Koh Lanta Places to Visit: 12 Beaches, Parks & Caves
12 places to visit on Koh Lanta: Old Town, Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Emerald Cave, the mangroves and 6 west coast beaches, with how to reach each one.
Koh Lanta packs a lot into a small island: the main island, Koh Lanta Yai, is about 81 square kilometres, roughly 25 to 30 km long and about 6 km wide. Almost every place in this guide sits along one long road that runs south from Saladan, the ferry-pier town at the northern tip, so the useful question is less "what is there to see" than "which side of the island, and how far from the pier".
Below are the 12 places we cover in depth, followed by a quick guide to the island's geography, a comparison of the beach zones with travel times, and advice on choosing a base for your type of trip.
East coast and inland
Culture & historyKoh Lanta Old Town
A 19th-century Chinese-Thai trading town built on stilts over the sea
Wildlife & natureFollowing Giants Elephant Sanctuary
An ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuary near Old Town
Wildlife & natureMangrove Forest (Tung Yee Peng)
Kayak through tunnels of mangrove roots on the island's east side
West coast, north
West coast, south
Wildlife & natureMu Ko Lanta National Park
A lighthouse viewpoint at the island's southern tip
BeachKlong Nin Beach
A quieter mid-island beach with a boutique feel
BeachKantiang Bay
A dramatic curved bay backed by jungle hills, in the island's south
BeachBamboo Bay
A small, wild cove at the very southern tip. No roads through the reef
By boat from Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta's geography in four parts
The west coast is where most visitors stay. The beaches follow one another from north to south: Klong Dao about 2 km from Saladan pier, then Long Beach (Phra Ae), Klong Khong about 15 km from the pier and Klong Nin about 5 km further south. The further you go, the quieter it gets, and the fewer shops, banks and ATMs you pass.
The south is hillier and wilder. Kantiang Bay is a curved bay backed by jungle hills, home to most of the island's higher-end resorts, and Bamboo Bay is a small cove near the tip. At the very end of the road, Mu Ko Lanta National Park covers the Laem Tanod headland and its lighthouse, about 50 to 60 minutes by road from Saladan.
The east coast faces the mainland and has no swimming beaches to speak of. It is where you go for culture and nature: Koh Lanta Old Town, a stilted Chinese-Thai trading town 30 to 40 minutes from Saladan pier, and the Tung Yee Peng mangrove forest, reached along the east coast road.
The interior is forested hills crossed by the roads linking the two coasts. It is what you drive through between the west-coast beaches and Old Town (20 to 30 minutes by scooter), and it is where the Following Giants elephant sanctuary is found, near Old Town. Offshore, the Emerald Cave on Koh Mook and the Koh Rok, Koh Ha and Koh Kradan islands are boat day trips, not places you reach by road.
Beach zones compared: distances and travel times
Most transfers from Krabi Airport finish at Saladan pier before continuing to your beach; the car ferry itself docks at Koh Lanta Noi, where you cross the bridge for the last stretch, so the time from the pier is what separates the zones. Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta takes roughly 1.5 to 3 hours door to door, and where you are staying is one of the things that decides where you land in that range.
| Zone | Coast | From Saladan pier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klong Dao | West, north | About 2 km, five minutes by car or tuk-tuk | Families, short stays, easy arrival |
| Long Beach (Phra Ae) | West, north | Roughly 10 to 20 minutes by car or scooter | Restaurants, bars, first-time visitors |
| Klong Khong | West, middle | About 15 km, around 25 minutes by road | Budget and long-stay travellers |
| Klong Nin | West, middle | Around 40 minutes by car or scooter | A quieter beach with a boutique feel |
| Kantiang Bay | South | Forty minutes or more by car | Higher-end resorts and scenery |
| Bamboo Bay | South | About forty minutes via Kantiang, steep last stretch | A wild cove for a half-day visit |
| Old Town | East | 30 to 40 minutes by road | Culture, a half-day visit |
Times are indicative and taken from our place guides; they depend on traffic, the weather and exactly where you stay along each beach. The overall Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta journey is about 1.5 to 3 hours door to door, depending on the ferry queue and your beach: see getting to Koh Lanta.
How to choose a base for your type of trip
- Short stay or late arrival: Klong Dao or Long Beach. They are the first beaches after the pier, close to Saladan's shops, banks and 7-Elevens, which matters after a long travel day.
- Families: Klong Dao's long, calm beach and short transfer make it the easiest choice. See Koh Lanta for families.
- Eating out and a bit of nightlife: Long Beach has the widest choice of restaurants and bars along the beach road.
- Budget or a long stay: Klong Khong is laid-back and popular with long-stay travellers.
- Peace and quiet: Klong Nin, or Kantiang Bay if your budget runs to a resort. Stock up on cash first: shops and ATMs thin out in the south.
- Day trips and exploring: any west-coast base works, since boat tours usually include hotel pickup. Rent a scooter or book a driver for Old Town, the mangroves and the national park.
Still undecided?
Our where to stay in Koh Lanta guide compares the zones in detail, and where to stay by traveller type matches each one to a travel style. For getting between them, see scooters, taxis and songthaews.
When the season changes what you can visit
Everything on land, from Old Town to the mangroves and the national park, is open year round. The sea is what changes: from roughly May to October, rougher water makes boat trips more likely to be cancelled, and Koh Rok and Koh Ha close to visitors every year from mid-May to November (dates set each year by the park). If the offshore islands are high on your list, plan for the dry season: see the best time to visit Koh Lanta.
Frequently asked questions
For most first-time visitors, Long Beach or Klong Dao: both are close to Saladan pier, with plenty of restaurants and easy transfers. Choose Klong Khong for a budget or long stay, and Klong Nin or Kantiang Bay for a quieter trip.
Compare where to stayThe national park at the southern tip is about 50 to 60 minutes by road from Saladan pier in the north. The road is slower and steeper in the south, especially in the rain.
The west coast. The east coast faces the mainland and is where you find Old Town and the mangrove forest rather than swimming beaches.
Yes, with your own transport or a driver: Old Town takes 1 to 2 hours, and the national park is at the southern end of the island. Many tours also combine them.
National park and Old Town toursThe Emerald Cave on Koh Mook and the islands of Koh Rok, Koh Ha and Koh Kradan are only reachable by boat, usually on a full-day tour. Koh Rok and Koh Ha are closed from mid-May to November (dates set each year by the park).
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