Discovering Koh Lanta: Thailand's Peaceful Paradise
The island atmosphere is a perfect match in every way. The bungalow complexes with direct access to the beach and the numerous beach restaurants make Koh Lanta a small, romantic paradise. In contrast to the well-known islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui, it is still very original here. The minimal tourism is spread over many white sandy beaches and island bays. The large and hilly island is mostly covered with dense jungle. The southern tip and another 15 islands are part of a national park.
koh lanta beach
Thailand Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta Thailand
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta beach
Sunset Koh Lanta
The original name of Koh Lanta was Pulau Satak and means “Long Beach Island”. The name comes from the Malaysian language. The name Koh Lanta, which has existed since 1917, comes from the Javanese word “Lanta” and means “fish grill”. The first residents came from the Thai and Malay border provinces. The Chao Ley, sea gypsies, were also home to Koh Lanta.
The first backpackers came to the island in the late 1980s. Small, simple bungalow resorts were built. In 1990, the Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park was established as the 62nd national park in Thailand.
In 1996 electricity came to the island and within a few years Koh Lanta developed into a tourist destination. But there is no comparison to the sometimes hectic hustle and bustle in Phuket or Koh Samui. Koh Lanta has retained its typical relaxed island charm and is very popular with those looking for peace and quiet and families. Families find it very pleasant not to have to send their little ones down a busy street. You can jump into the sea or play on the sand from the resort. The price structure is nowhere near as high as in Phuket. There are also a number of interesting excursion options. The nighttime activities are limited, however. You sit in small groups with other travelers at a beach bar and drink a beer or cocktail before going to bed early. With Koh Lanta one generally means the main island Koh Lanta Yai and not the smaller one. Noi means small in Thai and Yai means big. All descriptions refer to the main island.
The island is about 6 kilometers wide and 30 kilometers long. It is Thailand's third largest island and has a population of around 20,000. There are two villages on the island. The "capital" Baan Koh Lanta in the southern part has a traditional local feel. The smaller town of Saladan, which is located in the north, is very popular with holidaymakers. Among other things, the pier for the ferry boats is located here.
The beaches
Koh Lanta has many lovely stretches of beach, most of which are along the west coast.
Saladan
Ban Saladan is located at the northern end of Koh Lanta and does not have an attractive bathing beach. It is the tourist Spot of the island. All ferry boats from Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands dock here. In addition to a small market, it has travel agencies, supermarkets and small shops. There are also several restaurants and diving centers, a small post office and a bank with an exchange counter.
Dao Beach
At Klong Dao Beach you will find a white, two-kilometer-long sandy beach. In the south it is closed by rocks and a cape. With sturdy shoes you can walk over the rocks to the next beach. The beach slopes down relatively flat, but is well suited for swimming. It must not be approached with motor boats and is therefore quiet and ideal for children. In the evening, the bungalow complexes serve exquisite fish platters at cheaper prices than on Koh Phi Phi or Ao Nang in Krabi. The quiet night life is very pleasant. Phra Ae Beach
Phra Ae Beach or Long Beach is located south of Klong Dao. It's three kilometers long and a little quieter. Some parts of the beach have fine sand and are good for swimming. In the southern part there are simple bungalow complexes, in the north the slightly better ones.
Klong Kong Beach
South of Phra Ae Beach is Klong Kong Beach. This is also three kilometers long and also very quiet. The simple accommodations are run by local Thai families. They are functional and cheap.
Klong Nin Beach
Klong Nin Beach is divided into stony and beautiful sandy sections. There are small, family-run properties like Lanta Palace Beach Club, Lanta Paradise, and the expensive Sri Lanta Resort. Kantiang Beach Kantiang Beach is one of the most beautiful on the island. He owns a picturesque little bay in which several fishing families live. Snorkeling over the well-preserved coral reefs is highly recommended. The 5-star Pimalai Resort has been located here since November 2001. Klong Jark Beach
The waterfall bay or Klong Jark Beach is located in the very south of Koh Lanta. It is not very easy to get to as there is only an impassable road with potholes. The environment is wonderfully quiet and surrounded by lush nature. The beach is good and the sunsets are absolutely spectacular. In addition to a few simple facilities, there is the luxurious Anda Lanta Resort. There is a pretty waterfall inland.
Activities & sights
In addition to the beautiful beaches, Koh Lanta also offers beautiful diving grounds. A canoe trip through various mangrove forests provides variety.
Diving & Snorkeling
Around the nearby islands of Koh Rok, Koh Mook and Koh Waen are some very admirable coral reefs to visit. These consist partly of hard and soft coral species. There is also a multitude of colorful fish to marvel at.
Kanufa hear
the Bu Bu islands and Tung Yee Peng two leave to several destinations to explore easily by canoe. The Bu Bu Islands are located east of Koh Lanta and allow a picnic excursion with a beautiful view of Koh Lanta. The Tung Yee Peng is an enchanting mangrove forest that can be visited without any problems by canoe.
Access and transportation available on location.
The fastest connection from Bangkok is by plane to Krabi. The alternative airport is Trang. From Bangkok you can travel to Trang by train. The night train is most ideal for this. There are also aircon buses from Bangkok to Krabi.
There are also speedboats from the Phi Phi Islands (1.5 hours).
From Phuket or Khao Lak the journey takes you by car through the spectacular sandstone mountains of Phang Nga Province to Krabi. The travel time is 2 to 3 hours, depending on the starting point.
There are two alternatives from Krabi to Koh Lanta. From the town of Krabi (pier to Koh Lanta) a passenger ferry goes directly to the island (2 hours). From the pier on Koh Lanta there are songthaews to the various beaches and resorts. Mostly one drives with a minibus from Krabi (airport) or from Trang. The journey times are different, as the ferries often have to be waited for, twice in total.
During the low season (approx. May - October) the passenger ferry service to Koh Lanta is stopped, then minibuses run from Krabi and Trang. The direct connection from Phi Phi Islands to Koh Lanta will also be discontinued during this travel time.
Motorcycles are available for hire on site for a few hundred baht per day.
Climate & travel time
As almost everywhere on the Andaman Coast, the best time to travel is between November and May. From May, however, the off-season starts on Koh Lanta. The direct ferry services from Krabi and Phi Phi will then mostly be discontinued. In the off-season there are only very few guests on the island and hotel prices drop tremendously. The weather is Always fine until the end of June. It does rain every now and then (especially in the afternoon) and the sky can be overcast. All in all, this time of year is interesting for holidaymakers who do not want to spend the whole day on the beach.
From mid-July to the end of October it can rain heavily and persistently. On some beaches you can find a lot of rubbish in the off-season. This is washed up by the monsoon. As in all of southern Thailand, the monsoon determines the climate and makes weather forecasting difficult
