Koh Lanta – quick travel guide

Located off coast of Krabi in southwest Thailand, one of Thailand’s more beautiful islands…equally beautiful as Phuket or Koh Phi Phi but without the tourists. Actually peaceful and remote. Easy to get around, easy to relax, easy to actually enjoy nature.

This island is good if you want quiet, to live on a beach island with cheap accommodation, or scuba diving. But all else, it pails in comparison. Very little to do, food not as good or as authentic as other places. There’s a big divide between local areas and foreigner areas, with very little mixing. All the foreigner have only restaurants that cater to westerners, and the flavor is very watered down. Prices for food and massages are also more expensive…again, because these areas cater only to foreigners.

Take 3 days rest or however long you need to recharge, and move on.

Where to stay:

• West coast middle – most people recommend the middle area of the west coast since you’re near beaches and busier parts of the island. Being central also makes you closer to both north and south areas.
  • Anywhere from Pra-Ae Beach down to Klong Khong Beach is the most recommended.
  • I’d say Pra-Ae Beach and Long Beach have the most “nightlife” vibe.
• Lanta Old Town – southeast end of the island, just across from Ko Por island.

No Grab here. Just taxi and tuktuk mafia with extortion prices. Most foreigners rent a motorbike to get around. Flat, safe, and easy. Very little traffic.

And if you’re renting a bike anyway to get around, then it doesn’t matter as much where you are. Staying on the water can be annoying if your accommodation or the bar next door plays loud music all day. Read reviews to make sure.

Hostels & Hotels:

• DOX Ko Lanta – great location, great reviews, highest rating. Book early if you want a dorm, as they fill up quick. I had to take a private room and no regrets, it’s great! Super modern and very nice.
• De Bra Hostel – another top-rated one but more remote location, which many people do complain about it being far from beach and not many commercial places around.
• Sanctuary Lanta – new one and looks promising. Right next to the beach on NW side of island.
• Slacklines Hostel – NW side of island a bit inland. Good reviews, nice vibe.
• Non La Mer Hostel – NW side of island slightly inland, very wild tropical feel. Highly popular (probably most popular on the island) and always booked out. Many complaints about cleanliness of bed and bathrooms, lacking AC.
• Lanta Hostel – good enough location close to the beach, social and good working area, issues with cleanliness and overall comfort.
• Baan Oon Talay (Koh Por) – located on Koh Por, small island right next to Koh Lanta on southeast side. Looks like an interesting place to stay.

Neighborhoods, walking areas, public squares:

• Moo 1 (Long Beach)* – basically the Long Beach area. Busiest area IMO both day and night, since it has beaches, and located in the north closer to where people enter the island.
• Moo 2 (Relay Bay) – just next door south of Moo 1, also busy.
• Klong Khong Beach – has restaurants and shops, but not the busiest area. Not worth exploring unless you’re already staying here.
• Moo 6 (Khlong Noen Beach)* – busy elevated area along the water with many restaurants and shops, more fancy accommodation. Can eat here with elevated views along the water.
• Kantiang Bay* – All other “busy” areas are just rows of restaurants next to each other, some all-purpose tour shops renting bikes, and offering souvenirs or massages. Also elevated above the water.
• Koh Lanta Old Town* – most dense touristy area for walking around. Restaurants, bars, shops. Definitely busy during the day. At night, I’m really not sure if people hang out here or everyone goes west side for the beaches and sunset. Has a pier to walk out on and take a day trip to Ko Por.
• Lanta Walking Street – great area especially at night. Has a night market and lots of people and places to wander.

Activities to do:

• Explore the island via motorbike…coastline, national parks, some hikes to a viewpoint.
• Beaches, bridges, water-points:
  • Beaches tend to be either commercialized and have restaurant bars with music, or they’re quiet but lots of trash. The beaches here look nice on photos (clear waters) but not as pretty in real life…thick rough sand with many rocks and broken shell pieces. Many looked abandoned with fallen trees and coconuts.
  • Pra-Ae Beach* – nice beach with lots of restaurant bars. Probably the nicest busiest ones are here.
  • Long Beach* – most popular beach. Lots clean until you venture far from the busy parts.
  • Relax Bay – nice and less crowded beach but many rocks and corals in water.
  • Secret Beach – smaller, less crowded and more secluded. Lots of trash on the way here, lots of sharp rocks in the water. Good for sunset if you want to be alone.
  • Beautiful Beach – small beach, not crowded, no sunbeds or umbrellas to hide from sun. Perhaps you and palm trees. Can be more empty depending on the season.
  • Sunset rock & Viewpoint – tiny little stone beach with elevated points to watch the sunset.
  • Coconut Palm Beach – lots of rocks in the water, lots of trash on the beach.
  • Klong Khong Beach – emptier beach. Not much restaurant bars, not much people. Round sand with little rocks and shell pieces. Annoying to walk. Lots of rocks in the water, perhaps fun for exploring tide pools. Some shade in the trees.
  • Nui Bay* – lovely small calm beach, clean water, fewer people and very peaceful. Has rocks on the ends for you to climb around and distance yourself further. Very little shade unless you go near the rocks on the ends. One little bar. Thieving monkeys. Fish for snorkeling. Great spot for sunset as well. Nice descent from the parking on the cliff, with view from top.
  • Bamboo Beach – nice beach and secluded, only one restaurant, not much shade, rocks in water, nice for snorkeling as well. My friends went and left right away because the monkeys were too aggressive at the entrance, they didn’t feel comfortable to even get on the beach.
• Islands:
  • Koh Por – small island. Based on boat schedules from Koh Lanta Old Town pier, you will spend either 3 or 5 hours here. 3 hours is perfect to walk to two areas and eat lunch on the water and quick dip in the water. 5 hours would have more time to really lay down. Saw some big monitor lizards. Who island is maybe 40min walk from top to bottom if walking straight through the inside. If walking along the sand and rocks, maybe double the time. There’s nothing much to see. Feels like a local island with local people and nobody else. Very few tourists. Could be nice to spend some nights here for a very peaceful escape.
  • Koh Rok – usually included as part of the Koh Rok & Koh Haa diving tour.
  • Koh Haa – seems this is the most beautiful diving spot (scuba & snorkel). Lots of colorful corals, many fish in the water. Just beautiful.
  • Koh Muk – rent kayak from Charlie Beach and head to Emerald Cave.
• Diving:
  • Top place for diving! Nice corals and underwater life.
  • scuba
  • snorkel
• Viewpoints, landmarks, sunsets, hikes, parks:
  • Tham Khao Mai Khew – 25min jungle hike to a cave, and the cave itself is 1hr exploration (if open). The hike is still worth it even if cave is closed. Lots of animals and interesting things to see.
  • Mu Ko Lanta National Park (south) – fast hikes & viewpoints, and a beach. Make sure they give you a ticket, as I believe it also gives you entry into the waterfalls (elsewhere on island).
  • Viewpoints on the east (south of Laem Ngu Viewpoint)
  • Chai Hat Lang Sot (scenic spot) –
  • Chomview Water Park – fun for a little bit until you (inevitably) get hurt. Poorly maintained place with full of dangers. Read reviews for yourself.
• Buildings & architecture:
  • Prukromlanta Apartment – totally abandoned building with graffiti, cows in the backyard, looks like a place for squatters. Maybe interesting for urban photography if you’re bored with nothing else to do.
• Arts, museums, culture:
• Markets, shopping:
  • Lanta Walking Street – best night market in the busiest part of town. Lots of people and food options.
• Massage:
  • Lhing Massage – koh Lanta – very good! Not my favorite in all of Thailand but in the top 3 for sure.
• Tours:
  • Diving – probably the main activity tour for this area. Seeing (mostly bleached) corals and underwater life. Depending on who you talk to, it might even be the best diving in Thailand. Sure, it doesn’t have the whale sharks and cheap competitive rates like in Koh Tao…but it’s less crowded here and underwater life less spoiled.
  • Snorkel tour – some focus on just Koh Rok & Koh Haa. The 4 Islands Snorkel Tour does Chuek, Mook, Ngai, then Kradan or Maa. Also one doing Ngai & Mook islands, then Emerald Cave. Some people loved them, others felt unimpressive or still too crowded.
  • Many similar boat tours as offered in Krabi here, but perhaps fewer options since the distance is further away.

Restaurants & Cafes:

• Really underwhelmed by the restaurants along the road in tourist areas. Eaten at numerous places and while the quality wasn’t bad, I felt the flavors were too westernized (watered down). Or perhaps the island is too small for them to have all the spices, I don’t know. The night markets were much more authentic and also cheaper.
• My hostel recommended as their favorites:
  • Pinto (Old Town)* – lovely westernized Thai restaurant right on the water SE side by Old Town. Nice view and seating along the water. Great view, good food, prices above average. Great for afternoon while you explore Old Town before before going to west coast beach for sunset.
  • Chef Chalong – Thai food
  • Loro Locco – western
  • Qings – Chinese

Bars, clubs, and nightlife:

• Not big on nightlife but as least it’s coherent, and every night has one main designated party place where everyone goes. Each plays different music. Other nights would be lively as well but not as packed.
  • Free Descent (Monday) – I didn’t go on Monday, but Sat night was a wide mix of danceable Latin hip-hop R&B in between live karaoke. Nice big place with pool table, back and front open-air space.
  • Pangea (Tuesday) –
  • Mushroom Bar (Wednesday) –
  • Ozone Bar (Thursday) –
  • Fusion (Friday) – outdoor woods-ey hippie jungle bar right on the beach. Was electronic music when I went, which I love. No cover for entry. Hang inside closer to music, or sit outside in the many chairs around. Walk to the water and look at the stars.
  • Korner Bar (Saturday) – beach bar just a couple spots down from Fusion, electronic music as well. Gets busy late.
  • Mushroom Bar (Sunday) –

Miscellaneous tips:

• Thailand – quick travel guide
• Transportation:
  • Walking is not practical with the distances and lack of shade-cover. Not many big buildings or trees. Sidewalks are just dirt patches if that.
  • Rideshare – no rideshare here. No apps work here.
  • Taxi – very expensive
  • Motorbike – usually everyone rents a bike and uses that to get around quickly since everything is kind of spread out.
  • Airport – nearest one is Krabi airport. Plenty of shuttles to get you there, and cheaply (with hotel pickup).
• Wildlife:
  • Mosquitos & sandflies – lots of bites happening. Watch out. Sandflies are super hard to kill, have painful stings, and don’t seem affected by mosquito repellants.
  • Monkeys on beach – they steal your stuff, so watch out!
  • Jellyfish – lots of stinging jellyfish in the waters. Watch out!
  • Streets dogs – As with Thailand, there can be some aggressive street dogs.
  • Snakes – careful going into the jungle.

Itinerary:

• DAY 1 – walk the westside beaches, look for sunset spot (I like Nui Bay but Phra ae and Long Beach will also do, go to Lanta Walking Street at dinner time for night market.
• DAY 2 – check out national park, hiking, viewpoint, or do a boat snorkel tour.
• DAY 3 – visit Koh Por island during the day for 3-5 hours (lookup schedule online). Then see Koh Lanta Old Town at night.
• DAY 4 – do 4 islands tour. Or take boat to Koh Muk and kayak to Emerald Cave.

Nearby towns:

Unfiltered notes:

• Think I made a mistake in Koh Lanta – reddit
• Good snorkelling from Koh Lanta – reddit