Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta is an island district in Krabi province on Thailand’s Andaman coast, consisting of several islands with Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Noi the most significant. The area is widely known for sandy beaches, dive sites and a laid-back tourism scene.

The islands offer long beaches, coral reefs for diving and snorkeling, beachside restaurants and a range of accommodations concentrated on Ko Lanta Yai. Marine national park areas nearby protect reefs and smaller islands used for day trips.

Historically the islands were home to fishing communities and ethnic sea-gypsy populations; tourism expanded from the late 20th century and the archipelago remains a mix of local villages and tourist infrastructure. Conservation measures protect some marine and island habitats.

Ko Lanta sits in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand’s west coast, administered from Krabi province; the islands are reachable by ferry from the mainland towns of Krabi and Trang and by road-plus-ferry links that serve the main island.

• Main island: The archipelago's main island, Ko Lanta Yai, is the primary base for accommodation, restaurants and ferries serving the group.
• Access: Travel to the islands is commonly by car-and-ferry links or passenger ferries from mainland Krabi and Trang provinces, with a ring road on the main island that connects beaches and villages.

What to See #

• Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Noi: The area comprises multiple islands; the two primary ones are Ko Lanta Yai, the main tourist and population centre, and Ko Lanta Noi, which is smaller and less developed.
• Mu Ko Lanta National Park: Mu Ko Lanta National Park protects nearby islands and marine areas and includes beaches, coral reefs and forested hills that are popular with divers and boaters.