Koh Lanta or Khao Lak, Which is better?

Koh Lanta and Khao Lak are peaceful beach destinations in the Andaman Sea of South Thailand. These places have quiet beaches, local atmosphere, making them ideal locations for those seeking a relaxing beach holiday.

In this article, I will compare Khao Lak and Koh Lanta, focusing on their location, accommodations, beaches, attractions, shopping, nightlife, and food. I personally stayed in both places, so I will give you useful recommendations based on my first-hand experience.

If you’re wondering whether to visit Khao Lak or Koh Lanta, keep reading!

Is it better to visit Koh Lanta or Khao Lak?

Both Koh Lanta and Khao Lak are excellent places for laid back beach holiday, away from tourist crowds in nearby Phuket, Koh Samui, Ao Nan/ Railay.

Generally speaking, Khao Lak is better than Koh Lanta if you want a wide range of tourist amenities, and easier access to both mainlands and island destinations like Similan islands, Phuket, and Khao Sok. This region also has many 5-star resorts, making it ideal for those looking for a luxurious retreat.

Koh Lanta is a better choice if you want to focus on nature, serenity, and local culture. Khao Lak has a stronger Western influence, Koh Lanta has a more authentic Thai experience where you can get away from the more Westernized side of tourism.

I enjoyed my visit to both Khao Lak and Koh Lanta. What stood out the most in both places was the friendly locals, who are always helpful and welcoming with a smile.

I rented a scooter, so I was able to explore most corners of Khao Lak and Koh Lanta. In Khao Lak, I did beach hopping, day trips to Takua Pa Old Town, Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, and hiked the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park.

In Koh Lanta, I also drove around the island (both big island and small island). I visited all the beaches, explored the Old Town, checked out the Klong Chak Waterfall, and hiked at Mu Lanta National Park.

If you have time, you can visit both Koh Lanta and Khao Lak. Both are located in Southern Thailand, making it easy to explore them in a single trip. My journey was Khao Lak, Ao Nang, Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Yai, and Phuket.

My recommend hotels in Ko Lanta:

My top hotel picks in Khao Lak:

Location & How to Get There

Khao Lak is located in South Thailand, along the Andaman Sea coastline, close to Phuket and Surat Thani. It’s located about 60 km north of Phuket, just a one-hour taxi ride away.Koh Lanta is located in the Andaman Sea of Krabi Provinces, around a 2 hours boat ride from Phuket, or Ao Nang/ Krabi.

There are airports on Khao Lak and Koh Lanta. The closest airports to both places are in Phuket and Krabi. You can fly to these airports, then use additional road and sea transport to get to these places. Khao Lak is easily accessible by road, while Lanta is only accessible by boat.

Beaches

Both Koh Lak and Koh Lanta have many long sandy beaches. The beaches have laid back atmosphere and are not crowded like the beaches in Phuket, Phi Phi, or Samui. These are ideal for relaxing, swimming, and watching the sunset.

The most popular beaches in Khao Lak are Nang Thong and Bang Niang. The quieter beaches are toward the north including Khuk Khak, Pak Weep Beach, White Sand beach, and Bang Sak Beach.

The beaches in Koh Lanta are located on the west coast of the island. From North to south, you can explore Klong Dao, Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, and Kantiang Beach.

The beaches are quieter toward the south of the island. There are some secluded coves with hotels on it such as Ao Nui Bay and Nui Beach. Beautiful places to relax, swim.

Accommodations

Both Khao Lak and Koh Lanta have accommodations for all preferences. Khao Lak has more upscale 5-star international brand resorts, so if you want a luxury holiday, Khao Lak is a better place to go.

Both places have high demand accommodations in the peak season from November to May. So make sure to book well in advance to secure your stay. Don’t be too spontaneous, as you may be left with no place to stay if you book at the last minute.

See more:

Nightlife

Both Khao Lak and Koh Lanta have laid-back nightlife, which is great to escape from the hustle and bustle of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, or Ao Nang. Khao Lak is a more popular tourist destination, so it has livelier nightlife compared to Koh Lanta.

Khao Lak has a huge night market in Bang Niang, as well as many big restaurants, bars, and massage shops in the main areas of Nang Thong and Bang Niang. You can have a good night out in Khao Lak.

The nightlife in Koh Lanta is much quieter with some bars and restaurants scattering around the island. There are some bars in Long Beach, or Klong Khong.Sala Dan Village has a night market that also contributes to the island’s nightlife scene.

Shopping

There are no big shopping malls in either Khao Lak or Koh Lanta. You can find popular Thai souvenirs in these places. As the more developed areas, Khao Lak has more shops, and larger night markets where you can buy everything such as Thai silk, local art, clothing, jewelry, and bags.

Koh Lanta shops are concentrated in Sala Dan Village, which is the main town of the island. You can find some nice shops around the beaches, and the old town. You can find basic Thai items, but in general, this is not a destination for shopping.

Food

From my experience, Khao Lak has more food options than in Koh Lanta. It has a Mc Donald in the Nang Thong Beach area, as well as many restaurants serving both local Thai and international dishes. There is a big market called Bang Niang where you can try many street foods.

Most restaurants and bars are located in the main areas of Khao Lak, in Nang Thong and Bang Niang. There are less options in the more remote areas such as Khuk Khak or Bang Sak beach.

As the beach destination, both Koh Lantan and Khao Lak have some amazing seafood. You’ll find freshly caught fish, prawns, crabs, and lobster on almost every menu.

The food scene in Koh Lanta has a more local atmosphere. You can find local southern Thai dishes with the influence of Malay and Muslim culture on the island. The food can be found at the restaurants and inside the night markets in Sala Dan Village.

Cultural & Natural attractions

In addition to the beaches, both Koh Lanta and Khao Lake have some local cultural and natural attractions to explore. In Khao Lak, you’ll find charming temples, waterfalls, national parks, along with the Boon Soong Iron Bridge and the historic Takua Pa Old Town.

I like to take the hike at the natural trail inside Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, and a hike to the Ton Chong Fa Waterfall. These places are peaceful places to explore.

Takua Pa Old Town is a historic town located around 30km north of Khao Lak. It was a bustling tin mining hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can explore its colorful Sino-Portuguese shop houses and buildings, shrines, temples, and the Sunday Market.

Apart from the beaches, the famous cultural and natural sites of Koh Lanta are the waterfalls, hiking trails, and the Old Town. You can hike at Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Khlong Chak Waterfall, or shop / dine at the old town.

Koh Lanta Old Town was a busy sea trade in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You can explore traditional wooden shop houses, colonial-style buildings with Thai and Chinese influences, and beautiful waterfront views. There are trendy shops and restaurants in this area to explore too.

Island Hopping & Day trips

Khao Lak is an excellent base to take day trips to the Similan islands, Khao Sok National Park, or Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. Similan islands are some of the most famous for snorkeling and diving destinations in Thailand.

Khao Sok is a famous national park home to the movie Cheow Lan Lake, floating house, and many other natural attractions like caves, viewpoints, jungle trails, and diverse wildlife.

Koh Lanta is a great base for day trips for nearby islands in the Andaman Sea such as Koh Phi Phi, Koh Hong, Phuket, Ao Nang/ Railay, or the Four island tours in Krabi province.

Getting Around

I rented a scooter to explore Khao Lak and Koh Lanta. The terrain in both places are relatively flat, so it was easy and convenient to get around by scooter. The rent is around 250-300 baht a day, and you can explore most places at your own pace.

If you don’t drive, you can take guided tours, hire a private driver, and use a local taxi. There are almost no Grab, Bolt, or InDriver in Khao Lak and Koh Lanta, so you need to use local songthaews and tuk tuk. Make sure to agree on the price with the driver before getting in the vehicle.