KOH LANTA

Picturesque beaches, the undiscovered paradise of 52 islands, pleasant weather, and secluded location sums up to be a big island called Koh Lanta Yai located just off the coast of Krabi, Thailand. Koh Lanta is home to some of the world's best beaches, as well as lush jungles, coral reefs, clear waterways, and calm weather, perfect for a weekend getaway.

With a long coastline, a dozen beaches, and a delightful ambiance, Koh Lanta is one of Thailand's most beautiful islands that you must add to your best Thailand packages itinerary, offering a variety of delightful activities on the island, starting with an exotic boat excursion. Since the islands are so vast, the easiest way to access them is to take a boat tour around the island, either in a speedboat or in a longtail boat. The most preferred water sport is scuba diving, especially diving in the spectacular coral. 

There are diverse aquatic activities available on Koh Lanta with handy diving instructors at all times. You can also enroll in a scuba diving course to become a certified diver. Koh Haa and Koh Bida are two well-known diving spots. 

Along with aquatic activities, tourists can also go for a peaceful Thai Massage, often known as 'Yoga for Lazy People,' for a pleasant vacation along with engraving a bamboo tattoo on their skin to cherish memories of the island. Bamboo tattoos are less painful than needle tattoos, but they are pricey and permanent. 

Along with the aforementioned attractions, Koh Lanta is home to the beautiful Khlong Chak Waterfall, where you can observe lizards and scorpions slithering against the rocks, the Koh Lanta limestone Caves, and a several Koh Lanta beaches, including Long Beach, Klong Dao Beach, Kantiang Bay, and Klong Khong Beach.

Highlights

• Koh Lanta is a 52-island archipelago with a small population and few visitor facilities, making it a secluded island in Thailand.
• The main islands are Koh Lanta Yai, a well-known tourist destination, and Koh Lanta Noi, a hidden gem with palm trees, deserted stranded beaches, rubber plantations, and fishing settlements
• Koh Lanta is a great place to get away from Thailand's more marketed islands, and it's known for its peace and quiet.
• Koh Lanta is a hub of relaxing and attractive activities preferred by tourists, like a longtail ferry boat ride, Thai massage, scuba diving, and more.
• Some of the most preferred attractions in Koh Lanta are the Butterfly Farm, Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Koh Lanta Caves, Khlong Chak Waterfalls, and not to forget, such exotic beaches that are enough to sweep your feet off.
• The East Coast of Koh Lanta houses the Lanta Old Town which was originally a Chinese Local Fishing Village. It has since developed into a lively tourism spot over the last 10 years.

How To Reach

1. By Private Minivan: Krabi to Koh Lanta Transfer Express is the most efficient and fastest way to reach Koh Lanta directly from Krabi International Airport. The Express Transfer is an air-conditioned minivan that takes you to the private speedboat dock. The speedboat then takes a roughly 15-minute scenic ride to Koh Lanta. 

The price for adults is approximately 2,045 baht and 1,200 baht per child. It's a free ride for infants under the age of 2. 

2. By Ferry: One should choose a ferry ride depending on where their hotel is located. The southern coast of Thailand lets you opt for timely ferries. It's a slower mode of transportation, taking around 1-2 hours to reach the island of Koh Lanta. But if you have the time, you can opt for it. 

A ferry ride costs around 1,699 baht for one-way per adult. 

3. By Taxi: Booking a private car/taxi is the most comfortable option to get to Koh Lanta. A fair taxi ride would cost you around 2,209-3,127 baht. If you are in the mood for driving, you can rent a car at Krabi to drive off on Thailand's roads. Renting a car starts at 2,685 baht, depending upon the car that you rent. 

4. By Public Minivan: The Krabi Airport has a clump of public minivans awaiting passengers. Their tickets can be accessed at the Arrivals area. The minivan would drive only if it has enough passengers to fill the van before departing. Traveling via a public minivan is a long process as it picks up and drops passengers on its way. It takes around 2-4 hours to reach Koh Lanta. It costs around 339-747 baht per adult.

Best Time To Visit

The optimum time to visit Koh Lanta is between January and April when the weather is dry and the temperature ranges between 25 and 32 degrees, making it an ideal time to visit. It is not recommended to visit Koh Lanta from May to December because everything is closed due to excessive rain lasting for more than 20 days.

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Other Essential Information

1. There is no end to the things to do or places to visit in Koh Lanta. Even if you prefer just laying around the beach, Koh Lanta is still an idyllic island to visit. 

2. Amongst the countless attractions in Koh Lanta, the Klong Nin Beach tops the list, possibly due to a long dreamy beach with several cozy accommodations and restaurants to chill. The Andalay Boutique Resort is the highly recommended resort to check-in here. 

3. For shopping and strolling, the best attraction to take a look at is Ban Saladan, a local village located in the northern part of Koh Lanta Island. You can find ATMs, supermarkets, bakeries, souvenir shops, restaurants, and even a hospital. Though Ban Saladan houses a lot of cheaper accommodations, the most preferred one is the Lanta Chaolay, which offers comfy dorms and double rooms as well. 

4. The one activity you can do alone is exploring the whole lot of Koh Lanta by scooter. With calm traffic and clear roads on this 30-kilometer stretched island, renting and driving a scooter is the most exciting thing to do. Renting a scooter is cheap, around 250 baht per day. 

5. The most beautiful viewpoint in Koh Lanta is at Kantiang Bay, located in the southern part of the island. With tall palm trees, a scenic postcard beach, and an idyllic setting, Kantiang Bay is a viewpoint where you can find the most photographic views along with some budget lodgings. The Aha Lanta Cozy Hotel is one of the most preferred hotels for backpackers. 

6. If you have a thing for nightlife, make sure to check out the beach bars at Koh Lanta Island. There are Jamaica bars and reggae and hippie bars that offer cocktails, fire shows, and drinks. The Klong Khong Beach offers several bars to hop into.

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Tips to Visit Koh Lanta Island

1. It is recommended to carry travel insurance before stepping on the islands. 

2. It is never too cold on Koh Lanta, however, you should bring long pants, and long sleeves to keep mosquitoes away. The laundry service is available at almost every corner charging 40 baht for 1kg of laundry. 

3. If you are visiting the island during the rainy season, you should bring water-proof bags as it starts raining at any time and lasts for a few hours. 

4. Make sure you have enough sunscreen in your backpack as it’s pretty pricey on the island and you will need a lot of sunscreen on the island. 

5. Though Koh Lanta is not an expensive island, it’s not budgetary either. The rates of different stuff like accommodations, transportation, food, or laundry fluctuate all the time depending on the seasons. 

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