Koh Lanta is located approximately 70 km south of Krabi on the east side of Southern Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. It stretches for 27 kms in the north-south direction and is traversed by a mountain range that is still covered by virgin rain forest. The range reaches heights of 500m in its northern and southern parts. The water off the west coast is crystal clear & the beaches powdery white
Getting thereBy air:
From Krabi Airport in only 1 hour from Bangkok International Airport, which serve you by Thai International Airways or PB Air.
By car:
You can reach Koh Lanta Yai by either driving from Trang or Phang-Nga province to Krabi province. Be careful to keep forward to Ban Huai Nam Khao and take the turn on Highway4206 until the end of road, Ban Hua Hin pier. Take car ferry (operate from 7.00a.m. to 7.00 p.m.) to Koh Lanta Noi then drive to Ban Lang Sog to take another car ferry to Ban Saladan pier.
By boat:
There are ferry services from Phuket (via Phi Phi) or you can hire longtail boat everyday.
To get around Ko Lanta you'll have to rent a motorbike and this can be done at most resort counters.
Make sure that you are familiar with the vehicle, test the brakes, the lights and horn and remember to drive carefully when you pass through or by villages and schools.
The Island has a population of approx. 20,000 people. The Community is a mixture of local muslims & northern Buddhist.
The northern Thai's have come to the Island to work in the tourism industry. Most of the muslim community earn their living from fishing, prawn farming and rubber plantations whereas the local trade, especially in Saladan is predominantly under the control of Thai's from Chinese descent.
The name Lanta is derived from the language of the 'Chao Lay' Sea Gypsies that still inhabit one settlement on the south-eastern coast of Lanta but the meaning of the word is not known.
Accommodation on Koh Lanta is limited to bungalow style rooms, this is because local ruling does not permit buildings of more than one storey in height. The thinking behind this is to keep the island looking natural and unspoilt.
This has worked making Koh Lanta a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.
Since 1996 the island has been connected to Thailand's southern electrical grid. The Island can be easily reached by 2 car ferries, that operate during daylight time only, approx. from 07:00 to 18:00. Some paved streets exist in the two villages but most roads are still unsurface. Along the western coast, more than 50 bungalow resorts offer accommodation, ranging from very simple huts to air-conditioned stone bungalows.
