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During my first 3 month visit to Thailand, back in January 2023, I completely missed Koh Lanta from my itinerary. Not necessarily on purpose, but simply because there are so many islands in the South of Thailand to visit, that it is hard to fit them all in. And, if I am really honest, I just found that there was less written about Koh Lanta at the time, so it was easier to plan my trip to other islands instead.Â
Luckily, I headed back to Thailand for a month in January 2026 and after hearing so many great things about Koh Lanta, I made sure to visit this time around and I’m really glad that I did!
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Koh Lanta ultimate travel guide: Is it worth visiting?
Koh Lanta is a welcome contrast to the larger, more developed islands like Phuket and Koh Samui and less visited than even some of the smaller islands like Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao.Â
However, it is important to highlight that when I say less developed, I mean that there is no large shopping mall, or modern nightclubs or bars. If you are heading to Koh Lanta expecting a real off the beaten track vibe all across the island, you would be mistaken. However, this is not as bad as it sounds! Let me explain…
One thing that shocked me initially when I arrived on Koh Lanta was the highway that runs the full length of the island, from Saladan Pier, to the Mo Ko National Park, and across to Lanta Old Town. Although the traffic isn’t that busy or noisy, I wasn’t expecting such a big, modern road and unfortunately most of the restaurants and cafes are positioned along the road, especially around the Long beach area. I don’t want to put you off before we’ve even got into all the great things to do on Koh Lanta, but it is just something that you should be aware of. I wasn’t expecting such modern infrastructure and the initial shock made me nervous about whether I would actually enjoy Koh Lanta. Spoiler: I did!
If you are after a more laid back vibe, less touristic spots, unspoilt beaches and fewer crowds, Koh Lanta could be the perfect place for you. Let’s have a look at some of the best things to do on Koh Lanta.
Koh Lanta: At a glance
Where to stay: Morakot Lanta Resort is a great mid-range budget option in a good location. Boho Hostel is perfect for budget travellers, or stay at Lanta Palace Beach Resort  for peace and luxury.Â
Best things to do: Hike the nature trail at Mo Ku National Park, watch sunset at Long beach or enjoy a Four Island full day boat tour.
How to get to Koh Lanta: Koh Lanta is easily reached by ferry or speedboat from places like Phuket, Krabi and Railay. Book your ticket in advance here.Â
Best things to do in Koh Lanta
Visit the beaches
One of the best things about Koh Lanta is its unspoilt, natural beaches. When I visited, I didn’t see a single plastic sunbed and umbrella on the beach, which was such a welcome relief compared to the rows of sunbeds you see in Phuket. (Although Phuket does still have some beautiful beaches – check them out, here). The only sunbeds we saw were those of the beachfront resorts, but they were set back and did not encroach on the beach.
There are so many beautiful beaches on Koh Lanta, but here are a couple of must-visit ones:Â
Long beach
Positioned at the top of Koh Lanta, this long, sandy beach is the best place on Koh Lanta to watch the sunset. Sit on the sand, or in one of the beachfront restaurants and watch the sun set over the horizon. During the day, Long beach is a great place for swimming as it gets deep quite quickly. This beach is also great for leisurely strolls, or beachfront runs in the morning or early evening when it is a cooler temperature.Â
Klong Nin beach
This beach is located in the centre of Koh Lanta and is a great place to spend the day. Along the beach, there are several restaurants to enjoy lunch, or to watch the beautiful sunset at the end of the day. Just a short walk from the beach is Klong Nin village, where you will find more shops and cafes.Â
Kantiang Bay
Perhaps one of the best beaches on Koh Lanta, Kantiang Bay boasts nearly 2km of soft golden sand. It is more secluded than some of the other beaches on Koh Lanta, like Long beach and Klong Dao, making it perfect for relaxing.Â
Bamboo Bay
If you are looking for something a little more natural and untouched, head to Bamboo Bay. The access to Bamboo Bay has only been built in recent years and the beach itself has only a couple of small bars to the northern end.Â
Nui beach
This small beach is located in between Klon Nin and Bamboo Bay. It can only be reached by either walking through the trees or via Nui beach bar, which is the easiest and best option. The beach is very pretty, however, be careful of the monkeys and there can also be quite a few rocks in the water as well.
Book a boat tour to the ‘Four Islands’
The Four Islands tour is one of Koh Lanta’s most popular activities. During the full day excursion, you’ll visit four beautiful islands within the Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park. The order that you visit the islands may differ, depending on which tour company you go with, but the itinerary is pretty much the same for all excursions, stopping at Ko Chueak, Ko Muk, Morakot (Emerald) cave, Ko Ngai and Ko Ma.Â
The day consists of two beach stops, one of which you will have lunch on, plus two snorkelling stops and then the highlight of the tour is visiting the Morakot Cave (Emerland Cave), where you will swim through a dark cave and emerge into a beautiful lagoon in the centre of the tall limestone rock. Don’t be nervous about swimming through the cave, it is actually quite a large cave, and the ‘ceiling’ is quite high, so you don’t feel enclosed. Just keep close to the guides as they have head torches to see better.Â
Whilst this was not the best boat tour I have done in Thailand (my favs are still this Hong Island boat and canoe tour from Phuket and this Ang Thong Marine Park tour from Koh Samui), it was still an enjoyable day.Â
You can book the same full day ‘Four Island’ longtail boat tour that I did, here. Just note that although most of the Four Island tours are in longtail boats, they can get quite bumpy and loud. We also got quite wet from the spray!Â
So, if you prefer extra comfort and a smoother ride, I’d recommend paying this tour via speedboat instead.Â
Visit Koh Lanta’s Mangrove forest
Another worthwhile activity whilst on Koh Lanta is taking a half day trip to Koh Lanta’s mangrove forest. This is a more tranquil tour, within the local community, where you are able to spend time amongst nature, see wildlife such as birds, crabs and monkeys. There are a few variations of this tour, but perhaps the most popular is this half day Mangrove Forest tour with lunch.
Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary
There are several elephant sanctuaries across Thailand, and it can be difficult to ensure that you are visiting a truly ethical sanctuary that puts the welfare of the elephants first. The Following Giants elephant sanctuary on Koh Lanta is a ‘no touch’ sanctuary so there is no elephant riding, bathing or feeding. The elephants that reside in the sanctuary have been rescued and are cared for by their own dedicated mahout. You can book a 2 hour, half-day or full day program, or you can also volunteer at the sanctuary.Â
You can read more about the Following Giants sanctuary and book your visit directly on their official website.
Hike at Mu Ko Lanta National Park
If you have read some of my other blogs, you will have seen that I love to hike and try to plan some kind of walk or hike into most of my trips. I even wrote a blog dedicated to my top 10 unmissable hikes in Thailand, so if you are a fellow hiker, check it out! Â
The nature trail at Mu Ko Lanta National Park is a very short hike, at only 2-3kms long. However, it can be a little challenging in places. Whilst 60% of the trail is on a dedicated path, some sections involve a little bit of scrambling up and down, using trees or ropes to help you. If you have a reasonable level of fitness and are wearing trainers, you should be fine. The hike only took us around 45 minutes and we did stop several times, trying to look for monkeys in the trees, which sadly we did not see!Â
The trail starts from the car park and follows a loop shape, bringing you out to the most beautiful viewpoint above the beach, before leading you down to the beach itself. At the other side of the beach, there is a small lighthouse on a hill. If you don’t want to hike the natural trail, you can just access the beach and lighthouse directly from the car park (but where’s the fun in that?!).Â
Entry is 200thb per person and parking for scooters is 20thb. Although we came in a taxi and there was no charge for the taxi to park. There are toilets at the car park and a small beach shack selling snacks and smoothies.Â
If you want to do something different in Koh Lanta, I would definitely recommend this, and you can spend a few hours after your hike relaxing on the beach as well, so bring your towel!
Spend the evening at Saladan walking street
Koh Lanta’s night market is located in the north of the island, on Saladan walking street, near Saladan Pier. It is a fun, lively place to enjoy the delicious local Thai food at reasonable prices. There are also a few stalls where you can pick up some souvenirs, but it is mostly a food market.Â
The market is open every day from 5.30 – 11pm. There is limited scooter and push bike parking on the street outside the entrance, and you can also get a taxi from here as they all wait outside.Â
After you have visited the night market, take a stroll around Saladan village. There are lots of shops selling arts, crafts and gadgets and also some great restaurant options if you;re still hungry!Â
Enjoy a leisurely brunch
There are some great cafes on Koh Lanta – perfect for a lazy breakfast, brunch or lunch. After all, Koh Lanta is the best island for slowing down and enjoying the simple moments. Here are some cafes worth visiting on Koh Lanta:Â
Living room
Large, open plan, modern cafe near Long beach, serving delicious western options. Great selection of bread and cakes, as well as a good coffee and smoothie menu.Â
Fika
Small Swedish cafe near Long beach, with an upstairs co-working space. Great bakery selection.Â
Together Cafe
Modern cafe near Long beach with Thai dishes and western breakfast. Generous portions and casual dining.Â
Rosy Sunray Cafe
Popular brunch cafe, serving a range of Thai and western dishes, near Khlong Noen Beach
Grandmas House
Small, simple restaurant in Lanta Old Town, serving Thai and western style brunches and bakery items.Â
Lantas cafe
Restaurant on Lanta Old Town pier, with sea views. Large menu of western and Thai dishes.Â
Tuesday Morning Small Talk Cafe
Popular beachfront cafe on Klong Hin beach with western brunch dishes, including a wide range of sweet and savoury breakfast bowlsÂ
Aleena Minimart and food court
simple, local food court in Saladan, known for its breakfast baguettes and bagels.Â
Stroll through Lanta Old Town
Lanta Old Town is definitely worth a visit. You won’t need long here as it is quite small, but it is utterly charming! Once an old sea gypsy settlement, the quaint main street of Lanta Old Town has a range of shops, restaurants and cafes housed in old wooden houses. The style of the houses has a Chinese influence and there are lanterns hanging above the street. It reminded me a little of Georgetown, in Penang, Malaysia. I would recommend visiting Lanta Old Town around lunchtime, so that you can enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of the characterful restaurants. We had the best Khao Soi in Rareview Cafe, over the water.
How to get to Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is pretty well connected with both the mainland and surrounding islands. From Phuket or Phi Phi, you have the option of either the big ferry (recommended if you are prone to sea-sickness!), or the smaller, faster speedboat. Krabi is also well connected to Koh Lanta, and you can get a smaller speedboat to either Ao nang, Krabi or direct to Railay
Ferries and speedboats run regularly throughout the day and are best booked online in advance, especially if you are travelling during the peak season. You can book your ticket here.Â
I’d also recommend printing your ticket as you will need to hand this in and swap it at the check in desk for a sticker and boarding pass. Â
Once you arrive at Saladan pier on Koh Lanta, you will need to pay 10thb per person which goes towards environmental efforts on the island. There are many taxis waiting at the pier which you can negotiate with to take you to your accommodation, however on our boat from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta we purchased a shared transfer with the boat operator so that we had a taxi already arranged when we got off the boat and didn’t have to have the hassle of negotiating, so this may be an option, depending on the company you travel with.Â
Getting around Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is one of the larger islands in the south of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. As I mentioned previously, there are modern main roads running north to south and across the centre of the island.Â
Tuk tuk taxis
There are many motorcycle tuk tuk taxis, which are easy to spot as they are usually brightly painted and have cartoon characters on them! These are a great way of travelling a short distance on the main roads.Â
Hire a taxi driver
If you want to visit several places over the island, or are travelling a longer distance, the best thing to do is to hire a taxi driver. We hired a driver for half a day and he took us to Mo Ku National park, then to Lanta Old Town, waiting for us at each location. There are many tourist information offices where you can hire a driver and discuss your itinerary with them, or you can speak with a driver directly on the street. However, I found our driver on Facebook, which was handy as I could read the reviews beforehand. I arranged the itinerary and price beforehand via Whatsapp, and he picked us up from our hotel. There are so many Facebook groups offering reviews, recommendations and discussions on taxis.Â
Rent a Scooter
If you are confident and experienced riding a scooter, then Koh Lanta is a great place to hire one and explore the island in your own time. The roads are in pretty good condition and are mostly flat. However, we witnessed a couple of bad accidents whilst we were there with tourists on scooters, so make sure that you are comfortable riding them beforehand. There are so many tourists that come to Thailand and jump on a scooter with no prior experience, which is mad as you wouldn’t do that in your home country.Â
Rent a bike or E-Bike
If you are not confident riding a scooter, but want your own freedom to explore, there are many places that hire mountain bikes. The island is not too big, and the traffic on the roads is not too busy either, so this is a great option. You can also rent E-bikes from Koh Lanta Bike Rentals, although you will need to book in advance with them as they are popular and have limited stock.Â
Walk
Depending on where you are staying, you can easily walk between your accommodation, the restaurants and shops and the beach. I stayed in Long beach and we walked every day. There are good pavements along the main roads.Â
Where to stay on Koh Lanta
As I mentioned before, Koh lanta is a large island, therefore where you choose to stay is important. In my opinion, these are the four best areas to stay on Koh Lanta:
Long Beach
This is a great area to stay if you want to be close to the large sandy beach and have a wide range of shops and restaurants close by. Note that the main highway does run through the Long beach area, so many of the cafes and restaurants are situated on the main road. Below is a few suggesstions for accommodation in Long beach:Â
Budget friendly: Best Stay Hostel
Mid-range: Morakot Lanta Resort
Mid-High end: Siri Lanta resort
Luxury: Layana Resort and Spa
Klong Nin
Further down the coast, Klong Nin has a laid back village vibe. There are still cafes, restaurants and shops here, but slightly less than Long beach. The positive is that you don’t have the large highway running through it. Klong Nin accommodation suggestions:Â
Budget friendly: Nature Beach Resort
Mid-range: Lanta Nice Beach Resort
Mid-High end: Andalay Boutique Resort
Luxury: Lanta Palace Beach ResortÂ
Saladan
This is where the main pier is located for the island. The area is quite busy and gets a lot of traffic from taxis travelling to and from the pier. However, there are many local restaurants here, and the night market is also located here. If you prefer a more lively evening, then Saladan may be a good option for you. Saladan accommodation suggestions:
Budget friendly: Boho Hostel
Mid-range: Salatan resort
Mid-High end: Southern Lanta Resort
Luxury: Noble House Beach Resort
Lanta Old Town
If you want to be in a more cultural spot, with lots of shops, cafes and restaurants and don’t mind not being on the beach. Lanta Old Town accommodation suggestions:Â
Budget friendly: Tonmai Suite II
Mid-range: Malee Sirin Old Town
Mid-High end: Mangrove HouseÂ
Luxury: Verona Lanta Resort
How many days is enough on Koh Lanta?
We stayed for 6 nights / 5 days and felt that was plenty of time. During that time, we had a couple of daytrips, plus time spent relaxing with long leisurely brunches, and lazy days at the beach and by the pool. If you are someone that needs to be busy and active all the time, then perhaps 4 days would be enough.Â
However, digital nomads may want to spend longer on Koh Lanta as it has a great, relaxed lifestyle, perfect for fitting around work.
Is Koh Lanta expensive?
I found Koh Lanta to be cheaper than some of the neighbouring islands. It has not yet achieved the same level of tourism as some other destinations which not only makes it quieter and less westernised, but it also means that prices are lower. Many of the restaurants and cafes are traditional, local, family run places and prices are very reasonable. Even getting around in taxis is not that expensive.
