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    Koh Lanta

    Thailand

    Koh Lanta

    CityCulture

    Koh Lanta, part of Krabi Province, is larger and more tranquil than most Andaman Sea islands.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Thailand
    7. Andamanensee-Küste
    9. Koh Lanta
    Koh Lanta, part of Krabi Province, is larger and more tranquil than most Andaman Sea islands. Its main island, Lanta Yai, is elongated: beaches line the west coast, forested hills rise inland, and a single main road connects north and south.The beaches vary distinctly. In the north lie Klong Dao and Phra Ae, featuring shallow water and the densest infrastructure. Further south, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, and Kantiang Bay become quieter and rockier. The Mu Ko Lanta National Park, complete with a lighthouse, hiking trail, and macaques, adjoins the southern tip.On the east coast lies Lanta Old Town, a village of stilt houses built over the water, where the island's Chinese-Muslim trading history is evident; nearby live families of the Urak Lawoi, the original sea nomads. The island is reached by ferry from Krabi and Phuket, and via a land connection over Koh Lanta Noi. The season runs from November to April; during the rainy season, many accommodations and restaurants close.

    Sights in Koh Lanta

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Lanta Animal Welfare Visitor Centre

    Junie Kovacs founded the animal sanctuary in 2005 to help stray, abused, and injured animals on Koh Lanta. Today, dogs and cats are treated, spayed/neutered, and rehomed here, funded by donations and sponsorships. Visitors can book tours to see how operations run.
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    2Lanta Old Town (Ban Si Raya)

    The historic town on the east coast was shaped by Chinese merchants who settled here. Along the shore are two-storey wooden houses on stilts, with lanterns, shutters, and tiled roofs. Today, they house shops, cafes, and restaurants whose terraces overhang the water. A Chinese shrine extends into the sea like a pier; opposite it stands a Chinese temple. The town is inhabited and quiet by day.
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    3Mu-Ko-Lanta National Park with lighthouse at Laem Tanod

    The southern tip of Koh Lanta Yai belongs to the Mu-Ko-Lanta-Nationalpark. From the park entrance, a short coastal path leads to the white-red lighthouse on the cape, and a longer jungle trail into the hills behind. Semi-wild macaques graze on the cape; two small beach coves lie before it. Admission is charged at the gate; the coastal road access is steep and partly washed out in the rainy season.
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    4Khao Mai Kaeo Caves

    Within the island's forested interior, a system of chambers and narrow passages leads into the limestone. Access is only advisable with a local guide: The route involves a slippery forest path, climbing inside, and a rappel at one point. Sturdy footwear and clothes that can get dirty are required. During the rainy season, the path is often impassable.
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    5Kantiang Bay

    The bay in the southwest is framed by wooded hills and significantly smaller than the long beaches in the north. The sand drops off steeply; during the shoulder season, swells often roll in here. The road runs above the bay and from several hairpin bends offers views of the coast. Away from the beachfront, the development is sparse.
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    6Ban Sangka-U

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    Essen & Trinken

    Auntie Ang Restaurant Thai Food and Vegan Koh Lanra

    A small restaurant on Koh Lanta, serving Thai food with a large part of the menu also purely plant-based. The decor is simple, the operation family-run. For vegan travelers, this is one of the island's most straightforward addresses – elsewhere you often have to haggle over fish sauce and shrimp paste.
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    Laeley 1,000 miles restaurant

    A Thai restaurant on Koh Lanta specializing in fish and seafood, as is common on the Andaman Coast. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. During the high season between November and April, the place fills up in the evenings; outside this period, many places on Koh Lanta are closed.
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    105 Café Bar & Restaurant.

    A café and restaurant on Koh Lanta, offering Thai dishes and Western classics side-by-side, plus coffee and drinks. Open from breakfast until evening, it caters mainly to travelers. A dependable fallback when a group can't agree on what to eat.
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    Food & Beverage

    Koh Lanta's cuisine is distinctly Southern Thai, making it spicier and saltier than in the country's central regions. A Muslim influence means many curries feature beef or chicken, with pork rarely found in local eateries. Fresh fish, sourced from Saladan port and the east coast villages, is often grilled directly over charcoal.

    Kaeng Tai Pla

    A fiercely spicy, dark curry of fermented fish innards with bamboo and aubergines. Southern Thailand's most emblematic dish, it's decidedly more potent than anything on tourist menus.

    Gaeng Som

    Sour, tamarind-based curry, usually with fish and vegetables. Yellow to orange, thin and distinctly sour, served with rice.

    Grilled Fish and Fruits of the Sea

    Barracuda, snapper, squid, and prawns, grilled in a salt crust or with herb paste. In Saladan and the Old Town, the catch is usually displayed on ice and charged by weight.

    Roti

    Thinly stretched flatbread, in Muslim kitchens savory in mornings with curry dip, sweet in evenings with banana and condensed milk. Widespread at street stalls along the main road.

    Khao Yam

    Southern rice salad with shredded coconut, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, sprouts, and fermented fish sauce. Eaten for breakfast.

    Massaman Curry

    Mild curry with cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and peanut, that came to Southern Thai cuisine through trade with Malay-Muslim regions. Usually with chicken or beef and potatoes.

    Culture and Population

    Three Population GroupsKoh Lanta is culturally more diverse than most Andaman Islands. The majority of the rural population is Muslim; in villages, mosques and prayer times set the daily rhythm. During Ramadan, many local kitchens close during the day. Buddhist and Thai-Chinese families are also present, along with the Urak Lawoi, one of the Andaman Sea's sea nomad groups, predominantly living in the southeast.The Old TownChinese traders settled in Ban Si Raya on the east coast; their descendants still shape the area. Its two-story wooden houses on stilts along the shore likely date from the 1960s, alongside a Chinese shrine resembling a pier into the sea, and a temple. Each March, the Old Town celebrates the Laanta-Lanta-Festival with music, dances, and street food.Away from the beaches, the rule is: cover shoulders and knees in villages and mosques; swimwear stays on the beach.

    Getting There and Getting Around

    ArrivalA car ferry crosses from the mainland to Koh Lanta Noi; since 2016, the Siri-Lanta Bridge connects to Koh Lanta Yai. Minivans with ferry transfer run year-round from Krabi and Trang to your accommodation. During high season (November to April), additional boats operate, docking at Saladan Pier in the island's north, including from Krabi, Phuket, and Koh Phi Phi. During the rainy season, many boat connections are suspended, but the land route via the ferry remains available.On the IslandSongthaews and Tuk-Tuks: operate on demand along the main road; agree on the price beforehand.Scooters: the most common option for longer stays. Southern sections are steep and winding, and some side roads are unpaved.Longtail boats: for the eastern mangroves and beaches without road access.

    Accommodations in Koh Lanta

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      • 1Lanta Animal Welfare Visitor Centre3 days
      • 2Lanta Old Town (Ban Si Raya)4 days
      • 3Mu-Ko-Lanta National Park with lighthouse at Laem Tanod5 days
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    Nearby

    Koh Phi Phi Islands

    Koh Phi Phi Islands

    The Phi Phi Islands are located between Phuket and Krabi. The largest are the inhabited Phi Phi Don and the uninhabited Phi Phi Leh, both part of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Limestone cliffs drop almost vertically into the sea here, with narrow sandy coves nestled between them.All ferries reach Phi Phi Don at Tonsai Pier. The village, situated on a flat land bridge between two bays, is car-free; you travel on foot or by longtail boat. From the village, steps lead to viewpoints above the double bay; quieter beaches like Long Beach are located further southeast.On Phi Phi Leh lies Maya Bay, which was closed for years due to overuse and is now accessible with restrictions: swimming in the bay is prohibited, and it remains closed every year from August to September. In the evenings, nightlife centers on Loh Dalum Bay, featuring beach bars and fire shows. High season runs from November to April.

    Koh Kradan

    Koh Kradan is a small island located about 10 kilometers off the coast of Trang province. Most of it belongs to Hat Chao Mai National Park. There is no village and no roads, just a handful of accommodations behind the beach and paths through the forest. In 2023, the British website World Beach Guide named Koh Kradan the best beach in the world.The main beach is approximately 2 kilometers long and lies on the east side. You can watch the sunrise from here, and the sunset from the small bay Ao Chong Lom on the west. Directly in front of the main beach begins a coral reef that you can snorkel without a boat.There are no ATMs or shops; meals are eaten in the restaurants of the accommodations. Bring cash from the mainland. The island is on the island-hopping route between Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, and Koh Libong; the Tham Morakot cave on Koh Mook can be easily combined. The season runs approximately from November to April, outside of which many businesses close.
    Railay Beach

    Railay Beach

    Railay is a peninsula in Krabi Province, between Krabi Town and Ao Nang, with steep limestone cliffs cutting it off from the mainland. No road leads here: you arrive by longtail boat from Ao Nang (around 15 minutes) or from the Krabi coast; departures depend on wind and sea conditions.The peninsula has several sides: Railay West (wide sandy beach, promenade, boat pier), Railay East (mangrove bay, not for swimming, but cheaper accommodation), and Phra Nang Beach (south, under overhanging rocks, famous cave shrine). North of this is Tonsai, the climbers' and backpackers' quarter.Railay is one of Asia's most renowned sport climbing areas, boasting over 700 bolted routes. Local schools rent equipment and offer courses for beginners.A steep, rope-secured path leads to the viewpoint and the Sa Phra Nang lagoon; it's slippery after rain, so sturdy shoes are required. Macaques live on the beaches, deliberately grabbing bags and edibles.
    Ao Nang

    Ao Nang

    Ao Nang is the main beach resort in Krabi province and a departure point for boat tours into the Andaman Sea. From its long sandy beach, you can gaze at offshore limestone islands, while longtail boats take you to Railay and Phra Nang beaches, which are only accessible by water. Popular options include the Four Islands Tour, featuring Phra Nang Cave Beach, Chicken Island, Tup, and Poda, as well as excursions to the Hong Islands. Boat tours are most reliable from November to April.
    Krabi

    Krabi

    Krabi Town is the administrative hub of the province and, for many travelers, primarily the gateway to the islands of the Andaman Sea. The town is situated on the Krabi River amidst mangroves and limestone cliffs, revealing authentic Thai daily life that the surrounding beach resorts rarely offer, most vividly at its night markets. Staying here for a night or two offers more affordable accommodation, easy access to Wat Tham Suea and the mangrove canals, and a convenient base for excursions to Ao Nang, Railay, and the islands.

    Sources & method

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