Koh Lanta Koh Lanta consists of two adjacent islands: Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. There are nine beautiful beaches running on the west coast side of Ko Lanta, running from north to south for 25 kilometers. The north end of the island, where you find Klong Dao and Phra Ae Beach is the more developed, with the most resorts and services available (although even in the busiest time of the year these beaches are never crowded). The farther you get south, heading towards the National Park at the end, the beaches become more secluded and are most often empty. There are pockets of basic services - ATM, travel and tour offices -- available in each beach area, but it is generally less developed the farther down the island you get. Ban Saladan, the tourist service center of Koh Lanta, is where you'll most likely arrive on the island, and where you'll find a choice banks, medical center, dive shops and shopping. Lanta Old Town, across the island on the southeast corner of the island, is where the police station, post office and limited services are available. For the most part all the beaches on Koh Lanta have white sand and are great for swimming. There is limited snorkeling from the shore at the south end of Phra Ae Beach and at Ao Mai Pai Bay but your best to book a day trip to snorkel at nearby islands.
Koh Lanta Beaches Ban Saladan Klong Dao Beach Klong Dao Beach is Ko Lanta's most popular white sand beach with the island's highest concentration of resorts and hotels. It's located at the northern most end of island so it's the closest beach to Ban Saladan, the main tourist center. This spectacular 3 km stretch of white powder sand was the first beach on the island to welcome tourists. Its calm waters make it especially safe and enjoyable for children. The beach is famous across Thailand for technicolor sunsets that light the sky every night. Even in high season (November to April), this huge beach never gets crowded, and a short walk will find you a patch without neighbors. Here you will find the best choice of restaurants and bars, and service closest to western or international standards. Phra Ae Village Phra Ae Beach (Long Beach)
Klong Kong Beach Klong Tob Beach Klong Nin Beach Klong Hin Beach Kan Tiang Beach Nui Beach
Ko Lanta Diving Koh Lanta's rich waters offer sandy coves, coral reefs, limestone rock outcrops, rock reefs, seamounts and pinnacles, undersea caverns and tunnels and sunken ships. Kolanta water temperature ranges from 27 to 31 degrees - ideal for divers, coral and tropical fish. More than 200 hard corals and 108 reef fish have been catalogues in a study under way, but thousands more organisms abound. Kohlanta's scuba dive centers offer daytrips on well-fitted boats and take you to at least two dive sites every day, including meals on-board. All provide rental equipment at reasonable prices. Dive trips leave Ko Lanta around 8 am and return between 4 pm and 6 pm depending on sites visited. Many dive sites offer good snorkeling, with friends and family welcome to join trips and snorkel at reduced rates. Speedboat diving is a good option for those wanting to get first to sites and back to beach life quicker. All centers operate to PADI scuba dive standards and the island has an excellent safety record. It has never been easier or safer to become a scuba diver. New technology has made scuba equipment extremely safe, and modern teaching methods make learning to dive safe and fun. If you've ever dreamed of exploring the underwater depths why not do it now? Koh Lanta's waters offer you one of the world's best varieties of underwater sights and experiences. A four-day open water dive course includes two days of real diving with instructors and you get an internationally accepted dive certificate. There are a maximum of four people per course. Courses are available in ten languages. The twin peaks of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are rated in almost the world top 10 lists of dive sites.
Koh Lanta Snorkeling Kolanta has several world-class snorkeling sites serviced by tour companies located mostly in Ban Saladan. Many dive sites also have good snorkeling and friends and family are welcome to join dive trips and snorkel at reduced rates. Speedboat snorkeling tours are recommended as the sites are spread out. Trips leave Kohlanta around 8 am and return between 2 and 4 pm and should include equipment, food and pick up and drop off service. The most famous site is the amazing coral reef of Ko Rok with its famous square kilometer of colored coral. Other packaged trips include a 3-island tour taking in Ko Muk, Ko Cheuk and Ko Ngai. Sites at Ko Kradan and those near Phi Phi Island are also popular. Getting to Ko Lanta is easy for even a first time visitor. Click on the links at the bottom of this page for detailed information, maps, schedules and prices.
Exploring Elephant Trekking Canoeing Island Hopping Go Island Hopping on a day trip. Going with a snorkeling or dive trip is an excellent way to see some of the islands above and below. If you want to plan a more ambitious itinerary, take the regular ferries that run between Ko Lanta, the mainland and the neighbouring Phi Phi Islands
Getting there The fastest way onto Ko Lanta is a direct, private air-conditioned minibus (or private speedboat) once you get to airports in Krabi, Trang and Phuket. Flights from all over the world will bring you into Thailand usually landing at the Bangkok or Phuket International Airport. If you're flying into Bangkok try to get a connecting flight to Krabi, the closest airport to Ko Lanta. Second choice is Trang and third choice is Phuket. Your journey onto Ko Lanta Yai -the larger of the two Lanta islands -will eventually take you through one of Ko Lanta's local transit cities in Krabi, Trang or Phuket depending on your entry point into Thailand. The most inexpensive way between Ko Lanta, Krabi, Phi Phi Island and Phuket is the public passenger ferry that runs November to May. No ferry service is available from Trang but direct public minibuses leave daily from mid morning through mid afternoon. Public minibus service is also available between Krabi, Phuket and Ko Lanta if you miss the passenger ferry or its low season. If you're arriving after noon at Krabi Airport you'll be unable to make the last public ferry to Ko Lanta. Your options are then, booking a private shuttle or staying overnight in Krabi town and catching the ferry the next morning. Once you're in one of these transit cities you'll either arrive on Ko Lanta by the: Road (across two car ferries) in a private car, pubic or private minibus transport service. Sea, on a public ferry or private boat.
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