I had a good time exploring Koh Lanta on motobike. In this article, I will show you how to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Phuket, and Bangkok. I’ll also show you some of the best ways to get around the island.
Koh Lanta is a laid-back island located in South Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. It is a great destination for those who are looking for a relaxing holiday away from the busy tourist areas such as Phuket and Ao Nang.
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How to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Lipe
It is easy to book a boat from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta in the high season (November to April). The speed boat journey is around 3 hours while the slow boat is around 7 hours. It is a bit cheaper to book a slow boat but I highly recommend using a speed boat to get to your destination more quickly.
There are several boat companies running this route, including Tigerline, Bundhaya Speed Boat, and Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club. The boat departs on Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe and arrives at Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta.
You can easily book tickets at many travel agencies on Koh Lipe as well as online in advance at 12go.asia. It can be a bit cheaper when booking at local travel agencies. I recommend booking a ticket that includes a transfer from Saladan Pier to your hotel on Koh Lanta, if you stay further away from the pier.
I booked my ticket online using Tigerline services. Most tour agencies sell a ticket that includes a transfer to your hotel from the pier on Koh Lanta. You will need to pay the same, even if you don’t need the extra transfer. Since I stayed within walking distance from Saladan Pier, I booked a ticket without a transfer on Koh Lanta.
In the low season, if there is no speed boat connecting Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, you can take a boat to Pak Bara Pier at nearby mainland, then use a shared minivan to get to Koh Lanta by land. You can do it yourself, or ask local tour agencies to organise it for you.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Phi Phi
It is around 1 hour ferry ride between Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. The boat departs at TonSai Pier on Koh Phi Phi and arrives at Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta. Boat Operators such as Lanta Petpailin, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, Bundhaya Speed Boat, and Tigerline run this route.
You can easily book boat tickets at local travel agencies on Koh Phi Phi or book it online here. Saladan Pier is located on the northern part of the island, from here you can use Songthaew to get to your final destination on the island.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Phuket
There are two ways to travel from Phuket to Koh Lanta: by water and by land. The journey on boat and bus varies depending on the starting and ending location. Speed boat ride from Rassada Pier on Phuket to Saladan Pier is around 1.5 hours.
The journey by land from Phuket Bus Terminal 1 in Phuket Old town to Hua Hin Pier is around 5 hours. Then a quick 10 minute ferry ride to Koh Lanta Noi. You can bring motorbikes and cars on this ferry to Koh Lanta. You can book a ticket with the Good Luck Lanta Tour.
The part departs from Phuket Bus Terminal 1, which is convenient for travelers staying in the old town area. Traveling by land from Phuket, with a short ferry cross to Koh Lanta, can be a great option if you have sea sickness, especially when the ocean is rough.
I recommend booking a ticket that includes a transfer from your hotel to Rassada pier, and transfer from Saladan Pier to your hotel in Koh Lanta. This will help you avoid the hassle of finding transport to and from the pier on each island. Check all the ticket options Phuket to Koh Lanta here.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Lanta by airplane + bus + ferry
Koh Lanta doesn’t have an airport. The closest airport to the island is Krabi International Airport. Taking a flight from Bangkok to Krabi Airport is the fastest way to get to Koh Lanta from Bangkok. The flight is around 1.5 hours.
From Krabi Airport, you can easily reach Koh Lanta by booking a combined ticket of bus and ferry to Koh Lanta. The journey from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta is around 2-3 hours. Jijie Tour and Travel runs this route with many trips per day. You can check the schedule and purchase tickets here.
You can also check the flight from Bangkok to Trang Airport, the flight duration is similar to from Bangkok to Krabi Airport. From Trang Airport, you can book a shared minivan to Koh Lanta with Lanta Transport. It is around 3-4 hours away.
The last option is to fly to Phuket, then find your way to Koh Lanta. This is a longer way to reach Koh Lanta from Bangkok.
Bangkok to Koh Lanta by train + van + ferry
If you love traveling by train, you can book a train from Bangkok to the nearest train station to Koh Lanta, called Trang Train Station. From Trang Station, you can book a combined van + ferry ticket to Koh Lanta.
The train ride is around 15 hours. You can take an overnight train. Train departs from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok. This train station is easily accessible from the MRT line, making it easy to reach from your hotel in central Bangkok.
From Trang Train Station, you can find the way to the bus station, which is only 4 km away. There are more shared van options from Trang Bus Terminal to Koh Lanta. If you are on a good budget, you can book private transport directly from the train station to the island.
Bangkok to Koh Lanta by bus + ferry
It is around 16 hour bus and ferry ride from Bangkok to Koh Lanta. There are several companies that offer these combined tickets, such as Bangkok Travel Plus, The Twin 2000, and Raja Ferry. Most buses depart near Khao San Road and Bangkok Old Town area. You can check the schedule here.
Another option is to catch a bus from Bangkok to Krabi Bus terminal, then another transfer from Krabi Bus terminal to Koh Lanta. You can do all of this by road and a 10 minute ferry crossing to Koh Lanta Noi.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi
Getting from Krabi to Koh Lanta is easy by road or ferry. The journey from Krabi to Koh Lanta is around 3 hours. There are several travel companies offering this transfer including, Phantip Travel and Jijie Tour & Travel.
They offer pick up from various locations in Krabi such as Krabi Airport, Krabi Bus Station, or at your hotel in Krabi Town or Ao Nang. You can check all schedules and tickets here.
Best Ways to get around Koh Lanta
Walking
Walking is possible in each touristy town and beach area. Popular areas in Koh Lanta include Sala Dan Village, Klong Dao Beach, Long Beach, and Klong Nin Beach. This area has lots of restaurants, bars, and shops, so you can easily walk to these amenities from your accommodation.
The distance between the beaches is quite far; I don’t think it’s possible to walk from one beach to the other. If you don’t drive a motorbike, you can use songthaew or tuk tuk and you need to negotiate price with the driver.
Getting around Koh Lanta on a rented motorbike
Koh Lanta is quite a big island, and renting a motorbike is one of the best ways to explore the island. You can easily explore rural areas on Koh Lanta Noi and go to the southern tip of Koh Lanta Yai.
If you decide to rent a scooter, I recommend choosing a reputable shop and read the reviews before renting it. I rented one at Enjoy motorbike rental koh Lanta and highly recommend it. They are located on the main road in Salanda village.
The process was easy. You just need to deposit 3000 baht or a passport. I recommend leaving cash as a deposit but never leaving your passport, even though it is a very good shop. The bike was in good condition and I had no problem after a few days of renting.
With a motorbike, you can go to every corner of the island. I spent an afternoon driving around Koh Lanta Noi, exploring beaches, viewpoints, mango forest, and Chinese House.
You can spend one full day beach hopping on the west coast, explore the National Park, waterfall, and make a visit to the Old Town.
Some good beaches on the west include Long Beach, Relax Bay Beach, Klong Khong Beach, Klong Nin beach, Kantiang Bay, and Nui Bay. The beaches get more beautiful the further south you go.
If you do drive on Koh Lanta, I recommend avoiding driving at night, especially on the east coast. I did it once on the way from the old town to my hotel in Saladan. There were just a few people on the road, and it was quite dark with little light. If something bad happens, it’s difficult to get someone to help.
Taking guided tours
If you don’t drive a motorbike, taking a guided tour is a great option. There are diving tours, island hopping tours, kayaking tours through the mangrove forest, or cooking tours. You can easily book tours at local travel agencies or websites such as viator.
Taxi, Songthaew and tuk tuk
Grab taxis are not available on Koh Lanta. The most common way to travel between places is to take tuk tuk or shared songthaews. You can find lots of these transport around the pier, and popular beach towns, and touristy areas such as the night markets on Sadalan.
See more:
- Best Places to stay in Koh Lanta
- How to Spend 2-3 Days In Koh Lanta Itinerary
- 18 Wonderful Things to Do in Koh Lanta
These are my recommendations of how to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Lipe, Krabi, Phuket, Bangkok, and Koh Phi Phi. I have also shared ways to get around the island. I hope you have found some helpful ways to travel to Koh Lanta.