Koh Lanta Old Town, located on Koh Lanta’s East coast, was once the island’s main port for trade. Now Lanta Old Town is a charming place to visit which looks and feels like it’s stood still in time.

Koh Lanta Old Town seen from the pier

Lanta Old Town was originally a sea gypsy settlement. Over the decades it transformed into a village influenced by trade. Now you can enjoy many shops, restaurants and homes built on stilts above the sea level. This is great when the tide is in and also overlooks other islands and the mainland allowing breathtaking views.

Recommended Old Town Hotels
Sriraya guesthouse Built on stilts book now	Seaview Residence Hotel type book now	Panorama Bungalow Isolated beauty book now

A few years ago you could not stay in Lanta Old Town but now you can now enjoy a taste of Thai culture which you can’t experience anywhere else on Koh Lanta.

The main road in Lanta Old Town

The Old Town has a distinct Chinese influence and a very slow, laid back feel. Walking around looking at the lanterns gives you a sense of days gone by. While still a fishing village for the locals, much of Old Town’s trade now comes through low-key tourism with gift shops selling local goods like real leather.

Lanta Old Town still enjoys a Chinese Influence

Cool bars like Mango House, and numerous restaurants offering great sea food dishes. See our page on Best places to eat in Koh Lanta Old Town for our recommendations.

Koh Lanta Old Town Map

Lanta Old Town is easy to find your way around – rollover each label with your mouse to see a brief description and click for more info.

There’s also plenty of space to park your bike if you drive to Old Town from the beaches.

Koh Lanta Hammock House

One of the coolest shops to visit is Hammock House helping the world relax since 1996. Founded by Butch and Jaeb, two very nice and understandably relaxed owners.

Hammock House one of the best shops on Koh Lanta

Good things come out of the hammock business: “The Hammocks were conceived as a way to help the Mlabri tribe of North-Thailand in their search for a new livelihood. Due to deforestation, their once nomadic life-style in the jungles of Laos & Thailand was no longer an option and they have struggled long time to find a suitable alternative. Now, making these quality hammocks has finally brought them financial independence within the home village and makes prior alternatives such as tough field work or sweatshop labour unnecessary ”

Old Town Seafood Restaurant enjoys good food and breathtaking views

During the first full moon at the start of March, Lanta Old Town holds a festival of culture, known as the Laanta-Lanta festival.

A stage at the Laanta Lanta Festival

The festival normally lasts for three days and hosts talented chefs from Koh Lanta’s Luxury resorts showing their expertise and also local community members serving up local food. You can enjoy many snacks, sweets and meals and live music on many stages. Well worth a visit if you are on Koh Lanta.

The tsunami destroyed the original pier in 2004 - the twisted rubble stands as a reminder

Lanta Old Town also has a museum which traces back the life and times of Koh Lanta. There is even a picture of His Majesty the King sitting on a rock on Koh Lanta when he was younger.

For most a large part of history is the tsunami of 26th December 2004. Koh Lanta was a lucky island and largely escaped the full force of the tsunami, however some rubble still remains in the Old Town harbour from that terrible day, leaving a reminder of the devastation.