Situated off the west coast of Thailand, between the Phi Phi Islands and the mainland, are the laid-back islands of Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Noi. This post is about Ko Lanta Yai, generally referred to simply as Ko Lanta or Lanta. Lanta is the larger and more frequently visited of the two islands.
Mu Ko Lanta National Park: Featuring 52 islands with crystal clear waters, lush forest, and pristine beaches is a popular destination for travelers coming to Ko Lanta. Visitors can hike through the jungle, relax on the beach, and visit the lighthouse in an afternoon visit. The trails are fairly steep, so be sure to bring good footwear and plenty of water. Enjoy some Thai food and ice cream at the café near the park’s entrance. Entry is 200 Baht per person.
Diving and snorkeling enthusiasts enjoy this marine park, and other areas of Lanta, for its array of diving sites with vibrant coral reefs and marine life. Diving instructors and tours, as well as rental equipment, are available for purchase throughout Ko Lanta.
Koh Lanta’s Old Town: On the east coast of the island, Old Town was once the main harbor for trade, this quaint fishing village has not changed much over the last 50 years when the only way to access the town was by boat. Influenced by merchants from China and Arabia, you can still see the original wooden Chinese shophouses similar to the ones found in other Chinese dominated regions.
Old town is perfect to explore for an afternoon. Visitors can see the olde teal stilt houses built over the water, eat in one of the many traditional Thai restaurants, and take in the culture and history by visiting the community museum. Accommodations are available in town for travelers that like to be away from the main touristy spots.
Lanta is visit Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW): This is a nonprofit charity that strives to raise awareness of the large number of homeless, sick, and injured animals. In their mission to end animal suffering, they provide first aid and hold mass sterilization and vaccination programmes on neighboring islands and mainland areas, where there is no access to veterinary care.
This behind-the-scenes tour takes the visitor through “Kitty City” where they get to meet and play with these cute felines and learn more about what LAW does to protect these gorgeous creatures. Dog lovers will enjoy the journey through a dog’s life, from playing and cuddling with the pooches to learning about their food and training and enrichment activities.
The tour also provides a walk through the Intensive Care Unit where you will learn the typical journey of a rescue dog from admission into doggy hospital to integration with other dogs and eventual adoption. The last part of the tour includes an introduction to Koh Lanta’s first Thai cooking school Time for Lime and Discover how you can learn to make authentic Thai cuisine while helping the rescue animals at the same time.
The cost to tour LAW is 250 baht for adults and 150 baht for children. There are also volunteer opportunities available for individuals over 25 years. LAW takes their commitment to the animals very seriously and expects their volunteers to do the same. Volunteer opportunities include general labor, hosting tours, media hosts, Vet and and Vet Nurse volunteers, and flight volunteers (help transfer an adopted animal to their new home).
Beyond its natural beauty and adventure opportunities, Koh Lanta has also gained a reputation for its laid-back Rasta vibe. I like to visit Ko Lanta after a long adventurous week in Ao Nang to just relax on the long, white sandy beaches and enjoy the slower pace and laid-back atmosphere. The more I learn about Lanta though, the longer I want to stay, not only do relax, but to give back and do some volunteer work.
Trash Hero Ko Lanta: This volunteer movement arranges weekly public cleanups around the community. This is a good way to give back to this beautiful community who suffers from the trash left behind by the many tourists as well as the rubbish that comes in with the tides. In addition to cleanups, Trash Hero Ko Lanta leads educational programs, and a bottle and bag program which has decreased the use of millions of plastic bottles and plastic bags in Southeast Asia. If you’re in Ko Lanta for a couple of days look up Trash Hero Ko Lanta on their Facebook page to find the cleanup schedule and join them on their next hero adventure.
Getting to Ko Lanta Yai
You can travel to Ko Lanta by boat or car. I have traveled to Ko Lanta by boat from Ko Phi Phi and by car from Krabi.
Boat: Jet boat, ferry, or long tail boat? All these options exist from Phuket, Krabi, and the islands in between. Our first experience on a jet boat was actually leaving Ko Lanta on our way to Phuket. The Jet stopped at Ko Phi Phi Don to let passengers off and gain more. The weather was beautiful, and the seas were calm, until we left Ko Phi Phi.
Not long after leaving Phi Phi, the wind and the rain started to come down sideways and the waters became turbulent. My daughter and I hunkered down and jokingly discussed our emergency plan should the boat capsize, or whatever. About 25 minutes from leaving Phi Phi the jet boat jolted and one of the mates went running toward the back of the boat where we were sitting and veered off into the distance. He looked worried. This worried us as we had just been saying that as long as they look like this turbulent wet ride is normal then everything is probably okay, right?!
We had hit a buoy. I believe the buoys are what help guide the driver to our destination and what should have been an hour-long trip took three hours, from Phi Phi to Phuket. I was green, wet and shaken when we arrived at the port. I would do this again if I had to, but a ferry offers a gentler (and dryer) ride.
Travelers need to consider the weather when planning to travel by any type of boat. We had done this, but the weather can change drastically in this tropical environment. Trips can and do get cancelled if the sea is not inviting travelers on a particular day, so be prepared for this also.
Generally, there will be someone on the boat offering tickets for transport to your accommodation on Ko Lanta. There are also taxi and tuk-tuk drivers at the port that are more than eager to transport you to your next destination.
Rental Car, Private Driver
Wheeled transport arrives from Krabi. Visitors can rent their own vehicle in Thailand with the correct paperwork and international license. Many visitors rent scooters because they are affordable and available to rent everywhere. I don’t recommend either of these options unless you have plenty of experience driving on the left side of the road, driving in foreign countries, and experience driving scooters, if that’s your thing.
Hiring a private car is easy to do throughout Thailand. There are many online services to reserve rides and hiring a driver helps to stimulate the economy and isn’t that much more expensive than public transport.
Whether you’re in a rental vehicle or have a private driver, the driver will take a ferry from the mainland to Koh Lanta Noi, then use the new bridge to cross onto Koh Lanta Yai. Most transportation is arranged to take you from the pickup spot to your destination in Ko Lanta.
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed this description of Ko Lanta and learning about some of the activities this laidback island has to offer. Come back soon for more adventures. And as always, I invite you to reach out if you have any questions or just want to share ideas, or your travel stories. What’s your favorite thing to do in Lanta?
Feel free to email me at cyanne@bestdestinationsthailand.com or leave a comment below. Together, we can share our experiences or just learn from others. The world opens up to those with knowledge.