Let's start from Khlong Thom, less than 50 kilometres south of Krabi town. To reach Namtok Ron and Sa Morakot (A1 and A2, respectively) you have to first take Highway 4038 from Khlong Thom and then turn right onto Rural Highway 4021.
Seven kilometres or so down the 4021, you'll see on the right-hand side a minor road that leads to Namtok Ron. A kilometre further down the rural highway, you'll find another minor road to Sa Morakot. There's a shortcut between these two sites but you'd better check with the locals first if road condition is okay for your vehicle.
Well, suppose you've finished with both Namtok Ron and Sa Morakot, now it's time to head to the shore and on to Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai islands.
Drive back to Khlong Thom and take Highway 4 (Phetkasem) southward. About eight kilometres from Khlong Thom, you'll reach Huai Nam Khao intersection. (Oh, on the way to the intersection, you'll pass Wat Khlong Thom which houses a folk museum. In case the museum is closed when you are there, ask one of the monks if he could open the door for you.)
At Huai Nam Khao intersection, turn right onto Highway 4206 - this 27-kilometre road ends at Ban Hua Hin from where you can take a ferry to Ko Lanta Noi.
Once you get on Ko Lanta Noi, follow the road signs to another ferry that will take you to Ko Lanta Yai, the larger of the two Lanta islands and our destination today.
The second ferry takes you to Sala Dan at the northern end of Ko Lanta Yai. From Sala Dan, Ko Lanta Yai's main road runs south along the west side of the island to Ban Khlong Nin where it veers eastward to the other side, and ends at Sangka-u fishermen's village.
From Ban Khlong Nin, there's a minor road that allows you to continue along the west coast to Laem Tanoat where the headquarters of Moo Ko Lanta Marine National Park is situated. Much of this road is unpaved and there're a couple of steep sections. Along the way you'll see a sign showing you a walking trail to Khlong Jak Waterfall. But to tell you the truth, I've been to Laem Tanoat twice and both times I never got the chance to drop by at Khlong Jak. If any of you have been to this particular fall before, I'd appreciate it if you would be kind enough to email and tell me about it.
Bangkok Post November 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
