Long Beach (Phra Ae), Koh Lanta: Liveliest Beach Strip

Long Beach, called Phra Ae on the road signs, is the second beach south of Saladan pier and the island's main social strip. The sand is golden and soft, backed by tall casuarinas and palms that throw real shade, and the hotels sit behind the tree line rather than on the beach, so there are no rows of sunbeds on the sand. The seabed shelves reasonably quickly, which makes swimming better here than on most of the west coast. Long Beach is where people come for beach bars, restaurants and sunsets, and it stays calm because the sand is wide enough to absorb the crowd.

What is there to see and do at Long Beach?

1. 1Swim in deeper water: the bottom drops away early, so you reach swimming depth a few metres out and avoid the rocks lower down the coast. It is the west coast's most straightforward swim, though not its best snorkelling.
2. 2Walk the beach at sunset: the beach faces west along its whole length, and people gather at the water's edge and in the beach bars as the light goes. The walk north to south takes about an hour at an easy pace.
3. 3Choose your stretch of sand: the northern and central parts have most of the hotels and restaurants, while the far south is quieter and more expensive, with the island's luxury resort at the end of the road.
4. 4Eat on or near the sand: waterfront kitchens put out chairs and bamboo beds on the soft sand, and there is a wider choice of restaurants here than anywhere else on the island. Most beach bars close around 10 pm, with one or two staying open later.
5. 5Ride or push a pram: Long Beach is one of the few places on Lanta with pavements along the main road and ramps at the junctions, and the firm sand makes it the island's usual spot for horse riding.
6. 6Walk south to Relax Bay: the beach ends at a small cove with a single resort behind the sand, the quietest place to finish a walk along the sand, and the far south of Long Beach is where the road stops.
7. 7Spend the evening on Traveller Lane: the lane behind the beach is the heart of the evening, with cafes, bars and kitchens within a short walk of each other, so you can move on when a place goes quiet.

Who is Long Beach best for, and what are the conditions?

Long Beach is a short ride south of Saladan, roughly ten to twenty minutes by car or scooter depending on where you stay along its length. The main road runs behind the beach and the sand is reached by lanes between the resorts, so a scooter makes the southern end far easier to reach.

Short hops near Saladan, Long Beach (Ao Phra Ae) included, cost about 40 to 120 THB by songthaew in our September 2026 price survey, and a scooter costs 200 to 300 THB a day. There are no metered taxis and no ride-hailing apps on the island, so agree the price before you get in. To reach the island itself, see getting to Koh Lanta: from Krabi allow 2 to 3 hours by shared minivan with the ferry included.

From Krabi Airport, a private car cost 2,000 to 2,800 THB per vehicle for up to four people in our September 2026 survey, against 400 to 700 THB per person by shared minivan. For a family or a group of four, the private car costs about the same and drops you at your hotel without the stops.

Swimming is at its best from mid-tide to high tide. At low tide more rock shows in the southern half, and a river reaches the sea at the southern end of the beach, where swimming is not advisable. From May to October the monsoon swell brings rip currents: if one catches you, swim parallel to the shore rather than against it.

The beach suits couples, younger travellers and families with older children, and it is the island's best base for eating out. Families with toddlers often prefer Klong Dao, where the water is shallower, and travellers on a budget usually head for Klong Khong or Klong Nin.

November to April is the dry season, when the water is clearest and the beach is at its best. From May to October some restaurants and bars close, the sea is rougher and swimming is limited on many days.

For dinner, best restaurants in Long Beach lists the places that come up across several sources, grouped by what you want to eat and not ranked, and where to go out on Koh Lanta covers the later hours. Opening times change between seasons and small places close without notice, so check before you go. We name no venue on this page.

Long Beach is the natural base for a first visit, and a few nights here fit well at the start of a longer trip. Our 3, 5 and 7 day itineraries show how to combine it with the quieter beaches in the south, and our Long Beach hotel comparison helps you pick a stretch of sand.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated September 2026.