Overview

Koh Lanta is the ideal setting for anyone looking for a beach holiday without the crowds. The island boasts white-sand beaches and plenty of accommodation, but it isn't packed as densely as Thailand's other coastal resorts. Nature-based attractions like the marine national park, the orchid farm and Khao Maikaeo Caves are tourists' favourites. Cultural sightseeing is possible in the sea gypsy village and in the historic town of Lanta.

Sea gypsy village

The sea gypsies are an ethnic minority that have lived on portions of Thailand's coastline for centuries. They maintain insular communities, living in stilt houses, speaking a unique language and practising a form of animism that is distinct from Buddhism. The local sea gypsy villagers welcome visitors, and the best time to visit is during the Loy Ruea boating festival.

Lanta historic town

The old town is situated on the east coast of Koh Lanta and harbours an eclectic mix of cultures. It was once a port of call for Chinese and Arab trading ships that were bound for Phuket or Singapore. Today, it is the capital of the island and maintains remnants of the Chinese mercantile community in the form of a Chinese temple. Traditional stilted houses line the coast.

Orchid farm

On Phra Ae Beach to the north of the island, visitors can tour one of the finest orchid botanical gardens in the region. A vast collection of these delicate, tropical flowers is on display. The Phra Ae Beach area is spread out across roughly three miles of coastline, with accommodation loosely arrayed along the coast. Tourists staying in this area enjoy easy access to the orchid farm, which can be reached by bicycle, public transportation or hire car.

Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park

This park stretches to include portions of the main island and the marine habitat that surrounds it. Park status staves off development, making this the most pristine stretch of coastline in the area. Visitors can camp on Ha and Rok Nok Islands (with park permission). Hiking is a favourite pastime here, with trails leading through tracts of forest, along craggy portions of the coastline and to a lighthouse.

Khao Maikaeo Caves

This network of caves is inland from the beaches and boasts expansive caverns, some of which are absolutely enormous. Inside, visitors can view large stalactite and stalagmite formations and even swim in a subterranean pool. Hiring a knowledgeable guide ensures that you'll make it to all of the key attractions. The caves are situated near the junction of the island's two major roads, accessible by a one-mile foot path.

Koh Rok

This island is the nicest of those grouped in the national marine park. At high tide it splits into two islands as the low-tide sand bar disappears. The beaches boast luxurious white sand and the offshore, shallow reefs are ideal for snorkelling. Behind the waterfront is an unbroken line of limestone cliffs. Koh Rok is, in many ways, the idyllic tropical island that vacationers dream about.

Beaches

Koh Lanta has plenty of enviable real estate where the Andaman waters, white sands and crescent-shaped bays set the stage for coastal resorts. This island operates at a lower key than Phuket, so tourists won't find as many high-octane water sport facilities. Instead, Koh Lanta's beaches are geared for holiday makers looking for a quiet and semi-private escape. Popular beaches include Ko Kwang, Pra Ae, Klong Nin and Klong Dao.

Overview

Koh Lanta has an edge on other resorts in Thailand. Instead of focusing on facilities and mass tourism, the island attracts smaller crowds with a range of natural attractions and easygoing activities. Visitors won't find many opportunities for jet skiing or banana boating, but there are plenty of chances to go kayaking, fishing and scuba diving. Hiking and elephant riding are also available.

Diving

As a whole, the Andaman coastline is Thailand's premier scuba diving and snorkelling destination. Koh Lanta has many excellent locations for both sports, with plenty of dive shops offering equipment hire and PADI certification courses. The south shore of the main island is excellent, but the best waters are over reefs that fringe the outlying islands. Dive shops can arrange chartered tours to the best diving locations.

Kayaking

Sea kayaking has become popular in recent years, and it's an excellent way to get out and explore some of Koh Lanta's remote beaches and outlying islets. Kayaks are particularly well suited for navigating craggy portions of the coastline. They can also access mangrove forests that gather on the coast, hosting myriad land and sea creatures. Shops at prominent beaches hire out sea kayaks for independent excursions.

Angling

Long-tail fishing boats are available for hire at the major piers. Anglers can try their hand at catching red snapper, tuna, marlin and sailfish. Tour companies supply all the equipment, including life vests, and know the most likely places to catch a fish. Boats are hired out for half- or whole-day excursions, and some offer night fishing tours.

Thai massage

Known around the world for its holistic approach to wellness, Thai massage is widely available in local spas and massage parlours on Koh Lanta. Thai massage is inexpensive and usually billed at an hourly rate. Resorts keep well-trained masseurs on staff, and while this service costs a bit more, it's usually of a higher quality. For the ultimate in indulgence, some masseurs work directly on the beach.

Elephant riding

Phra Ae Beach and Nui Beach both offer elephant riding tours. Visitors take a seat on a towering saddle that is strapped to the elephant's back and are led by a mahout along the coast or even inland to portions of the hilly, tropical forests. These sure-footed beasts move quickly and give riders a unique vantage point on the island. Touristy as it may seem, elephants are an integral part of Thai culture and have been carrying riders for centuries.

Dining and shopping

Koh Lanta has excellent dining options for those seeking fresh seafood prepared with exotic Thai spices. Tourists can dine in their resort or strike out down the coast for the next resort's offerings. Shopping options consist mostly of mobile merchants and street markets that sell souvenirs and handicrafts made from shells, coconuts, and pineapple fibres. Batik-work is the most sought-after handicraft.

Koh Lanta is overflowing with alfresco seafood restaurants serving today's fresh catch. The nicest restaurants are spread across the island's many resorts, where the menus serve a mix of Western and Thai favourites. Cuisine in this part of the country is particularly spicy, though restaurants that cater to tourists invariably tone down the heat and focus on other flavours.

Sala Dan Port and Klong Dao Beach boast the greatest variety of restaurants, with a number of international establishments onsite. As with everywhere else on the island, seafood is at the heart of every menu in these places. Visitors yearning for a taste of home will find the island's sole bakery in Dan Sala.

This close to Malaysia, the cuisine has a distinct infusion of Malay spices and culinary techniques. Fish are usually steamed or grilled or sometimes wrapped in banana leaves and baked over charcoal. Dishes are accompanied by spicy, flavourful sauces.

Away from the resorts, Thais are more likely to eat at a local food stall or small Thai restaurant. These eateries cater mainly to locals and serve spicier food at excellent bargains. Of course, the island is primarily a tourist destination, so everything costs more here than it would on the mainland.

Shoppers don't have as many options as diners, but the island still operates a few outdoor marketplaces and handicraft centres. For regular sundries, Sala Dan Port is the best option. Visitors will find the island's best selection of everyday goods and personal effects that they may need during their stay.

Batik is a fabric dyeing method that originated in Malaysia. In previous centuries, Koh Lanta was more Malay than Thai, and many of the old traditions have hung on. The process involves dipping cloth into paraffin or beeswax (often both) and then dyeing over the top of the wax. The final product has a rich and colourful texture resulting from cracks in the wax.

A range of popular batik products can be purchased from vendors in or near the resort areas. Favourites include wraparound sarongs, tapestries to hang on the wall and clothing. Anyone interested in the art can view more complex batik crafts in galleries and handicraft centres.

Other island crafts include weighty pineapple paper, a soft-textured stationery that is at least partially infused with pineapple fibres. The paper is used to make photo albums and trinket boxes. Inexpensive, hand-woven hammocks are sold up and down the coastline by mobile merchants.

It's no surprise that Koh Lanta's dining scene relies heavily on seafood pulled fresh from the Andaman. Beachside cocktail lounges are increasingly common, and many of the finer restaurants (especially those attached to resorts) boast well-trained bartenders that can make a wide selection of drinks. Western food is easy to come by as well. Dining on the island is more expensive than it is on the mainland, but prices are still competitive compared to Phuket, let alone to Western markets.

Overview

Krabi International Airport is the closest airstrip to Koh Lanta, though international flights are much more likely to land at Bangkok or even Phuket. Regardless of where visitors land, they will have to connect to the island via ferry from Baan Hua Hin. Transportation options on the island include motorcycle taxis, red pickup trucks, and chartered minivans. Hire cars and motorcycles are also available.

Airports

Passengers bound for Koh Lanta have several airport options. The closest international airport is at Krabi, though there aren't many international flights that land here. Krabi Airlines does operate service to Oslo and Munich, though most of the other international flights serve regional cities in Southeast Asia.

Phuket has a much busier airport that fields flights from all over the world, with direct charter flights to Australia and Europe. This is the easiest local airport to fly into, though onward transportation to Koh Lanta is more time consuming. Flying into Phuket only makes sense for tourists who plan to spend time on Phuket Island as well as on Koh Lanta.

Beyond these two regional airports, the mostly likely place to disembark is at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which operates a long list of flights to destinations all over the world. From Bangkok, travellers can connect to Krabi International Airport or board an express VIP bus for Krabi.

Bangkok's international airport offers a comprehensive selection of facilities offering everything a passenger in transit would need. Shopping and dining options are extensive. Phuket's facilities are also thorough, but the scale is smaller. Krabi is only a regional hub with limited onsite facilities.

Public transportation

No matter where visitors land, transportation to Koh Lanta will involve boarding a ferry at Baan Hua Hin, which is 25 miles south of Krabi. Service is operated by a car ferry, so anyone who has hired a car is free to bring it to the island. Bear in mind that there are no public transportation options (other than taxis) between Krabi airport and the ferry pier. Service operates from 07:00 until 22:00. Alternate ferries also arrive from Phi Phi Islands and Ao Nang.

There are no railways in Krabi province, though a line runs from Trang (the next province to the south) all the way to Bangkok. It's usually more convenient to take an overnight VIP coach.

VIP coaches offer regular transportation between Krabi and Bangkok. Travel time is approximately 12 hours, but coaches are spacious and comfortable with plush, reclining seats. From Krabi, passengers can board minibuses for the pier.

On the island, public transportation consists of motorcycle taxis and chartered minivans or red pickup trucks. The main road that follows the coast around the island is paved and well-maintained though back roads can quickly turn rough. Tourists will find motorbikes for rent around Koh Lanta. Hire cars (usually jeep-style vehicles) are also available.