Klong Dao Beach 13th May 2013

The biggest change is the winds changing directions creating waves on many beaches with cool breezes. The waves create problems for ferry transfers to the Islands so your travel needs may need to be thought about. The best things about Koh Lanta is the low season is deserted beaches and reduced hotels and Villas, now everyone can find a touch of paradise even on a budget.

Long tail taxi boat which takes you to Koh Lanta Noi from Saladan

When everyone thinks of Koh Lanta they think of Koh Lanta Yai. This is because it is where all the resorts are located, shopping facilities, banks and generally where everyone holidays.

Koh Lanta Noi is mainly used as a service island where many people just pass through in the minivan heading to the piers which connect the mainland to the islands.

Due to the development of Koh Lanta Yai, and most of the Lanta Noi island being government owned, this has left Koh Lanta Noi a forgotten island, with no tourism but many local people living there.

Deserted beach with Saladan Lanta Yai in the distance

On Lanta Noi you can view just a handful of fishing villages, rubber trees and some mosques. You can find a couple of deserted beaches and some breathtaking scenery with uninhabited islands rising out from the water which can not be seen from Koh Lanta.

The best way to enjoy Koh Lanta Noi is by motorbike or bicycle and for a truly Thai experience you can cross the small ocean inlet which separates both islands on a longtail boat taxi service which takes you from Saladan to the beach on Lanta Noi. (Just go straight in to Saladan and at the waters edge where the road ends the water, the longtail taxis are there). Then you just follow the road around the Island. Do not turn off for the ferry to the mainland just keep going, there is a circular concrete road which goes around the island, letting you easily explore and get some unique views of the other Koh Lanta.

Enjoy stunning scenery

Stage performance at the Laanta Lanta Festival

The normally sleepy village of Lanta Old Town on Koh Lanta’s east coast will be host to the three day Laanta Lanta festival on March 7 to 9. With events happening every evening over the three days, the festival is a mix of live music celebrating Lanta’s diverse culture and a culinary explosion of amazing food – the only problem is trying to decide what to eat. Many of the resorts on Koh Lanta set up their own stall at the Laanta Lanta festival so the main road is lined with lots of different special dishes, both Thai and Western. It’s a great atmosphere and definitely worth seeing if you are on Lanta in early March.

For more info about the Laanta Lanta Festival, see our previous writeup. For more info about Lanta Old Town, including where to stay and recommended places to eat, see our Lanta Old Town page

Banks usually close on these holidays and some businesses will also close, particularly for Songkran in April. On Koh Lanta these holidays tend to be quite low key, but it’s worth being aware of when the holidays occur.

Tuesday 1 January New Year’s Day
Monday 25 February Makha Bucha Day
Thursday to Saturday 7 – 9 March Laanta Lanta Festival
Monday 8 April Substitution for Chakri Day (Saturday 6 April)
Saturday 13 April to Tuesday 16 April Songkran Festival
Wednesday 1 May National Labour Day
Monday 6 May Coronation Day
Friday 24 May Wisakha Bucha Day
Monday 1 July Mid Year Closing Day
Monday 22 July Asarnha Bucha Day 2/
Monday 12 August H.M. the Queen’s Birthday
Wednesday 23 October Chulalongkorn Day
Thursday 5 December H.M. the King’s Birthday
Tuesday 10 December Constitution Day
Tuesday 31 December New Year’s Eve

Krathongs waiting to be floated at Loi Krathong on Koh Lanta

People gather together at the sea, rivers and lakes to float their krathong, a lotus-shaped offering to the Buddha that is also meant to carry away bad luck, fears and grudges from the previous year and so bring a sense of renewal and a fresh start for the time ahead.

The krathongs themselves are a quite beautiful and intricate construction of flowers and banana leaves, and it’s become tradition in Thailand that companies and other large organisations will build huge krathongs to add to the spectacle. The krathongs are placed in the water with candles as the evening begins, and there are usually other celebrations like fireworks and beauty contests. The Tourist Authority of Thailand has information on Loi Krathong 2012 across Thailand.

Lanta Old Town Loi Krathong Celebrations

On Koh Lanta Loi Krathong is mainly celebrated in Lanta Old Town, where the sea is usually flat calm in the evening and so perfect for floating krathongs. People come from all over the island so there is a great, festive atmosphere and usually a band playing on a specially built stage, along with a display of the biggest and best krathongs. You can buy your own krathong to place into the sea and there is little formality to doing so – you simply light the candle and gently place it into the water.

Lanterns In The Night Sky © Wikipedia

Also celebrated in northern Thailand at the same time as Loi Krathong is the festival of Yi Peng, where thousands of paper lanterns are sent into the night sky. Yi Peng is celebrated mainly in Chiang Mai, but many people on Koh Lanta also release lantern into the sky both in Lanta Old Town and on Koh Lanta’s beaches. There are certainly not as many lanterns being sent into the sky on Koh Lanta as in Chiang Mai but it’s still a beautiful sight to see a lantern being lit and then sailing up into the dark sky over the sea. You can also buy and release a lantern yourself, which can make for a very special holiday moment.

You can read more about the origins of the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festivals on Wikipedia.

Koh Lanta Loi Krathong Practicalities

You can get to Lanta Old Town from any of the beaches on Koh Lanta – it will be a 20 to 50 minute drive depending on where you are located. Ask your resort or guesthouse for details on hiring a car to take you. Festivities begin soon after dark so plan to get there for around 6.30pm or so. Some of Lanta Old Town’s shops and restaurants should be open, but it might be wise to have an early dinner before you go.

* Please note
To keep the Ambiance and peace the resort has included and Adults Only Policy where guests have to be 18 years old and over. If you’re looking to escape for a romantic holiday or honeymoon destination this is a perfect choice where you can relax and be pampered on a kids-free holiday. For more information please click the Twin Lotus Resort

Khlong Nin Beach Front Villa where you can directly step on to the beach

Khlong Nin Beach Front Villa:

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Double Beds, 6 Guests Maximum. Private infinity pool
• 1st- 15th November 2012 – SPECIAL DISCOUNTED OFFER 10,000 Thai Baht per night
  (10,000 Thai Baht = approx €250 Euros | £205 Pounds Sterling | $USD 325)

Khlong Nin Pool Villa

Khlong Nin Pool Villa:

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Double Beds, 6 Guests Maximum. Private pool
• 1st- 15th November 2012 – SPECIAL DISCOUNTED OFFER 7,000 Thai Baht per night
  (7,000 Thai Baht = approx €175Euros | £140 Pounds Sterling | $USD 230 )

Khlong Nin Beach Front Apartments

Khlong Nin Beachfront Apartments:

• 2 Bedrooms,2 Double Beds, 4 Guests Maximum. Shared swimming pool, private jacuzzi
• 1st- 15th November 2012 – SPECIAL DISCOUNTED OFFER 4,000 Thai Baht per night
  (4,000 Thai Baht = approx €100 Euros | £80 Pounds Sterling | $USD 130)

Map showing the location of the above three Khlong Nin properties

Villa Alanta built with tropical living in mind

The normal costs of the Alanta villa is 6,900 Thai Baht per night and they have two special offers for you to consider:

• Stay 2 nights get 1 night free (3rd night) Total costs 13,800 Thai Baht
• Or Stay 2 nights and receive 35% off – 2 nights stay would cost 8,970 Thai Baht total

To view the villa in more details please check out our Alanta Villa Page or contact us direct to check availability.

]]> http://amazinglanta.com/special-villa-offer-1st-till-the-15th-of-november/feed/ 0 http://amazinglanta.com/koh-lanta-for-families/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=koh-lanta-for-families http://amazinglanta.com/koh-lanta-for-families/#comments Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:01:24 +0000 chrism http://amazinglanta.com/?p=29510 Koh Lanta is one of the most family friendly holiday spots in Thailand. The peaceful pace of life, big beaches, and wide choice of hotels and amenities make it fun for kids and parents alike

Koh Lanta National Park With Stunning Beach And Famous Lighthouse

We’ve put together several pages of information to help families choose the beach and accommodation that suits them best on Koh Lanta, plus useful info on things to do with kids and practicalities about where to find baby items and so on.

Which Beach On Koh Lanta For Your Family?

Klong Dao and Long Beach
Choosing a beach for your family to stay on Koh Lanta is important in setting the tone of your holiday. Khlong Dao and Long Beach are the two beaches nearest to Saladan port in the north, where all visitors to Koh Lanta first arrive. As such, Khlong Dao and Long Beach are the most easily accessible beaches on Koh Lanta and so the most developed. They still have lots of open space and a lot of charm too. Khlong Dao can get busy in peak season but Long Beach is so big it always seems quite empty.


Some shade from the sun on Khlong Nin Beach, Koh Lanta

Khlong Nin Beach and Khlong Khong
Khlong Nin and Khlong Khong in central Koh Lanta have their own charm too – Khlong Khong is not so developed, whereas Khlong Nin mixes a village feel with high end private beach villas for hire as well. Klong Nin is probably the best choice for families because the beach is nice and great for swimming; there is a quiet, flat road that runs parallel to the beach and village, with easy access to restaurants, bar and shops for parents pushing strollers or walking small children; and there’s a wide choice of accommodation too. Khlong Nin has everything a family needs.

Kantiang Bay
Further south there’s Kantiang Bay, which is a gorgeous crescent of sand which is still relatively undeveloped. It’s no accident that Koh Lanta’s first super-luxury resort, Pimalai, was built here – Kantiang Bay is just stunning. There’s a few resorts, shops and restaurants but in general it’s quite quiet – perfect if you like peace and solitude.


Khlong Nin Beach Front Villa where you can directly step on to the beach

Where Can I Find Family Friendly Hotels On Koh Lanta?

There is a good range of family friendly hotels on all the major beaches on Koh Lanta – you can see our recommendations for best family hotels on Koh Lanta here. We’ve also shown family friendly hotels on each Koh Lanta beach – follow the links for family friendly hotels on Khlong Dao, Long Beach, Khlong Nin Khling Khong and Kantiang Bay.

Koh Lanta also has a great selection of private villas for rent which are ideal for families and also remarkably affordable compared to hotels on a weekly basis.

How Do I Find Koh Lanta Family Accommodation for 1,2 or 3 Kids?

Several hotels on Koh Lanta have specially designed family rooms that can sleep up to 2 adults and three kids – we’ve listed them on Koh Lanta Hotels For Families of Three, Families of Four and Families of Five. For groups of four and five, renting a villa also becomes worth considering.


Chaw-Ka-Cher Resort Koh Lanta With Kids Pool

Things To Do With Kids On Koh Lanta

Keeping children occupied is important during your holiday so we’ve compiled a list of free kids activities on Koh Lanta. You might also want to check out our general ideas for things to do on Lanta when it’s hot and when it’s raining too. There’s also info on Koh Lanta hotels with a kids pool and a couple of hotels with a kids club

You might want some time alone and therefore want to choose a Koh Lanta hotel with a babysitting service, or perhaps use the Koh Lanta kindergarden.

We also have a page of information about where you can stock up on essential baby items like Pampers and powdered milk on Koh Lanta, and also information on [Koh Lanta Children's Clinics and medical centres] in the unfortunate event that your kids might feel unwell.

How To Get to Koh Lanta With A Family?

There are several options for transferring to Koh Lanta with a family, including Express Speedboat Transfer, Private Minivan Transfer and ferries from Krabi and Phuket. Please follow the link for more information, pricing and booking.

Have Questions? Please Contact Us

If you have further questions about your family holiday on Koh Lanta, please contact us using the contact form to the left or below and we will do our best to help.

]]> http://amazinglanta.com/koh-lanta-for-families/feed/ 0 http://amazinglanta.com/island-hopping-from-koh-lipe-recommended-luxury-mid-range-and-budget-hotels-on-neighbouring-islands/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=island-hopping-from-koh-lipe-recommended-luxury-mid-range-and-budget-hotels-on-neighbouring-islands http://amazinglanta.com/island-hopping-from-koh-lipe-recommended-luxury-mid-range-and-budget-hotels-on-neighbouring-islands/#comments Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:47:15 +0000 Rob Lee http://amazinglanta.com/?p=29134 Koh Lipe is a an island in the South of Thailand close to the Malaysian border. The island is serviced daily with ferry and speedboats from many of Thailand’s Islands making it a perfect place to start Island hoping and then traveling by boat back to Thailand’s main land, stopping off at Koh Lanta before going to Ao Nang in Krabi or Koh Phi Phi then on to Phuket where you can fly or travel by bus to your next destination.

A Tigerline ferry docked in Koh Lanta

When traveling from Koh Lipe heading in to Thailand we have useful recommendations and transfer information for Koh Lipe Island Hopping Luxury hotels where you can simply relax, indulge and enjoy the Thai hospitality in beautiful surroundings. For flashpackers we have recommendations for Koh Lipe Island Hopping Mid Range Hotels which will allow you a little bit of luxury at affordable prices where you can enjoy all the conveniences of the modern world. For backpackers or people traveling for a long time check out Koh Lipe Island Hopping on a budget which show cases affordable clean resorts on the most popular Islands.

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