Koh Lanta is located in the Andaman Sea. The island is rightly considered one of the most beautiful in Thailand. Koh Lanta consists of two islands (Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai) which have been connected by a bridge for several years (previously ferry connection). A second bridge connecting Lanta Noi to the mainland is scheduled for 2026. Lanta Noi is relatively sparsely populated and has little tourist infrastructure; When people talk about Koh Lanta, they usually mean Koh Lanta Yai.

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The island is about 21.5 km long and about 5.5 km wide. The population fluctuates around 25,000 depending on the season. The west side of the island, where most of the tourist infrastructure is located, is characterized by fantastic beaches that are rightly considered to be among the most beautiful in Thailand.

 

On the east side of the island are mangrove swamps and the village of Old Town, originally founded by Chinese traders, on an ancient sea trade route. There is also a Chao Ley sea gypsy community in the south of the island. Koh Lanta is a small religious melting pot, Buddhism, Islam, Thai-Chinese and Chao Ley coexist peacefully.

 

In the last 20 years, a very good tourist infrastructure has developed, which, however, cannot be compared with the package tourism on Phuket, Samui, etc., it is almost exclusively individual tourism. In addition to great Thai restaurants, there is a large selection of typical street food. There are also a number of other restaurants, often run by expats, who leave nothing to be desired. Koh Lanta has an expat community; many Scandinavians and Western Europeans live on Koh Lanta all year round. Then there are the “migratory birds” in season. For example, there is also an international and a Swedish school on Koh Lanta. Since the annoucement of the second bridge more companies like HomePro and a major Trang hospital company published plans to open in Koh Lanta

 

The following applies to the west coast of the island: the further south, the quieter it is. The north (Saladan and Long Beach) can be quite lively during the peak season (Christmas and New Year) but it doesn't compare to Phuket etc at this time. The further south you drive, the quieter it gets. In the very south you will also find beaches where you are relatively alone.

What can you do besides diving? There is a lot to do when it comes to nature. In the south of the island there is a national park with a beautiful, developed hiking trail (approx. 1.5-2 hours) through the rainforest with fantastic viewpoints on the south end of the island. There are some waterfalls (the falls aren't spectacular in the dry/high season) but the trails to get there are very nice. There are caves to explore, notably Mae Kaeow Cave at Klong Nin (guided tours). On the east side there is a hiking trail through the mangroves that is worthwhile). A detour to Old Town and the Sea Gypsies is also worthwhile.

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There are a few gyms, notably Luke's Gym on Elephant Road and several Muay Thai schools. Furthermore, cooking courses, yoga, etc.

 

The medical care is good, there are numerous "clinics" geared towards western tourists and there are two dental practices and a hospital. The closest clinics that meet western standards are in Trang and Krabi.  The north/south main traffic artery is currently being expanded, some sections are already finished. The internet connection, be it mobile or cable, is very good; most hotels are connected via fiber optics. There are also co-working locations with excellent connections. Free Wifi is available in almost all bars, restaurants and hotels.

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The two main routes of arrival are via Krabi and Phuket airports. The transfer from Krabi takes about 2-2.5 hours. From Phuket there are two options: either by minivan (about 5 hours) or by ferry (about 3 hours, speedboat). The transfer from HKT (Van) and KBV is consistently from the  Accommodation reliably organized.