Ko Lanta Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Ko Lanta
Home to stunning beaches and mangroves rich with wildlife, this increasingly popular island has managed to maintain a laid-back atmosphere.

Ko Lanta is certainly not an off-the-beaten path destination but its long stretches of sand feel quiet and secluded. Steady tourism ensures that the island offers extensive dining and nightlife options, as well as activities ranging from diving to yoga.

Head to Ko Lanta’s east coast to explore Muslim fishing villages, where locals continue to practice their traditional way of life. Quaint Lanta Old Town is particularly wonderful to visit during March, when the neighbourhood comes to life with traditional food and entertainment for the Laanta Lanta Festival.

Although it would be tempting to spend every day stretched out under the sun on one of Lanta’s four main beaches, Mu Ko Lanta National Park is well worth leaving the beach for. Hike through the park’s lush jungle, where you can spot monkeys, egrets, snakes and other fascinating wildlife. Don’t miss the romantic old lighthouse resting on the cliff of Ta Noad Cape, a gorgeous lookout point over the park’s two beaches. 

Khlong Jak Waterfall offers another rewarding hike through jungle vegetation and rocky cliffs. Cool off in the natural pool found at its base. Kayak or arrange a boat tour around Thung Yee Pheng Mangrove Forest, where you can spot fiddler crabs, cranes and sea eagles.

Ko Lanta is one of Thailand’s top yoga destinations, with both full-length classes and relaxed beachside sessions available.  Take a class at one of the island’s cooking schools, where you can learn how to make spicy pad thai and sweet mango sticky rice.

Snorkel, scuba dive or kayak to nearby islands, such as Ko Rok and Ko Bida. The waters off Ko Lanta’s coast are also excellent for surfing, boogie boarding, sailing and fishing. 

The closest airport is Krabi International, from where Ko Lanta can be reached in a little over an hour by a combination of bus and ferry transport. Tourism in Ko Lanta is highly seasonal, with many local businesses closing during the rainy season from May to October.

Long Beach Chalet
Long Beach Chalet
3 out of 5
472 Moo 3, Tambon Saladan, Ko Lanta, Krabi
The price is ฿1,203 per night from 28 Apr to 29 Apr
฿1,203
per night
28 Apr - 29 Apr
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Ko Lanta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Long Beach and Klong Dao Beach are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (185 reviews)
"Pick up and transfer from to airport stress free. :) Wonderful beach hotel is situated on. Lots of restaurants on the main road outside of the property. Best breakfast buffet!"

Reviewed on 24 Feb 2024

Long Beach Chalet
Layana Resort and Spa
Layana Resort and Spa
5 out of 5
272 Moo 3 Saladan, Phra-Ae Beach, Ko Lanta, Krabi
The price is ฿6,617 per night from 18 Apr to 19 Apr
฿6,617
per night
18 Apr - 19 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury resort in Ko Lanta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Long Beach and Klong Dao Beach are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (133 reviews)
5 night stay
"Lovely hotel in a great location with helpful / friendly staff. Good facilities all around. Breakfast very good with beach side seating. All in all a very enjoyable stay."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2024

Layana Resort and Spa
Nakara Long Beach Resort
Nakara Long Beach Resort
3 out of 5
172 M.3 Saladan, Koh Lanta Yai, Pra Ae (Long Beach), Ko Lanta, Krabi
The price is ฿2,001 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
฿2,001
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Ko Lanta. Enjoy free parking, 2 outdoor pools and a beach locale. Popular attractions Klong Dao Beach and Long Beach are located ...
7.8/10 Good! (169 reviews)
Great Beach
"Great hotel right on the beach. Lovely to walk along and nice sand."

Reviewed on 8 Feb 2024

Nakara Long Beach Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Alanta Villa
Alanta Villa
4 out of 5
429 Moo 2, Klong Krong Beach, Saladan, Ko Lanta, Krabi
Stay at this 4-star beach villa in Ko Lanta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and private pools. Popular attractions Khlong Khong Beach and Long Beach are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (30 reviews)
Superb villa
"We had 5 nights at Alanta Villa, and by day two we knew we hadn’t booked long enough. The villas are peaceful, well appointed, comfortable, and very private. We found the staff are incredibly helpful and very friendly… genuinely lovely people There’s a lot of wildlife knocking about in the gardens, ..."

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2024

Alanta Villa
Puteri Lanta Family Villas
Puteri Lanta Family Villas
3.5 out of 5
114 Moo 5 Kantiang Beach, Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Lanta, Krabi
Stay at this 3.5-star family-friendly villa in Ko Lanta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and breakfast. Popular attractions Ba Kan Tiang Beach and Ba Kan Tieng ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (21 reviews)
Hotel has bedbugs
"This hotel had bedbugs. We had a reservation in the 3br suite and around 11pm discovered there were bedbugs infested in all 3 rooms. I struggled with posting this review because all of the the staff are so nice but I see the room is available for reservation again and it was a total nightmare to ..."

Reviewed on 7 Jan 2024

Puteri Lanta Family Villas
Baan KanTiang See Villas (2 bedroom villas)
Baan KanTiang See Villas (2 bedroom villas)
3.5 out of 5
263 Moo5, Ko Lanta, Krabi
Stay at this 3.5-star family-friendly villa in Ko Lanta. Enjoy breakfast, WiFi and a children's pool. Popular attractions Ba Kan Tiang Beach and Ba Kan Tieng ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (64 reviews)
Fint boende!
"Allting var mycket bra, det enda negativa var att avståndet till stranden är lite längre än vad som framgick innan. Riktigt fint läge med magisk utsikt och otrolig service!"

Reviewed on 14 Feb 2023

Baan KanTiang See Villas (2 bedroom villas)
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Ko Lanta

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
25
" "5 - Excellent 51.02040816326531%
4 - Good
20
" "4 - Good 40.816326530612244%
3 - Okay
3
" "3 - Okay 6.122448979591836%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 2.0408163265306123%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
22 Mar 2020

Beautiful location and beaches .

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
29 Feb 2020

Had a great stay , peaceful place , hope they don’t destroy lanta like they did the other Thai islands with tourism

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
8 Jan 2020

We didn’t see it all, what we did see was beautiful and not overly commercial.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
8 Dec 2019

Don't forget to see a local Muay Thai event to support the local clubs.

5/5 - Excellent

Tim
20 Nov 2019

It’s how the other islands in Thailand were 15 years ago.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
19 Nov 2019

Really liked the relaxed feel of the island. Easy to get around and some great view points.

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