Koh Lanta
Long, empty beaches on the west coast, a national park at the southern tip, and almost no nightlife. Koh Lanta is what people mean when they say they want a quiet island in Thailand.
Koh Lanta is a long, quiet island in Krabi province with nine west-coast beaches and very little development. It is reached by car ferry from Krabi or Trang. Four to five nights is right, and a scooter is essential.
Slow by design
The island is 30km long and the road follows the coast. Long Beach and Klong Nin have the best swimming; the old town on the east coast is Chinese-Thai shophouses and fishing boats.
Diving and the park
Koh Lanta is a dive base for Koh Haa and Koh Bida, and the national park at the southern tip has a lighthouse trail and beaches where you will see no one. Ferries from Krabi take two hours in high season.
Getting there
High-season ferries run from Krabi (2 hours) and Phuket (4 hours); the rest of the year you drive to Ban Hua Hin pier and cross by car ferry, about 2.5 hours from Krabi. There is no airport, which is precisely why it stays quiet.
Who it suits
Families with young children, divers and anyone who wants a beach holiday without a bar scene. It is not the place for shopping, nightlife or a five-star spa break — the island has one luxury resort and very little else above four stars.
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is 30km long and its beaches run down the west coast, each with a different level of development. The south is quietest and best for swimming; the north is closest to the pier and the ferries.
- Kantiang Bay$$–$$$
Best for: Quiet, swimming, couples
The best bay on the island: a curve of sand, a reef at the headland, six restaurants.
- Long Beach$$
Best for: A mix of restaurants and space
Four kilometres of sand with beach bars; the middle is the liveliest part.
- Klong Nin & Klong Khong$$
Best for: Families, mid-range budgets
Good swimming, plenty of small resorts, sunset bars without a party scene.
- Klong Dao$$$
Best for: Short stays and ferry convenience
Closest to the pier and the widest beach; the most developed and busiest in high season.
Price bands are for a double room per night in high season: $ under THB 1,800 · $$ 1,800–4,500 · $$$ 4,500–10,000 · $$$$ above 10,000. We book hotels in every band and inspect them in person.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Booking a resort on the east coast and discovering there is no swimming beach
- Coming in the monsoon season when half the island closes
- Trying to do it as a day trip from Krabi — the ferry alone takes two hours
Is it worth it?
The best island in Thailand for people who want quiet and don't need nightlife. It is genuinely laid back, the beaches are long and uncrowded, and the food is better than it has any right to be. Five nights, a scooter and no plan.
Things to see in Koh Lanta
National park
Mu Ko Lanta National Park
The southern tip of Koh Lanta: a lighthouse, a cliff trail, two quiet beaches and a jungle full of monkeys.…
Beach
Kantiang Bay
The best beach on Koh Lanta's south coast: a deep curve of sand, two beach bars and a headland that blocks the a…
Neighbourhood
Koh Lanta Old Town
A row of Chinese-Thai shophouses on stilts over the water on the island's east coast, with fishing boats and two…
Tours that include Koh Lanta
Experiences here
Common questions
Car ferry from Krabi (2 hours) or Trang (1.5 hours), or a shared minivan-and-ferry from Krabi airport (3 hours).
Kantiang Bay for quiet and swimming, Long Beach for a mix of restaurants and space, Klong Nin for families, Klong Dao for convenience to the pier.
November to April. Much of the island closes from May to October, when many resorts and restaurants shut.
Yes. The island is 30km long and there are very few taxis. Scooters cost around 250 baht a day.
Last updated: October 2026 · JoyoTour editorial team
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