What to see in Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta (or Ko Lanta) is a special corner in Thailand that has left us wanting more. It is a island paradise for those looking for peace of mind y natural beauty away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy islands. Whether you are considering whether it is worth visiting Koh Lanta, as if you have decided to visit this beautiful island, read on to find out what are our must-see in an island that we liked very much.

We tell you all about its famous beach Bamboo Beach The beach, secluded and "secret", the perfect place to disconnect, or its other more unknown beaches, such as Nui Beach which we discovered by chance and we loved it. The Koh Lanta Natural Park is also another must-see in Koh Lanta if you like nature and adventure. Below we leave you all the details, prices and approximate times of this beautiful island, as well as the best places to eat in Koh Lanta and taste its gastronomy. Ko Lanta has something for everyone, join us on this trip and discover why we have fallen in love with this corner of Thailand!

1. Nui Beach

Our number one recommendation to visit in Koh Lanta is this beautiful beach of white sand and turquoise waters, it was one of our top recommendations favorite beaches of the island! The path that we followed to access is super curious as it crosses the restaurant Diamond Cliff from which we have breathtaking views from the beach. Once you cross the restaurant you have to go down a few steps wooden stairs by a fairly easy path but it should be noted that it is not accessible for people with reduced mobility. 

We were fortunate to have the beach almost to ourselves, it's a very quiet place no umbrellas or beach bars, immersed in nature. The beach was very clean and had some free raffia canopies to escape the sun for a while. For us this was one of the nicest beaches to see on Koh Lanta.

Bamboo Beach

A fine sandy beach nestled in the middle of nature just south of the island of Koh Lanta, seen from the viewpoints is the typical image of a tropical beach surrounded by jungle. To get there we parked the bike on the side of the road where we saw more motorcycles parked and we just have to walk a small path through the jungle to get to the beach.

The truth is that we had high expectations for this beach, since we love the pristine beaches surrounded by nature but when we arrived we were a bit disappointed as we found it a bit dirty, especially there was quite a lot of dirt plastic on the left side of the jungle. It is a beautiful beach that could be one of the best on the island if it were better preserved. 

We didn't see any monkeys on this occasion, but be careful with your belongings because when we got back on the bike we saw tracks that indicated that some of the monkeys had been in the area monkey had climbed up and fiddled with it. 

🔎 Take a good look at the shore!
We were very surprised by the amount of hermit crabs of all sizes and colors that are on the beaches of Koh Lanta, do not miss them! They are especially on the shore where the water just reaches.

3. Mu Ko Lanta National Park

The Ko Lanta National Park is located at the southern tip of the island and, although it is not particularly large, it is one of the areas that we would have liked to explore better if we had more time because it is very well preserved. Even before arriving, as we approached with the motorcycle, we saw the first signs of the first monkeys who were walking quietly along the road, what a scare they give you!

The entrance fee to the park is 200 thb per person and within the main attractions are the following:

• Lighthouse located on a small hill overlooking the sea, another small island in front of it and the beach that we will tell you about below. 
• Laemtanod Beach. The only beach inside the park is very well maintained and clean. We were not able to swim because we arrived with just enough time to walk around the park, but it looks like it is possible to make a snorkel very nice near the rock. 
• Route through the jungle. This route is about 2 km long and has a paved part and a natural path. It takes about 1 hour to cover and if you are lucky along the way you will be able to see monkeys (or if you don't see them you hear them above you in the trees) and all kinds of animals. If you don't want to do the whole route, we recommend that you at least get close to the viewpoint at the end of it, from where you have some spectacular views s beach and lighthouse. 
• Walk The walk takes you through the lower part of the jungle that borders a small lake and crosses the park from the beach to the parking area. It is a leisurely walk of about 15 minutes in which you can also see all kinds of animals, including varanos o monkeys. 
• There is also a small restaurant y bathrooms free of charge.

4. Bakantiang Beach

This is one of the biggest beaches we saw on Koh Lanta, with a beautiful crescent shape that runs along the entire bay. Here you will find the famous tKoh Lanta's tem of Koh Lanta that we show you in the photos. 

We only made a brief stop here to see it and left since we didn't have much time and it seemed to us to have less charm than the other beaches (maybe also because we saw it at low tide). There is restaurants y small stores along the beach, although it is still a place where the super quiet It is not overcrowded at all. The best area to stand on this beach is the left side if you look towards the sea, as the other side is more crowded with boats.

5. Lanta Old Town

This small village has what was once Ko Lanta's main port for trade and is located on the east coast of the island. It is worth making a stop in this charming place full of bars, restaurants and small local stores of souvenirs. Mostly everything is on the same street, so it doesn't take long to walk around.

Another point of interest not to be missed is the port since the views are impressive, you can see on the horizon several islands in front. In addition, you can also see from there a shipwreck which is not very clear where it has come from as it seems quite recent. Right next to the port there is a small Chinese temple that the settlers erected there, quite curious. 

Klong Chak Waterfall

If you spend several days in Koh Lanta, another recommended place to see is the Klong Chak waterfall. It is reached by taking a short route of about 30 minutes which runs along the river, immersed in nature. At the entrance there is a parking lot that costs 40 THB for motorcycles and 60 THB for cars. In addition, you have to pay 200 bats by the entrance to the National Park which is the same that is located to the south of the island and that you can visit with the same entrance fee. 

To get there, once you leave the parking lot just follow the sign indicating the direction to the waterfall and once you get to the reservoir the path continues to the right next to the river, you even have to get into the river in some sections! We recommend it if you like the adventure Always wear appropriate footwear and, of course, a bathing suit. On your way to the waterfall you will pass near a small cave. 

7. Khao Mai Kaew Cave

For the more adventurous ones, we recommend a visit to this camera network formed by the rain of the monsoons that make up the Khao Mai Kaew cave. The entrance fee is 300 THB with guide included This is essential to move around the cave network without getting lost, as they know it inside out. 

The duration of the visit is about 2h First you have to take a short walk of half an hour to get to the entrance of the cave. Upon arrival, the guide will provide you with headlamps as it is completely dark inside. Once inside, you will be amazed by the magnitude of the site, with some super large caves but connected by narrow corridors or stairs to go up and down, not suitable for claustrophobics! Important to bring appropriate footwear and clothes that we don't mind staining. 

👀 Watch out!
In the cave you will be able to see some of its usual inhabitants such as bats and large spiders.

Klong Khong Beach

This beach is not one of the most beautiful on the island but it is where most of the hotels are located. It is full of restaurants y hotels beachfront where you can see some of the spectacular sunsets (as in all the western part of Ko Lanta). It is the perfect beach to take a walk before dinner and contemplate the scenery, very quiet. You can also swim in it, although you have to be careful because there are many rocks at the entrance.

9. Tour of the 4 islands

One of the most famous excursions from Koh Lanta is the visit to these 4 islands of the Andaman Sea that are located nearby: Ko Ngai, Ko Kradan, Ko Cheuck, y Ko Muk where the famous Emerald Cave. The tour may vary a little depending on who you contract it with, as we have seen excursions that change the island of Ko Kradan for the island of Ko Kradan Ko Ma We believe that it doesn't really matter as all the islands in this area of Thailand are breathtaking. 

The tour includes several stops to make snorkel where you will be impressed by the variety of Thai marine fauna: incredible blue parrot fish, butterfly fish, a multitude of sergeant fish and many other minnows which you will discover by looking carefully. After the snorkeling stops, we head straight to Ko Muk, the island that hides a inland beach which is entered by swimming through a cave. You have to wear a vest and enter in single file to avoid getting lost, as there are areas inside that are completely dark. We did not know whether to do this tour because we had read that it has lost a little charm with so many people, and it has a little reason, but it does not detract from the scenery and the feeling is still impressive. 

To finish, we headed to the last island where we took a lunch included We took the opportunity to rest a little on the beach before returning to Ko Lanta. Important to keep in mind, these islands are part of the Ko Lanta National Marine Park which is normally closed during the monsoon season (April to October).

• Duration Pick up and drop off at the hotel. 
• Essential: snorkeling goggles and a lot of fun!
• 👉 Book the excursion of the 4 islands and Esmeralda Cave

If you are more adventurous and want to save some money we recommend you to book the excursion once you arrive at Ko Lanta as it will be cheaper. 

10. Excursion to the Phi Phi islands

The excursion to the Phi Phi Islands is, from our point of view, one of the essential things to do in Koh Lanta if you don't want to stay in Phi Phi (although we recommend 100%). This can be an option more economical since the accommodation in Phi Phi is much more expensive than in Koh Lanta, the only thing is that we recommend you get up early as it will take you longer to arrive than the people staying there and you run the risk of running into the rest of the excursions coming from Phuket and the rest of the islands. 

There are different options to make this excursion, if you want to go more relaxed and take everything booked before the trip we recommend you this activity where you will be picked up and dropped off directly at your hotel. The first stop is in Phi Phi Leh One of the most spectacular islands we have ever seen in our lives. Here you can enjoy the famous Maya Beach o Pi Leh Lagoon. You will then drive to Phi Phi Don The only inhabited island of the archipelago. There you will enjoy its beaches and have lunch included. 

• The price includes transportation to/from hotel, food and snorkeling equipment. 
• Duration: 8 hours
• 👉 Book here the Phi Phi Islands tour

The other option, if you also like to bargain, is to hire the excursion once you are in Ko Lanta. There you can ask at the hotel where you are staying or try to negotiate directly with someone at the port. The price is usually cheaper but you will have some more work negotiating and indicating in particular which islands and zones you want to visit. 

If you are going to stay in Phi Phi, you can hire a ferry here. It is cheaper than the excursion but the accommodation will be more expensive.

💸 Extra expenses!
To access the Phi Phi islands you have to pay an entrance fee to the National Park of 400 THB/person in Phi Phi Leh. To access Phi Phi Don you have to pay 40 THB/person in concept of conservation of the island.

Tips about Koh Lanta

We leave here some practical information or tips to keep in mind during your visit to Koh Lanta:

• The roads are not the best we have seen in Thailand and there are areas with many potholes. There are also steep slopes so, if you go by motorcycle, it is essential to rent one with enough power. 
• The gas stations on this island seem to be from the 50's and, especially in the south of the island near the National Park, they are scarce. Beware of going with the right gasoline, although one thing that also surprised us a lot is that in many stores sell bottles with gasoline for self-service.  
• On the island there are several 7-Eleven near the hotel area and there are also ATMs.
• The sunsets are stunning on the west coast, not to be missed!

📍 Map of what to see in Koh Lanta

The map below shows all the sites mentioned in the list as follows must see in Koh Lanta. 

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Koh Lanta you can visit our posts about Thailand.