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Klong Khong is the third beach south of Saladan and the most characterful of the island's long strips of sand. It is also the rockiest: dead coral and stone barriers lie at the waterline, so the beach is prettier than it is easy, and swimming is best around high tide. Behind the sand you find cheap family-run restaurants, beach bars with reggae and fire shows, and prices a notch below the north of the island. It is the relaxed middle of the west coast, popular with long-stay travellers and anyone who prefers a beach bar to a resort pool.
What to see and do at Klong Khong
- 1Swim around high tide: at high water the sea comes almost to the beach bars and the swimming is good; at low tide you may walk forty metres before there is enough water, across sand, coral and rock.
- 2Wear reef shoes: sea urchins are common in the rocky sections, so water shoes make the difference between a swim and a careful shuffle.
- 3Pick the right end: facing the sea, the right-hand stretch has the widest sand and the fewest rocks in the water, while the left is where the restaurants and terraces cluster.
- 4Spend the evening on the sand: this is the island's beach-bar beach: fire shows, reggae, tables on the sand and cheaper drinks than Long Beach or Klong Dao.
- 5Eat cheap and well: family-run Thai kitchens line the strip around the 7-Eleven, which is the most practical corner of the beach for supplies, cash and a quick meal.
- 6Walk to the neighbouring coves: Relax Bay and Secret Beach sit in the small inlets between Klong Khong and Long Beach, and both are a short walk or ride from here.
- 7Watch the sunset from a beach table: the beach faces west, so the sun drops into the sea just beyond the bars. The usual evening is a drink on the sand from late afternoon, then dinner at the same table.
Conditions, getting around and who it suits
Klong Khong is about 15 km south of Saladan pier, twenty-five minutes or so by road, and about 5 km north of Klong Nin. The beach runs parallel to the main road but sits roughly 100 m back from it, reached down concrete steps or lanes between bungalows and bars.
Most visitors reach Klong Khong from Saladan pier, about twenty-five minutes by taxi, songthaew or scooter. A scooter (200 to 300 THB a day in our September 2026 price survey) makes it easy to hop between the neighbouring beaches and coves. If you have not yet worked out how to reach the island, start with getting to Koh Lanta, which covers Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani.
There are no metered taxis and no ride-hailing apps on Koh Lanta. In our September 2026 price survey a private taxi or local minivan cost 200 to 500 THB depending on distance, and scooter shops asked for a cash deposit of 1,500 to 5,000 THB; never leave your passport as a deposit. The getting around guide compares the options.
Swimming depends almost entirely on the tide. High water gives you a clean, pleasant swim and a beach that seems to double in size at low water, when rock and coral are exposed and the walk to depth is long. Sea urchins and stone make reef shoes worthwhile, and from May to October the sea here can turn dangerous during the monsoon swell.
Klong Khong suits travellers who want a cheap, sociable base with a beach-bar atmosphere rather than polished resorts. Families with small children are usually happier at Klong Dao, where the water is shallow and calm, and couples looking for quiet tend to prefer Kantiang Bay or Bamboo Bay further south.
The best combination here is the dry season, November to April, plus the hours around high tide for swimming. Out of season the beach empties, some bars close and the sea is often too rough for a comfortable swim.
Bars and restaurants here are informal: tables on the sand, reggae and fire shows after dark, and family-run Thai kitchens a notch cheaper than on Long Beach or Klong Dao. We name no venue on this page, because small beach bars change owners, names and opening hours often. Check recent reviews and walk down before dinner to see what is open, especially outside the dry season.
Klong Khong works well in the middle of a longer stay: a few nights here, then a move south to the quieter beaches. Our 3, 5 and 7 day itineraries show how to combine it with the north and the south of the island.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but the tide decides when. Around high water the swimming is good and the water is clearer than at Long Beach; at low tide you walk a long way over sand, coral and rock to reach depth. Bring water shoes for the urchins, and avoid the sea during monsoon swell.
Klong Khong Beach guideIt is one of the cheaper beach areas on the island, with family-run restaurants, small bungalows and beach bars rather than resort hotels. Budget beds are concentrated in this middle stretch of the west coast, along with Klong Nin further south.
Budget hostels on Koh LantaIt is the rockiest and most relaxed of the main beaches, with the best beach-bar scene and lower prices. Long Beach has the widest choice of restaurants and the easiest swim, while the northern beaches suit families with small children best.
Best Koh Lanta beachesFrom Saladan pier it is about 15 km, roughly 25 minutes by taxi, songthaew or scooter. To reach the island itself from Krabi, Phuket, Bangkok or elsewhere, see our guide to getting to Koh Lanta.
Getting to Koh LantaYes. The beach faces west, and the beach bars put tables out for the evening, so you can watch the sun go down from the sand. From May to October cloud and swell can spoil the view, and some bars close.
Koh Lanta itinerariesIt is not the easiest choice with small children: the rocks and urchins make low tide awkward, and the evenings revolve around beach bars. Families usually do better at Klong Dao, with its shallow, calm water, or at Klong Nin a little further south.
Koh Lanta for familiesLast updated September 2026.
