Although Koh Lanta is an Island it enjoys all year round access with the mainland by two car ferry crossings. These are open all year from 06:00 till 22:00 and operate with no set times in between the day, you turn up, que and when the ferry is full they cross. Obviously this can lead to lengthy delays and ques in Peak season as they can not keep up with the demand of cars – or if their is not enough cars traveling then you also have to wait so planning for a longer journey is wise.

Who Needs A Ticket?

If you are traveling by minivan to and from the Island or driving your own car. Upon arrival at the pier the driver pulls up to a booth where they can purchase one ticket for them selves and the vehicle type driven. All passengers must exit the vehicle your traveling in ( exceptions are made for disabled and the elderly) walk to a separate booth which sells passenger ferry tickets, wait until it is time to board the ferry, then walk on to the ferry. The driver can drive on to the ferry and you can board your vehicle there. Ferry tickets cost 23 Thai Baht per person.

5 things You Need To Be Careful about

• After buying your tickets you have to wait in the specially designed waiting area, sadly tho these are not thought out well. The waiting area is also the motor cycles parking and access area so be careful and watch out for bikes.
• Please make sure when you exit the minivan you know which one to get back into as they will all seem to be white or grey. Check your driver, number plate or any signs and logos on the van.
• Make sure you get on the correct ferry which your minivan has driven onto. it is easy but some guests have gone to the toilet, shops and have missed the correct ferry.
• When walking on to the ferry, take your time, cars and motorbikes will also be driving on, When the tide is low the boat is lower down in the water and the ramp you walk to the ferry can be at a steep gradient – this very slippy when wet. Past experiences of falling passengers have been seen.
• Expect to que, its nice in the sun but not as nice when, you may have to travel in wet clothes – so be prepared

Dont Do It

When reading some signs, we will always find funny errors. If you follow the sign above which was posted by the ferry company the last line funnily asks you to “walk in to the ferry” after buying your ticket. Well this may hurt as the ferry is metal so maybe better to walk on to the ferry.

Minivan Transfers to and from Koh Lanta

Taxi Transfers To Koh Lanta

• Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Phuket Airport to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Trang Airport to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Ao Nang Taxi to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Ao Thalane Pier to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Donsak Pier to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Khao Lak to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Krabi Town to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Pakbara Pier to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Phuket Hotel to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Surat Thani to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi
• Trang Taxi to Koh Lanta Private Minivan Taxi

Taxi Transfers Departing From Koh Lanta

• Koh Lanta to Krabi Airport Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta to Phuket Airport Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta to Trang Airport Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Ao Nang Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Ao Thalane Pier Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Donsak Pier Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Khao Lak Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Krabi Town Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Pakbara Pier Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Phuket Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Surat Thani Private Minivan Taxi
• Koh Lanta To Trang Private Minivan Taxi

Welcome to Koh Lantas Low Seasons, which some stay starts after the Songkran festival. The Low Season does differ slightly from the high and Peak season. With less tourism Koh Lanta starts to become a more relaxed Island then normal with many restaurants and bars closing down till the high season kicks off again.

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.

Not many people pay attention to Koh Lanta Noi, the small island to the north of the more famous Koh Lanta (or Koh Lanta Yai, to give it its full name). But Koh Lanta Noi has some interesting places to explore if you want to really get off the beaten track.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hiring your own car or motorbike to explore Koh Lanta is an ideal way to fully enjoy your holiday – the island is around 35 kilometres long and is very quiet traffic wise – there are only two roads one on the popular West coast and one on the East coast which are separated by a mountain range and a few roads joining these.

Koh Lanta Car Hire

You can rent a car at Krabi Airport, Phuket Airport and Trang Airport from all the major international car hire agencies – Hertz, Avis etc – and drive yourself to Koh Lanta and then have the car at your disposal throughout your time on Koh Lanta. Lanta itself has very little traffic and only a couple of major roads that are mainly flat, so it’s easy to drive yourself around the island.

Alternatively, you can hire a car directly on Koh Lanta from one of the local Thai companies. The company we recommend is Lanta Sky. You can compare prices using the search box above.

Renting A Motorbike And Car On Koh Lanta

When renting a motorbike or car on Koh Lanta you simply sign a rental agreement, your passport is usually held until you return the vehicle and upon return the vehicle will be inspected for any damage. Please be aware damage costs can be very high so be prepared for that – drive carefully both for safety and to avoid getting a large bill.

Motor bikes are the most popular form of transport and the cheapest but please be careful if you are not used to one, having an accident can be very costly and also ruin your holiday. Start of slow and always wear your helmets and cover up in the day the sun will burn you.

We strongly recommend hiring motorbikes and cars from Lanta Sky. You can contact Mr.Yak the owner of Lanta Sky on 087 292 3417 – Mr.Yak’s team will deliver your car or motorbike to your resort. We recommend Lanta sky as they offer the widest choice of vehicles, fairly priced and he takes care of all his vehicles – you can view the price list above.

Please note the laws in Thailand say all people on a motorbike must be wearing a helmet which will include you if you hire a tuk tuk.

If you are not comfortable with a bike or car then you can easily travel back and forth on the Island by using the local Tuk Tuk drivers. These can be a lot of fun and the locals with there friendly manner will entertain you as they go. Depending on the amount of people will depend on the cost (a little haggling does not hurt ). How ever even after negotiating a good price this option does start to become expensive as each ride is charged per person.

To find a taxi driver just wait next to the road and they will stop instantly. When you are in Saladan the main Koh Lanta Shopping area, if you walk out of the centre there are many queing up to take you home. How ever later at night this service can become sparse and getting home from a party can become a challenge.

Tuk Tuk driver numbers who we trust and will take you home safely any time of the night is Mr.Farook who drievs one of these 10 seater taxi’s. MR.Farook 0899 096 310.

When driving around the Island you will have to fill up with gasoline. There are several large gasoline stations found in Khlong Dao, Khlong Khong, Khlong Nin and Kantiang Bay, how ever at night you may find these closed early ( they are not 24 hour ). So finding an alternative is a must. Just look out for Gasoline signs you should see one every Kilometer or so, many people sell gasoline outside there shops and restaurants.

If you want to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta there are many different options. Here’s a quick rundown of the fastest and the cheapest ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.

Fastest Way from Bangkok To Koh Lanta

The fastest way is to fly from Bangkok to Krabi Airport which takes 70 minutes and then take an Express Transfer which combines a air con minivan ride from Krabi Airport to the coast and then a 15 minute speedboat ride to Koh Lanta. This lets you bypass the two car ferries which are the only way for vehicles to get onto Koh Lanta.

If you prefer you can book a Private Minivan Transfer from Krabi Airport which is slower but cheaper than the Express Transfer and a great choice if you are travelling with family and friends and want a value option. Up to six people can go in the minivan and you do not have to share with anyone else, so there’s no waiting around at the airport to collect other passengers.

You can also get a public minivan from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta – these tend to be very crowded with little room for your luggage. There is also a ferry from Krabi to Koh Lanta – you’ll need to head into Krabi Town from Krabi Airport and then get the ferry from there.

Cheapest Way from Bangkok To Koh Lanta

A cheaper option to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is to take the overnight bus. These can be taken from a few different areas in Bangkok like Khao San Road and takes 12 hours to Krabi. From Krabi you may take the public minivan or ferry. It’s also possible to get the bus to Phuket and take a ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta.

See Bangkok to Koh Lanta – how to get there for a detailed explanation of the Bangkok to Koh Lanta bus journey.

Some friends arrived on Koh Lanta and said they could not find any information on night life on Koh Lanta. So I have written a brief description for every beach area called Koh Lanta Night Life – Where’s the Party that way if you stay along these beach areas you have a name you can easily walk to the bars. Many bars have weekly party nights so check out the 7 eleven shops for posters advertising these events.

I hope you have fun and enjoy your nights in Koh Lanta and stay safe don’t drink and drive!

If you’re wondering where the beautiful hotel featured in The Hangover Part 2 movie as the setting for the wedding is located, it’s the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton in Krabi, set on beautiful Tubkaek Beach near to the town of Ao Nang in Krabi. The hotel only opened recently, and is super luxurious – the rack rate is around $1500 US a night, although rooms go for as little (!) as $350 a night during low season. Check on Booking.com for current price deals and to see more photos of the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton.

The movie actually amalgamates two resorts together – the hotel lobby scene when the Wolfpack is checking in was shot at the former Sheraton Krabi (now renamed as the Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort, which is also in the same area.

There are several hotels right next to the Phulay Bay resort which enjoy the same stunning seaviews you see in the movie and are far more affordable, like the Elements Krabi resort, Anyavee Tubkaek Beach Resort, Tup Kaek Sunset Hotel and the Amari Vogue Krabi. You can enjoy the same coastline and amazing scenery and even wander into the Phulay Bay for a drink.

These hotels are all located on the same stretch of coastline about 20 minutes drive from Ao Nang, which is a bustling coastal town where you can catch ferries and longtail boats to Railay Beach, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Krabi. You can fly direct from Bangkok to Krabi in one hour (check 12Go for the cheapest flights) and have your hotel organise a taxi transfer for you.

If you want to explore elsewhere in the province, Krabi has many hotels – the Krabi Centara Grand for example is a good luxury alternative at a couple hundred US a night, and you can see our recommended Krabi hotels for all different price ranges from which you can explore the stunning Krabi limestone mountains and Andaman Sea.

How To Get To Krabi From Koh Lanta
From Krabi it’s easy to get a speedboat transfer straight over to Koh Lanta or alternatively take the Krabi- Koh Lanta private minivan.

More Hangover 2 Locations
If you want to read more about the Bangkok filming locations for the Hangover 2 movie and go and see them yourself, see this Hangover 2 Thailand location guide.

Want to make sure you’re coming at the best time of year to see Koh Lanta at its finest? Looking for a hotel bargain during the low season? Check our guide When’s The Best Time To Go To Koh Lanta to find out what the weather’s doing from month to month and plan your holiday accordingly.

Koh Lanta Weather Month By Month

• Koh Lanta Weather In January
• Koh Lanta Weather In February
• Koh Lanta Weather In March
• Koh Lanta Weather In April
• Koh Lanta Weather In May
• Koh Lanta Weather In June
• Koh Lanta Weather In July
• Koh Lanta Weather In August
• Koh Lanta Weather In September
• Koh Lanta Weather In October
• Koh Lanta Weather In November
• Koh Lanta Weather In December