Koh Lanta is an island in Southern Thailand. It’s in the province of Krabi, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful areas of the world and famous as the location for the James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun and also, more recently, The Hangover 2.
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Koh Lanta is a 3 hour ferry ride from Phuket, a one hour ferry ride from neighbouring island Koh Phi Phi (famous as the location of the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach) and a hour and a half minivan and speedboat transfer from Krabi Airport. There is no airport on Koh Lanta itself. For more detailed information about how exactly to get to Krabi Airport and Koh Lanta, see How To Get To Koh Lanta.
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Why Go To Koh Lanta?
Peace And Quiet
Unlike nearby Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta has escaped being overdeveloped and becoming overloaded with tourists. Koh Lanta is a relatively large, long and narrow island, with 8 different beaches along its west coast which each have their own particular atmosphere and appeal. The beaches are large and unspoilt and development has been kept to a minimum – there’s no high rise buildings or wall to wall umbrellas and sunloungers on the sand. There’s no hawkers either annoying you by trying to sell you trinkets all the time. In contrast to busy Phuket, Koh Lanta is very laid back – the perfect place to come if you want to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Laid Back Beach Living
There is no wild nightlife or busy town areas choked with traffic – Koh Lanta has the port of Saladan in the north with a cluster of shops, Lanta Old Town on the east coast which is home to some good bars and restaurants, and Klong Nin Village in the middle of the of the island on the beach, which gives you everything you need to not leave the beach for a week. Koh Lanta’s sunsets in particular are famous for being stunning, thanks to the unending views out over the Andaman Sea. Most people who come to Koh Lanta regard it as one of the highlights of their stay in Thailand.
Great Food And Sundowners
Several beaches – Klong Dao, Long Beach and Klong Nin particularly – have a great array of different types of food at a variety of beachside restaurants and bars. You can have gourmet Thai fusion food, awesome pizzas, Australian steaks, cheese and wine, Irish pub comfort food, and of course a huge selection of authentic, delicious and super cheap Thai dishes. Enjoying one of Koh Lanta’s spectacular sunsets with a sundowner in hand while sitting at one of the beach bars is an experience that never gets old.
World Class Diving
Koh Lanta is the best place in Southern Thailand to go diving due to its proximity to the dive sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang and Koh Haa. These sites are much less regularly visited by boats from Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Krabi as they are much further away. Koh Lanta has boats departing daily to these dive sites. If you want to learn to dive on Koh Lanta, it’s a perfect choice, much less crowded and more pretty underwater than Koh Tao on the east coast.
Hotels And Guesthouses To Suit All Budgets
There are some great Koh Lanta hotels, resorts and guesthouses – follow the link for our recommended picks for luxury, mid-range and budget options. Because Lanta is so big, hotels are still quite spread out along the beaches giving a great feeling of space, even when the island is at its busiest in December and January. If you are planning to visit during peak season, it’s important to book accommodation in advance – you can check availability for Koh Lanta hotels below.
When’s The Best Time To Go To Koh Lanta?
November to April is high season, with December and January Peak Season – that’s when prices are highest and Koh Lanta is at its busiest. Low season runs from May to October, with bargain prices on hotels and villas making a May and June visit in particular a very good value option. In September and October the weather can get very stormy so if you want dedicated beach time it’s not the best time to come. See our pages When’s The Best Time To Come To Koh Lanta and also our Koh Lanta Weather Guide Month By Month to help you decide.
