Ko Lanta (เกาะลันตา) is an island off the Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand. Like many other destinations in Krabi Province, it is known for its diving and long white beaches.
Understand
Ko Lanta consists of several islands, the two largest of which are Ko Lanta Noi (เกาะลันตาน้อย, "Small Lanta Island") and Ko Lanta Yai (เกาะลันตาใหญ่, "Big Lanta Island"). However, Ko Lanta Yai is where all the tourist action is, so this article will refer to it simply as "Ko Lanta".
Ko Lanta is popular with tourists seeking a holiday away from the parties. It's popular with a significantly older crowd than nearby Ko Phi Phi: more walking on the beach and watching the sunset than drinking and dancing. However, there are plenty of bars and the longer term stayers are friendly and know how to party! It is also popular with families with young children, and of course, with divers. Ko Lanta can provide a party if you know where to look.
Ko Lanta is a little less well-known than Ko Phi Phi, which has become more commercialised and corporate, but it is hardly undiscovered: the several beaches on the west coast of Ko Lanta Yai are each strung with a line of resorts and bungalows, although the farther down the island you venture, the less this is true. And even when the island is at it fullest, there will be a quiet place for you to relax - the beaches are never full. Ko Lanta is especially popular with Swedish tourists: although the "tourist language" is English as it is in most places in Thailand, and you will find menus and so on are translated into English, expect the poolside language to be Swedish much of the time. However, there are still many English and Irish bars and restaurants to visit.
Ko Lanta was hit by the tsunami in December 2004, which killed 20 people, but virtually all businesses are now operating normally again.
Climate
Weather in the region is tropical - there are only two seasons: the hot season from January to April, and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures during the year average 25ºC to 32ºC (77ºF to 89.6ºF) and the yearly rainfall averages 2568.5mm. Unlike in say Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily and quickly over short periods.
Weatherwise, the best time to visit Ko Lanta is between the months November to April when the area’s climate is less hot than usual. During this period the island gets a lot of dry North Easterly winds, so giving dry blue skies and starry nights. Then, down on the beaches one can enjoy nice sea breezes. From May to October the area gets a lot of rainfall, more on average than the rest of the country. During this period the island gets a lot of moist South Westerly winds, so giving a mixture of dry days and wet ones. The sea stays at a warm 29°C all year round.
Geography
The main island is 6km wide and over 30km long, located approximately 70km from Krabi Town. The island has 9 attractive white sandy beaches, splendid scenery; coastlines have more than 70 small islands and plenty with forest, coral reefs and under water life. The geography of the island is typically mangroves; coral rimmed beaches; and rugged tree covered hills.
A paved road runs along the beaches from the northern part of the island almost all the way to the southern tip. The last 8 kilometers leading to the headquarters of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park in the south are quite hilly and aren't yet paved so can become quite tricky to negotiate if it rains. The landscape is dominated by a series of mountains covered with virgin rainforest. To the east features an old community.
Culture
Krabi and Ko Lanta are a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. The majority of the population in the rural areas is Muslim. The area however, does not suffer from any religious tension and the folk live in peace and harmony. Most of the folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.
With this kind of mixture, Krabi is always celebrating something be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.
The unique lifestyle of the Chao-Le (sea-gypsy) in Ko Lanta particularly is well-worth a witness, a life-style that has been almost completely unaffected by the booming tourism on the island.
Getting there
By plane
The nearest airports are Krabi, Trang and Phuket. Krabi and Trang have direct road and boat connections to Ko Lanta, and are the best options if you're only visiting Ko Lanta. Flying into Phuket is a better option if you're intending to spend time in Phuket and nearby islands, or, since Phuket has many more international flights, if you don't want to have to organize a domestic flight to Krabi or Trang from Bangkok. As an alternative to Bangkok, there are daily flights to Krabi directly to and from Singapore, as well as Kuala Lumpur.
By car
Ko Lanta does not have roads connecting it directly to the mainland, but is served by car ferries. Take road 4206 off highway 4 about 20km south-east of Krabi airport. Drive to the end of the road, where there is a car ferry from Baan Hua Hin to Ko Lanta Noi. From the pier here, turn right and follow the "ferry" signs to the second car ferry to Ko Lanta Yai. Ferries operate 07:00-22:00.
There are plenty of car taxi and minivan taxi services from Krabi and the nearby airport. A seat in a ten person minivan from the airport to Ko Lanta costs about 300 baht. These minivans usually don't have much room for luggage (although they can usually find room for one or two large suitcases together with backpacks for the rest of the passengers) so if you're not traveling light you might need to get a private taxi.
This is what the divemasters do. A private minivan taxi will usually be quoted as 2500 baht. It's possible to bargain a few hundred baht off this price but not much more or the tolls will consume too much of the price. Car taxis cost about the same.
When travelling to/from Ko Lanta in the afternoon by road, allow 2–3 hours for the journey as the queues for the vehicle ferries can be lengthy. The passenger ferry which leaves Ko Lanta pier (high season) at 08:00 and arrives at Krabi pier at 10:00 is quicker.
Getting to Koh Lanta by car transfer
By boat
From Ko Lanta to other islands
Private companies on Ko Lanta operate boat services to many destinations.
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 350 baht
Ko Lanta – Krabi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 300 baht (apparently, in high season, at least 400 baht)
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Phuket: 1.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m., 700 baht
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Krabi: 9.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., 700 baht
Ferry services run from Krabi, Ao Nang and from Phuket via Ko Phi Phi to Ko Lanta Yai's Saladan pier. Ferry services are subject to weather and to demand: many will not run at all during the monsoon season and at a reduced frequency during the low season. Many ferries have limited room for luggage. Often the ferries dock alongside each other, meaning that to get on and off passengers must clamber onto and across other boats with their luggage.
Services from Krabi are run by P.P. Family Co (+66 75 630 165) and depart Krabi pier at 10:30 and 13:30, taking 2 hours to reach Ko Lanta (200 baht including free pickup from Krabi hotels). There's a transit bus from Krabi town center for 10 baht.
Services from Ao Nang are run by Ao Nang Travel and Tour (+66 75 637 730) and depart at 10:30 (280 baht).
Ferries depart from Ko Phi-Phi at 11:30 and 14:00, and take 1 hour. If travelling from Phuket in a single day, you will need to leave Phuket on the 08:00 ferry to transfer to the 11:30 ferry. Tickets to Ko Lanta are 200 baht from Ko Phi-Phi and 450 baht from Phuket.
By passenger van
All the travel agents in Krabi Town can arrange passenger vans to Ko Lanta. There is no regular, scheduled van service from Krabi Airport, although vans and taxis can be chartered to Ko Lanta for about 2,000 baht per vehicle (2500 Baht if you are going to the southern end of Ko Lanta). Taxis (usually vans) are also available at the airport at the same rate.
There is a mini van service that runs between Krabi and Ko Lanta, However it must be booked in advance through your hotel or someone local, the cost is 400 Baht per person. Book early as it fills up quickly. It will pickup, drop off at the Airport. You should factor in 3 to 4 hours to get from Ko Lanta to the airport, since the mini van will pickup and drop off other people along the way.
By train
The nearest train station to Ko Lanta is in Trang province just south of Krabi. From there, there are trains to and from Bangkok.
Distances from Bangkok
The distance from Bangkok to Krabi is approx 950 km or about 12 hrs by car.
Route 1: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn - Phang Nga - Krabi = 946 km.
Route 2: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn (Highway No 41) to Chaiya (Suratthani) - Krabi (Viangsra) - Highway No 4035 - Krabi (Ao Luk) and along Highway 4 again = 814 km.
Traveling around
The main roads on the island are well paved. However the road just north of Mu Ko National Park is still unpaved dirt. That road ends at the park and so it isn't possible to drive from that point up the eastern side of the island.
It's worth knowing the names of the resorts near yours: both the pickup trucks and motorcycle taxis will often want to pick you up or drop you at a nearby resort with a better road.
Resorts and some of the major tourist services (like the dive shops) own large pickup trucks and transport tourists around in the tray. Very occasionally, they own minibuses instead. If you come in by ferry your resort will almost certainly meet you at pier with their truck; if you're travelling with very small children who you don't want to cling to while you bump along sitting on the side of the truck you might want to warn them in advance that you'll want to ride in the cab: it's generally assumed to be the private domain of the driver.
You will find the locals almost exclusively ride motorbikes; you can hire these in several places for a few hundred baht a day. You can also hire motorcycle taxis with sidecars. These will happily take you on the unpaved roads but the ride can be as slow as walking. A typical fare for a ride from Saladan to Klong Dao Beach is 40 baht.
Jeeps can be hired for 1200 baht per day. Be sure to check insurance, contract terms and the condition of the vehicle. The "roads" of Ko Lanta combined with the driver operation characteristics of some renters are a serious challenge for any car. The frequently available Suzuki Sporty seems primitive and therefore sturdy, and a replacement should cost around 150000 baht.
See
Lanta Old Town is a small village on Ko Lanta's East side. It's one of the region's most culturally diverse with Chinese merchants, original Thai fishing families and an ancient Sea Gypsy community. Many years ago, Ko Lanta's Old Town acted as the port and commercial center for the island and provided a safe harbor for Arabic and Chinese trading vessels sailing between the larger ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Today, Old Town is the district capital; it has a post office, police station, Buddhist temple, Chinese temple and the island's hospi tal as well as a long pier. It's a charming place to visit and boasts many good restaurants and interesting shopping like handmade Hammocks and an original Batik and Art Gallery. It's also a great jumping off point to other Islands like Ko Bubu and Ko Talenbeng.
Ban Saladan Ban Saladan, approximately 3 km from Klong Dao Beach, is the tourist center of Ko Lanta. Facilities include inexpensive and easy to find transport, diving trips, banking and shopping.
Khao Mai Kaew Caves Getting away from the beach for the day, tourists can visit the stunning Khao Mai Kaew Caves which are located in the centre of the island, offering a wonder of rocks and caverns and housing spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, some of the caves are just huge and one of them contains a pool. For getting around inside the caves you will need a guide, but one is cheap, around 200baht per person. You can also take an elephant-ride for arount 600baht per person. Take some good shoes, as the caves are slippery. The caves are located just off the lower of two cross-island roads, down a narrow 1.5 kilometer dirt path through the rubber plantations.
Sea-Gypsy Village Known to the Thais as Chao-Le, sea gypsies have occupied the area for hundreds of years settling along the coast in stilt-built houses erected between the water level of high and low tide. They are unique in that they mix very little with the general population, speak their language and have their very own supernatural and traditional beliefs and rituals. And example of the latter is the Loy Ruea (floating boat) ceremony where the village men build a symbolic boat and place wooden statues of themselves in it along with nail pairings, hair and popped rice. By performing this ritual, they ask for forgiveness from the sea gods and for any wrongs that may have done to the sea. It is believed that all evil is carried away in the symbolic boat.
Orchid nursery farm This farm is recommended to all those who like flowers. The Orchid Nursery Farm is located at Long Beach (Pra Ae beach) and the entry fee is 30 Baht per person. It’s easily accessible by bike or motorbike.
Koh Lanta Noi, Lanta Noi has no tourist facilities as such but is well worth a visit. Hire a motorbike and catch the ferry or longtail from Saladan Pier, there's a few circular roads, all well covered that will take you around the island to see the local way of life. There are a few local restaurants along the way so you can stop for some fried rice, pick up a map before you go from one of the tourist offices on Lanta Noi, and drive carefully!
Beaches
Kor Kwang. This beach, with its attractively curved shaped has lovely sand and clear aquamarine water.
Klong Dao. Over the years, Klong Dao has developed into the most popular beach on the island with a spectacular 3km long beach of fine white sand and shallow clear water. Yet, because of its length, it is never really that busy. It is located just 2km from Saladan Pier. The beach has an abundance of accommodation ranging in cost from just a couple of hundred to a few thousand. It is more than ideal for those who like a quiet beach but prefer to have all the usual tourist mods and cons such as international food, music and bars etc.
Pra Ae (Long Beach) This beach, situated in the north of the island, is a stunning crescent of sand about 4km long. There is a lot of accommodation there but since it is spread out a lot, visitors get the feeling that place is peacefully quiet.
Klong Khong For most of the length of Klong Khong beach there is a klong (small river) running opposite the beach and an old coconut plantation. Towards the southern end is an area where the local fishermen tie up their boats to the shore. A rocky reef runs along the length of the shore making it difficult for swimming but great for admiring the sunset.
Klong Nin This beach is separated by a klong that runs down to the beach at the northern third of the beach dividing it in two. The beach is covered with coconut and pine trees and the back end is tropical rain forest. Like almost all beaches on Koh Lanta, Klong Nin offers a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere and its sand is white and fine. The northern stretch is the best for swimming as it has far fewer rocky paths than the southern part of the beach.
Kan Tiang This small beach is only one kilometer long, so giving visitors more of a feeling of privacy. There are excellent corals for snorkeling as well. Lying 18 kilometers south of Baan Saladan, Kan Tiang beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Far Southern Beaches
There are a few beaches in the south of Koh Lanta. All are the beaches are small, just a few hundred meters long. The beaches are very quiet with little in the way of accommodation - ideal for those who want to ‘get away from it all’. They are:
Ao Nui (Nui Bay) - next to Bakantiang, the road changes to a dirt road in 5 km length leading to Mu Ko Lanta National Park. It is difficult to come around this area and you will need a good quality 4-wheel drive vehicle or a bike if you’re a really good rider.
Ko Lanta National Park - there are two beaches in the National Park, such as Had Hin Ngam.
Art
Likae Pa (ลิเกป่า) - an adapted play, Like Pa follows the adventures of an Indian merchant from Calcutta who married a local girl named Yayi. The story is then followed by other plays. Like Pa is accompanied by the music of folk instruments such as various kinds of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The lyrics are a mixture of the traditional Manora and Buranyawa songs. With its long history of popularity in Krabi, Like Pa performers are abundant here. It is believed that the play originated in this province. Many companies are still performing this dramatic art such as Mr. Truek Plodrit who won a cultural award.
Shadow Plays (หนังตะลุง) - this is an Indian influence. There are many shadow play or nang talung companies in Krabi.
Manora (มโนราห์) - the performance is native to southern Thailand, which truly reflects its traditional culture.
Rong Ngeng (รองเง็ง) and Phleng Tanyong (เพลงตันหยง) - a Malaysian adaptation, which is of Portuguese origin, rong ngeng is a traditional folk dance and music customarily performed in noble houses. It was later performed by the locals with Thai lyrics called phleng tanyong.
Things to do
Longtail boating
Lanta Longtail / Sun Island Tours, 9/1 Moo 1, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai +66 087 8916619 (info@lantalongtail.com) - private charters, island tours, beach camping and fishing trips.
Tailor Made Marine Tours, Orange House, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai +66 083 1043109 (admin@lantamarineservices.com) - Group or private charters to the Islands around ko Lanta, cliff jumping, beach BBQ's, snorkelling.
Sea kayaking
Rapu Sea Kayaking, 10/5 Moo 2, Ko Lanta Yai +66 92 871 749 (contact Chutima Junsirikamon) - guided sea kayak tours of the mangrove areas.
Diving
There are no scuba diving sites on the island itself, all require a boat trip. However Lanta is the closest island to the famous Hin Daeng and Hin Muang sites, so it is very popular with divers. Here below are the most popular diving sites:
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang near Ko Lanta are perhaps the best dive sites in Thailand (ranking in the world’s top ten) with more than 200 hard corals and 108 reef fish catalogued in a study underway, but thousands more organisms abound. Hin Daeng has the steepest and deepest in the whole of the country with fantastic marine life. Hin Muang next door is completely underwater and it is covered with delicate violet coral. The sites also have one of the world's highest incidences of whale shark sightings.
For details refer to Diving in Thailand and Diving in Ko Lanta
Trekking
Elephant rides can be arranged to take visitors to the top of the hill in Ko Lanta National Park.
Kayaking
The east side of Ko Lanta with its rich mangrove forests and caves is a great option for off-the-beaten-path kayaking. Kayaking can also be done on Ko Talabaeng, the limestone cliff near Ko Lanta.
Fishing
Wanna-be fishers can catch the likes of marlin, sailfish barracuda, red snapper and tuna. Three different kinds of fishing trip are offered by private long tail boat: both half-day, full day and night fishing.
Eat
In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken birayani.
As for Ko Lanta, reasonable priced and tasty seafood is obviously what most tourists long for when visiting a coastal province like Krabi. In this connection, the wing shell (หอยชักตีน) is Krabi’s famous cuisine. It is eaten with a spicy dip. In addition, stirred fried Spotted Babylon (หอยหวาน), which is found in mangrove forests, with chilies and basil is also famous. This cuisine is common in Ko Lanta’s restaurants. Another great Krabi taste is, of course, seafood. The Ko Lanta beach areas have several restaurants with the 'catch of the day' displayed on ice outside. One can find all kinds of fish; juicy crabs and langoustines; shellfish, including giant oysters; as well as squid and lobsters.
Ko Lanta has a wide variety of restaurants, the kind that most visitors travel to Thailand for: beach-front locations serving delicious and inexpensive Thai and seafood dishes. Eateries line the beaches in front of the bungalows and no visitor will starve from lack of variety or interesting places to dine.
Baan Laanta Bay View Restaurant (located in Kantiang Bay) is simply the best, fresh, seafood BBQ on the island. Enormous Tiger Prawns, fresh squid, snappers galore - all fish & seafood is caught fresh, locally each day, and cooked in any style you like, served with baked potatoes and a free salad bar (with the best dressings you can imagine!!). The view out over Kantiang Bay is beautiful and you can request a table on the beach for extra romance! Aqua Bar - the in-house cocktail bar, serves the freshest and most adventurous cocktails on the island - Mango Daquiri and Fresh Lime Margueritas are at the top of my list!
Sunset Restaurant is a very small restaurant on Klong Dao beach close to D.R. Lanta Resort beside Mooks bar. The Thai food is the best on Klong Dao beach and cheap too. Real Thai style eating with the tables directly on the sand and no decorations at all but a nice view and cool breeze from the sea. And the food... mmm.
Abdul's Pancakes is a crêpe stall run from a motorcycle sidecar. You can most often find him in Moo 1, Saladan, opposite Lanta Diver when the boat divers come back (around 15:00). His chocolate and banana crêpe and his chicken crêpe are especially recommended.
Cook Kai is just across the street from Klong Nin Beach. Wholly built of wood and lovely decorated, it offers a spacious open dining area and bar. Run by the cook and his brothers and sisters, their Thai food, which has a bit of an extraordinary note, is probably the best you can get in the area and beyond. Go for the daily specials announced on the board at the entrance! Cook Kai also offers thai cooking classes.
River Restaurant is a friendly family operation located on the beach just south of Narima Resort. They have a delicious menu...lots of Thai dishes and a few western ones as well. The Phad Thai is excellent. It is very popular with families and the owner's children often play with tourist kids
Thai Cuisine is a long-established favorite. It is in Phra Ae just south of the Opium night club. The menu features a wide selection of wonderful Thai dishes and Chinese as well. The "special" spring roll is excellent. There is bar service and a small artisan boutique. Say hello to the chef/owner, Somkuan... he's a great guy.
Time For Lime restaurant & bar is not just a well known professional Thai & Fusion Cooking School, it also has now a Beach & Tree-top Restaurant where you can relish the sunset & the breeze while peeking at what the cooking “students” are creating down below. In just a short time because of the word of mouth, more and more people are checking out the great food, atmosphere and the famous Mojitos. Bungalows are also for rent. Open all Year.
Restaurant Manao at Relax Bay Resort. Even if for several years relax bay had a restaurant, it went without a name. in 2008 however the restaurant was christened "Manao" or lemon in Thai. Open all year it serves delicious french and Thai food. Superb vieuw over a "private" beach and rocky promontory. Try the famous fresh local King Prauwns or the local daily catch. The French chef himself will be pleased to tell you all about it.
The Seven Seas wine bar & restaurant, +66 75 607 999, +66 75 607 999, 99 Moo 5, Ba Kantiang Bay, Located inside the **Pimalai Resort** this restaurant has nice sea views and the kitchen cooks up
Drink
There's not much in the way of party nightlife, which, for many, is part of the Koh lanta appeal - Relaxed. But there is always something going on if you ask around - There are a few restaurant/bars at the harbor, beaches and most hotels. Since it is a small island free of crime and drunkards, the local law-enforcers are more lenient about allowing bars to stay open until what time they wish, and that is usually when the last customer goes home.
Charlee BARleys - Under new management from a local family 2008 - a friendly bar/restaurant/bungalow in the center of Klong Nin Beach. This is a great place to meet other mellow travelers from every demographic. Relaxed sunset Happy Hours everynight. Sometimes live-music from international guests. Check it out.
Mooks bar - on Klong Dao beach between D.R. Lanta Bay Resort and Sun Fun & Sea Bungalows, and a good spot to relaxing with a drink on the beach, listen to some reggae, and maybe watch sports on TV. Mook himself is a person worth meeting.
Oscar's Bar - driftwood terrace on the beach.
Where Else / Feeling Bar - Indian & Thai food, in a clean, friendly, quiet, and above all relaxed atmosphere.
Korner Bar, Long Beach, Far south end of Long Beach, before Relax Bay, Bar on the beach/rocks that often has cheap drink offers on and sometimes guest DJs. Nice atmosphere and open late - axe pillow seating outside and covered seating inside.
Time for Lime's Beach Bar, 075 684 590, 72/2 mo 3, southern end of Klong Dao Beach, Cool jazz & chilled out music on the beach.
Lanta Pavilion/Sunset Restaurant, (66) 075 667 079, 9:00am-10:00pm, Khlong Khong Beach, 500 meters north of 7/11, Lanta Pvilion is a charming resort located near the middle of Klong Khong Beach. Surrounded by coconut trees, the resort itself is in the midst of a beautifully landscaped garden with many varieties of local plants and flowers, with a stunning panorama of rainforested hills opposite the white sandy beach. The restaurant (Sunset Restaurant)is one of the best in Lanta (500 meters north of 7/11 on Klong Khong Beach), with first rate Thai food, plus good European, Indian and Mexican food. There is also a fresh seafood BBQ every night during the busy season. While there are cheaper places along the beach, Lanta Pavilion/Sunset Restaurant is a great value. Check website for details. www.lantapavilion.com
Sleep
Ko Lanta has three tourist seasons: low, high and peak.
Peak season: late December, early January and for some resorts also around Songkran in April; expect premiums of 25–50% or more over the high season price and on Christmas and New Year's Eve many resorts have a compulsory banquet costing about as much as an extra night's accommodation.
High season from November until February, excluding peak season
Low season: April/May to October. Many resorts will be as much as 50% cheaper than the high season price. Many places used to close entirely but increasingly they're open year round.
You won't have much trouble finding accommodation as late as your arrival at the Saladan pier except in peak season. Standard accommodation on Klong Dao and Long Beaches (the two most northerly beaches) now start at about 1200 baht for a basic air-con bungalow or hotel room. The places further South offer free transport and can be much cheaper (100 baht for a spotless beach hut with bathroom), but the rides into town will be lengthy approx. 20 minutes. You can hire motorbikes for 250 baht a day a see lots of the island after a good nites sleep.
Accommodation is arranged by beach, north (most convienient to Saladan) to south (least convienient). Prices quoted here are for the high season unless otherwise specified.
Klong Dao Beach
Ancient Realm Resort & Spa, , Well managed beach front resort offering 14 beautifully themed air conditioned bungalows. One of the few resorts with all services open all year round. Nice staff, good restaurant and beach bar with low prices. Free wireless internet.
Maya Lanta Resort, , Hotel style building on the beach. They have a food and a fancy (by Lanta's standards) restaurant.
ChaDa Beach Resort & Spa, +66 75 668124-7, 278 Moo 1, Tambol Saladan, Amphur Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150 Thailand., luxury boutique Lanta resort set on 8 acres of prime white sandy beachfront
DR Lanta Resort, +66 8 1081 5679, 206 Moo 3, Restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
Lanta Summer House, +66 75 684 099, +66 75 684 099, 208 Moo 3, Typical beach-side bungalow resort with three-bed air-con bungalows. The restaurant is in the lower price range but the offerings, while extensive, are very watered down (they don't do spicy). Nice and friendly staff.
Royal Lanta, Luxury villa with beautiful bungalows in the Thai architectural style, pool, and laundry service.
Southern Lanta, Large resort with 100 bungalows, pool, restaurant and beachside bar.
Time for Lime bungalows, , personal and friendly place with 8 cozy fan bungalows. Free Wi-fi. You will love the food and you must love dogs also, as the Norwegian owner is the organizer Lanta Animal Welfare.
Long Beach (Ao Phra Ae)
Chaw Ka Cher Tropicana Lanta Resort, +66 75 637 970 , +66 75 637 970 , 352 Moo 2, Secluded resort with tropical garden.
Good Days Lanta Chalet and Resort, +66 75 684 186, +66 75 684 186, 183 Moo 2
Lanta Longbeach, +66 75 684 198, +66 75 684 198, 172 Moo 3, Pool and restaurant.
Lanta Nakara, +66 75 684 198, +66 75 684 198, 172 Moo 3, More luxurious cousin of Lanta Longbeach (same management); as a pool and restaurant.
Relax Bay Resort, 111 Moo 2, The Hotel, situadted in a green surrounding, where the original forest was as much kept intact as possible had romantic swimming pool added in 2007. French-Belgian owned resort with its own 1km beach and Thai-French restaurant.
Sanctuary, +6681 891 3055, 186 Moo 2, Well-designed bamboo bunglaows, mosquito nets and great Indian and Thai food from the restaurant.
Starwin Resort, Beautiful garden and cheap resort, 200 meters from the sea
Klong Khong Beach
Where Else Resort, +66 75 667 024, 149 Moo 2, Funky, chilled out bamboo eco tourism village surrounded by old coconut palm trees. Each bungalow is unique.
Lanta Full Moon Bay View Resort, +66 089 647 6525, 261 Moo. 2 Saladan Koh Lanta Krabi 81150, Wonderful place, great staff, and low price. Food and drinks are great. Free internet in lounge, laundry service available, pool, so many shady places to relax and read. Quiet beach, but really close to the action. The staff can help you with anything you need. Wonderful house cats lounging around to teach you the meaning of beach bum:) You will cry when you have to leave (I did)
Lanta Darawadee Hotel (ลันตา ดาราวดี โฮเต็ล), 162 Mu 2, Saladan, Koh Lanta, Krabi
Anda Lanta Resort (formerly Waterfall Bay Resort) , , 79 Khlong Jak phone=, Overpriced luxury bungalow resort with satellite TV and Internet access for guests. However there's no room service and the telephones don't work. Open during the low season.
Bamboo Bay Resort, +66 75 665 023, +66 75 665 023, Aow Mai Pai
Pimalai Resort & Spa, +66 75 607 999, +66 75 607 999, 99 Moo 5, A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World since 2001. Offers a PADI diving center and cooking classes.
Klong Jaak Beach
Sun Moon Bungalow, Klong Jaak, The quieter option at the south end of the island. Basic but clean bungalows in a peaceful garden setting. Beautiful quiet beach in front. Fabulous home cooking. Family owned and run. Approx 500baht per night (high season). Recommended for couples.
Mai Pai/Bamboo Bay
LaLaanta Hideaway Resort, (66)(0)75 665 066, (66)(0)75 665 066, Mai Pai/Bamboo Bay, A new resort with twenty spacious bungalows on Mai Pai/Bamboo Bay, the southernmost beach on Ko Lanta. Facilities include two beachfront swimming pools, a jacuzzi, a beach bar, a Thai/Western restaurant, and a beachfront dining area. All bungalows include air-conditioning, satellite TV, a mini-fridge, free wireless internet, and covered front porches; most have ocean views.Open all year round with some great rates in low season
Lanta Old Town
Lanta Buri Resort, (66)(0)84 0527758, Next to the Hospital in Old Town. There are 9 separate rooms available, each with a shower-room/WC, TV/cable, and fan or air conditioner. The rooms surround a lovely garden with small pond. The kitchen is available for use by guests as well as the outdoor dining area with ample tables and chairs.
Mango House Seafront Villa, (66)(0)86 9486836, Travelers now have a chance to rent rooms and villas in Lanta Old Town in a Mango House. All units are built directly over-the-sea in what many describe as Thailand’s most charming and culturally diverse fishing village. Mango House Seafront Villas, Suites and Rooms are renovated to feature the original charm of the teak wood structures that once served as Chinese merchant shop houses over 50 years ago. Classic dark hardwood and rich Chinese silks fuse with modern art and nature creating a retreat that soothes and invigorates body, mind and soul.
Orange House - Home stay, (66)(0)83 1043109, This two story stilted house over the sea, in the style of the 150 year old teak shophouses that line the street in Old Town, has just 2 suites offering spacious and comfortable accommodation for long or short term stays. Each suite has a shower-room/WC, a large bedroom and your own dining/living room with the most stunning views in Lanta. Tea and Coffee facilities, TV/DVD, internet access, use of the kitchen and 'back deck' are all included. Rates vary according to season and length of stay. Open all year.
Buy
Hammock House, 35 M2, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai +66 (0)75 697 098 (info@jumbohammock.com) - Unique hammocks in a unique decor. Handwoven in Thailand by the Mlabri tribe. Largest selection of quality hammocks on the island. Worth just the look!
Learn
Besides diving, Thai cooking courses on Ko Lanta are where wanna-be Thai cuisine chefs can learn to cook up all their favourite dishes such as tom * yum kung, sweet green curry and chicken with cashew nuts.
Time for Lime, 72/2 Moo 3 Klong Dao Beach +66 75 684590 offers professional and fun evening Thai & Fusion cooking classes right on the beach. It's run with a passion, usually only 1 class per day. What is most unique is that ALL THE PROFIT goes to run Lanta Animal Welfare, founded by the owner, to help the sad situation for the animals on the Island. Classes starts at 16.00 (Introduction, making curry paste, 4 dishes (mostly seafood) 1800 baht.
Krabi
Contact & location
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Ko Lanta (เกาะลันตา) is an island off the Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand. Like many other destinations in Krabi Province, it is known for its diving and long white beaches.
Understand
Ko Lanta consists of several islands, the two largest of which are Ko Lanta Noi (เกาะลันตาน้อย, "Small Lanta Island") and Ko Lanta Yai (เกาะลันตาใหญ่, "Big Lanta Island"). However, Ko Lanta Yai is where all the tourist action is, so this article will refer to it simply as "Ko Lanta".
Ko Lanta is popular with tourists seeking a holiday away from the parties. It's popular with a significantly older crowd than nearby Ko Phi Phi: more walking on the beach and watching the sunset than drinking and dancing. However, there are plenty of bars and the longer term stayers are friendly and know how to party! It is also popular with families with young children, and of course, with divers. Ko Lanta can provide a party if you know where to look.
Ko Lanta is a little less well-known than Ko Phi Phi, which has become more commercialised and corporate, but it is hardly undiscovered: the several beaches on the west coast of Ko Lanta Yai are each strung with a line of resorts and bungalows, although the farther down the island you venture, the less this is true. And even when the island is at it fullest, there will be a quiet place for you to relax - the beaches are never full. Ko Lanta is especially popular with Swedish tourists: although the "tourist language" is English as it is in most places in Thailand, and you will find menus and so on are translated into English, expect the poolside language to be Swedish much of the time. However, there are still many English and Irish bars and restaurants to visit.
Ko Lanta was hit by the tsunami in December 2004, which killed 20 people, but virtually all businesses are now operating normally again.
Climate
Weather in the region is tropical - there are only two seasons: the hot season from January to April, and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures during the year average 25ºC to 32ºC (77ºF to 89.6ºF) and the yearly rainfall averages 2568.5mm. Unlike in say Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily and quickly over short periods.
Weatherwise, the best time to visit Ko Lanta is between the months November to April when the area’s climate is less hot than usual. During this period the island gets a lot of dry North Easterly winds, so giving dry blue skies and starry nights. Then, down on the beaches one can enjoy nice sea breezes. From May to October the area gets a lot of rainfall, more on average than the rest of the country. During this period the island gets a lot of moist South Westerly winds, so giving a mixture of dry days and wet ones. The sea stays at a warm 29°C all year round.
Geography
The main island is 6km wide and over 30km long, located approximately 70km from Krabi Town. The island has 9 attractive white sandy beaches, splendid scenery; coastlines have more than 70 small islands and plenty with forest, coral reefs and under water life. The geography of the island is typically mangroves; coral rimmed beaches; and rugged tree covered hills.
A paved road runs along the beaches from the northern part of the island almost all the way to the southern tip. The last 8 kilometers leading to the headquarters of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park in the south are quite hilly and aren't yet paved so can become quite tricky to negotiate if it rains. The landscape is dominated by a series of mountains covered with virgin rainforest. To the east features an old community.
Culture
Krabi and Ko Lanta are a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. The majority of the population in the rural areas is Muslim. The area however, does not suffer from any religious tension and the folk live in peace and harmony. Most of the folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.
With this kind of mixture, Krabi is always celebrating something be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.
The unique lifestyle of the Chao-Le (sea-gypsy) in Ko Lanta particularly is well-worth a witness, a life-style that has been almost completely unaffected by the booming tourism on the island.
Getting there
By plane
The nearest airports are Krabi, Trang and Phuket. Krabi and Trang have direct road and boat connections to Ko Lanta, and are the best options if you're only visiting Ko Lanta. Flying into Phuket is a better option if you're intending to spend time in Phuket and nearby islands, or, since Phuket has many more international flights, if you don't want to have to organize a domestic flight to Krabi or Trang from Bangkok. As an alternative to Bangkok, there are daily flights to Krabi directly to and from Singapore, as well as Kuala Lumpur.
By car
Ko Lanta does not have roads connecting it directly to the mainland, but is served by car ferries. Take road 4206 off highway 4 about 20km south-east of Krabi airport. Drive to the end of the road, where there is a car ferry from Baan Hua Hin to Ko Lanta Noi. From the pier here, turn right and follow the "ferry" signs to the second car ferry to Ko Lanta Yai. Ferries operate 07:00-22:00.
There are plenty of car taxi and minivan taxi services from Krabi and the nearby airport. A seat in a ten person minivan from the airport to Ko Lanta costs about 300 baht. These minivans usually don't have much room for luggage (although they can usually find room for one or two large suitcases together with backpacks for the rest of the passengers) so if you're not traveling light you might need to get a private taxi.
This is what the divemasters do. A private minivan taxi will usually be quoted as 2500 baht. It's possible to bargain a few hundred baht off this price but not much more or the tolls will consume too much of the price. Car taxis cost about the same.
When travelling to/from Ko Lanta in the afternoon by road, allow 2–3 hours for the journey as the queues for the vehicle ferries can be lengthy. The passenger ferry which leaves Ko Lanta pier (high season) at 08:00 and arrives at Krabi pier at 10:00 is quicker.
By boat
From Ko Lanta to other islands
Private companies on Ko Lanta operate boat services to many destinations.
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 350 baht
Ko Lanta – Krabi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 300 baht (apparently, in high season, at least 400 baht)
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Phuket: 1.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m., 700 baht
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Krabi: 9.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., 700 baht
Ferry services run from Krabi, Ao Nang and from Phuket via Ko Phi Phi to Ko Lanta Yai's Saladan pier. Ferry services are subject to weather and to demand: many will not run at all during the monsoon season and at a reduced frequency during the low season. Many ferries have limited room for luggage. Often the ferries dock alongside each other, meaning that to get on and off passengers must clamber onto and across other boats with their luggage.
Services from Krabi are run by P.P. Family Co (+66 75 630 165) and depart Krabi pier at 10:30 and 13:30, taking 2 hours to reach Ko Lanta (200 baht including free pickup from Krabi hotels). There's a transit bus from Krabi town center for 10 baht.
Services from Ao Nang are run by Ao Nang Travel and Tour (+66 75 637 730) and depart at 10:30 (280 baht).
Ferries depart from Ko Phi-Phi at 11:30 and 14:00, and take 1 hour. If travelling from Phuket in a single day, you will need to leave Phuket on the 08:00 ferry to transfer to the 11:30 ferry. Tickets to Ko Lanta are 200 baht from Ko Phi-Phi and 450 baht from Phuket.
By passenger van
All the travel agents in Krabi Town can arrange passenger vans to Ko Lanta. There is no regular, scheduled van service from Krabi Airport, although vans and taxis can be chartered to Ko Lanta for about 2,000 baht per vehicle (2500 Baht if you are going to the southern end of Ko Lanta). Taxis (usually vans) are also available at the airport at the same rate.
There is a mini van service that runs between Krabi and Ko Lanta, However it must be booked in advance through your hotel or someone local, the cost is 400 Baht per person. Book early as it fills up quickly. It will pickup, drop off at the Airport. You should factor in 3 to 4 hours to get from Ko Lanta to the airport, since the mini van will pickup and drop off other people along the way.
By train
The nearest train station to Ko Lanta is in Trang province just south of Krabi. From there, there are trains to and from Bangkok. Distances from Bangkok The distance from Bangkok to Krabi is approx 950 km or about 12 hrs by car.
Route 1: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn - Phang Nga - Krabi = 946 km.
Route 2: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn (Highway No 41) to Chaiya (Suratthani) - Krabi (Viangsra) - Highway No 4035 - Krabi (Ao Luk) and along Highway 4 again = 814 km.
Traveling around
The main roads on the island are well paved. However the road just north of Mu Ko National Park is still unpaved dirt. That road ends at the park and so it isn't possible to drive from that point up the eastern side of the island.
It's worth knowing the names of the resorts near yours: both the pickup trucks and motorcycle taxis will often want to pick you up or drop you at a nearby resort with a better road.
Resorts and some of the major tourist services (like the dive shops) own large pickup trucks and transport tourists around in the tray. Very occasionally, they own minibuses instead. If you come in by ferry your resort will almost certainly meet you at pier with their truck; if you're travelling with very small children who you don't want to cling to while you bump along sitting on the side of the truck you might want to warn them in advance that you'll want to ride in the cab: it's generally assumed to be the private domain of the driver.
You will find the locals almost exclusively ride motorbikes; you can hire these in several places for a few hundred baht a day. You can also hire motorcycle taxis with sidecars. These will happily take you on the unpaved roads but the ride can be as slow as walking. A typical fare for a ride from Saladan to Klong Dao Beach is 40 baht.
Jeeps can be hired for 1200 baht per day. Be sure to check insurance, contract terms and the condition of the vehicle. The "roads" of Ko Lanta combined with the driver operation characteristics of some renters are a serious challenge for any car. The frequently available Suzuki Sporty seems primitive and therefore sturdy, and a replacement should cost around 150000 baht.
See
Lanta Old Town is a small village on Ko Lanta's East side. It's one of the region's most culturally diverse with Chinese merchants, original Thai fishing families and an ancient Sea Gypsy community. Many years ago, Ko Lanta's Old Town acted as the port and commercial center for the island and provided a safe harbor for Arabic and Chinese trading vessels sailing between the larger ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Today, Old Town is the district capital; it has a post office, police station, Buddhist temple, Chinese temple and the island's hospi tal as well as a long pier. It's a charming place to visit and boasts many good restaurants and interesting shopping like handmade Hammocks and an original Batik and Art Gallery. It's also a great jumping off point to other Islands like Ko Bubu and Ko Talenbeng.
Ban Saladan Ban Saladan, approximately 3 km from Klong Dao Beach, is the tourist center of Ko Lanta. Facilities include inexpensive and easy to find transport, diving trips, banking and shopping.
Khao Mai Kaew Caves Getting away from the beach for the day, tourists can visit the stunning Khao Mai Kaew Caves which are located in the centre of the island, offering a wonder of rocks and caverns and housing spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, some of the caves are just huge and one of them contains a pool. For getting around inside the caves you will need a guide, but one is cheap, around 200baht per person. You can also take an elephant-ride for arount 600baht per person. Take some good shoes, as the caves are slippery. The caves are located just off the lower of two cross-island roads, down a narrow 1.5 kilometer dirt path through the rubber plantations.
Sea-Gypsy Village Known to the Thais as Chao-Le, sea gypsies have occupied the area for hundreds of years settling along the coast in stilt-built houses erected between the water level of high and low tide. They are unique in that they mix very little with the general population, speak their language and have their very own supernatural and traditional beliefs and rituals. And example of the latter is the Loy Ruea (floating boat) ceremony where the village men build a symbolic boat and place wooden statues of themselves in it along with nail pairings, hair and popped rice. By performing this ritual, they ask for forgiveness from the sea gods and for any wrongs that may have done to the sea. It is believed that all evil is carried away in the symbolic boat.
Orchid nursery farm This farm is recommended to all those who like flowers. The Orchid Nursery Farm is located at Long Beach (Pra Ae beach) and the entry fee is 30 Baht per person. It’s easily accessible by bike or motorbike.
Koh Lanta Noi, Lanta Noi has no tourist facilities as such but is well worth a visit. Hire a motorbike and catch the ferry or longtail from Saladan Pier, there's a few circular roads, all well covered that will take you around the island to see the local way of life. There are a few local restaurants along the way so you can stop for some fried rice, pick up a map before you go from one of the tourist offices on Lanta Noi, and drive carefully!
Beaches
Kor Kwang. This beach, with its attractively curved shaped has lovely sand and clear aquamarine water.
Klong Dao. Over the years, Klong Dao has developed into the most popular beach on the island with a spectacular 3km long beach of fine white sand and shallow clear water. Yet, because of its length, it is never really that busy. It is located just 2km from Saladan Pier. The beach has an abundance of accommodation ranging in cost from just a couple of hundred to a few thousand. It is more than ideal for those who like a quiet beach but prefer to have all the usual tourist mods and cons such as international food, music and bars etc.
Pra Ae (Long Beach) This beach, situated in the north of the island, is a stunning crescent of sand about 4km long. There is a lot of accommodation there but since it is spread out a lot, visitors get the feeling that place is peacefully quiet.
Klong Khong For most of the length of Klong Khong beach there is a klong (small river) running opposite the beach and an old coconut plantation. Towards the southern end is an area where the local fishermen tie up their boats to the shore. A rocky reef runs along the length of the shore making it difficult for swimming but great for admiring the sunset.
Klong Nin This beach is separated by a klong that runs down to the beach at the northern third of the beach dividing it in two. The beach is covered with coconut and pine trees and the back end is tropical rain forest. Like almost all beaches on Koh Lanta, Klong Nin offers a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere and its sand is white and fine. The northern stretch is the best for swimming as it has far fewer rocky paths than the southern part of the beach.
Kan Tiang This small beach is only one kilometer long, so giving visitors more of a feeling of privacy. There are excellent corals for snorkeling as well. Lying 18 kilometers south of Baan Saladan, Kan Tiang beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Far Southern Beaches
There are a few beaches in the south of Koh Lanta. All are the beaches are small, just a few hundred meters long. The beaches are very quiet with little in the way of accommodation - ideal for those who want to ‘get away from it all’. They are:
Ao Nui (Nui Bay) - next to Bakantiang, the road changes to a dirt road in 5 km length leading to Mu Ko Lanta National Park. It is difficult to come around this area and you will need a good quality 4-wheel drive vehicle or a bike if you’re a really good rider.
Ko Lanta National Park - there are two beaches in the National Park, such as Had Hin Ngam.
Art
Likae Pa (ลิเกป่า) - an adapted play, Like Pa follows the adventures of an Indian merchant from Calcutta who married a local girl named Yayi. The story is then followed by other plays. Like Pa is accompanied by the music of folk instruments such as various kinds of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The lyrics are a mixture of the traditional Manora and Buranyawa songs. With its long history of popularity in Krabi, Like Pa performers are abundant here. It is believed that the play originated in this province. Many companies are still performing this dramatic art such as Mr. Truek Plodrit who won a cultural award.
Shadow Plays (หนังตะลุง) - this is an Indian influence. There are many shadow play or nang talung companies in Krabi.
Manora (มโนราห์) - the performance is native to southern Thailand, which truly reflects its traditional culture.
Rong Ngeng (รองเง็ง) and Phleng Tanyong (เพลงตันหยง) - a Malaysian adaptation, which is of Portuguese origin, rong ngeng is a traditional folk dance and music customarily performed in noble houses. It was later performed by the locals with Thai lyrics called phleng tanyong.
Things to do
Longtail boating
Lanta Longtail / Sun Island Tours, 9/1 Moo 1, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai +66 087 8916619 (info@lantalongtail.com) - private charters, island tours, beach camping and fishing trips.
Tailor Made Marine Tours, Orange House, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai +66 083 1043109 (admin@lantamarineservices.com) - Group or private charters to the Islands around ko Lanta, cliff jumping, beach BBQ's, snorkelling.
Sea kayaking
Diving
There are no scuba diving sites on the island itself, all require a boat trip. However Lanta is the closest island to the famous Hin Daeng and Hin Muang sites, so it is very popular with divers. Here below are the most popular diving sites:
Hin Daeng and Hin Muang near Ko Lanta are perhaps the best dive sites in Thailand (ranking in the world’s top ten) with more than 200 hard corals and 108 reef fish catalogued in a study underway, but thousands more organisms abound. Hin Daeng has the steepest and deepest in the whole of the country with fantastic marine life. Hin Muang next door is completely underwater and it is covered with delicate violet coral. The sites also have one of the world's highest incidences of whale shark sightings.
For details refer to Diving in Thailand and Diving in Ko Lanta
Trekking
Elephant rides can be arranged to take visitors to the top of the hill in Ko Lanta National Park.
Kayaking
The east side of Ko Lanta with its rich mangrove forests and caves is a great option for off-the-beaten-path kayaking. Kayaking can also be done on Ko Talabaeng, the limestone cliff near Ko Lanta.
Fishing
Wanna-be fishers can catch the likes of marlin, sailfish barracuda, red snapper and tuna. Three different kinds of fishing trip are offered by private long tail boat: both half-day, full day and night fishing.
Eat
In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken birayani.
As for Ko Lanta, reasonable priced and tasty seafood is obviously what most tourists long for when visiting a coastal province like Krabi. In this connection, the wing shell (หอยชักตีน) is Krabi’s famous cuisine. It is eaten with a spicy dip. In addition, stirred fried Spotted Babylon (หอยหวาน), which is found in mangrove forests, with chilies and basil is also famous. This cuisine is common in Ko Lanta’s restaurants. Another great Krabi taste is, of course, seafood. The Ko Lanta beach areas have several restaurants with the 'catch of the day' displayed on ice outside. One can find all kinds of fish; juicy crabs and langoustines; shellfish, including giant oysters; as well as squid and lobsters.
Ko Lanta has a wide variety of restaurants, the kind that most visitors travel to Thailand for: beach-front locations serving delicious and inexpensive Thai and seafood dishes. Eateries line the beaches in front of the bungalows and no visitor will starve from lack of variety or interesting places to dine.
Baan Laanta Bay View Restaurant (located in Kantiang Bay) is simply the best, fresh, seafood BBQ on the island. Enormous Tiger Prawns, fresh squid, snappers galore - all fish & seafood is caught fresh, locally each day, and cooked in any style you like, served with baked potatoes and a free salad bar (with the best dressings you can imagine!!). The view out over Kantiang Bay is beautiful and you can request a table on the beach for extra romance! Aqua Bar - the in-house cocktail bar, serves the freshest and most adventurous cocktails on the island - Mango Daquiri and Fresh Lime Margueritas are at the top of my list!
Sunset Restaurant is a very small restaurant on Klong Dao beach close to D.R. Lanta Resort beside Mooks bar. The Thai food is the best on Klong Dao beach and cheap too. Real Thai style eating with the tables directly on the sand and no decorations at all but a nice view and cool breeze from the sea. And the food... mmm.
Abdul's Pancakes is a crêpe stall run from a motorcycle sidecar. You can most often find him in Moo 1, Saladan, opposite Lanta Diver when the boat divers come back (around 15:00). His chocolate and banana crêpe and his chicken crêpe are especially recommended.
Cook Kai is just across the street from Klong Nin Beach. Wholly built of wood and lovely decorated, it offers a spacious open dining area and bar. Run by the cook and his brothers and sisters, their Thai food, which has a bit of an extraordinary note, is probably the best you can get in the area and beyond. Go for the daily specials announced on the board at the entrance! Cook Kai also offers thai cooking classes.
River Restaurant is a friendly family operation located on the beach just south of Narima Resort. They have a delicious menu...lots of Thai dishes and a few western ones as well. The Phad Thai is excellent. It is very popular with families and the owner's children often play with tourist kids
Thai Cuisine is a long-established favorite. It is in Phra Ae just south of the Opium night club. The menu features a wide selection of wonderful Thai dishes and Chinese as well. The "special" spring roll is excellent. There is bar service and a small artisan boutique. Say hello to the chef/owner, Somkuan... he's a great guy.
Time For Lime restaurant & bar is not just a well known professional Thai & Fusion Cooking School, it also has now a Beach & Tree-top Restaurant where you can relish the sunset & the breeze while peeking at what the cooking “students” are creating down below. In just a short time because of the word of mouth, more and more people are checking out the great food, atmosphere and the famous Mojitos. Bungalows are also for rent. Open all Year.
Restaurant Manao at Relax Bay Resort. Even if for several years relax bay had a restaurant, it went without a name. in 2008 however the restaurant was christened "Manao" or lemon in Thai. Open all year it serves delicious french and Thai food. Superb vieuw over a "private" beach and rocky promontory. Try the famous fresh local King Prauwns or the local daily catch. The French chef himself will be pleased to tell you all about it.
The Seven Seas wine bar & restaurant , +66 75 607 999, +66 75 607 999, 99 Moo 5, Ba Kantiang Bay, Located inside the **Pimalai Resort** this restaurant has nice sea views and the kitchen cooks up
Drink
There's not much in the way of party nightlife, which, for many, is part of the Koh lanta appeal - Relaxed. But there is always something going on if you ask around - There are a few restaurant/bars at the harbor, beaches and most hotels. Since it is a small island free of crime and drunkards, the local law-enforcers are more lenient about allowing bars to stay open until what time they wish, and that is usually when the last customer goes home.
Charlee BARleys - Under new management from a local family 2008 - a friendly bar/restaurant/bungalow in the center of Klong Nin Beach. This is a great place to meet other mellow travelers from every demographic. Relaxed sunset Happy Hours everynight. Sometimes live-music from international guests. Check it out.
Mooks bar - on Klong Dao beach between D.R. Lanta Bay Resort and Sun Fun & Sea Bungalows, and a good spot to relaxing with a drink on the beach, listen to some reggae, and maybe watch sports on TV. Mook himself is a person worth meeting.
Oscar's Bar - driftwood terrace on the beach.
Where Else / Feeling Bar - Indian & Thai food, in a clean, friendly, quiet, and above all relaxed atmosphere.
Korner Bar, Long Beach, Far south end of Long Beach, before Relax Bay, Bar on the beach/rocks that often has cheap drink offers on and sometimes guest DJs. Nice atmosphere and open late - axe pillow seating outside and covered seating inside.
Time for Lime's Beach Bar , 075 684 590, 72/2 mo 3, southern end of Klong Dao Beach, Cool jazz & chilled out music on the beach.
Lanta Pavilion/Sunset Restaurant , (66) 075 667 079, 9:00am-10:00pm, Khlong Khong Beach, 500 meters north of 7/11, Lanta Pvilion is a charming resort located near the middle of Klong Khong Beach. Surrounded by coconut trees, the resort itself is in the midst of a beautifully landscaped garden with many varieties of local plants and flowers, with a stunning panorama of rainforested hills opposite the white sandy beach. The restaurant (Sunset Restaurant)is one of the best in Lanta (500 meters north of 7/11 on Klong Khong Beach), with first rate Thai food, plus good European, Indian and Mexican food. There is also a fresh seafood BBQ every night during the busy season. While there are cheaper places along the beach, Lanta Pavilion/Sunset Restaurant is a great value. Check website for details. www.lantapavilion.com
Sleep
Ko Lanta has three tourist seasons: low, high and peak.
Peak season: late December, early January and for some resorts also around Songkran in April; expect premiums of 25–50% or more over the high season price and on Christmas and New Year's Eve many resorts have a compulsory banquet costing about as much as an extra night's accommodation.
High season from November until February, excluding peak season
Low season: April/May to October. Many resorts will be as much as 50% cheaper than the high season price. Many places used to close entirely but increasingly they're open year round.
You won't have much trouble finding accommodation as late as your arrival at the Saladan pier except in peak season. Standard accommodation on Klong Dao and Long Beaches (the two most northerly beaches) now start at about 1200 baht for a basic air-con bungalow or hotel room. The places further South offer free transport and can be much cheaper (100 baht for a spotless beach hut with bathroom), but the rides into town will be lengthy approx. 20 minutes. You can hire motorbikes for 250 baht a day a see lots of the island after a good nites sleep.
Accommodation is arranged by beach, north (most convienient to Saladan) to south (least convienient). Prices quoted here are for the high season unless otherwise specified.
Klong Dao Beach
Ancient Realm Resort & Spa , , Well managed beach front resort offering 14 beautifully themed air conditioned bungalows. One of the few resorts with all services open all year round. Nice staff, good restaurant and beach bar with low prices. Free wireless internet.
Maya Lanta Resort , , Hotel style building on the beach. They have a food and a fancy (by Lanta's standards) restaurant.
ChaDa Beach Resort & Spa , +66 75 668124-7, 278 Moo 1, Tambol Saladan, Amphur Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150 Thailand., luxury boutique Lanta resort set on 8 acres of prime white sandy beachfront
DR Lanta Resort , +66 8 1081 5679, 206 Moo 3, Restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
Lanta Nakara Resort, 120 Moo. 3 Saladan Longbeach Lanta Island, Krabi 811508
Lanta Summer House, +66 75 684 099, +66 75 684 099, 208 Moo 3, Typical beach-side bungalow resort with three-bed air-con bungalows. The restaurant is in the lower price range but the offerings, while extensive, are very watered down (they don't do spicy). Nice and friendly staff.
Royal Lanta , Luxury villa with beautiful bungalows in the Thai architectural style, pool, and laundry service.
Southern Lanta, Large resort with 100 bungalows, pool, restaurant and beachside bar.
Time for Lime bungalows , , personal and friendly place with 8 cozy fan bungalows. Free Wi-fi. You will love the food and you must love dogs also, as the Norwegian owner is the organizer Lanta Animal Welfare.
Long Beach (Ao Phra Ae)
Chaw Ka Cher Tropicana Lanta Resort , +66 75 637 970 , +66 75 637 970 , 352 Moo 2, Secluded resort with tropical garden.
Good Days Lanta Chalet and Resort , +66 75 684 186, +66 75 684 186, 183 Moo 2
Lanta Longbeach , +66 75 684 198, +66 75 684 198, 172 Moo 3, Pool and restaurant.
Lanta Nakara , +66 75 684 198, +66 75 684 198, 172 Moo 3, More luxurious cousin of Lanta Longbeach (same management); as a pool and restaurant.
Relax Bay Resort , 111 Moo 2, The Hotel, situadted in a green surrounding, where the original forest was as much kept intact as possible had romantic swimming pool added in 2007. French-Belgian owned resort with its own 1km beach and Thai-French restaurant.
Sanctuary, +6681 891 3055, 186 Moo 2, Well-designed bamboo bunglaows, mosquito nets and great Indian and Thai food from the restaurant.
Starwin Resort, Beautiful garden and cheap resort, 200 meters from the sea
Klong Khong Beach
Where Else Resort , +66 75 667 024, 149 Moo 2, Funky, chilled out bamboo eco tourism village surrounded by old coconut palm trees. Each bungalow is unique.
Lanta Full Moon Bay View Resort , +66 089 647 6525, 261 Moo. 2 Saladan Koh Lanta Krabi 81150, Wonderful place, great staff, and low price. Food and drinks are great. Free internet in lounge, laundry service available, pool, so many shady places to relax and read. Quiet beach, but really close to the action. The staff can help you with anything you need. Wonderful house cats lounging around to teach you the meaning of beach bum:) You will cry when you have to leave (I did)
Lanta Darawadee Hotel (ลันตา ดาราวดี โฮเต็ล), 162 Mu 2, Saladan, Koh Lanta, Krabi
Klong Toab Beach
Klong Nin Beach
Kantiang Bay
Baan Laanta Resort & Spa , +66 75 665 091, +66 75 665 091, 72 Moo 5, Kantiang Bay, Bay View Restaurant +
Anda Lanta Resort (formerly Waterfall Bay Resort) , , 79 Khlong Jak phone=, Overpriced luxury bungalow resort with satellite TV and Internet access for guests. However there's no room service and the telephones don't work. Open during the low season.
Bamboo Bay Resort, +66 75 665 023, +66 75 665 023, Aow Mai Pai
Kantiang Bay View Resort, +66 01 787 5192, 9 Moo 5, Restaurant +
Lanta Sand Resort & Spa , +66 75 684 633, +66 75 684 633, 279 Moo 3, 48 bungalows.
Pimalai Resort & Spa , +66 75 607 999, +66 75 607 999, 99 Moo 5, A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World since 2001. Offers a PADI diving center and cooking classes.
Klong Jaak Beach
Mai Pai/Bamboo Bay
Lanta Old Town
Lanta Buri Resort, (66)(0)84 0527758, Next to the Hospital in Old Town. There are 9 separate rooms available, each with a shower-room/WC, TV/cable, and fan or air conditioner. The rooms surround a lovely garden with small pond. The kitchen is available for use by guests as well as the outdoor dining area with ample tables and chairs.
Mango House Seafront Villa , (66)(0)86 9486836, Travelers now have a chance to rent rooms and villas in Lanta Old Town in a Mango House. All units are built directly over-the-sea in what many describe as Thailand’s most charming and culturally diverse fishing village. Mango House Seafront Villas, Suites and Rooms are renovated to feature the original charm of the teak wood structures that once served as Chinese merchant shop houses over 50 years ago. Classic dark hardwood and rich Chinese silks fuse with modern art and nature creating a retreat that soothes and invigorates body, mind and soul.
Orange House - Home stay , (66)(0)83 1043109, This two story stilted house over the sea, in the style of the 150 year old teak shophouses that line the street in Old Town, has just 2 suites offering spacious and comfortable accommodation for long or short term stays. Each suite has a shower-room/WC, a large bedroom and your own dining/living room with the most stunning views in Lanta. Tea and Coffee facilities, TV/DVD, internet access, use of the kitchen and 'back deck' are all included. Rates vary according to season and length of stay. Open all year.
Buy
Learn
Besides diving, Thai cooking courses on Ko Lanta are where wanna-be Thai cuisine chefs can learn to cook up all their favourite dishes such as tom * yum kung, sweet green curry and chicken with cashew nuts.
Time for Lime, 72/2 Moo 3 Klong Dao Beach +66 75 684590 offers professional and fun evening Thai & Fusion cooking classes right on the beach. It's run with a passion, usually only 1 class per day. What is most unique is that ALL THE PROFIT goes to run Lanta Animal Welfare, founded by the owner, to help the sad situation for the animals on the Island. Classes starts at 16.00 (Introduction, making curry paste, 4 dishes (mostly seafood) 1800 baht.
Krabi
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