Lanta island Travel Guide

Covering a total area of 152 square kilometres, Mu Ko Lanta National Park is located in Amphoe Ko Lanta and consists of many islands. Some major islands are Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Lanta Noi, Ko Taleng Beng, as well as, other surrounding islands like Mu Ko Ha, Mu Ko Rok, and Ko Ngai. 

Attractions within the National Park

Ko Lanta Noi 
Ko Lanta Noi was the former settlement of the Ko Lanta community, where a district office, school, as well as, traditional lifestyle, and houses are still currently available.

Ko Lanta Yai 
Ko Lanta Yai’s topography is long and narrow. This island is home to "Chao Le" or sea gypsies who continue to maintain their traditional lifestyle and beliefs, such as setting a boat a drift to drive out evil and bring good luck, which is practiced during the full moon in June and November. Sala Dan Pier is where tour operators, shops and banks are situated. Several beautiful beaches are in the west such as Hat Kho Kwang, Hat Lo Bara, Ao Phra Ae, Hat Khlong Khong, and Hat Khlong Nin. A paved road runs along the beaches all the way from the northern part of the island to the headquarters of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park in the south. The landscape is dominated by a series of mountains covered with virgin rainforest. To the east features an old community. The district office was previously here and later relocated to Ko Lanta Noi. Most people on the island are Muslim. The communities of Ban Sang Ka-u still maintain their traditional Loi Ruea Ceremony. Not far from the headquarters, Laem Tanot features a lighthouse, where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of a pebble beach merging with a white sandy beach. At the end of the cape features Ko Mo, an ideal diving spot. Besides Laem Tanot, tourists can enjoy the Andaman Sea’s spectacular view from many hilltop restaurants located in the central part of the island.
 
Accommodation is available. High season is from November to May. Camping in the Mu Ko Lanta National Park is allowed but must notify the park in advance at No. 5, Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Krabi, 81150, Tel. 0 7562 9018 - 9. Alternatively, contact the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Flora, Tel. 0 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th.

Admission to the national park area : Adult 400 baht, Child 200 baht

To Get There

By Car: This is served by a car ferry from Ban Hua Hin to Ko Lanta Noi.
Then, proceed by the second car ferry to Ko Lanta Yai. Ferries operate between
8.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.

Ferry: Fares and Departure Times
Ban Hua Hin – Ko Lanta Noi
Departs Ban Hua Hin: 7.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Departs Ko Lanta Noi: 6.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Travelling time: 15 – 20 minutes
Fares: car is 50 baht/motorcycle is 10 baht

Ko Lanta Noi – Ko Lanta Yai
Departs Ko Lanta Noi: 6.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Departs Ko Lanta Yai: 6.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.
Travelling time: 15 – 20 minutes
Fares: car is 40 baht/motorcycle is 10 baht

Ferries operate between 7.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.

Remarks: Fares are subject to change without notice. 

To Get to Ban Hua Hin Pier: 
From Amphoe Mueang, proceed along Highway No. 4 towards Amphoe Khlong Thom (the route to the province of Trang). Take a right turn at Ban Huai Nam Khao Intersection onto Highway No. 4206 for another 20 kilometres.

Air-conditioned Vans:
Take the hourly Krabi - Ko Lanta Yai air-conditioned vans from Amphoe Mueang, which operate between 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. The fare is 250 baht per person. The trip takes 2 hours. On return, the vans depart Ko Lanta Yai between 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. as well. For more information, contact Krabi Lanta Tour in Amphoe Mueang, Tel. 0 7562 2792. Sala Dan, Tel. 0 7568 4121. Alternatively, take the hourly air-conditioned vans from Trang, which operate between 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. On return, the vans depart at 8.00 a.m., 10.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 1.30 p.m., and 3.00 p.m. The trip takes 2 hours. For further details, contact K K Tour, which is located in front of the train station, Tel. 0 7521 1198, 0 7522 3664, Fax. 0 7521 1441.

Commuting from Trang to Krabi:   
Take the ordinary local bus leaving Trang Bus Station between 6.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m.  
The fare is 80 baht per person. The trip takes 2 hours. Alternatively, take the
 air-conditioned buses,  which leave Trang Bus Station between 6.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m.
as well. The fare is 113 baht per person. The trip takes 2 hours.

Ferry Service during the High Season (November – May):
Two ferries depart daily from Chao Fa Pier in Amphoe Mueang at 10.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. The trip takes about 2 hours to reach Sala Dan Pier on Ko Lanta Yai. For more information, contact the Chao Fa Pier, Tel. 0 7563 0470 – 2.

From Ko Lanta to Other Islands
Private companies on Ko Lanta operate boat services to many destinations.
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 350 baht
Ko Lanta – Krabi: 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., 300 baht
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Phuket: 1.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m., 700 baht
Ko Lanta – Ko Phi Phi – Krabi: 9.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., 700 baht

Royal Fern Co., Ltd. operates boat services from Ko Lanta to Krabi via Ko Cham. Two ferries depart daily at 8.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. The fare ranges from 300 - 350 baht per person. In addition, boat services operate from Ko Lanta Yai to Ko Ngai and Ko Kradan, which costs 450 baht per person, as well as, to Ko Rok, which only offers speed boats (return tickets) costing 1,600 baht. Contact Royal Fern Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 7568 4163, 08 1719 4811 and O & M Tourist Centre Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 7568 4153, 0 7568 4281. The boat departs at 9.00 a.m. daily. 


Remark: 

The islands in the area of Mu Ko Lanta National Park, including Ko Ma, Ko Hai, Ko Rok, Kong Hin Daeng - Kong Hin Muang and Ko Ha, are yearly closed from May 16 - October 31.

How to get to Krabi

From Bangkok

By Car

1. From Bangkok, proceed on Highway No.4, passing Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong and Phang-nga Provinces for a total distance of 946 kilometers.

2. From Bangkok, proceed on Highway No. 4, on reaching Chumphon Provinces take Highway No. 41 passing Amphoe Lang Suan in Surat Thani Province to Amphoe Wiang Sa, and then take Highway No. 4035 to Amphoe Ao Luek and continue on Highway No. 4 to Krabi. This route is 814 kilometers from Bangkok.

3. From Phuket, proceed on Highway No. 402 and No.4. The distance from Phuket is 185 kilometers or 4 hours.

By bus:

From Bangkok: There are air-conditioned bus services to Krabi leaving the Southern Bus Terminal at Borommaratcha Chonnani Road daily from 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The buses provided include ordinary bus buses, 2nd class bus air-conditioned buses, 1st class air-conditioned buses and 24-seat VIP buses. The journey takes about 12 hours. For more details, contact tel. 0 2434 5557-8 (non air-conditioned buses) or tel. 0 2435 1199 or 0 2435 1200 (air-conditioned buses) or visit www.transport.co.th.

By rail:

From Bangkok: There is no direct train service to Krabi. But it is possible to take a train from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station to Trang or Nakhon Si Thammarat and take a bus or taxi to Krabi. For more information on trains, contact the State Railways of Thailand at tel. 1690, 223 7010, 223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th.
For Trang, an express train leaves Bangkok daily at 5.05 p.m. and reaches Trang at 9.40 a.m. and a rapid train leaves daily at 6.20 p.m. and arrives at 12.20 p.m.

For Nakhon Si Thammarat, a rapid train leaves Bangkok daily at 5.35 p.m. and arrives at 10.45 a.m. and an express train leaves daily at 7.15 p.m. and arrives at 12.00 p.m. For more details, call 1690 or 0 2223 7010 or 0 2621 8701.

By air:

Thai Airways International operates daily flights from Bangkok to Krabi. The trip takes 1.20 hours. For more information call 02 6282000. Website : www.thaiair.com

Phuket Air offers a daily flight to and from Krabi. The flight time is 1.20 hours. Call 02 6798999 to make reservation or visit www.phuketairlines.com to check the flight schedule.

One–Two-Go Airlines: Bangkok Tel. 1126 Others Provinces Tel.1141 ext. 1126 www.fly12go.com

Silk Air flies to Singapore 4 times a week. Tickets can be brought from any travel agencies in town.

 

From Phuket


By bus:

From Phuket Bus Terminal, there are non air-conditioned and air-conditioned bus services to Krabi many times daily. The trip takes 3-4 hours. For details, contact 0 7621 1480.

By car: 

Take Route 402 and 4 which passes Takua Thung and Thap Pud Districts in Phang-nga and enter Krabi at Au Luek District. Total distance is 185 kilometers.

 

Getting around

Getting to Nearby Provinces

By Bus

From Krabi Bus Terminal there are services, both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned to nearby provinces, i.e. Phuket, Phang-nga, Trang, Hat Yai and Surat Thani (Samui). In addition, many local travel agencies in town provide air-conditioned buses or vans to these provinces.

The bus terminal, which is located 4 kilometers north of town at Talat Kao, provides bus services between Krabi and the following destinations:

Hat Yai (96 baht/ordinary bus bus, 130 baht /2nd class bus bus, 173 baht /1st class bus), Nakhon Si Thammarat (67 baht / ordinary bus), Phuket (65 baht /ordinary bus, 91 baht /2nd class bus, 117 baht /1st class bus), Phang-nga (46 baht /ordinary bus, 64 baht /2nd class bus, 82 baht /1st class bus), Ranong (106 bahts /ordinary bus), Su-nagi Kolok (335 bahts /1st class bus), Surat Thani (61 baht /ordinary bus, 126 baht /2nd class bus), Trang (50 baht /ordinary bus, 70 baht /2nd class bus, 90 baht /1st class bus).

For schedule and more information, contact Krabi Bus Terminal, tel. 0 7561 1804

By bus/boat combination

To Ko Samui: 

Travel agencies in town offer bus/boat tickets to Ko Samui (300-370 baht, four times a day), and also to Ko Pha-Ngan (450 baht, four times a day).

Getting around the city and nearby Districts

From Krabi Bus Terminal, located in Talat Kao, there are both local red buses and government buses depart regularly from 6.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. to other counties including major tourist spots. It costs 10 baht to get to a destination in town. To travel further, i.e. to Ao Nang and hat Noppharat Thara, take the local white bus from Maharat Road for a fare of 20 baht

Songthaew and tuk tuk to the government bus terminal costs 8 bahts while a motorcycle taxi costs 30 bahts. Tuk tuks can be chartered for trips around the town for flat rates i.e. to the bus station (50 baht), What Tham Seua (100 baht) and the airport (200 baht).

Most of Songthaews leave in front of the 7-11 on Maharat Road. Destinations include Ao Leuk (20 baht), Ao Nam Mao (40 baht), Ao Nang (20 baht), Hat Noppharat Thara (20 baht) and Su San Hoi (40 baht).

There is also a service to Ban Hua Hin (Ferry pier to Ko Lanta). The bay is situated at the intersection of Phattana and Preuksa Uthit Roads. Costing around 40 baht/person, the service runs frequently and takes 40 minutes.

Alternatively, it is possible to rent a car to travel around town and to nearby provinces. Several agencies and guesthouses provide motorcycle rental for 150 baht/day while Jeep rental fees may range from 800 to 1,200 baht/day.

For more convenience, it is possible to hire a taxi, rent a motorcycle or a van at travel agencies and hotels. The local minibuses depart from Vogue Department Store on Maharat Road to the following destinations:
 

Best time to visit Krabi

The climate of Krabi Province is tropical and therefore warm throughout the year. On the other hand, Krabi is also affected by the monsoon winds that bring about seasonal changes.

There are two very hot periods of weather on Krabi, the first is between April and May when the average temperatures ranges from 27 to 36 degrees Celsius with occasional tropical thunderstorm bringing relief from the heat.

It is also very hot between September and October, but the frequent rainfall has a wonderful cooling effect.

In May, at the peak of the southwest monsoon, it rains on an average of 25 days during the month, making it to one of the most humid months of the year. Rainy days are interspersed with sunny days during this period and the rain generally comes in tropical downpours of an hour or so throughout the day mixed with periods of sunshine.

November to March is the most popular time for tourists to visit Krabi. It is when the northeast monsoon brings beautiful blue skies and predominantly sunny weather with an average temperature of 24 to 32 degrees Celsius. Visitors are advised to make early reservations (maybe a year in advance) for accommodations during this period of time because of the popularity of the Krabi and its attractions.
 

Remarks: 

Fares are subject to change without notice.


Boat: 

Long-tailed boats depart from Saphan Jao Fah Pier to East Rai Le for 70 baht/person while the ferry to Ko Lanta (and also Ko Jam), which operates only from October to April costs 200 baht/person with two trips daily at 10.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. The ferry to Phi Phi Island operates all year round at 200 baht/person with two trips daily, at 10.00a.m. and 2.30p.m.