How to Plan a Perfect Trip to Koh Lanta

Located in the Strait of Malacca off Thailand’s west coast, Koh Lanta is a small island off the western coast of Thailand filled with lush landscape, and spectacular beaches for the ultimate island holiday adventure. Administratively, it is part of Krabi Island. Here is how you can plan a perfect trip to the scenic Koh Lanta Island.

Where is Koh Lanta?

Koh Lanta is positioned off the western shores of Thailand near the Andaman Coast and part of Krabi Province, about 800 km from Bangkok around 200 km north of the Malaysian border.Koh Lanta is a group of 50 small islands, and only three are inhabited by only one of them with considerable tourist infrastructure.The major island of Koh Lanta has two distinct islands: Koh Lanta Noi, the northern region which is quite small, and Ko Lanta Yai, the bigger southern portion of the island, popular with tourists.The island is 27 km in length, and 10 km in width. Mountains can be found in the south with a height of 500 m.Koh Lanta has 20 km² of the pristine rainforest as 80% of the island – was proclaimed a National Park in 1990. It is located in the southern part of the island and is popular for excursions.

The best time to travel

The travel season usually starts in November and finishes in April/May. The rainy season is from June to September, and the climate can be unpredictable at this time.If occasional overcast weather and cloudbursts won't discourage you, then a visit to the island during the rainy season won't be an issue. September is the most suitable time to visit as the weather gets better once the rainy season wears off. The weather brightens up in October, and the island gradually comes to life as more visitors, and hotels open up for the season.The benefit of visiting during the rainy season is the island will be deserted, with little to no tourists. Plus, accommodations charge half of their standard room rates.

How to get to Koh Lanta

There are a number of ways to reach Koh Lanta. The nearest airport is Krabi. There are no direct commercial flights to Krabi, domestic airlines can be taken from Bangkok. If travelling by plane domestic flights in Thailand are usually remarkably affordable, for instance, Air Asia or Bangkok Airways, flights to Krabi start from 20 euro and take just under an hour. If travelling by bus tickets start from 20 euros and depart from Bangkok each evening. It takes approximately 12 hours to get to Krabi from Bangkok.

From Krabi, Koh Lanta is attached to the mainland by a car ferry. You can also get traditional ferry boats from Krabi, Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. They don’t run during the offseason, which is from May to October end. Then the car ferry will be the only alternative then.During the high season starting from November to April, daily ferries run from Krabi to Koh Lanta. A taxi is around 700 baht from the airport to the New Pier in Krabi, from there you can take the ferry. The usual departure times are from 11:30 am & to 1:00 pm and travel time takes around 1.5 hours. Tickets are priced at about 250 baht per person.

Getting about

Scooters are a great way to get about, providing you have valid papers. Most resorts and hotels will have scooters for hire. It’s easy to get about with little to no traffic for the better part of the day. If not, you can opt for tuk-tuks. They can be hailed off the street, and negotiate a price before getting in.

Where to stay

Try to aim for at least a week’s stay, so you can explore the island and enjoy the beaches at your own pace. One can find all types of accommodation to suit every budget. If arriving during the high season, book well in advance, preferably months ahead. You can even stay in one of the resorts in Krabi, and the likes of places like Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort can be a sound choice.