Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting?

Koh Lanta is a lesser-known island in Thailand when compared to other islands around Thailand. The island is located in the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand in the Krabi Province. Koh Lanta is less developed than the other islands in Thailand such as Koh Samui or Phuket but it has no shortage of beautiful beaches, wonderful scenery, and beautiful sunsets. So, is Koh Lanta worth visiting?

Koh Lanta is worth visiting if only to enjoy the amazing beaches but it is less developed than other islands such as Phuket or Koh Chang. It has 3 months of the high season where it is busy but 9 months of the low season where it is very quiet. You should expect some inconveniences like transportation to get around the island.

In this post, we will go through is Koh Lanta worth visiting. Let’s get started!

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Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting?

Koh Lanta is definitely worth visiting for a variety of reasons. The main reason is the welcoming and friendly locals as well as there is laid-back island vibe. Also, Koh Lanta has amazing beautiful scenery, beaches, and sunsets. You can explore the islands and see waterfalls, and other sites around the island.

There are three reasons that Koh Lanta is worth a visit, these are as follows.

Friendly People.
Scenery.
Food.

Friendly People

The locals from Koh Lanta are generally friendly and helpful. Expect there to be a slight language barrier as the island is developing. They are happy to welcome visitors from other countries and are happy to help visitors.

Scenery

Koh Lanta is blessed with beautiful scenery that is generally blessed with beautiful jungle scenery, waterfalls, beaches, and caves. You can enjoy the tranquil vibe of admiring the sunset by the beach with a drink.

Koh Lanta as a tourist destination is attracting tourists interested in going for hikes into the jungle and seeing the fantastic beaches but not overly interested in the nightlife. As well as that Koh Lanta has a relaxed vibe and is a very peaceful place to rest and relax.

Food

Thailand is famous for its food and Koh Lanta will not disappoint. As well as offering local food Thai food Koh Lanta also offers food from all over the world.

Remember that the beach areas can be busy with visitors to Koh Lanta, therefore it can be a little bit more expensive.

Is Koh Lanta Crowded?

Koh Lanta does not get crowded but does get busy during the high season. Koh Lanta is busy for 3 months of the year during the high season between December to March. And it is quiet during the low season for 9 months.

During the low season, you will find that some of the beaches are empty and some hotels and restaurants are closed. Also, the prices for top accommodation during the low season time are considerably cheaper when compared to the high season.

Is Koh Lanta A Party Island?

No, Koh Lanta is not a party island. You can still have a good night out but you may have to look around if you are not still near the old town.

How Do You Get Around Koh Lanta?

To get around Koh Lanta there are not many options. There are only two options as there is no public transport. These are as follows.

Moped – Renting a scooter is the best way to get around the island. You can rent a moped for around 200 baht a day. You do need to check reviews of the place before renting a bike.
Tuk-Tuk – A tuk-tuk is inexpensive but it can add up if used for multiple trips around the island.

Things To Do On Koh Lanta Thailand

Koh Lanta is blessed with wonderful beaches and jungles. It is not as developed as other places like Phuket or Koh Samui but there are good things to do in Koh Lanta that will keep you busy for a few days.

These are the main things to do on Koh Lanta, Let’s go through the list.

Visit The Beaches

The beaches in Koh Lanta are considered some of the best in Thailand. The beaches are wonderful for going swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing. Some of the best beaches on Koh Lanta are as follows.

Long Beach.
Klong Khong Beach.
Kantiang Beach.
Klong Nin Beach.
Nui Beach.
Relax Beach.

Go Scuba Diving

Koh Lanta offers some great dive spots such as Hin Bida, Ko Rok, Hin Daeng (Red Rock), and Hin Muang (Purple Rock) where you can see 100 types of reef fish and sea snakes, and even leopard sharks at Hin Bida.

You can do your Open Water certification while in Koh Lanta and go on fun dives around the Island. There is a decent range of scuba diving operators around Koh Lanta.

Explore Mu Koh Lanta National Park

The Mu Koh Lanta National Park consists mainly of rugged hills covered with rainforest and a beach with the coastline at Ko Lanta Yai.

The main things to do at this national park are to visit the white beaches, hiking trails, viewpoints, and some impressive caves. The beaches are beautiful and it is easy to spend a few hours on the sand and in the water.

For trekking in the jungle, remember to wear proper shoes and bring water with you. There is an entry fee of 200 baht per person and 20 baht for a motorbike. The entry fee is cheaper for Thais.

Explore Lanta Old Town

Lanta Old Town is a charming small seaside town on the east side of the island. It once acted as the main port and commercial center for the island. Today, the old town is the district capital that is home to the island’s police and the island’s hospital as well as the main pier.

The old town has some great restaurants and shops with amazing harbor views of the sea. Plus, most of the homes are built on stilts, overlooking an incredible ocean view.

Visit The Lanta Animal Welfare Centre

If you are looking to do something a little different and make a positive difference, then a visit to the Lanta Animal Welfare Centre. Simply it is a nonprofit charity dedicated to helping suffering dogs and cats around the island of Koh Lanta.

At the center, there are free tours available showing you around the premises and explaining how the center is run. The tours are every hour during the high season and every two hours during the low season.

You can also take the dogs for a walk around the town and on the beach. If you go to Lanta, it is worth a visit to the Animal Welfare Centre and even making a small donation.

Take A Cooking Class

If you are interested in learning to cook Thai food, then why not take a cooking class? There are a fair few Thai cooking classes around Koh Lanta.

You will be picked up at your hotel. You will get to choose 4 meals to cook. Generally, the cooking groups are small with no more than 6. And after each meal is cooked you dine with the other wannabe chefs at a sit-down meal!

USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES

Book Accommodation

Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.

Booking Flight

Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.

Booking Transportation & Things To Do

Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.

Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.

Wrapping Up

Finally, Koh Lanta is worth visiting if only to enjoy the beaches but you have to deal with inconveniences as the island is less developed than other islands such as Phuket or Koh Chang. It has 3 months of the high season where it is busy but 9 months of the low season where it is very quiet.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on is Koh Lanta worth visiting has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.