Ko Lanta is the kind of place that appeals to travellers who don’t like to hear the drone of jet-skis while they’re lazing on the beach, and being further south than Phuket and Krabi, it’s noticeably quieter.

It has several gorgeous beaches along its west coast, and at 25km in length, it’s worth exploring by rented motorbike or jeep. Lanta Old Town (aka Ban Si Raya), on the east coast of the island, is particularly interesting, with its stilted wooden houses.

Diving and snorkelling

Ko Lanta is a great destination for anyone interested in underwater discovery in the form of snorkelling and diving. The reefs around the island are less visited than those around Phuket and Ko Phi Phi, and several tour companies on the island offer kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling and diving trips.

New bridge

Most ferries don’t run from Krabi or Phuket during the rain season between May and October and many hotels close, so the island is almost deserted for several months. However, that is likely to change when a new bridge connecting Lanta with the mainland is completed.

Practical Info

Boats connect Ko Lanta with Phuket and Krabi in the high season (November-April), as well as with islands further south. Buses go as far as Ban Hua Hin, from where there’s a short ferry ride across to the island.