We have previously spent holiday in Krabi province, mainly Ao Nang, but had never ventured very far south. Given that we now had time, this was the ideal opportunity to explore islands such as Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe.
GETTING THERE
Our time in Koh Lanta fell over the shoulder season (now called Green Season). As tourist numbers were also still lower due to the pandemic, there were fewer ways to get there. Usually there is a ferry that runs from Phuket (via PhiPhi) but our options were limited to speedboat or road transfer. Not wanting to put the kids and their seasickness-prone mother through a long bumpy speedboat ride from Phuket, we chose to make the trip from Khao Sok National Park via road. Our shared minibus, including one changeover at Krabi Town bus station, took an hour longer than a private transfer for our family but was also half the price. Our shuttle driver was even kind enough to drop us off right at the doorstep of our accommodation on Lanta.
Koh Lanta Yai, where you will find the main beaches and tourist accommodation, is reached from Krabi via vehicle ferry to Koh Lanta Noi and then crossing the Siri Lanta bridge.
One of our fellow passengers on the shuttle, a Canadian pilot that has semi-grated to Lanta, informed us that there is a bridge being constructed from mainland Krabi to Koh Lanta Noi but not everyone is happy with it as this will have a material effect on property prices and traffic volumes. I found this to be a recurring theme as I got the idea that the island’s residents, including the foreigners who have moved there, prefer it to be off the beaten track.
Koh Lanta Yai is not as walking-friendly as some of the islands frequented by tourists, there are no hop-on taxis like on Samui or the vast number of tuk-tuks of Phuket. I would suggest you rent a moto (scooter) for a few days to really explore Koh Lanta Yai all the way around.
BEACHES, BEACHES EVERYWHERE
Our first accommodation was right on Laem Kho Kwang Beach, a long stretch on the northern part of Lant Yai’s west coast. This beach is wide and has a very gentle slope, which made it perfectly safe for our young kids to play and explore by themselves whilst keeping within sight from our hotel’s lounge chairs. With the low tourist levels it almost felt, at times, like we had the whole beach to ourselves.
Early morning jogs along the hard stretch of sand was a highlight, and you get a beautiful 5km if you run it from end to end. The neighbourhood also has more than enough dining options, as well as a handy 7-eleven, should you not wish to dine at your hotel.
In fact, we enjoyed this beach so much that we extended our stay in the area, trying out different accommodation in the process.
One of the more famous beaches on the island is Long Beach. A narrow beach with a steeper incline into the beach break, it was a slightly more challenging place for the kids to swim but a great place to just hang and enjoy spectacular sunsets. We stayed at a place called ‘Somewhere Else’ which simply was ‘Something Else’ to experience. A family-run, laid-back and friendly establishment where you are greeted at all times with a smile. Our family bungalow was basic, but comfortable, and we stepped out right onto the beach. The daily Beach Volleyball game at sunset as also the perfect way to get your daily workout and work up a thirst. Staff, guests and basically anyone passing by, join in and the competition leads to much cheering and high-fives.
IN SUMMARY
We ended up staying much longer than planned, skipping the islands further south.
Would I go to Koh Lanta again? A definite YES. Our plan is to return in future, with more travel options to islands such as Koh Lipe and even go all the way to Malaysia (which had not yet fully re-opened at the time of out visit) through Langkawi.
It certainly takes a fair bit more travel than the more conventional destinations, but if you have time and just want to relax this is a dream destination. Especially for those who have already experienced the more frequented spots, either on the eastern or western sides of the country, I would definitely recommend a week in Koh Lanta. Some of my main reasons are:
- Vendors are a lot more laid-back, with almost no-one trying to grab your attention as you walk about
- For scuba divers, there are great sites such as Koh Haa, Hin Muang (Purple Rock) and Hin Daeng (Red Rock). These are truly world class sites, offering steep walls, big fish and lush soft coral gardens, that is easily accessed from Lanta. The only other way these sites would usually be dived is from a liveaboard.
- The island is very family friendly. One example is the Friday night Muay Thai. It really is an outing for young and old, local and tourist alike.
There are a large number of beachfront hotels available, at different price points. One tip on Koh Lanta I will leave you with is to explore alternatives such as self-catered villas. There is a large Swedish community that spend months at a time on the island, and a number of these villas are available to rent in their absence. The markets and fresh goods stores around the northern end of the island make it very easy to self-cater.
