh Lanta

1. Hire a Scooter

Hiring a motorbike on Koh Lanta will cost you around 200 THB a day (approx. $6USD) and can be easily done at any of the beaches on the west coast or in Lanta Old Town. For getting around the island (it’s a pretty big place) and to experience most of the activities below, we’d highly recommend getting yourself some wheels! (First – get insured here!) 

2. Visit Koh Mu Lanta National Park 

At the southern tip of the island lies Koh Mu Lanta National Park which is home to a lighthouse, a gorgeous sandy beach, an hour-long jungle trek and lots of pesky monkeys (don’t take any food with you into the park)! Like all Thai national parks, entry is 200 THB and you can spend all day there if you like, there’s a bathroom and a canteen where you can grab lunch. When swimming, watch out for jellyfish as there are a few warning signs around. It’ll cost another 20THB to park your bike. 

3. Take a Tour Around Lanta Animal Welfare 

If you love animals you’ll love this opportunity to take a tour around Lanta Animal Welfare. For just 250THB, you can enjoy the hour long tour and meet the centre’s rescued cats and dogs. You’ll also get a peek into the Intensive Care Unit and learn about the invaluable work they do across Southern Thailand. 

If you have longer on Koh Lanta, why not volunteer? There are a range of ways you can help, from the day-to-day running of the centre, media work and accompanying animals on flights to their forever homes. Volunteers receive free accommodation. Check out our article to find out more about volunteering with Lanta Animal Welfare in Koh Lanta, Thailand. 

4. Hop on a Four Island Tour

This tour is the most popular boat trip for travellers to Koh Lanta and from what we’ve heard it’s well worth it! The tour is organised by many travel agencies on the island and companies vary only slightly in what they offer day-trippers. 

In general, you’ll get to visit Koh Kradan, Koh Ma, Koh Chuek and Koh Mook. Many people say that the visit to the Emerald Cave on Koh Cheuk is the highlight as you get to swim through an underwater tunnel 80 metres long and emerge into an incredible secret lagoon with a sandy beach and cliffs all around. Not to be missed! (Buffet lunch included). 

5. Take a Cooking Class 

There are many cooking classes on the island, the most famous being Time for Lime (which donates proceeds to Lanta Animal Welfare) and Cooking with Mon. We can personally recommend ‘Cooking with Mon’ where you’ll learn to cook three dishes over 4-5 hours. Mon is great fun and he’ll teach you how to do everything from scratch, like making your own Penang curry paste or rolling your own spring rolls.

6. Go Diving

There are many reputable dive schools on Koh Lanta with which you can take a day’s ‘fun dive’ or get certified with a three-day course where you’ll learn to dive up to 18 metres. The seas around Koh Lanta are clean and beautiful with plenty of underwater life. The diving is also less crowded than on the more popular island of Koh Tao. 

7. Find Your Zen at a Yoga Class

There are many great yoga studios on the island, most of which are located on the west coast. Try Sanctuary Yoga on the southern end of Long Beach, Oasis Yoga at Khlong Dao or Lanta Yoga, also close to Long Beach. Daily classes or longer retreats are available.

8. Check out the Beautiful Beaches

Koh Lanta is home to some truly breathtaking beaches, all with their own unique charm. No matter whether you want to soak up the sun on a sun lounger or fancy settling down on a beanbag with a book, there is a beach for you. Get the lowdown on Koh’s Lanta’s best beaches here. 

9. Kayak the Mangroves of the East Coast 

The east coast of the island is clad with thick mangrove forests which are teeming with birdlife and sea creatures. You can hire a kayak from 500 THB for three hours (approx. $15USD) to explore the coastline and waterways by yourself, or you can take a kayak trip with a tour company that will show you around the secret spots. 

10. Do the Mangrove Walk

If you don’t fancy taking to the ocean, there’s a cool walkway on the northeastern side of the island, near a sign that says ‘Farm Crab’ which takes you through the mangroves and out to a viewpoint.  

11. Hike to the Khlong Chak Waterfall and Cave 

On the western side of the island, ride your scooter south to Nui Bay. You’ll see a sign for elephant trekking and a smaller sign saying ‘waterfall’. Head up the dirt track and pay 40THB to park, before following a trail through the jungle along a river to the waterfall. In the rainy season, the falls are a delight and you can take an invigorating shower or enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool below the falls. However, you may be disappointed during the dry months (Nov-Feb) to find nothing but a trickle. On the way there (or back) don’t miss the interesting cave which is slowly being consumed by the roots of an enormous tree. Inside you’ll find squeaking bats! 

Top Tip! If you’ve bought a ticket to the national park, you can use the same ticket as entry to the waterfall (same day only).

12. Explore Koh Lanta Noi 

As mentioned above, very few tourists make it over to Lanta Noi to explore its treasures. If you’re staying for a while – we’d highly recommend it! 

13. Visit Paradise Islands on a Private Boat

If there’s a group of you, it may be worth hiring your own private longtail boat so you can explore the islands at your own leisure, with your captain at your disposal to take you to whichever paradise island you like! A longtail boat for the day will cost around 6,000THB (approx. $177USD) and can fit up to 8 people. There are so many beautiful islands; Koh Rok, Koh Ngai, Koh Pee… For that castaway island feel, you may like to spend the night on one of them! 

14. Squeeze into Khao Mai Kaew Cave 

Located in the centre of the island, this guided cave tour will set you back 300 THB. Although you may roll your eyes at the hiked-up price for the compulsory guide, you really do need one! To get to the cave, you walk through the jungle for around 20 minutes and scale a wall right next to a waterfall. Then the guide crawls into a tiny hole and waves you down into it! 

The cave opens up inside and your guide will take you along a little network of bamboo ladders and tunnels. There’s a huge tunnel that looks like a lava tube and the floor vibrates when you jump as if it’s hollow. You’ll be crawling on your hands and knees and will get really dirty, so wear old clothes and be warned if you’re prone to claustrophobia. 

15. Try Something New

There’s paintballing and bouldering on the west coast and mini golf, pétanque and freshwater fishing at Lanta Parklife on the east coast. There is also a tennis court at Khlong Dao. 

16. Clock in Some Hours at Your Virtual Desk

Koh Lanta is becoming a bit of a hotspot for digital nomads largely thanks to the KoHub, a huge co-working space located near Long Beach on the west coast of the island. To work there for the day it’s 400THB ($12USD) with free tea and coffee included. Monthly rates start at 6,500THB (approx. $195USD). For nomads looking for a community of like-minded freelancers, this is the place to be in Southern Thailand! 

Also read: Digital Nomad Hotspots in Southeast Asia

17. Learn Muay Thai 

For those of you wanting to get into shape, Koh Lanta has a few Muay Thai options such as Lanta Muay Thai Academy located in Long Beach and Lanta Muay Thai complex, Khlong Dao. These offer one-off sessions and longer programs. If you are looking to dedicate a few months to your training, some schools can assist with longer stays via an Education visa. 

More keen to watch a fight rather than get involved? There are a few stadiums which host fights, keep an ear out for the obnoxiously loud vans looping the main road to find out when the next one is.

Also read: Training Muay Thai in Thailand and Which Muay Thai Visa is Right for Me?

18. Get Ripped

If you want to use your holiday to tone up but don’t like the sound of boxing, head to one of the island’s fitness centres instead. Fit on Lanta offers HIIT classes, CrossFit sessions and ice baths. They have a range of packages, from one-off drop-in gym sessions and long-stay bundles. 

Food and Drink in Koh Lanta

For the best Pad Thai you’ll probably ever taste, rock up to Lanta Mart in the evening and walk the short way to the far end of the car park to access this well-known local gem. A street food stall boasting ‘Pad Thai on Fire’ will not only fill your tummy but give you a show at the same time! The nearby walking street also hosts a range of street vendors and is well worth a look.

If you’re exploring Lanta Old Town, make sure you enjoy a delicious street food meal at the little stall next to 7-11 in Old Town. Starting at 50 THB, they serve a range of Thai favourites. Try the tom-yum fried rice or basil fried rice – you won’t regret it!

Patty’s Secret Garden by the Sea at Khlong Klong Beach serves great Thai and Western dishes, with comfy seating platforms right on the beach. Another must-try is Yang Garden Restaurant, which although does not serve Thai delicacies, would be an excellent Western restaurant in any European city.

If fast food is what you’re craving, head to Kin Burger for their excellent combo deals. This is honestly one of the best burgers we’ve ever had! Five Star is Lanta’s KFC equivalent but don’t expect French fries, you’ll get sticky rice to accompany your fried chicken. 

If seafood is more your bag, Saladan in particular is home to a range of excellent fish restaurants; Star, Kho Kwang Seafood and Let’s Sea by the Water are all recommended. 

Veggies and vegans don’t have to miss out either, as there are plenty of options along the main strip including the well-rated Happy Veggie, SweetSoul Lanta and Yawee Restaurant. The deep-fried tofu with sweet chilli sauce is to die for!

While Lanta is not a rave hotspot like Koh Phangan, a variety of bars host parties so there is excess and hedonism available for those who want it! Many also offer evening fire shows, check out the relevant Facebook pages to see what days the fire performers head to the beach.

An expat favourite, the Monday night quiz at the ‘Irish Embassy’ on the west coast of the island is a fun night full of trivia, guess the celebrity and guess the hit song. Those expats can get quite competitive! Don’t worry though – there are compensatory shots for coming last place!

Getting Around Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is a big island so it is recommended to hire a bike to get the most out of your stay. Mountain bikes are available for hire at some places if you’d rather get some exercise in while you get around. 

Songthaews act as taxis around the island and have set rates depending on location. A short ride will likely cost from 50THB per person, topping out at 450THB per person for the longest routes, e.g. Saladan to the National Park. Just flag them down and ring the bell when you want to get off. 

Tuk tuks are more sparse than in other parts of Thailand but also offer transport services. We recommend grabbing the WhatsApp number of a local driver to help you get around at your own convenience.  

Getting to Koh Lanta

It’s around 400THB for a mini-bus ride from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta. The journey takes about 3 hours and transport can be booked from Krabi Airport or online. 

From nearby Koh Phi Phi, it’s only a 1 hour ferry. From Krabi mainland, it’s 2.5 hours and from Koh Lipe, it’s a 3-hour ferry. If you prefer shorter journeys, you can also book speedboats from the other islands although they are more expensive. 12go.asia is a great place to reserve transport in advance. 

Where to Go Next:

Phuket – The ‘Jewel of the Andaman’ as they call it, doesn’t quite live up to the island paradise expectations. Thailand’s most popular tourist hub is good for stag parties and expensive holidays, but you can still find some hidden gems if you look hard enough. 

Railay and Tonsai – The rock climbing mecca of Thailand, the stunning beaches of Railay and Tonsai are only a few hours away and have a real laid-back reggae feel.

Koh Lipe – This southern island is tiny compared to Koh Lanta and has really leaned into the laidback beach vibe! Head here for chilled beach days, all the hippy garb you could ever want and plenty of cocktails!

Nikki Scott | Founder & Editor

Nikki is the founding editor of South East Asia Backpacker and The Backpacker Network. In her early twenties, she left her home in the North of England on a solo backpacking adventure and never returned! After six months on the road, she founded a print magazine that became legendary on the Banana Pancake Trail. The rest is history.

Find me: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram