Koh Lanta (Thailand) – the island of eternal summer, a place for lovers of relaxation and serene rest. Here come romantics and lovers, parents with children and elderly couples, everyone who appreciates peace and privacy on the sunny white-sand beaches by the azure sea.
General information
Koh Lanta is an archipelago of two large and fifty small islands. Koh Lanta (Thailand) on the map can be found near the western coast of southern Thailand, 70 km southeast of popular Phuket. The large islands are called Ko Lanta-Noi and Ko Lanta-Yai, and they are separated from the mainland and from each other by narrow straits. A bridge has recently been built between the islands, and there is also a car ferry connecting Koh Lanta to the mainland.
The archipelago belongs to the province of Krabi. The islands are home to about 20 thousand inhabitants, the population is dominated by Malaysians, Chinese and Indonesians, most of the inhabitants profess Islam. There are also sea Gypsy villages located on the southern tip of Koh Lanta Yai. The main activities of local residents are crop production, fishing, shrimp farming and serving tourists.
For vacationers, Koh Lanta Noi is an intermediate point on the way to Koh Lanta Yai, where the main beaches are located and the whole tourist life is concentrated. In the context of tourism, the name Koh Lanta refers specifically to the island of Koh Lanta-Yai. Its hilly territory is covered with tropical forests, from north to south it stretches for 21 km. Along the west coast, there are sandy beaches that offer picturesque views of the sea sunsets in the evenings.
Koh Lanta Archipelago is a national park, and noisy motor water transport is prohibited in order to preserve silence in its waters. Music and noisy parties are allowed only in certain places, so as not to disturb vacationers.
The quiet and peaceful island of Lanta (Thailand) with beautiful sea sunsets was chosen for recreation by Europeans, most often here you can meet tourists from Scandinavia. In addition to beach activities, you can go diving and snorkeling, visit the national park and nearby islands, ride elephants and learn Thai boxing.
Tourist infrastructure
Infrastructure on the island began to develop relatively recently, it was electrified only in 1996, and there is no centralized water supply system on it to this day. Most hotels supply the guest with water from barrels installed on the roofs, which are supplied with clean water from local reservoirs. However, this does not prevent you from providing a comfortable stay with all the amenities.
Arriving on Koh Lanta, tourists get to the central village of the island – Saladan. The infrastructure here is most developed. There are many shops selling souvenirs, clothing, shoes and everything you might need on vacation-snorkeling equipment, optics, etc. There is also a grocery supermarket, grocery stores, a market, hairdressers, pharmacies. There are banks, currency exchange offices, and several ATMs, so there are no problems with currency exchange and cash withdrawal.
Cafes and restaurants in Saladan are available in large numbers, you can eat here inexpensively compared to other resorts in Thailand. Local and Thai dishes are offered, and on average, lunch costs $4-5 per person.
Public transport (songteo) is rare here, mainly tuk-tuks (taxis) are available, but they can not be reached anywhere on the island. They do not go to the southern part of Koh Lanta because of the steep mountain roads. A good alternative to tuk-tuks is to rent a motorbike. You can rent a vehicle at one of the many rental points that offer rental services and hotels. The average rental price of a motorbike is $30 / week or from $8 per day, a bicycle – from $30 / month, a car – $30-35 / day. There are no problems with refueling, no one even asks about the availability of a license.
The Internet is working normally, and most hotels and cafes have free Wi-Fi. Cellular and 3G services are available throughout the island.
The further the beach is located from the central village of Saladan, the poorer its infrastructure. If in the middle part of the coast on the beaches there is a choice of cafes, bars and restaurants, there are grocery stores, tourist offices,bike rental, pharmacy, barber shop, then with the progress to the south of the island, such institutions are becoming less and less. Residents of the deserted southern coast are forced to go for food to neighboring beaches with more developed infrastructure.
Accommodation
Places to stay on Koh Lanta are usually enough for everyone. Guests are offered a wide variety of housing options-from comfortable villas and suites in 4-5* hotels to inexpensive guesthouses represented by bamboo bungalows.
When choosing a hotel to stay in, you should first decide on the choice of beach. On different beaches of the island of Lanta – different natural conditions, different infrastructure, a contingent of tourists. First decide on the right place for you, and then choose accommodation from the nearby accommodation options.
In high season, a room for two in a 3* hotel can be found at a price starting from $50 / day. The most budget double rooms in inexpensive hotels will cost from $20 / day. You should book such favorable options six months before the trip. The average price of a double room in a three-star hotel in high season is $60-80 / night. Compared to other resorts in Thailand, prices here are very moderate.
Beaches
Koh Lanta’s beaches are concentrated along the west coast of the island. All of them differ from each other, but there are some common features:
- They are mostly sandy, but there are also rocky areas.
- The entrance to the sea is smooth, but there are no too shallow places with knee-deep water on Koh Lanta. On some beaches, deep places start closer to the shore, on some-further, but in general, even at low tide, the sea is not shallow here.
- On beaches located in bays, the sea is calm, in other places there may be waves.
- The closer the beach is to the central village of Saladan, the more developed the infrastructure is. As we move south, the coastal strip becomes more and more deserted, and the number of hotels and cafes decreases. For those looking for complete privacy, places in the south of the island are ideal.
- Even in high season, Koh Lanta’s busiest beaches are sparsely populated and you can always find deserted spots.
- There are no water parks or water activities – jet skis, jet skis, etc. Nor will you see boats scurrying around. Anything that creates noise and disturbs the peace is prohibited. People come here to relax in peace and quiet. The words that best describe a local holiday are relaxation and peace.
- Along the coast there are no tall buildings that spoil the view of the island. Construction of buildings that exceed the height of palm trees is prohibited on Koh Lanta.
- The location on the west coast guarantees a nightly show – a view of colorful sea sunsets.
Koh Lanta is home to various categories of vacationers: families with children, romantic couples, youth groups, and the elderly. Each of these categories finds beaches that can meet all your holiday expectations.
Khlong Dao Beach
Khlong Dao is located two kilometers from the village of Saladan. It successfully combines well-developed infrastructure and excellent natural conditions. This beach is usually the most crowded, although you can also find sparsely populated places on it.
The wide sandy strip of Khlong Dao Beach stretches in an arc for 3 km. From the edges of Klong Dao is protected by capes, so the sea here is calm, without waves. The bottom is sandy, sloping, and you have to go to deep places for quite a long time. Swimming here is the safest, it is the best beach on the island for families with small children and for the elderly. Despite the relative crowds, it is quiet in the evenings and noisy night parties are not allowed.
Along Klong Dao there are fashionable hotels, a large selection of cafes, restaurants and bars. Main infrastructure: shops, fruit shops, ATMs, pharmacies, travel agencies are located along the main road. You can also find budget accommodation here.
Long Beach
South of Klong Dao, the longest beach on the island, Long Beach, stretches for more than 4 kilometers. Its northern part is quite deserted, with few hotels and undeveloped infrastructure. But the central and southern parts are very lively and have everything you need for a comfortable stay: grocery and hardware stores, a market, banks, a pharmacy, a hairdresser, travel agencies, many bars, restaurants and cafes.
On Long Beach, white loose sand, gentle entry into the water, sometimes there are small waves. Kazaurinova grove borders the coastal strip. On Long Beach, you can find cheap housing, cafe prices are lower here, in general, the rest here is more economical than Klong Dao.
Lanta Klong Nin Beach
Even further south is Klong Nin Beach. This is the last of the beaches with developed infrastructure, further south, the manifestations of civilization decrease sharply. Here you can also find a large selection of housing, cafes and restaurants for every taste and budget. The entire set of necessary establishments from shops to travel agencies is present here, there is a large market.
The coastal strip pleases with clean white sand, but the entrance to the water is sometimes rocky. At high tides, the depth here begins quite close to the shore, there are often waves. At low tide, some places form natural “pools” in which it is good for children to play, but in general, this beach is not very suitable for families with young children.
Kantiang Bay
Kantiang Beach is located even further south, the road to it runs through a mountainous area. Above the coast there are hills covered with tropical vegetation, on which a few hotels are located, mostly 4-5 star hotels. Located at a height of, the apartments offer wonderful views of the beach and sea sunsets.
Kantiang Bay is one of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches in Thailand, with clear white sand and a good entrance to the water. The choice of cafes and restaurants here is small, there are several shops. The only bar is open late, but it doesn’t break the peace and quiet.
Weather
As in all of Thailand, Koh Lanta’s climate is conducive to a year-round beach experience. However, some months are more favorable, and tourist activity increases during this period.
The high tourist season on Koh Lanta coincides with the dry season, which lasts, as on most islands of Thailand, from November to April. At this time, the amount of precipitation is minimal, there is no strong humidity, the weather is clear and not too hot – the average air temperature is +27…+28°C. This season there is an influx of tourists, prices for housing, food and air tickets increase by 10-20%.
The low tourist season on Koh Lanta, as on other islands of Thailand, lasts from May to October. At this time, the already free beaches of Koh Lanta are empty. The average air temperature rises by 3-4 degrees, tropical downpours often fall, and humidity increases. But the sky is not always overcast, and the rains pass quickly or come at night.
During this period, you can also have a great rest in Thailand. Moreover, prices are significantly reduced, and the small number of vacationers provides even more opportunities for a secluded and serene holiday. Some beaches have large waves during the low season, which makes it possible to surf.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi
As a rule, tourists heading to Koh Lanta arrive at the airport of the administrative center of Krabi province. A shuttle service to your desired hotel on Lanta Island can be arranged directly at the airport. You can also make a transfer order online on the website 12go.asia.
The transfer includes a transfer to the Koh Lanta Noi Ferry, a ferry ride, and a transfer to your desired hotel on Koh Lanta Yai. The cost of a trip for different carriers ranges from $70 to $95 for a minibus for 9 passengers, the average trip duration is 2 hours. In high season, as in all resorts in Thailand, prices go up.
If you want to get there on your own, you will first need to drive to Ao Nang or Khlong Chilat piers in Krabi Town. Ferry tickets can be purchased on site. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes by land and 30 by sea. It is worth knowing that ferries run only from September to May and only in the morning, and the schedule is constantly changing.
Useful tips
When going to Lanta Island, read the tips of those who have already been there.
- At the airport information desk for tourists arriving in Krabi, everyone can take a colorful guide to Koh Lanta for free.
- There is no need to withdraw money from the card and exchange it before traveling to Lanta. There are many ATMs and currency exchange points on the island – in the village of Saladan, on Long Beach, Klong Dao. The exchange rate is approximately the same as in all of Thailand.
- When renting a motorbike, no one asks for a license, the roads are free, in principle, driving is safe if you do not go along mountain roads to the southern part of the island. The police do not stop anyone, only on New Year’s Eve they can arrange a random alcohol check on the road.
- Be sure to bargain with tuk-tuk (taxi) drivers. Divide the mentioned price in half, this will be the real cost, especially since the fee is charged for each passenger separately.
Koh Lanta (Thailand) is a unique place that will appeal to lovers of wild and exotic nature. Have a good trip!
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