Uncovering the Best Things to Do in Koh Lanta: A Guide to Exploring this Tropical Paradise
Koh Lanta is a group of islands located off the western coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It’s a perfect addition to your Thailand itinerary due to its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and lush tropical forests.
My favorite part of Koh Lanta is that it doesn’t get as many tourists as the other islands in Thailand. Which gives the island a laid-back atmosphere and is a great place to relax and unwind.
The fact that tourism hasn’t completely taken over the island also allows you to enjoy the culture, instead of just having restaurant options like Mcdonald’s.
The island also has a large Muslim community, which allows for a different cultural experience than many other parts of Thailand — they even play the call to prayer over speakers throughout the island.
Whether you want to spend your days lounging on the beach, exploring the island’s natural beauty, or trying out some water sports, Koh Lanta has something for everyone.
In this travel guide, we will explore all that Koh Lanta has to offer, including the best places to stay, things to do, and local cuisine.
Things to do in Koh Lanta
- Visit Lanta Old Town
Koh Lanta’s Old Town is a really special place to walk around. It’s right on the water so the view is beautiful from several of the restaurants — so it’s a great place to grab food!
It’s also full of tons of little shops for great walking and shopping for souvenirs or little crafts made locally.
Old Town even has a cool craft brewery spot, which is almost unheard of in Thailand.
- Check out Big Tree Beer Garden if you’re looking for a unique beer and a change from Leo or Chang. They have some great options!
Also, check out the end of the Old Town, there’s a sunken ship in the water, a long pier, and a park where all the local kids and their parents hang out at!
2. Check out the beaches
Well if you’re heading to any island in Thailand, the obvious answer is the beach. The beaches at Koh Lanta are extra special because they don’t get as crowded as the others because it’s a lesser-visited island.
I recommend checking out Beautiful Beach — I’d also recommend going here by scooter as it’s a bit of a way down a dirt path to get to. There’s a little hut here for food and drinks.
And check out Bamboo beach for sunset!
3. Visit Following Giants Koh Lanta Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
If you are looking to visit elephants during your time in Thailand — Follow Giants on Koh Lanta is an excellent place to do it!
Elephant tourism is huge in Thailand — and rightfully so, there is something so magical about seeing these large creatures in such an intimate setting. However, this has also led to some really bad treatment of elephants.
If you are choosing to spend time with elephants, please be sure to research extensively for places that offer an ethical experience so we can continue to protect these beautiful creatures.
Following Giants is a great place to have this experience. You can learn all about their program and the tours they offer at their website: https://www.followinggiants.net/.
4. Mu Ko Lanta National Park
Mu Ko Lanta National Park is perfect for getting out in nature for a day. It has a few different trails and a beach.
A popular trail (Mu Ko Lanta National Park nature trail) that leads to a beautiful viewpoint with a lighthouse, it’s a 1.8-mile loop.
The park have an entrance fee of 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children.
5. Check out some caves
If you’re looking for an adventurous trek, Koh Lanta offers the ability to check out some caves.
Khao Mai Kaew Cave, Diamond Cave, and Talabeng Cave are some of the highest-rated ones you should look into!
I was unable to do these while in Koh Lanta — so I recommend checking out another post on someone’s experience in these caves to help make your decision!
6. Spend the day snorkeling or scuba diving
There are 3-island and 4-island tours from Koh Lanta so that you can check out some islands around the area by boat. They offer snorkeling so you can spend the day laying on the beach, riding on a boat through the crystal clear water, and snorkeling in the water.
There are also great scuba diving options to check out!
Great way to spend the day — and again, less crowded than other Thai Islands because Koh Lanta isn’t completely run over by tourists yet.
7. Horseback riding on the beach
You can also enjoy horseback riding on the beach in Koh Lanta!
Check out this company: Pirate Bar Horse Riding. They take great care of their animals and what a unique way to spend your day in Thailand!
They’re on TripAdvisor so you can read the reviews.
8. SUP or Kayak on the beach
Rent a stand-up paddle board (SUP) or kayak and take it around the island! No better way to enjoy the beaches of Thailand.
9. Lanta Animal Welfare
Lanta Animal Welfare is a nonprofit adoption center for dogs and cats! It’s an amazing organization rescuing and giving animals a second chance and reducing the number of stray dogs and cats.
They offer tours of their facilities on select days and times. On the tour, you can learn more about the organization, donate, and spend some time cuddling some cute animals!
This is a beautiful way to give back and support an amazing organization, while also taking a couple of hours to get your dopamine hit by cuddling cute animals.
Where should you eat in Koh Lanta?
While you are in Koh Lanta, you must eat at Sunee Place in Old Town! The food here is amazing but the Sunee and her family are even more amazing.
The food plus the ability to feel like you’re joining a local family for dinner really makes this the BEST place to eat in Koh Lanta. It’s located right in Old Town — you cannot miss it.
You also cannot miss a smoothie bowl and a coffee from Tuesday Morning Small Talk Cafe and Chill out. This cafe is the absolute cutest. I recommend giving yourself a good amount of time to just soak in the views and vibe of this place.
Where should you to stay in Koh Lanta?
Budget Option: Hubs of Joy Hostel
- The free breakfast here is massive and delicious. They also offer other food for sale throughout the day and honestly, it is SO worth it. The food is some of the best at this hostel. Plus, The people are friendly. They offer scooter rentals for cheap. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here.
Mid-Range Option: The Lazy Lodge
- Beautiful spot right on the beach. The place has character and amazing reviews!
How do you get around Koh Lanta?
The best way to get around the island is by scooter. You can rent these cheaply on the island. There really is not much traffic on the island and the roads are really nice, so if you have experience riding a motorbike — this is definitely the place to do it!
The island is just a little too big to be completely walkable, but you can certainly walk to places near your accommodation. As far as getting from the pier to your accommodation, there will be people there offering rides for hire to get you to your accommodation before you can rent a scooter!
How do you get to Koh Lanta?
There are a few ways to get from areas in Southern Thailand to Koh Lanta, depending on your preferences and budget. Here are a few options from different destinations:
How to get from Phuket to Koh Lanta:
- Ferry: The most popular way to get from Phuket to Koh Lanta is by ferry. There are several ferry companies that operate daily from Phuket to Koh Lanta. The journey takes around 3-4 hours. You can book a ticket through your hotel or through a local travel agent at the pier.
- Speedboat: Another option is to take a speedboat from Phuket to Koh Lanta. The journey is faster than the ferry (around 1.5-2 hours) but it is typically more expensive.
How to get from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta:
- Ferry: The most popular way to get from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta is by ferry. There are several ferry companies that operate daily from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. You can book your ticket at any of the travel agency huts on the island or with your hotel/hostel.
- Speedboat: Another option is to take a speedboat from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. The journey is faster than the ferry (around 1 hour) — but definitely more expensive. This may be a good option if you’re traveling with a group!
How to get from Railay to Koh Lanta:
- Ferry: The easiest and most popular way to get from Railay to Koh Lanta is by ferry. There are several ferry companies that operate daily from Railay to Koh Lanta, with the journey taking around 2-3 hours. You can book a ticket through your hotel or through a local travel agent.
- Speedboat: Another option is to take a speedboat from Railay to Koh Lanta. The journey is faster than the ferry (around 1 hour) but can be more expensive and less comfortable.
- Minivan and Ferry: You can also take a minivan from Railay to Krabi, then take a ferry from Krabi to Koh Lanta. This option may take longer and cost more than taking the ferry directly from Railay, but it can be a good choice if you want to see more of the region.
Disclaimer for all options above: Keep in mind that the ferry and speedboat schedules are subject to change depending on the season and weather conditions, so be sure to check the schedule and book your tickets in advance if possible.
For my time in Thailand, I went from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. This made sense timing-wise for my itinerary. Check out my two weeks in Thailand itinerary post to help plan your trip!
If you’re unsure if you should make the time visit Koh Lanta, check out my post on Koh Phi Phi vs Koh Lanta!
