Koh Lanta is a good travel destination in South Thailand for those who want quiet, authentic local island life away from the more popular islands such as Phuket or Koh Phi Phi.
Koh Lanta is made up of two islands, Koh Lanta Yai (big island) and Koh Lanta Noi (small island). Most visitors will stay and explore Koh Lanta Yai as most accommodations, tourist amenities and attractions are located on this island.
Koh Lanta Noi has a quieter and more local atmosphere. This is where you find long secluded beaches, rubber plantations, mangrove forests, and local fishing villages. There are almost no tourist facilities on Koh Lanta Noi.
If you rent a scooter, you can consider spending a few hours or a half days to drive around this small island to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and experience more local life. The road is relatively flat and in good condition, so it’s easy to get around on a scooter.
If you don’t plan to rent a scooter, you can hire a private driver or take ATV tours. During my visit, I saw people having fun on the ATV along Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach and through muddy paths.
I stayed in Sala Dan village on Koh Yao Yai, which is very close to Koh Lanta Noi, so I spent my afternoon after checking in the hotel to explore Koh Yao Noi. I rented a scooter, drove around Lanta Noi, and checked the most highlighted places on the island.
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Location of Koh Lanta Noi & How to get there
Koh Lanta Noi is a small island in the Andaman Sea, in Krabi Province, South Thailand. It’s part of Mu Koh Lanta National Park, located north of Koh Lanta Yai, and is connected with this island via Siri Lanta Bridge.
It’s just around a 5 minute drive from north Koh Lanta Yai to Koh Lanta Noi. You can use a car or scooter to reach Lanta Noi from Lanta Yai.
Koh Lanta Noi is also only a 15 minutes ferry ride from mainland Krabi. There are frequent ferries between Hua Hin Pier on the mainland and the Khlong Mak Pier on Koh Lanta Noi. You can bring cars and motorbikes from the mainland on the ferries to Koh Lanta Noi.
How to Get Around Koh Lanta Noi?
The best way to get around Koh Lanta Noi is to rent a scooter. There are no public buses or songthaews running on Lanta Noi. The island is not walkable and attractions are also scattered around the island, and it’s best to drive rather than walking.
I rented a scooter on Koh Yao Noi for 250 baht a day to explore both Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. I think this is the cheapest and most flexible way to explore the island.
You can consider hiring a private driver, take sightseeing tours, or take the 1 to two 2 hour ATV tours to explore Koh Lanta Noi. If you take the ATV tours, it will usually take you to the area around Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach (aka Lang Sod Beach), not the whole island though.
What to do in Koh Lanta Noi?
1. Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach
Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach, also known as Lang Sod Beach, is a long beach that occupies all part of the west coast of Koh Lanta Noi. It’s around 3.5 km long.
It was the first place that I visited in Koh Lanta Noi when traveling from Koh Lanta Yai. After passing the Siri Lanta Bridge, I follow Road 5036, then turn left at Road 6022 to reach the beach. It’s just around a 5 minutes drive from Siri Lanta Bridge to Lang Sod Beach.
The beach is easily accessible from multiple locations on Road 6022, via the dirt roads from the main road. It has soft sand, with a row of shaded casuarina trees on the shore.
When I visited the beach, there were just a few locals and tourists there. The beach is almost empty with no bars, restaurants, and any infrastructure. At the southern end of the beach, you can have stunning views of the Siri Lanta Bridge and Sala Dan Village.
You can take a walk along the beach, swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the quiet atmosphere. Make sure to bring your beach towel to the beach, so you can lie down on the sand.
Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach is a popular place for ATV driving. You can drive along the sand on the beach, as well as many tree-lined dirt roads running parallel with the beach.
If you’re driving a scooter, I recommend avoiding these dirt roads on rainy days, as you might get dirty or stuck on them, like I did. These roads are nice to drive through in the dry condition or with an ATV car.
2. Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint
Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint is one of the many viewpoints along the beach road around Koh Lanta Noi island. You can take a brief stop when driving along the main road.
Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint is my second stop after Lang Sod Beach. It’s around 15 minutes drive away, along Road 6022 and 5035, passing the Khlong Mak Pier.
Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint is packed with beautiful mangrove trees, and has good views of the limestone cliffs. Even though there is rubbish there, it’s still worth a stop when driving around Lanta Noi. It’s located on a bend in the road, so drive slowly if you want to check it out.
3. Laem Ngu Viewpoint
Laem Ngu Viewpoint is around 10 minutes drive along the beach road 5035 from Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint. It has concrete infrastructure, cleaner and has better views compared to the Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint. You can pack along the road and take a brief stop for the views.
The area has expansive views of the limestone cliffs, the ocean, and Koh Talabeng island. There are stilt houses nearby, some of which are cafés with great sea views.
4. Seaview Restaurants and Cafes
There are several nice sea view restaurants and cafes along the beach road 5035. These are relaxing places to enjoy a cup of coffee, smoothies, meals, and the views of the ocean.
Sea View Restaurant Lanta Noi, located between Laem Ngu and Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint, are good spots to try local authentic Thai food.
I recommend trying chicken massaman curry, turmeric fried fish, seafood, papaya salad, and smoothies. You can rent a kayak for 500 baht a day to explore the nearby Koh Daeng Island.
Talabeng Cafe Lanta Noi is another popular seaview restaurant along Road 5035 of Lanta Noi. It’s located next to Laem Ngu Viewpoint, overlooking Talabeng island.
5. Ban Lo Yai fishing pier
Ban Lo Yai fishing pier is another good viewpoint in Lanta Noi, located 10 minutes drive from Laem Ngu Viewpoint. From the pier, you can have breathtaking views of the nearby islands and limestone mountains.
The boats from Lanta Noi to Koh Talabeng island and Koh Phee island depart from this pier. When I visited, I saw some local kids go fishing in this pier.
6. Baan Tae-Leng
Baan Tae-Leng is a popular point of interest located at the southern end of Koh Lanta Noi. It’s my last destination on the island. It’s around 6 minutes drive south of Ban Lo Yai fishing pier, passing the rubber plantations and lots of goats.
It’s a quiet place with an old house built in 1953, the graveyard, a mangrove forest, and a lovely cafe with sea views. It’s a good last peaceful stop on the island.
7. Visit the nearby islands
The east coast of Koh Lanta Noi is dotted with smaller islands. You can take a boat trip or kayak to these islands from Lanta Noi. Major islands are Koh Talabeng, Koh Phee, Koh Nui, Koh Nok Ngua, Koh Kam, or Koh Boo Boo.
How long do you spend in Koh Lanta Noi?
I think half a day or few hours is generally enough to see most major points of interest around Koh Lanta Noi. I spent the afternoon in Koh Lanta Noi and was able to drive to most parts of the island at a relaxing pace. If you’re taking ATV tours, the agencies often offer 1-2 hour tours around the island’s main beach.
Within one afternoon, I visited Chai Hat Lang Sot Beach, drove along the island’s main road and beach road, visiting viewpoints, and seaview cafes along the way.
Where to stay in Koh Lanta Noi?
There are just a handful of accommodations in Koh Lanta Noi and couples of hotels listed on online booking platforms. If you want a really remote location away from it all, and you can ride a scooter, you can consider staying on the island.
Otherwise, I highly recommend booking your stay in Koh Lanta Yai then visiting Koh Lanta Noi on a day trip. You can stay somewhere in Sala Dan village, which offers easy access to both the island’s main pier and Lanta Noi.
Recommend places to stay in and near Koh Lanta Noi:
Lan Lay Beach House
This one-bed room house is a good place to stay in Koh Lanta Noi. It’s in a peaceful, isolated location, with breathtaking sunrise and views over the limestone cliffs and the sea. The accommodation has a beautiful deck and jetty where you can relax and enjoy the views. There is a local restaurant nearby.
Non Du Lay Guesthouse
I stayed in this guest house for a few nights and recommend it for budget and mid-range travelers who want a location near Sala Dan pier, and Koh Lanta Noi. The hotel has private rooms with shared and private bathroom options, and clean beds. It’s a good base to explore Koh Latan in general.
Salatan Resort
This is a lovely resort located near the island’s main pier and convenient to explore both Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai on a scooter. It is also a short distance to the night market and the beach. The hotel has a nice swimming pool and clean bungalows.
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I hope you have found some useful information about Koh Lanta Noi, how to get to, how to get around, things to do on this little island of Koh Lanta Yai. If you have time or simply want to explore, make sure to check it out.