Bamboo Bay, Koh Lanta: A Small, Wild Cove in the South

Bamboo Bay, Ao Mai Phai in Thai, is the last beach on the island's southern coast and the hardest to reach, which is most of its appeal. A semicircle of pale sand sits below wooded hills at the approach to Mu Ko Lanta National Park, with clear water, leaning palms and only a handful of small places to stay behind it. The road ends above the bay and drops to the sand on a steep track, so you arrive by scooter, by car or on a boat transfer from Kantiang Bay. The reward is the quietest beach on Koh Lanta, and a sunset that belongs to you and a few other people.

What to see and do at Bamboo Bay

1. 1Swim in clear water: the bay is small and open, the sand clean, and the water clears quickly in the dry season. The bottom shelves gradually, so a family can paddle in comfort.
2. 2Walk the last stretch down: the road stops behind the bay and a steep track, not tarmac, leads down to the sand; wear shoes with grip, take it slowly after rain, and remember the climb back up.
3. 3Ride the southern road with care: the road from Kantiang climbs and drops in tight bends, with the worst of the gradients in the last kilometres; check your brakes and your fuel before you set out, and be careful with two people on a scooter.
4. 4Snorkel the rocky edges: the middle of the bay is mostly sand; the rocks at either end hold more life and are the only places worth putting a mask on from the beach.
5. 5Stay overnight: a handful of small bungalow places and kitchens sit behind the sand, and there are no shops and no 7-Eleven within walking distance. Bring cash.
6. 6Have the beach to yourself at sunrise: most visitors come for a few hours in the afternoon. Staying the night gives you an empty beach in the morning and a genuinely dark sky after sunset.

Getting there and what to expect

Bamboo Bay sits at the southern end of Koh Lanta Yai, at the approach to Mu Ko Lanta National Park: the ticket barrier is a little further south, so the bay itself is reached without park fees. Come by road from Kantiang, about forty minutes from Saladan pier on a steep and winding stretch, or ask locally about a boat transfer from Kantiang Bay. Drivers park above the bay and walk the last stretch down on a track.

Getting there without your own wheels takes planning. In our September 2026 price survey a songthaew from Saladan to Kantiang Bay already cost about 200 to 400 THB and a private taxi 300 to 800 THB, and Bamboo Bay is further on; agree the fare and a pickup time for the return before you go, because there is nothing to flag down on the bay. A scooter costs 200 to 300 THB a day, but the gradients on the last kilometres are steep: read the motorbike rental guide if you are not a confident rider.

Swim in the middle of the bay, where the sand is deepest, and around high tide for the clearest water. There are rocks at both ends, and the bay is open to the south-west swell from May to October, when a night's stay can be wet and rough.

Bamboo Bay suits travellers who want quiet and are happy to carry what they need. It is not a base for seeing the island: there are only a few small kitchens, no shops and no easy transport back to the beach towns. Families with small children usually do better at Klong Dao or Klong Nin.

Come between November and April for calm seas and clear water, and check what is open before making the drive out of season: the south sees the heaviest seasonal closures, and several places behind the bay shut for the monsoon.

The bay pairs naturally with the national park at Laem Tanod, a few minutes further south: the lighthouse, the nature trail and the beach there make a half-day together. Entry is 200 THB per foreign adult and 100 THB per child aged 3 to 14 (rates read in June 2026), plus an announced vehicle charge of 20 THB per motorbike and 30 THB per car. See the entrance fee and opening hours before you go.

Kantiang Bay is the nearest place with a choice of restaurants and rooms, and it makes a better base if you want to visit Bamboo Bay without sleeping there. Our best Koh Lanta beaches puts the southern coves side by side with the busier west coast.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated September 2026.