Koh Lanta does not have an airport, the closest airport is the Krabi International Airport where visitors can take either a minibus or a ferry to Koh Lanta. The journey takes about two hours.

There is a ferry service offered daily from Krabi to Koh Lanta during peak season (Nov-Apr). The ferries depart from the New Pier in Krabi, which can be reached via a taxi ride from the airport costing around 500 baht. Departure times are 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, travel time is around 1 ½ hour costing approximately 350 baht.

Minibusses are available at the airport to connect you directly to your hotel in Koh Lanta. These can be booked at the airport upon arrival. The minibusses connect to the island via two car ferries. The journey costs around 400 baht and takes around 2 ½ hours.

A private taxi from the airport to your accommodation on Koh Lanta would cost you around 2,500 baht, which provides a comfortable and fast ride to your final destination.

Krabi bus station offers hourly bus services on air-conditioned buses to Koh Lanta which takes up to 3 hours and costs 200 baht.

Transportation once on the island mainly consists of tuk-tuks, scooters, and motorbikes. The two main roads on the island run the length of the east and west coasts and are interconnected by four smaller roads.

Renting a motorbike or scooter is probably one of the most convenient ways to explore the island, they are cheap and easy costing around 200 baht per day. The main roads are well paved and rentals are offered at the beaches, on the West coast of in Lanta Old Town.

Songthaews and samlohs are the islands form of taxis either with three wheels (samloh) and a sidecar or pick up trucks (songthaews) with two rows of seating in the truck bed. Tuk-tuks can be found almost anywhere on the island, especially outside of 7/11 stores, hotels and along the roads.

Koh Lanta is an island with 52 surrounding islands and the only way to reach it is via boat, so there are many activities on the island that include boats for transportation purposes and recreational use. Day trips are offered to nearby islands where passengers can enjoy a day full of water activities including snorkeling and kayaking.

There is a 4 island hopping tour where passengers get to visit Koh Kradan, Koh Ma, Koh Cheuk and Koh Mook with highlights that include visiting the Emerald Cave on Koh Cheuk and see the stunning signature limestone cliffs surrounded by sparkling blue waters.

Longtail boats are available to hire allowing passengers to explore the hidden islands at their leisure with their captain. This will cost around 6,000 baht per day and can accommodate up to 8 passengers.

Beaches are bountiful in Koh Lanta and the island features some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand. There are several beaches to enjoy including Bamboo beach, Khlong Khong beach, and Kantiang Bay. All of the beaches here boast superb soft white sands that stretch for miles lapped by the clear waters of the Andaman Seas, they are perfect for sunbathing, strolls along the sand, swimming and snorkeling along with an abundance of other water sports.

Walking around the beautiful island of Koh Lanta is possible along the pristine beaches and in the islands main town, Lanta Old Town. A quaint fishing village situated on the waterfront with traditional wooden stilt houses that are now home to restaurants and shops, making it a pleasant place for a stroll. The east coast of the island is filled with lush green mountains that are a great place for hiking and trekking in peaceful natural surroundings. There is a historic old town on this coast with a few restaurants and shops.

Riding a bike is possible to connect to the main beach towns and is a pleasant ride. However, reaching further destinations can be hard and dangerous on a bicycle.

Koh Lanta is not a dangerous city; there are very few incidents of violence, theft or harassment and tourist police do well maintaining the safety of the city. Travelers should still be cautious just as in any other city in the world, be aware of pickpockets in tourist areas and certain scam artists. Keep your bags and belongings close to you, especially at night.

There is not much to offer in the form of shopping on Koh Lanta, visitors can expect to find the basic grocery stores, 7/11s, and pharmacies in Baan Saladan village. Other than that there are some unique local shops selling beachwear, handmade products, and souvenirs available along the beaches and in the main towns.

The Thai Baht is the currency used in Koh Lanta and you will need to exchange your dollars to Baht. Try to avoid major banks and popular tourist areas as you tend to get the worst exchange rates.

Tipping is not a common practice in Thailand and is not customary. There is no requirement to tip but small gratuities for great service are appreciated, and most restaurants and hotels will include a 10% service charge on your bill.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Thailand by clicking here Thailand

The island is filled with many different restaurants including beachside and waterfront eateries that serve up delicious fresh fish and seafood. Local authentic restaurants cook up some of the best Thai curries in Thailand accompanied by fresh naan bread. Some of the most popular restaurants on the island are Time for LIme, Lanta Thai Cookery School, and Roi Thai Cooking School.

Taking a cooking class while staying in Koh Lanta is a popular activity that we highly recommend. There are many offered all over the island offering visitors a wonderfully authentic experience. Participants can learn how to cook 3-4 dishes during class.

The nightlife on the island boasts a very laid back island vibe with cocktails at beachside bars while watching the sunset. Romantic strolls along the beach under the moonlight. Dining at beachfront or waterfront restaurants while taking in the island ambiance.

The official language spoken in Thailand is Thai, however, English is widely spoken by people working in the service and tourism industries. We recommend that you get a good English-Thai guidebook and familiarize yourself with a few common phrases, such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

In case of an emergency dial 1155 for the tourist police, dial 075-668-192 for police Koh Lanta. Emergency medial dial 1669. Emergency police 191.

Hospitals:

Saladan Health Center tel. 66-0-75-668-170

Koh Lanta Hospital tel. 66-0-75-697-176

Krabi Nakarin International Hosptical tel. 66-0-626-555