Ko Lanta Travel Guide

With kilometres of soft sand and warm azure waters, Ko Lanta is a paradise for beach lovers and travellers seeking sun and tranquillity. The best stretches of sand lie along the west coast. Starting in the north, Klong Dao Beach is a wide and long beach near Ban Saladan village, which is the jumping-off point for many tourists arriving on the island. The beach's shallow, rock-free water makes it a popular spot for families with young children.

Further south lies Phra Ae Beach, also named Long Beach. At 4 km, it's the longest beach on the island, so even when it's crowded, you can find a secluded spot to lay your towel under the shade of the pine trees. It's also a fantastic beach for a sunset stroll. Just 4 km south lies Klong Khong Beach, which is among the more developed areas on Ko Lanta. It's popular with solo travellers and backpackers seeking laidback bars on the beach. Due to a few rocky spots, swimming here is best at high tides. Klong Nin Beach offers some of the best swimming on the central west coast, plus charming places to toast the sunset.

Renting a scooter is a fun way to explore the island’s jungle-clad inland route and find secluded, hard-to-reach beaches. Ride south to Kantiang Bay & Viewpoint and soak up gorgeous views from one of the panoramic restaurants. The beaches here are not overcrowded, and you might have a stretch of sand all to yourself! Ride to the island’s southwestern tip and reach Mu Ko Lanta National Park. For a nominal entrance fee, you can trek through the jungle, relax on empty beaches with crystal-clear water, and visit a scenic lighthouse. 

Park your scooter and spend a day island hopping. Choose either a high-speed ferry or traditional long-tail and explore some of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. Snorkel in the transparent waters of Koh Cheuk, relax on the quiet beaches of Koh Ngai and swim through the stunning gorgeous Emerald Cave on Koh Mook.

All tourists arriving and leaving the island will pass through Ban Saladan, Ko Lanta's northernmost town. As such, the port town is the island's most commercial area. Although it's the island's capital, don't expect rush-hour, noisy barges or shiny skyscrapers. Ban Saladan is a bustling 2-street village where you can find everything you'll need, such as a post office, travel agencies, banks to exchange money, and the largest supermarket on the island.

The town's highlights include the quirky cafés, inexpensive waterfront guesthouses, and seafood restaurants built on stilts over the water. Most scuba diving and snorkelling trips to nearby islands start from Ban Saladan. You can buy equipment and book a tour at over a dozen dive shops around town.

Lanta Old Town is a charming fishing village on Ko Lanta’s east coast with a rich history and heritage dating back hundreds of years. It was first a sea gypsy settlement and, over the centuries, developed into an important trading port for Arabic and Chinese merchant ships. Until a few decades ago, Lanta Old Town was the island’s main port and commercial centre and the only way to access Ko Lanta.  Today, it’s a very slow, laid-back village that offers a more traditional island experience than the beaches and bars on the west coast.

Get a sense of days gone by and stroll down the main street. See an original hundred-year-old Chinese temple, shop at the Old Town Lanta Street Market, and dine at restaurants set in wooden houses on stilts. History aside, the town also offers scuba diving, island hopping and mangrove exploration tours. And every year in March, the town hosts the 3-day Laanta Lanta Festival featuring authentic local food and traditional entertainment.

Ko Lanta offers many places to eat delicious Southern Thai food to suit all budgets, from roadside stalls to Thai canteens to fine-dining restaurants. Many restaurants feature seafood, but you can also find Thai standards. For a romantic dinner on the beach, dress up and head to Rak Talay Restaurant in Kantiang Bay. Or take a seat at The Seven Seas Wine Bar & Restaurant, a fine-dining spot offering an incredible panoramic view over Kantiang Bay from its elevated position.

Enjoy a traditional and unique dining experience at one of the 20 seafood eateries perched on stilts over the water in Ban Saladan. Lanta Seafood is a popular choice among locals. Try some southern Thai food at Kho Kwang Seafood nearby or rub shoulders with visiting Thais while enjoying fresh snapper at Kung Restaurant. If you’re in the mood for street food, there’s a strip of eateries on the main road in Ban Saladan, Khlong Dao and the village of Baan Khlong. You can find a wide variety of typical Thai takeaways, including papaya salad, minced meat salad, BBQ chicken, cheap beer, Thai iced tea, and fresh mango shakes.

The best shopping on Ko Lanta is at the street market that takes place at a different location every night of the week. Vendors sell books, clothes, hammocks, souvenirs, and household items. Local street food will fuel you as you browse each vendor’s wares. The best of these markets is the street market in Ban Saladan on Wednesday evenings. Arrive around 6 pm and watch the market fill up with locals and visitors browsing and using their bargaining skills to get the best deal.

You can also visit the covered shopping complex of small shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and handicrafts at the Saladan Pier any day. If you’re looking for unique and authentic Thai souvenirs, head to Ko Lanta Old Town. A handful of stores along the main street sell handmade products from local craftspeople. 

Ko Lanta’s nightlife scene is very relaxed and reasonably tame. But while it lacks the all-night madness found on other Thai islands, there are still plenty of places to drink and party after the sun goes down. The best Jamaica-style and hippie bars can be found along the west coast. If you’re looking for a chilled evening of cocktails, live music, and fire shows on the beach, Why Not Bar in Kantiang Bay, Freedom Bar in Khlong Khong Beach, and Irie Bar in Long Beach are great choices. 

For a party vibe, there are 2 longstanding bars in Long Beach to choose from. Pangea Beach Bar is an established spot where local DJs play popular deep house and techno music until sunrise. Every Thursday, The Ozone Bar hosts the ‘Ozone Party’. It’s one of the longest-running party nights on the island and features live DJs, pumping music, and a mesmerising light show.

Ko Lanta offers many fun activities to enjoy when you get tired of hanging out on the beach. Rent a mask and snorkel and explore the magical underwater world. The best snorkel spots are among the coral reefs of Koh Haa and Koh Rok – 2 tiny islets near Ko Lanta. You also can snorkel directly from Klong Dao Beach and Long Beach on Ko Lanta. For an extraordinary experience, book a scuba diving trip and spot manta rays, leopard sharks, and whale sharks.

Need a break from the sea? Kayak through the mangrove forests on the east coast or hike through the centre of the island to explore Khao Mai Kaew Cave. Always wanted to learn how to make curry paste? Sign up for a cooking class and discover the secrets of traditional Thai food. And when you're in the mood for the ultimate 'me-time', let a professional masseuse melt away any tensions with a dreamy Thai massage.