Kantiang Bay is one of the southernmost beaches on Koh Lanta, located near Mu Ko Lanta National Park. It is a 1km long beach with a peaceful atmosphere, white sand, and calm water, which makes it a great place to relax and unwind.
In this article, I will show you the location of Kantiang Bay, How to get there, where to stay, and things to do in this beautiful beach of Koh Lanta.
I rented a scooter and visited all the beaches around Koh Lanta. Kantiang is one of my favorite spots on the island due to its tranquil atmosphere and close proximity to the national park and other beautiful beaches such as Nui Bay and Ao Nui Bay.
Where is Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta?
Kantiang Bay is the last popular beach town on the southern end of Koh Lanta island. It is around 1,5km south of Klong Hin Beach and 3km north of Koh Mu Lanta National Park. It’s also close to Nui Bay, Klong Chak Waterfall, and Koh Lanta Elephant Sanctuary.
Kantiang Bay is around 20km from the island’s main pier, Sala Dan Pier. The pier is where speed boats arrive from other islands in the Andaman Sea such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Ao nang, Railay, and Koh Lipe. The journey from Sala Dan Pier and Village to Kantiang Bay is around 40 minutes.
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How to get to Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta?
When you arrive at the Salan Pier, you can use songthaew (local form of taxi) to get to Kantiang Bay. There are plenty of them in the parking area behind the pier. The private car is usually expensive though, around 1000 baht or little bit more. If you’re lucky, you can find more people to share it with.
When you book the speed boats/ ferries ticket, you can ask the travel agencies if it includes the transfer from the pier to your hotel. When I was on Koh Lipe, local agencies sold combination tickets that included boat and road transfer to the hotel.
The combo ticket is only 100 baht more compared to the boat ticket only. However, this option can only be done at the local agencies. I booked the ticket online and there is a boat ticket only option. I stayed within walking distance from the pier, so I didn’t need a combo ticket.
Another option to get from Sala Dan Pier to Kantiang Bay is to ask your resort if they can arrange the pick up for you. Sometimes, the accommodation cost included the pick up and drop off at the pier, so make sure to double check with them.
From other locations on Koh Lanta such as the Old Town, Long Beach, Klong Dao Beach, Klong Khong, or Klong Nin Beach, you can rent a scooter or take a songthaew to get to Kantiang Bay.
There are no riding share services such as Grab, Bolt, or InDrive on the island, and the private songthaew is relatively expensive. If you can drive, renting a scooter (230-300 baht a day) is an economical way to explore the island and to get to Kantiang bay.
What’s on Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta?
Kantiang Bay is a 1km long crescent shaped beach with white sand and wide shore. There are hills at two ends of the beach, the Statue of Koh Lanta at the northern end , and a floating pier at the middle area of the beach.
The beach has shallow and calm water, which is also sage for children. There are some big rockets at the bottom of the beach at the southern end.
Along the beach, you can find shaded areas, several resorts, cool beach bars & restaurants, as well as sunbeds and umbrellas of the beachfront establishments.
North of Kantiang Bay is a small village with some restaurants, shops, and convenience stores. Running parallel to the beach is a pleasant, tree-lined paved road with a fresh, cool atmosphere. The road takes you to the Mu Koh Lanta National Park.
Things to do at Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta
1. Take the photos with Koh Lanta Statue
Koh Lanta Statue is a prominent attraction in Kantiang Bay, located right in front of Kantiang Bay View Resort and Why No Bar. It is the first sign you will see when approaching the beach from the northern side.
It’s a wooden statue with a “Koh Lanta in the bottom” and a sign with a man on top. The statue was featured in the French TV show based on Survivor. It’s a cool statue to take photos with.
2. Swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling
Kantiang Bay has good sand and water conditions for swimming, sunbathing, playing Frisbee, and snorkeling. It’s also a quiet place to relax, unwind, or take a walk along the beach. You can enjoy Thai massage with the ocean view.
The good spot for snorkeling is at the rocky area at the southern end of the beach. You can see beautiful coral reefs with lots of colorful fish.
3. Chill at the beachfront bars and restaurants
There are some cool beach restaurants and bars scattered around the beach. In the northern part of the beach, you can check out the Why Not Bar and Aqua Bar.
At the middle part of the beach, you can visit Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant, or Spice n’ Rice restaurants of the Pimalai Resort.
When I drove along the beach road toward the National Park, I also spotted the cool Kon Loy Lay restaurant, but it doesn’t seem to show up on Google Maps. The Same Same But Different Restaurant is located in the middle area of the bay too.
To the southern end of the beach toward Kantiang Viewpoint, you can check out some nice restaurants with whole views of Kanitang Bay. You can try authentic local food at Cliff Sunset Restaurant and Phu Pha View Restaurant. These places are located right next to the main road.
4. Explore Kantiang Village
Kantiang Village is a small village located north of Kantiang Beach. This village is home to 7-Eleven, restaurants, motorbike rental, travel agencies, massage shops, Atms, and laundry shops.
Before heading to the beach, I recommend stopping at the 7-Eleven to grab some drinks or snacks to bring to the beach.
5. Check Out Kantiang Viewpoint
Kantiang Viewpoint is located on the southern end of the Kantiang bay, right on the main road to Ao Nui Beach and the National Park. It’s a good stop for free views of the whole bay and taking some nice photos.
If you come with a scooter, you need to park the scooter on the side of the road. The road curves uphill here, so be sure to watch out for traffic.
6. Visit nearby Ao Nui Bay, Klong Chak, and Bamboo Beach
When staying in Kantiang Bay, I recommend checking the beautiful beaches south of the bay such as Ao Nui Bay, Klong Chak, and Bamboo Beach. These beaches have a more secluded atmosphere than Kantiang. The small Ao Nui Bay is absolutely a must see.
Ao Nui Bay is located around 5-10 minutes drive from Kantiang. You will see the sign along the main road and park the motorbike on the side of the road. Be careful of the monkeys, don’t put food like bananas inside the scooter, or they will damage the bike.
From the main road, you can walk down the beach though a bit of a hilly jungle pathway for a couple of minutes. The beach is wide with white sand, calm clean water, and a peaceful atmosphere. There is some natural shade from the shores at the southern end of the beach.
I recommend bringing your own beach towel, snorkeling equipment, and some snacks from 7-Elevent in Kantiang Village. You can find a small beach bar on the beach with massage services and a couple of bamboo huts for the shades.
Nui Beach is a good beach for swimming and snorkeling. The rocky area at two ends of the beach are food spots for snorkeling.
South of Nui Beach is Khlong Chak Beach and Bamboo Beach. Khlong Chak Beach is more popular with some restaurants, bars, and resorts, while Bamboo has a more remote atmosphere.
7. Hiking at Klong Chak Waterfall
Klong Chak Waterfall is located 10 minutes drive east of Kantiang Beach. It’s a must see for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. The Waterfall is not as impressive as other waterfalls in Thailand, but I really like the leisurely walk along the stream and the thick jungle to the Waterfall.
Its feels refreshing and a cooler atmosphere, which is a good break from the heat and the beach. Along the way, you can check out some caves. Locals at the entrance offer 200 baht for tour guide services, but I don’t think it’s necessary to do it. You can do it at your own pace with well-marked trails.
8. Natural trail at the Koh Mu Lanta national Park
Koh Mu Lanta National Park is around 15 minutes drive from Kantiang Bay and a must-see attraction on the island. It sits right at the southern tip of the island, where you can explore a small sandy beach, a 2km challenging natural trail, and the light house.
If you’re a hiking enthusiast, you must check out the trail from the visitor center to the sandy beach and the light house. The trail includes steep parts with climbing over the root of the stair, paved trails, and a nice coastal trail.
It’s a circle trail and takes around 2 hours to complete at a very leisure pace. I made it in around 1 hour though. If you are not into hiking, you can skip the trail, and choose the easy way from the visitors center to the light house and the sandy/ rocky beach area.
Where to stay in Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta
Kantiang Bay is a good base to stay in Koh Lanta for those who are seeking a peaceful beach holiday and don’t mind being further away from the Sala Dan village and the main pier.
There are a couple of resorts on the beach, and lots of hotels and guest houses located inside the village high above on the hill, offering stunning views of the Bay.
The beach is home to the 5-star luxury Pimalai Resort & Spa, which occupies a large middle section of the beach. The popular Kantiang Bay View Resort is located at the northern end of the beach.
If you’re on the budget, you can choose to stay inside the village, high on the hill, but still within walking distance to Kantiang Beach.
Best Hotels in Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta:
Pimalai Resort & Spa
This is a 5-star resort located in a tranquil area of Koh Lanta, in Kantiang Bay. It’s a huge resort complex with accommodations right on the beach front and high on the hill. The resort has multiple bars and restaurants, so you can enjoy an all-inclusive experience.
Pimalai Resort has an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the ocean and direct access to the beach. You can choose a beachside villa with a private pool for the best experience. If you want stunning views and don’t mind a bit of climbing, you can choose hillside rooms.
The resort offers transfer from Krabi airport to the hotel, which is located 1.5-2 hours drive from the hotel. You will travel by car then speed boat to the pier in front of the resort on Kkantiang Bay.
Kantiang Bay View Resort
This is a popular resort at the northern end of Kantiang Bay. It has a good onsite beach bar/ restaurant on the beach with fireshow in the evening. You can enjoy a beach massage right at the hotel. It’s an easy walk to all the tourist amenities in the village such as shops and 7-Elevent stores.
Puteri Lanta Family Villas
This is a good hotel located on the hillside near the main road in Kantiang Village, a short walk to the beach. It’s also close to restaurants, massage shops, motorbike rental services, and convenience stores. The hotel has comfortable rooms, stunning views, and great breakfast.
The Houben – Adult Only
This is a good hotel located on the hillside overlooking the ocean. It’s a good spot for couples and adults to relax and unwind. It has an outdoor pool and comfortable spacious rooms. It’s in a relatively good location, an easy distance to the beach and tourist facilities in Kantiang Village.
Aha Lanta Cozy Hostel
This hostel is a good hotel for backpackers and budget travelers. It offers dorm rooms and a beautiful common area that are perfect for relaxing, and socializing. You can consider renting a scooter to explore other parts of the island. Taxis and local pick up truck songthaews are very expensive in Koh Lanta.
Cashewnut Tree Resort
This is good mid-range accommodation in Kantiang Village, close to the beach, and several restaurants and bars. They have clean and well equipped huts and beautiful ground with lots of greenery.
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I hope you enjoyed reading my article about Kantiang Bay on Koh Lanta. If you want a secluded beach holiday, close to some nice beaches and natural hiking trails in the national park, you can consider staying at a hotel in Kantiang Bay. Otherwise, you can rent a scooter and explore around the island.