Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Forest, Koh Lanta: Kayak Tunnels

Tung Yee Peng, on the sheltered east coast of Koh Lanta, is the main mangrove area for visitors: a network of tidal channels lined with mangrove roots, some forming green tunnels overhead. Kayaking through them is one of the island's best-loved activities. It is gentle, shaded and sheltered from the open sea, which also makes it a good rainy-day choice. The mangrove lines both banks of the canal that separates Ko Lanta Yai from Ko Lanta Noi.

What you will see and do

1. 1Root tunnels: narrow channels where mangrove branches form a canopy over the water.
2. 2Mudflat wildlife: fiddler crabs, mudskippers and various birds are common; monkeys are sometimes seen near the pier.
3. 3Tide-dependent routes: channels are shallow and tidal, so operators time trips to the tide table. Some low-tide routes are narrower or muddier than usual.
4. 4Guided or independent: book a guided half-day tour or rent a kayak and paddle a marked loop at your own pace.
5. 5A community-run forest: the village's ecotourism project started in 2003, led by Narathon Hongthong, a former mangrove cutter. According to the project, around 150 families take part, with a shareholder fund and an annual payout. In the 1980s charcoal kilns drove heavy cutting here, until harvesting in natural forest was banned in 1989.
6. 6Pok Chun rowing boats: these wooden rowing boats once carried mangrove logs and disappeared when the charcoal trade ended. The community brought them back around 2014, and some trips are now rowed by local guides instead of paddled or motored.
7. 7Longtail routes to the islands: boats leave from the Tung Yee Peng pier and follow the canal out towards Koh Aung, Koh Talabeng with its caves, and Koh Bu Bu. Many trips stop at a spot known as Monkey Point, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

Planning your paddle

Tung Yee Peng is on the east side of the island. Most tours include hotel pickup; if you go independently, allow travel time and check tide times. The water is flat and sheltered, so previous kayaking experience is not necessary.

There is no public transport to the village and Grab does not operate on the island. Ride a scooter along the east coast road and look for the signposted turn, or take a tuk-tuk, which usually costs 50 to 150 THB from Saladan. The site is open daily from 8:30 to 17:00, and a small entrance fee of a few tens of baht is collected on arrival; confirm the current amount there.

From the entrance, a waterside boardwalk and then a cement path lead through the mangrove, about 15 minutes on foot, to a fish farm and a stilted seafood restaurant on the canal. Published prices include independent kayak hire at 300 THB for 3 hours and half-day boat trips from 500 THB. Morning or late-afternoon departures are the most comfortable.

Wear a swimsuit under light clothing, water shoes or sandals, and bring sun protection, a hat, insect repellent and a dry bag for your phone. A change of clothes is useful if you are moving on to something else.

Several tours combine the mangroves with Old Town or nearby islands, so compare the itineraries before booking. Note that the mangroves inside Mu Ko Lanta National Park, such as Ko Mai Ngam, are a different place.

For a fuller look at what happens on a tour and how to choose, read Koh Lanta mangrove tours: what to expect.

Mangrove tours you can book

Most bookedFrom US$24

3.5 hours Coastal hotels (pickup available) 4.7 (1088)

Half-Day Mangrove Kayaking Tour with Lunch

• 1,088 reviews at 4.7★: the island's most-reviewed mangrove tour
• Half-day kayak through the Thung Yee Peng mangrove tunnels, lunch included

Best for: First-timers who want one easy, well-reviewed mangrove morning

Check availability & price

Half-day comboFrom US$27

4 hours Coastal hotels (pickup available) 4.7 (118)

Mangrove Kayak & Old Town Half-Day Tour

• 4.7★ from 118 reviews
• Mangrove kayaking paired with a stop in Koh Lanta Old Town on stilts over the sea

Best for: Travellers short on time who want mangroves and culture in one half-day

Check availability & price

Budget pickFrom US$16

3 hours Thung Yee Peng mangrove pier 4.6 (42)

Mangrove Kayak Rental at Thung Yee Peng

• 4.6★ from 42 reviews
• Simple kayak rental at the Thung Yee Peng mangrove pier. Go at your own pace, no guide included

Best for: Independent travellers on a budget who don't need a guided tour

Check availability & price

Mangrove tours sold online range from about 3 hours to a full day, and some add sunset, bioluminescent plankton or Old Town. Check the departure pier, the boat type (kayak, longtail or rowing boat) and whether lunch is included before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated September 2026.