How to Travel to Koh Lanta, Thailand – Ultimate Guide (2024)

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July 25, 2024

Koh Lanta, with its long coastline, beautiful beaches, and unspoiled nature, is one of the must-see destinations in Thailand.

Fortunately, it’s also a well connected spot. Saladan Pier, Koh Lanta’s main transportation hub, is always bustling with ferries and speedboats, serving as the primary gateway for travelers reaching Southern Thailand.

We quite smoothly arrived at Koh Lanta via a direct speedboat from Koh Mook and later left on a ferry to Koh Phi Phi.

Traveling to Koh Lanta can be straightforward, even from remote locations. From Bangkok, you can easily fly to Krabi Airport and catch a minivan that will take you directly to your hotel on Koh Lanta.

Keep reading to discover the best options for getting to Koh Lanta from various spots in Thailand and Malaysia.

Where is Koh Lanta located

The Koh Lanta Archipelago, situated in the northern part of the Strait of Malacca, includes several islands, with Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi being the largest.

Koh Lanta Yai is the “main island”, bustling with tourist activities, beautiful beaches, and a variety of accommodations, while Koh Lanta Noi offers a more rural and untouched landscape.

Koh Lanta is conveniently located close to other popular destinations in the Andaman Sea. It’s about 45 miles (72 km) from Krabi and around 31 miles (50 km) from Koh Phi Phi.

Island great location makes it an accessible and attractive destination for travelers.

If you’re traveling from further away, Koh Lanta is approximately 650 miles (1,050 km) from Bangkok. From Langkawi in Malaysia, it’s about 140 miles (225 km).

It’s about 45 miles (72 km) from Krabi, taking approximately 2 hours to reach Saladan Pier by road and ferry. From Koh Phi Phi, it’s around 31 miles (50 km), with a ferry ride taking about 90 minutes. Traveling from Phuket involves a distance of roughly 90 miles (145 km), which can take around 4 hours by a combination of road and ferry.

Best Ways to Travel to Koh Lanta

1. From Bangkok

Fly to Krabi Airport

The fastest way to get to Koh Lanta from Bangkok is to fly to Krabi Airport. From there, take a minivan straight to your hotel. You can find a ticketing office at the airport, but you’ll have to wait until the minivan is full to start your journey.

The quickest option is to take a taxi or private minivan, but this will be more expensive.

The drive from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Fly to Phuket Airport

You can also fly to Phuket Airport, but the transfer will be less straightforward. The most popular option is to get to the Rassada Pier and change to a speedboat or ferry. Speedboats are usually faster, as ferries stop at Koh Phi Phi before reaching Koh Lanta.

An alternative option is to travel by land, similar to traveling from Krabi Airport, by taking a taxi or private minivan. This journey will take around 4 hours and 30 minutes and will cost more than the trip from Krabi Airport.

Take a Bus

You can also find buses from Bangkok to Krabi or Phuket. Although cheaper than flying, the journey will take at least 12 hours.

The bus will take you closer to the pier in both Krabi Town and Phuket, so taking a speedboat or ferry will be faster than a minivan or taxi.

2. From Phuket and Koh Phi Phi

You can either travel from Phuket to Koh Lanta by land or take a speedboat or ferry from Phuket’s Rassada Pier. Most ferry lines stop at Koh Phi Phi, so your journey will be longer than by speedboat, taking 3-4 hours compared to 1.5-2 hours by speedboat.

However, it’s still an easy and convenient way to travel to Koh Lanta. Ferries are big and stable, and they are also cheaper than direct speedboats. If you tend to get seasick, always choose the ferry over a small speedboat.

Old wooden buildings near the sea at Koh Lanta Old Town

3. From Krabi Town

If you stay in Krabi Town, you can easily get a ferry to Koh Lanta from Klong Jilad Pier. The journey will take only 1 hour and 45 minutes.

It is a popular, busy pier, and it will be quite easy to get there from Krabi Town. However, if you stay at nearby popular destinations like Ao Nang or Railay Beach, you need to reserve some time for getting to the pier.

Alternatively, you can take a 3h 30 mins bus to Koh Lanta.

4. From Koh Lipe and Koh Mook

The speedboat from Phuket, which stops at Koh Phi Phi and then Koh Lanta, also goes further south to Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, and Koh Lipe. You can take the same speedboat to reach Koh Lanta.

The journey from Koh Mook will take less than an hour and is definitely the best option. I recommend staying few day on Koh Mook not only to visit Emerald Cave, but also to experience island’s rustic atmosphere.

However, traveling from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe, the southernmost Thai island, will take a minimum of 5 hours. Given unstable sea conditions, the journey can be rough.

If you are traveling with more people, you might want to consider hiring a taxi to Pak Bara Pier (a 5-hour journey) and then getting a boat from there (1-1.5 hours).

5. From Langkawi, Malaysia

If you happen to be visiting Langkawi in Malaysia, you won’t be far from Koh Lanta.

To get there by sea, you will need to take a ferry (90 minutes) to Koh Lipe, go through immigration, and change to a 5-6 hour speedboat. This is a rather long journey, and unless you catch an early ferry, you might spend the whole day traveling.

The second option is to get a ferry to Thamalang Pier in Satun province, go through immigration there, and get a taxi or private minivan to Koh Lanta.

Taking public transport will be quite complicated, as you will first need to reach Satun, then Trang town, and finally catch a bus from there to Koh Lanta.

How to Buy Transport Tickets in Thailand

Buying tickets for popular routes, especially ferries, speedboats, and private minivans, can be easily booked in advance online.

If you are staying near the pier, you can also visit the ticketing office. This is also the best option to buy tickets at the airport. Avoid people asking you to buy transport from them, as you might pay a higher price than normal.

When visiting Thailand, you will see many tour agencies and transportation companies with stalls and small shops along the most popular streets. This is also an easy way to buy tickets. I recommend comparing prices in a few places and negotiating the final price.

Probably the easiest and safest (but not always the cheapest) way to book transportation is through your hotel.

They can sell you guided tours, transportation tickets, and help with booking a taxi. We used this method in Koh Mook, Krabi Town, and Koh Lanta for booking different things.

When is best time to visit Koh Lanta

The best time to visit Koh Lanta is during the high season, which is the dry season in this area. It starts in October and finishes in May.

If you come to Thailand during the peak season, you can be sure that finding transportation will be very easy, and you will have all options available.

On the other hand, during the monsoon season, some ferry companies do not operate due to lower demand and rough sea conditions. It is still possible to travel between islands, but it requires more effort to find transportation.

If you are thinking of visiting in the low season to reduce costs and avoid crowds, remember that Koh Lanta will be quieter, and some restaurants, hotels, and popular attractions will be closed.

We visited Thailand in January and February, and although it is a very popular time to visit (it was also during Chinese New Year), we didn’t really suffer from overcrowding and high prices.

Where to stay on Koh Lanta

West Coast

If you dream of beachfront accommodation, choose one of the many resorts along the west coast. The beaches there are wide and sandy.

Koh Lanta is 13 miles long, so you can choose from more popular places with beach bars and restaurants nearby or more secluded spots offering peace and quiet.

Accommodation by the sea is stunning, but keep in mind that it will be more expensive.

Middle of the Island – Further from the Beach

If you are looking for a more affordable place to stay, consider hotels located further from the beach. You won’t wake up next to the shore, but you can save money by walking 15 minutes to the beach.

Lanta Old Town

An unique destination is Lanta Old Town. You can stay there in a traditional, old wooden house on stilts. It a great place to enjoy stunning sunrises and observe local fishermen.

East Coast

If you want secluded accommodation far from the tourist activities, look on the east coast. You won’t find sandy beaches or much infrastructure there, but you will experience pristine nature and local communities.

How to Travel to Koh Lanta, Thailand – Ultimate Guide (2024)

Where is Koh Lanta located