Hotels in Koh Lanta District

Introduction

Ko Lanta is an island off the Andaman coast of Thailand and is part of the Krabi province. It’s actually comprised of a number of smaller islands, the one that most people refer to as Koh Lanta is officially called Koh Lanta Yai. The remainder of this article would touch upon the other islands and refer to them by name, but will mostly focus on Koh Lanta Yai which will simply be referred to as Ko Lanta.

In recent years, Ko Lanta has become more popular with mid and high end European travelers looking for a more relaxed, untouched island compared to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Phi Phi which are also nearby. On Ko Lanta, you can expect full island vibes, gorgeous sunsets, white sand beaches, and enough infrastructure to not miss the comforts of home, but enough atmosphere to fully be aware that you’re on vacation on one of the most beautiful islands in the south of Thailand.

The weather in Ko Lanta is temperate and tropical, ranging between 23 and 34 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The island’s summer is between February and April, where the months are dry and hot. Wet season is from May to October, with sporadic thunderstorms usually concentrated in the afternoons.  

Wet season is also equivalent to low season, where things are much cheaper than usual, but there are also way fewer people on the island, and sometimes establishments close or take longer to get back to their customers because they’re not particularly anticipating a high volume of customers. The waves are rougher at this time of year, but still plenty warm and wonderful for a refreshing dip in the ocean.

History

Ko Lanta is primarily comprised of three distinct culture groups: The ChaoLay (Sea Gypsies), Thai-Muslims and the Thai-Chinese. These three groups have lived in harmony for almost 500 years on this beautiful island, and continues to bring their mixed traditions to create a fascinating and welcoming atmosphere for travelers.

The ChaoLay Sea Gypsies were the first to arrive to paradise Ko Lanta, settling down about 5 years ago. They were a nomadic tribe related to the Moken people who tend to take refuge in the coves of the Andaman Sea during monsoons. They mostly live off of the ocean, and continue today to live mainly on the shores of Saladan and the far east coast. Their main holiday is the Loy Rua festival, which takes place during the full moon during the traditional lunar calendar. This tends to fall around June and October of the Western calendar.

Muslim Malay migrants arrive next, about 300 years ago. Today, the island is predominately Muslim with two different populations who live on various parts of the island. About 100 years ago, Chinese merchants attempting to escape the rule of President Mao came to Koh Lanta and set up many trade routes.

Due to all these ethnic influences, Koh Lanta is a thriving hub of ethnic diversity.

Surrounding Environment

1. Krabi Town - a peaceful, sleepy town, Krabi Town is a renowned food location, both in terms of cheap, local dishes as well as a variety of international cuisine. A great place to stay for those who won’t be too sad to not be near the beach, as Krabi town is about 3km or a 10min drive from Railey Beach. Krabi Town is home to popular tourist attractions such as Wat Tham Suea and Khao Kanab Nam.

2. Koh Phi Phi - the ultimate beach destination especially for the young traveler. Thumping music, beach vibes, great seafood, an endless array of water activities as an international traveller community makes Koh Phi Phi a destination for all types of people. The diving here is also spectacular.

3. Railey Beach - one of the most renowned destinations for rock climbing, Tonsai is filled with climbers and those who enjoy their company. A small beach resort type of town, Railey is charming, beautiful, and relaxed.

Hotels

There are a wide variety of accommodations on Koh Lanta. During high season, all of these will be open and booming, whereas in low season, the vendors may need 24 hour notice. There will be things open all year round, but just less variety during the low, rainy season between May to November.

Alama Sea Village Resort

This luxury villa-resort is located near lush jungle hillside, with sprawling views of Kantiang Bay on the southern tip of Koh Lanta. This Thai-style resort offers a variety of 1 and 2 bedroom suite-cottages, and every single one is equipped with jaw-dropping views of the dense scenery of this island. Not only do you have views of the jungle, but also of the white-sandy beaches of the Andaman sea. You’re able to see sunset for this resort, as well as enjoy a relaxing evening from the large 40m infinity pool. There’s a restaurant and spa staff on premise so you don’t even have to leave this haven if you don’t wish to.

Narima Bungalow Resort

An eco friendly, boutique bungalow resort, Narima is set amongst peaceful coconut palm trees and nearby to a rainforest. Located on the south coast, this understated area of Koh Lanta is tranquil haven to relax and just be one with nature. Filled with activities to engage in nearby such as sunbathing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and exploring, the remote but accessible location is a great place to take in the fresh air of the Andaman sea. There’s a three-tiered swimming pool, where the top tier is a Jacuzzi spa pool, which is perfect for watching sunset in, cocktail in hand. The main pool is an infinity pool with a wide step to enjoy books or conversation on.

The Houben

A small, unique boutique hotel run by a Belgian family, this 15 room hotel has an air of exclusivity to it. The rooms are unbeatable in terms of views, as they are all graciously but also safely perched on a cliff. Just a few steps from Kantieng Bay, the location for this hotel is unmatched. Featuring a red infinity pool, personal jacuzzi tubs, a spa with massage, skincare and botanical treatments on site, as well as a restaurant featuring local Thai dishes as well as imported Belgian foods, you’ll want for nothing during your stay at the Houben.

Lanta Coral Beach Resort

A budget friendly option that’s convenient, clean, and has all the basic amenities one could desire. It’s only 2.5km from Khao Mai Kaew Cave, and only about 3km from Ba Kan Tieng Bay. The views here are fantastic, as the resort is right on the beach, and reception is friendly and always happy to help you plan the next step of your traveling adventures. A restaurant and bar is located on premise, making it easy to relax and spend lazy mornings and evenings at your beach resort. Friendly and helpful staff round on the magical beach experience that Lanta Coral Beach Resort offers to its guests.

Baan Puteri Resort

Located right on the beach, Baan Puteri is an affordable accommodation option which also provides friendly staff, all necessary amenities, as well as plenty of activities to do nearby. There are spa facilities such as massage, a terrace, breakfast, and someone to help you arrange activities such as tours and exchanging money. Baan Puteri is the perfect place to relax and enjoy all that Koh Lanta has to offer.

Transportation

By Plane

There are a few airports nearby, such as Phuket, Krabi and Trang. Trang and Krabi are recommended, as there are plenty of direct routes from these locations to Ko Lanta. Some of these flight tickets will include transportation to the actual island. See if you can also get transfers to your hotel through the same company. During low season, these can be somewhat difficult to arrange, especially if there’s a storm when you arrive.

By Ferry

You’ll have to take a ferry to access Ko Lanta. There are ferries running from Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and Trang. The ferries are subject to weather and time of year, so make sure to check out the ferry sites closer to your date of departure. When there are multiple monsoons in a week or two, ferries can often be cancelled for days at a time, so make sure that you take that into account for your travel itinerary.

On the Island

The roads on Koh Lanta are quite well paved, especially compared to some of the other islands nearby. There are no metered taxis on Koh Lanta, and like other islands, the barter system is in effect. There are generally guidelines of how much things cost, but these can depend on weather, time of year, and how many people are in your group.

Cars

You can rent a car for about 1,500 THB a day.

Motorbikes

You can rent a manual motorbike for 200 THB a day, or 300 THB a day for an automatic. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure to take photos or a video of the bike before driving away with it. Some vendors will try to say that you damaged their vehicle and charge you for the cost of the entire scooter.

Main Areas

• Baan Saladan - main tourist area.

• Haad Khlong Dao - a vast beach that’s also filled with tourists, but very convenient

• Haad Phra Ae, aka Long Beach - as it’s the longest stretch of sand on Koh Lanta

• Haad Khlong Khong - backpacker haven, parties

• Haad Khlong Nin - somewhere in between backpackers and high end, a relaxed area

• Old Town - on the east coast, much more mellow, but about a 20 minute ride from the beach.

Attractions

Lanta Old Town

An incredible old town which is a conglomeration of different cultures as it combines Chinese culture, Thai fishermen,  and members of an ancient sea gypsy community. The town once provided a safe port for a number of seafarers, including Arabs and the Chinese. This is a great place to experience a mingling of cultures, preserved over time.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset everyday

Entrance fee: free

Long Beach

The longest stretch of beach on Koh Lanta, this is a convenient and beautiful place to hang out and enjoy the beach. Plenty of activities are available to entertain you, such as bars, restaurants, plenty of street vendors, snorkeling, sunbathing, and more!

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset everyday

Entrance fee: free

Activities

Diving

Some of the best diving in the world can be found on Koh Lanta’s shores. There are plenty of companies to discover diving if you’ve never done it before, or if you want to get a certification such as an Open Water or Advanced Open Water certification.  Make sure that you choose a company with small groups and good reviews, you don’t want to get stuck on a boat with a ton of people and inexperienced instructors.

Opening hours: everyday, usually from 10am to 7pm.

Entrance fee: Packages usually start at about 3,000 THB for a discover dive package. Courses usually start at about 8,000 THB for an Open Water Certification.

Take a trip to Koh Rok Island

A beautiful and easy day trip from Koh Lanta, this island is fantastic for snorkeling and a more secluded beach experience. There are plenty of boat companies that will take you out for the day and lend you equipment, and some even provide lunch and guides. Prices depend on what you’re looking for, but generally start at about 1000 THB a day per person. This rate is likely to go down with more people on the boat. Prices will also depend on time of year.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset, everyday

Entrance fee: no fee for the island, but there will be charges for the boat, as discussed above

Explore Khao Mai Kaew Cave

Definitely an activity for those on the adventurous side of things. After a somewhat rigorous 30 minute hike, you’ll enter the cave with your guide, equipped with headlamps and a desire to explore the unknown. You can swim, kayak, and explore the caves. This is an activity that will need a bit of planning, as it’s not the easiest to get to, so if you don’t have your own transportation, you’ll have to make sure that someone will wait for you when you’re done.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset, everyday

Entrance fee: 300 THB gets you a guide, and headlamp.

Travel Tips

1. Sunscreen - the sun here in Thailand may be different than the sun back home, as in its hotter and you’re more likely to burn. Make sure that you wear sunscreen even if it’s cloudy outside. In addition, if you don’t bring sunscreen and choose to buy it in Thailand, beware that a lot of the sunscreen in Thailand has whitening cream in it. Make sure you read all the labels before purchasing!

2. Bartering - most of Thailand, as well as SE Asia, operates on a bartering system. Make sure you ask for a lower price, you often won’t get it, but it’s worth an effort.

3. Tipping - tipping is generally not customary in SE Asia, but it’s always a gesture that’s appreciated. For services such as massages,  haircuts and the like, tips are a normal practice, usually somewhere between 10-25%.