All Lanta's tourist beaches face west - great sunsets (image Wiki public domain/Phil Weaver) Most of this report was written after my March 07 trip. However I have UPDATED it with information and photos from my most recent Dec 08 visit. There are also some UPDATES from other visitors with good info.
Ko Lanta is a fairly long, narrow island with a backbone of forested mountains and a dozen or so pretty nice beaches along its western coast. The pace here is relaxed, much more so than Samui, Phi Phi or Railay/Ao Nang.
I’ve never stayed south of Relax Bay previously, but having seen the central and southern beaches from the Trang island daytrip boat, I decided to check out these sections of the island this March.
BIGGER ISLAND MAP with all beaches and most hotel and bungalow outfits.
KHLONG NIN BEACH about two thirds down the island reads up pretty well in the books and websites, so I piled out of the Krabi-Lanta minibus there and got me a room at LANTA PARADISE RESORT, a mid-range place that also has some cheapies in the hill section across the road from the beach for tight-wads like me.
I was a little disappointed with Khlong Nin in that it was not as laid back as I expected. It is pretty well developed over the northern three-quarters, very similar to say Long Beach in the north of the island, and as a matter of fact, most of the beaches on Lanta (with the exception of the southern-most 4). Otherwise, Khlong Nin is a pretty nice beach, maybe 2 km long, good sand, water deep enough at low tide for swimming close to shore, a few rocky sections but no problems, some nice candle-lit dining tables and bars set up on the sand at night, and a fair bit of accommodation mostly midrange and flash-packer.
Late afternoon low tide shot of the beach in front of Paradise Resort - dining tables being set up for dinner. Even with the tide this low I found I could swim this side of the biggest offshore rock. At high tide they are submerged.A discontinuous ribbon of the usual restaurants/bars, travel agents, internet places, laundry services etc lines the inland side of the beach road down to the north end of Khlong Nin Bay (in fact it continues all the way to Sala Dan at the north of the island) about 1km north of PARADISE. Here it intensifies into a small shopping area - there are a couple of ATMs too. The turn-off for the road to the east coast is just past this retail cluster, heading north.
Apart from the cheapest rooms like mine, which are dumps, LANTA PARADISE is a pretty nice place in a good section of the beach. It has an attractive pool directly behind the beach and the more expensive bungalows are clustered here. I had a look at one of the most expensive aircon jobs and it sure did look god. One criticism, all these bungalows are clustered fairly tightly. The beachside restaurant has those candle-lit tables on the sand at night, some very nice food and prices which could match the best value budget-bungalows I stayed at this trip. Service was good. There are a number of beach bars and restaurants in close proximity. Sprawled on a mat on the sand with a 60b happy-hour big Chang watching a pretty awesome sunset is my idea of qualiteee time.
Paradise has internet, a small store, a travel desk and washing service. There are similar providers close-by on the beach road.
I do a detailed review of my 400baht dump of a room at the end of this report.
EXPLORING THE REST OF THE ISLAND
I spent my second and third day on Lanta fanging around the island on the usual hire-a-wreck Cannondale. Actually, the bicycle I had second day was pretty good - 120baht from a little bar opposite Nice Resort about 400m north of Lanta Paradise run by a friendly farang and his Thai wife. A much better bike than the 80baht first day crate with the way too-short seat post from the same place.
Heading south it gets progressively more hilly, which is a great way to work up a sweat, meaning a stop at most beaches for a swim + Singha-rehydration in a beach bar/restaurant. These are great places for visually researching my PHD thesis on Recreational Aesthetics - specifically trying to figure whether backpacker-babes beat Aussie surfer-groupies. The answer is noooo, but the Europspunks sure got a better line of conversation than the wax-head worshippers: SURFER-GROUPIE: “Hey dude. Does your mate BlowDart like me? You reckon I can come when you guys go surfing in Queensland?” Spare me.
The first couple of beaches south are pretty similar to Khlong Nin, a bit less busy. But the last 4 bays are very nice indeed, sparsely built on, good stretches of sand, nice water and surrounded by steep forested hills. These are as relaxing and laid back as most beaches on the Trang islands further south.
MAI PAI (Bamboo Bay) is the southern most and is just like some of the best island beaches 20 years ago. From memory there were only 3 accom places here. I had a drink at the southern most one, LAST BEACH RESORT, which had the trad woven-palm walled and thatch roofed bungalows , maybe a bit expensive at 500 for attached bathroom jobs, before bargaining. UPDATE Dec 08- LAST BEACH RESORT has moved 1 beach north to Klong Jak. It hasn't changed its name to SECOND LAST BEACH RESORT. A more upmarket new place is in its place - see shot below.
Mai Pai is a pretty sweet beach. Place below is in the trees about midway along.
KLONG JAK BAY is the next beach north and was just as nice. A few more places here, both budget and more upmarket. Plus a very cool bar built low on the rocks at the southern end with good food (bit exy) & views , and which seemed to attract sunbathers from the resorts further up the beach. WATERFALL BUNGALOWS is here and has attracted good reviews from posters over the years. It looked okay to me.
Cool bar at southern end of Klong Jak had rebuilt on the sand by Dec 08. There is a nice professional shot of the beach from higher up on the headland last on this page.
The new Last Resort. The place was operating mainly as a restaurant in early Dec 08 - also a couple of tents for guests and 2 new bungalows abt 60% finished. More to come. Very good food/drink prices and a steady flow of customers even mid-morning.NUI BAY is third from the bottom and is a real nice beach with no accommodation.
Nui Bay - no resorts here. A handful of sun-worshippers plus some locals fishing. The signposted track down from the main road is not too difficult.One north is KANTIANG BAY which is also very attractive. Mainly midrange/upmarket places here - one which caught my eye was LANTA MARINE PARK VIEW (not to be confused with Lanta Marina on Long Beach) with great views from restaurant and bungalows built up the headland at the northern end - and according to the guidebooks, some bungalows with reasonable prices. If I return flash-packer or midrange, I’m heading here.
Hey, and for you seriously rich bastards, they don’t look much nicer than PIMALAI RESORT AND SPA, which looked as expensive as it is.
There is a small township at Kantiang North with a supermarket, ATM etc.
Note the paved road stops at southen Kantiang. It turns into a dirt track with talcum powder dust and some very rough, super steep sections. Novice motorcyclists should be very careful here - it is so easy to have an off and damage the bike, yourself or your girlfriend. Apparently it turns to mud in wet season and often requires a 4wd vehicle to make it through.
The road gets even steeper and rougher past Mai Pay beach, where it climbs quite high with superb views and then drops down steeply (4wd only for the last 500m) to the southern tip of the island, which has a couple of small beaches, a picnic area, views south to the Trang Islands, and unfortunately a National Park gate with a 400baht entry fee. Hey, this will allow you to camp for 5 days here or on any of the Trang islands, but is the same 400 for even a 20 minute look at this southern tip of Lanta!
Tell them they’re dreaming.
UPDATE DEC 08 - the steep sections of the road have been paved including the last 2 km into the National Park. The NP entry fee is now 200baht, the entry gate is further up the road so you can't even get a glimpse of the southern islands. Nobody was going in.
New section of road at the south of the island.Next day I first checked the NORTHERN AND CENTRAL BEACHES right up to Long Beach. I didn’t worry about the northern most one KHLONG DAO, having stayed there previously - it was fully built out and a bit overdone several years back. It gets real shallow at low tide too. Nevertheless it is fairly pretty and has the advantage of being close to the bustling village of Ban Saladan and the ferry pier.
UPDATE DEC 08 - latest visit, I rock-hopped around the headland from Long Beach and checked Khlong Dao out. The headland jaunt took 15 minutes and was pretty easy although anything over 3/4 tide would be difficult.
Khlong Dao looking north. If I could afford upper-midrange I'd stay at one of the two joints at the far end - Twin Bay Resort or Kaw Kwang Resort. Looked real nice and not crowded by neighbours.I still reckon LONG BEACH (Phra-Ae), next down, is one of the better choices. Not far from the ferry and busy Saladan, a great range of accomm of all standards+bars+restaurants, good sand and deep water at all tide levels, and yet with big sections of unbuilt beachfront, particularly in the middle.
I first stayed here in 97 when it was like a loooong version of Mai Pai in the south. My digs then were LANTA PALM BEACH which is now way more upmarket with some very nice aircon bungalows, but they still have a few old cheapie traditionals for mean bastards like me. If these are taken, there are several more budget bungalow joints as you walk north towards the nearby headland. UPDATE DEC 08 - I stayed at Lanta Palm Beach this last visit. See the dedicated section d0wn-page
Long Beach sure is loooong (image Panoramio-prollee) The busier 30% of the beach starts this end. Pretty nice though.RELAX BAY is next south - a nice little bay which does get a bit shallow at low tide. I also stayed at RELAX BAY TROPICANA in 97, a really fabulous flash-packer then. This too is now more midrange and still looks pretty good to me. Back in 97 it had the bay to itself, but there are now 2 other more modest looking places and a separately owned bar.
RB Tropicana now calls itself simply Relax Bay. This is the beachside restaurant. The resort's beach-bar area is abt 50m to the right. The old restaurant high on the steep hillside on looooong wooden piers apparently fell down in a wet season storm. I had a wonderful similar style bungalow last century with funky stone outdoor bathroom - these places are now staff lodging. The new bungalows are midrange looking concrete and glass types in traditional style, many of them behind the beach to the right of shot.
I rock-hopped around to Long Beach in about 10 minutes - pretty easy except in the top quarter of the tide.
The rest of the beaches south to my Khlong Nin are similar to Long Beach and Khlong Nin itself
KHLONG KONG (KHOANG) is the longest with the most accommodation. It looked pretty nice but seemed like it would be quite rocky in a lot of places at lower tide, and there is not too much beach left at highest tide in some areas. I checked WHERE ELSE which gets a lot of raves from posters, mainly on account of the funky wooden decorations in the bungalows and restaurant, plus the super friendly staff. Okay, the artwork was okay but didn’t exactly whelm me over, the staff were super friendly, the bungalows were a bit exxy at 600 before bargaining (in March) for a fairly basic trad bungalow with bathroom, although some of the flasher bungalows looked interesting with loft windows and stuff. Prices in the restaurant were higher than a lot of budget bungalow places. The restaurant had a really nice atmosphere but did not take advantage of good beach/sea views in a pretty good section of the beach.
THE EAST COAST
After a bit of R&R back at my base at Khlong Nin, I then took the across-island road to the EAST COAST. The climb over the pass is not too bad on the western side. But I gotta admit the haul back up the other side was a real good workout for a thankfully short distance (and I ride every day at home in a very hilly town).
The east coast is very relaxed, no nice beaches here, just attractive countryside as you head south a few km to OLD LANTA TOWN. This is a pretty neat seaside town with some nice old buildings, a few restaurants and even a bar or two, none of the usual village roadside junk and rubbish and a very long pier where guys will offer long tail bay-trips to small nearby gems like KO BU BU. South of the town, the road narrows markedly. I believe it goes for another few km to a sea gypsy village, but having the climb back over the pass to look forward too, I turned the bike around.
KHLONG KONG (KHOANG) is the longest with the most accommodation. It looked pretty nice but seemed like it would be quite rocky in a lot of places at lower tide, and there is not too much beach left at highest tide in some areas. I checked WHERE ELSE which gets a lot of raves from posters, mainly on account of the funky wooden decorations in the bungalows and restaurant, plus the super friendly staff. Okay, the artwork was okay but didn’t exactly whelm me over, the staff were super friendly, the bungalows were a bit exxy at 600 before bargaining (in March) for a fairly basic trad bungalow with bathroom, although some of the flasher bungalows looked interesting with loft windows and stuff. Prices in the restaurant were higher than a lot of budget bungalow places. The restaurant had a really nice atmosphere but did not take advantage of good beach/sea views in a pretty good section of the beach.
THE EAST COAST
After a bit of R&R back at my base at Khlong Nin, I then took the across-island road to the EAST COAST. The climb over the pass is not too bad on the western side. But I gotta admit the haul back up the other side was a real good workout for a thankfully short distance (and I ride every day at home in a very hilly town).
The east coast is very relaxed, no nice beaches here, just attractive countryside as you head south a few km to OLD LANTA TOWN. This is a pretty neat seaside town with some nice old buildings, a few restaurants and even a bar or two, none of the usual village roadside junk and rubbish and a very long pier where guys will offer long tail bay-trips to small nearby gems like KO BU BU. South of the town, the road narrows markedly. I believe it goes for another few km to a sea gypsy village, but having the climb back over the pass to look forward too, I turned the bike around.
Towards the top of the pass are two scenic restaurants. I called into the higher one, the original VIEWPOINT. The outlook here is pretty special over the east coastal plain, the bay with its various islands and the mainland in the distance. I was amazed at the inexpensive drinks - 30 for a small beer was cheaper than just about every other restaurant or bar this trip. Meals are available and their prices seemed pretty good too.
Late afternoon low-light shot from Viewpoint Restaurant.Back down the hill to the west side and less than 2km from the beach is the turn-off to the MAI KAEO CAVE. It is less than 2km up the sidetrack to the cave. This gets good reviews, but lack of time forced me save this one to next trip. You could walk up here from most places on the closest beach, my Khlong Nin, in an hour or less.
GETTING TO LANTA
FROM KRABI and KO JUM - there are two ferries per day from the pier 3km south of Krabi Town central, and one from AoNang, picking up at Railay and Jum - the trip takes around 2 hours. These ferries usually shut down some time in May and don’t run again until Oct/Nov.
UPDATE DEC 08 - apparently only one ferry per day from Krabi town is running so far this high season - at 1030. This was the case for ALL last high season although Andaman Island Hopping showed 2 ferries.
There are touts on the ferries showing pictures of their places and if you haven’t got somewhere to stay, this can be an excellent way. There are even more touts on the pier at Ban Sala Dan, along with drivers from the resorts because a hell of a lot of places send transport to meet the ferries.
When the ferries stop running you resort to the MINIBUS SERVICE which starts opposite a footpath table set up in Soi 6, runs around town to various guest-houses and to the bus station, and then heads south, crossing to Lanta via two short vehicle punts. Once on the island the minis run down to Old Lanta Town and will drop you at your resort just about anywhere on the paved west coast road. This service also runs in high season, when it is hourly. It is cheaper than the ferries (200v300-350) and is also supposed to take 2 hours, but my trip saw almost 3 pass before we were on the island. It depends a lot on the number of vehicles waiting at the punts. We also cruised around Sala Dan for almost 30 minutes dropping packages and people off before heading south. UPDATE - Someone on Lanta told me it also now (Dec 08) calls in to the airport - although I couldn't confirm this.
FROM PHI PHI AND PHUKET
Two ferries per day do this trip (in around 90 minutes from Phi Phi). This also shuts down May thru to Oct/Nov.
If you are coming from Phuket, the Phi Phi-Lanta ferries seem to coordinate times with the Phuket to Phi Phi ferries.
UPDATE DEC O8 - there is now a Phuket-Lanta minibus service which was a ridiculously low 201 baht in early Dec. It also drops off at Krabi bus station and other points along the way. There were about 4 services a day early Dec and not the hourly trips indicated by the website - but this may change in peak season. I used it between Lanta and Phuket airport - it charges double to go into the airport (high vehicle entry fees) so I got them to drop me at the airport turnoff on the main road. An airport limo picked me up before a motorbike taxi or tuk tuk came along and dropped me at arrivals for free - I gave the guy 50baht for a Singha. Trip took me 4.5 hours - add 30 or so for Phuket town.
FROM TRANG.
Minibuses leave from the travel agents opposite Trang railway station and go onto Lanta via the vehicle punts. This takes about 3 hours minimum. There are several services a day in high season. UPDATE Dec 08 - now hourly. Look for the minibuses outside KK Travel. The trip took me 2.5 hours and 250 baht.
FROM THE TRANG ISLANDS AND FURTHER SOUTH
In high season, the fast TRANG ISLAND DAYTRIP BOATS out of Sala Dan will pick up at Ko Muk, Ko Kradan and Ko Ngai on the return trip. Cost in March was 400.
You can also come up on the SPB SPEEDBOAT which leaves Lipe and picks up at Bulon Lae, Muk and Ngai. This used to run every second day, but I saw a notice that it was running every day for high season 08.
Accommodation places on the islands will contact these boats for you.
UPDATE - Tigerline is running ferries from Phi Phi to Lanta to Lipe, via the pier at Hat Yao south of Trang. This ferry (not a speedboat) goes on to Langkawi. Details can be seen on their website
At the time of writing Lanta-Lipe was 1400 baht - 4.5 hours. Trang Yao-Lipe 650. Lipe-Langkawi 950. The ferry also calls in at intermediate places like Muk, Ngai - and apparantly Laoliang according to Zach who runs a resort there..
At the time of writing Lanta-Lipe was 1400 baht - 4.5 hours. Trang Yao-Lipe 650. Lipe-Langkawi 950. The ferry also calls in at intermediate places like Muk, Ngai - and apparantly Laoliang according to Zach who runs a resort there..
I have details of how to get to Yao pier in my Libong thread.
For high season 08/09 the service begins Nov 24.
Lanta Longtails operate all sorts of trips around the small islands between Lanta and the mainland, and can shuttle you to the Trang islands.
GETTING AROUND ON LANTA.
The occasional songthaew runs along the east coast and also across to Lanta Town.
The main form of taxi seems to be motorcyle-sidecar, although they are not ubiquitous like motorcycle taxis in many places.
A lot of people hire motorcycles which are inexpensive. I didn’t see too many fellow bicyclists.
On my ride to Lanta Town I noticed a farang family had a local driver in a private car showing them the east coast. Maybe some of the nicer resorts have private drivers hanging around offering trips like at Phuket.
LANTA PARADISE’S CHEAP BUNGALOWS.
These are located across the road from the main complex, arranged in a U shape around a rough garden like area with lots of trees etc. Paradise wanted 500baht - I took a look and offered 400 which was instantly accepted. Silly me, they were not worth that.
On the plus side, the setting was nice enough and the bungalows were not jammed too-closely. The timber and concrete fan bungalow was big, with plenty of room for 2+people and their gear. The big veranda was a nice place to spend time, the double bed was comfy and there were good mirrors in the room and bathroom (which was a big tiled job).
On the negative, no maintenance had been done for years. One of the two room lights was busted and the other too dim for easy reading. The door required a tremendous slam to lock, and at one stage a window pane fell out on closure!
My hacienda 20 months later. Whole front wall seems to have been replaced including the old louvered windows. Repainted. Wonder if inside has been refurbished? Price LOWER - 300 on asking, would have got it for less. Grounds no cleaner.There was no mosquito net, no insect screens on the windows and these had non-adjustable louvers which always left a gap for ventilation, meaning you have to cover yourself with that awful repellant each night.
The double bed had a three-quarter sheet and a single sized blanket! Water pressure disappeared one morning. The garden area needed a good clean of building refuse and other junk and the area around the veranda badly failed the no ciggy-butts no plastic ring-pull test. There were no trash bins inside or out, no broom and no hammock.
LANTA PALM BEACH UPDATE DEC 08 - SHAKEDOWN ON LANTA!!
I had 4 days left early this month on my Andaman trip. After several weeks concentrating on non-touristy laid back places (how’s this for a combo? - Kos Yao Yai, Yao Noi, Jum, Siboya, Tarutao, Adang, Laoliang, Libong - with only a few days on Lipe between ferries breaking the pattern) - I felt like something a bit more lively. I knew just the place, Long Beach on Lanta, so I ditched revisiting Ko Ngai and headed north.
I had 4 days left early this month on my Andaman trip. After several weeks concentrating on non-touristy laid back places (how’s this for a combo? - Kos Yao Yai, Yao Noi, Jum, Siboya, Tarutao, Adang, Laoliang, Libong - with only a few days on Lipe between ferries breaking the pattern) - I felt like something a bit more lively. I knew just the place, Long Beach on Lanta, so I ditched revisiting Ko Ngai and headed north.
Long Beach lowest tide. Only the last (southern) 10% of the beach is rocky - more-so in the water behind the camera, but this might make for some good fish-spotting snorkelling at high tide. Platform over beach at right is part of cool new bar/restaurant (great sunsets) - piers would be lapped by water at high tide. Lots of building going on to right of camera - big exxy apartment-style place. Supervising farangs seemed to be speaking Russian. The popular Lanta Marina was further back - nice looking Thai/South Sea island bungalows but I was surprised the sand in front looked to have had no clean-up.
Middle 60% of Long Beach where the trees are is largely unbuilt apart from one smallish very flash place left of the tsunami tower (what sort of bribe did they pay the zoners?) and a bunch of traditional massage cabanas right of tower.
Long Beach has lots of good value places, restaurants, bars but still has over half the beachfront not built on and has no huge Phuket or Samui type western hotels (although a big new upmarket joint set back from the beach is going in alongside the northern headland - the beachside area looks like it will have sitting cabanas, and maybe bars/restaurants in traditional Thai rather than western style).
Lanta Palm Beach Resort is in this nice northern section and I knew they still had some old style 300 baht bungalows - I couldn’t get one but I did bargain a big tiled floor, concrete bungalow with hot water down from 500 to 400 which was the best value and almost the best room all trip.
Lanta Palm Beach Resort is in this nice northern section and I knew they still had some old style 300 baht bungalows - I couldn’t get one but I did bargain a big tiled floor, concrete bungalow with hot water down from 500 to 400 which was the best value and almost the best room all trip.
Chez tezza at Lanta Palm Beach. Nice garden setting. Top bungalow for the price. The cheapest aircon bungalows are otherwise identical. I could have got an aircon for 800 in early Dec 08 but I noticed the website price was much higher. The Bangkok airport blockade had been going for 6 days - I wonder if this had an impact on prices so far south? These fan bungalows and the cheapies below don't show on the website.
Old style 300baht bungalows at Lanta Palm Beach. Only 4 of them and I have an idea they are the free accommodation for pupils of the associated Palm Beach Divers, so less likely to be vacant. There is a big expanse of grass between these and the beach - they are in exactly the same position as the smaller ones I stayed in over 10 years ago. Flash places in background are the "Super Delux" or similar name - some are family units - looked very nice indeed. Pricey on the website.Next day, knowing my obligation to you dudes wanting island info updates and lots of fotygraphs, I hired a 200b motorcycle from a restaurant in the access road even closer to the beach. Not 100m up the road a cop jumped out and flagged me down. Even blew his whistle! Jeez, no-one’s whistled at me since I stopped wearing the Speedo budgie-smugglers out of a sense of fairness to all you other guys.
Hey, he wasn't interested in the least in my Aussie driving licence. But he WAS interested in the $5 dollar bill that I had placed strategically next to it. I lied it was worth 150b, and we agreed he should take it to test for forgery - forget about the licence.
Stone the crows trendsetters - I didn’t return from my jaunt until after dark when his shift would have well and truly finished. In case he had learned what the fiver was really worth and was waiting for me with a baseball bat.
Hey, he wasn't interested in the least in my Aussie driving licence. But he WAS interested in the $5 dollar bill that I had placed strategically next to it. I lied it was worth 150b, and we agreed he should take it to test for forgery - forget about the licence.
Stone the crows trendsetters - I didn’t return from my jaunt until after dark when his shift would have well and truly finished. In case he had learned what the fiver was really worth and was waiting for me with a baseball bat.
Lanta Palm Beach does the usual tables-on-the-sand with seafood BBQ at night thing. Prices are kept honest by 3 competing similar beach restaurants immediately south, a whole bunch to the north in the direction of the shot below, and about a half dozen along the beach access road from the main road - including a genuine Indian place for all you Brits hankering for some home cooking.
The northern 30% of Long Beach is touristy but not overdone. Bit early for sun-worshippers in this pre-breakfast shot.other updates
SUNNYSAYAN - "Yoga at relax bay - over looking the sea - a nice place to practice.
Lanta Old Town- you can not only visit Bubu from here but MANY other islands and fishing spots off the eastern coast. Ko Talebeng is stunning. To save time - trips to Ko Ngai are offered here too. Trips to Ko Po are only 10 mins away- and there you can have the whole beach to yourself.
If you prefer a big boat and it’s the high season- you can use the 4 island tours boats as transfers- both ways Lanta-Ngai. 400 or 500 each way.
In low season, IF the wind is calm for a few days - day trips can be made to Ngai. check with lantalongtails for more info.
Other places of interest in Old Town are, an original Art Gallery and the hammock house. Behind the town (one street) is a nice Buddhist monestary and next to that is the Lions Tsunami village. Some of the best Thai food on the island is at "Beautiful" restaurant along the seaside street.
The UNDP is funding an Islander Museum to be opened soon, in a beautifully restored 100 y/o government building; it sits in the park at the foot of the pier. The UN is still in Lanta Old town to preserve the 4 delicate cultures of Ko Lanta. It plans on restoring more buildings.
Yes, the new houses built on the road by the sea gypsy’s village (Sang Ga U) are tsunami houses. Stop in at Sea Gypsie House 5 mins. south to check out some nice local crafts."
Lanta Old Town- you can not only visit Bubu from here but MANY other islands and fishing spots off the eastern coast. Ko Talebeng is stunning. To save time - trips to Ko Ngai are offered here too. Trips to Ko Po are only 10 mins away- and there you can have the whole beach to yourself.
If you prefer a big boat and it’s the high season- you can use the 4 island tours boats as transfers- both ways Lanta-Ngai. 400 or 500 each way.
In low season, IF the wind is calm for a few days - day trips can be made to Ngai. check with lantalongtails for more info.
Other places of interest in Old Town are, an original Art Gallery and the hammock house. Behind the town (one street) is a nice Buddhist monestary and next to that is the Lions Tsunami village. Some of the best Thai food on the island is at "Beautiful" restaurant along the seaside street.
The UNDP is funding an Islander Museum to be opened soon, in a beautifully restored 100 y/o government building; it sits in the park at the foot of the pier. The UN is still in Lanta Old town to preserve the 4 delicate cultures of Ko Lanta. It plans on restoring more buildings.
Yes, the new houses built on the road by the sea gypsy’s village (Sang Ga U) are tsunami houses. Stop in at Sea Gypsie House 5 mins. south to check out some nice local crafts."
MOSEGRISEN - "Between the two "VIEWPOINT" places you mention and the village, there's in fact a third one... SAME SAME.. we stopped there for some ice cream...very inexpensive and fabulous views.
Koh Lanta - Koh Ngai Daily Ferry Boat
** On High Season only ** The Excursion Ferry Boat leave Ban Saladan Pier, North of Koh Lanta daily around 8 am. arrive Koh Ngai Jetty at 10.00 am. Vice versa, the trip back to Koh Lanta by the same ferry boats leaves Koh Ngai Jetty around 2 p.m. takes 2 hours to arrive Ban Saladan Pier, in Koh Lanta Yai - THAI TOUR
The Casuarina is a great resort. situated on Phra ae Beach (Long Beach), one of the best sandy beaches on Koh Lanta Yai. It stretches for a two kilometres facing the Andaman Sea and Phi Phi Island. Nice garden and pool.
They have 6 beach bungalows. Actually only 2 of them have "front on beach view" the other 4 are kind of "a side view"....
Anther 6 set a little further back. They are all very good size. Then they have a number of hotel rooms.. some with sea view.. set a little further back again...
Thai style hotel rooms and bungalows nicely decorated and fully air-conditioned with complete modern amenities.
The food is ok... and the general feel of the place is that of a well run operation
Royal Lanta on Klong Dao beach, offers Traditional Thai style bungalows , individually built mostly with wood interior design. The grounds are super well kept; the pool is great. The restaurant and food also. Bit more expensive than other restaurants along the beach but the presentation of the food is also nicer.
Rooms are great... very large especially the executive rooms with a vary large bathroom and spa bath. Standard of hotel and service is about as good as it gets without paying a kings ransom.
D. R. Lanta resort on Klong Dao beach, very cheap, clean and well equipped bungalows, good food and excellent friendly service, they have a pool too."
BALYANG - "We stayed at lanta marine` park view, kantiang bay in Nov 2005 - we were happy to have the more expensive sea view bungalows which did have great views.
The restaurant/bar was very good. We also had a few meals at same same but different restaurant at the other end of the beach that was very nice.
Good swimming although we had very cyclonic weather for most of our stay which was disappointing.
Some back packers got very upset with management as they had booked ahead for the cheaper bungalows but were told when they arrived they weren't available - it seemed to us the cheaper ones were often not available. That was really the only negative thing we came across.
The restaurant/bar was very good. We also had a few meals at same same but different restaurant at the other end of the beach that was very nice.
Good swimming although we had very cyclonic weather for most of our stay which was disappointing.
Some back packers got very upset with management as they had booked ahead for the cheaper bungalows but were told when they arrived they weren't available - it seemed to us the cheaper ones were often not available. That was really the only negative thing we came across.
Kantiang: Marine Park View starts at beach level against the far headland and ranges diagonally up the headland. I don't know if the fancy joint right at the top left of the headland in this poor-light shot is part of the joint. Floating pier mid-beach is part of the Pimalae which shuttles guests in on a big speedboat.
We hired bikes form the little village nearby and accessed most of the island - really liked old Lanta town - very quaint. We were a bit disappointed with bamboo bay bungalows as that was were we originally wanted to stay but it was very isolated and a bit hard to access in wet weather - resort bit delapidated for price
but sensationally positioned restaurant overlooking the bay, just gorgeous views although food only ok."
but sensationally positioned restaurant overlooking the bay, just gorgeous views although food only ok."
BANGSUE - "We stayed on lanta last weekend (late April 07) on klong dao. yes it's really built up all the way along but the beach is clean and this time of year it is quiet, we only stayed one night, but we pushed the boat out and paid 2K for a beach front suite (they quote 4.5 - 5K during high season). It was a great room with a large bathroom and bedroom/living area. It had a veranda with table and chairs on the beach front where we could sit and watch the night fall looking across to both of the Phi Phi islands.
The 8am ferry Lanta to Krabi had finished for the low season and we had to get a minibus across to krabi town. That was 200b each, from Saladan from there you can get a songthaew across to Ao Nang for 40baht. A share long boat to Railey was 60B each way from there."
(Bangsue came up to Lanta from Ko Ngai) - "From ngai a (longtail) boat across to lanta was 1200 to the Lanta Town pier - 'koh ngai villa' reception sorted out the longtail for us. 'koh ngai villa' reception sorted out the longtail for us. There was no-one else going across that morning, so we had to pay it all, took about an hour or so. They said they would take us up to saladan for 2k, but we just stuck with 1200 and making our own way up. we were walking up the road from the pier at lanta and a guy in a pick-up said he would take us up the north end for 400, so we said ok. he then took us round to his house to meet the wife and kids and change his shirt, he took us up to phra ae and then on to klong dao, which was 'suay' enough for the other half."
BANYANTREE232 - "The southern bays are more relaxing but the best restaurants are just north of Relax Bay. Plus there's a Muay Thai gym inland a few hundred metres.
But it doesnt really matter where you stay as long as your room is good. The island is easy to explore on a bike. Little traffic compared to Phuket.
Apart from the cave and beaches the island has few attractions.
Good place to relax or practice some muay thai at the gym."
But it doesnt really matter where you stay as long as your room is good. The island is easy to explore on a bike. Little traffic compared to Phuket.
Apart from the cave and beaches the island has few attractions.
Good place to relax or practice some muay thai at the gym."
Nov 07 - LOUISE BERGER
On Koh Lanta I can strongly recommend staying at Red Snapper. It's primarily a restuarant run by Dutch chefs (fantastic creative food) but they also have some lovely fan bungalows that are newly built, en-suite, with patio, chairs and hammock. Every two days our room was cleaned and sheets and towels replaced. At 500 Baht a night it felt like really good value compared to other accommodation on Koh Lanta. The owners, Ed and Joyce, were really friendly and very helpful and accommodating. When we left, a few days ago, I know they had some space for November still.
Red Snapper is about 6km out of Saladan along Phrae Ae beach (which I've probably mispelt). It is set back from the beach, about a minute's walk. Opposite is Faim de Loop bakery and Flip Flop Divers (who are a fab diving company). Flip Flop also have a restaurant which serves tasty, good value food. To our pleasure they showed Friends episodes on a big screen from 6.30pm - 7.30pm and then a film from 7.30 onwards. There is a 7/11 a few minutes down the road.
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Dec o7 - JIMMYK who tends to stay midrange to high-end had this to say:
350B or so ferry ride to Koh Lanta, my favorite island. As you get off ferry in saladan, you can either take your hotel's or a tout's free ride to hotel , or if you wanna save time, walk about 200 meters into town (stop at supermarket to buy fireworks and other provisions is optional) hire a moto-sidecar for 50B per person to Long beach which is still largely undeveloped.
The beach closest to Saladan is too crowded and not as nice.
In Saladan The overwater restaraunts(Lanta Seafood) are good and a good value and thai locals actually can be seen eating there. The sunday market is also kinda fun.
Lanta Sand Resort is best place to stay on Long Beach (better than the the pricier Layana). We stayed in a private bungalow with a very romantic outdoor garden bath---no beachview though-- for about 5000B and then moved to the new block of Hotel style rooms for 4200B (new so they are running a promotion). In room 1005, your patio is on top of the pool so you can swim from your room to swim-up bar---great, new HUGE room. This was my girlfriends favorite room.
Long Beach is fairly quiet at night, but usually one beachside bar has a party somewhere if you want to socialize.. Nearby The Funky Fish and Mr Wee's Pizza are great places to lay in a sala and grab some food.
We then moved down the beach to Lanta Castaway, which is new this season. we stayed in their one beachfront unit for 2800B which was an excellent value if you can get the room. No pool here, and rooms not as flash as some of the places described above.
We then moved down the beach to Lanta Castaway, which is new this season. we stayed in their one beachfront unit for 2800B which was an excellent value if you can get the room. No pool here, and rooms not as flash as some of the places described above.
If you have any questions, please ask them in THE FORUM rather than below. I don't get a chance to check all threads daily, but unless I'm travelling I'll try to monitor THE FORUM regularly.
