Koh Lanta or Koh Tao, which is better?

Koh Lanta and Koh Tao are two beautiful islands in South Thailand. Koh Lanta has a laid-back atmosphere and is a great place to visit for a relaxing beach holiday. Koh Tao is one of the best islands in Thailand for snorkeling and diving.

In this article, I will compare Koh Tao and Koh Lanta, focusing on their locations, accommodations, beaches, attractions, nightlife, shopping, and food. I traveled to both places, so I hope to give you helpful information based on my first-hand experience.

If you’re searching for whether to visit Koh Lantan or Koh Tao, keep reading.

Is it better to visit Koh Lanta or Koh Tao?

Generally speaking, Koh Tao is better than Koh Lanta if you prioritize diving and snorkeling. Koh Tao is one of the world’s best diving spots with many affordable PADI certified courses. It’s also a great place for hiking, with scenic coastal trails and challenging paths leading to stunning viewpoints.

Koh Lanta has a more laid-back atmosphere, which is more ideal for families, couples, and solo travelers looking to relax and unwind. I visited both islands during the high season, and Koh Tao was especially crowded and busy. Koh Lanta maintains a quiet vibe even during the peak season.

I enjoyed my stay on both Koh Lanta and Koh Tao. Each island offers a unique experience, and I’m happy to have explored them all. By renting a scooter on both islands, I was able to explore nearly every corner.

Driving in Koh Tao can be difficult due to its steep, winding roads, which are better suited for experienced drivers. Koh Lanta is flatter and easier to get around on a scooter.

On both islands, I like to do beach hopping on a scooter. The beaches in Koh Tao are generally better than in Koh Lanta. Koh Tao also has more hiking trails and viewpoints than Koh Lanta.

In addition to the beaches, Koh Lanta has an old town, where you can learn more about the history of the island. There are no significant cultural attractions in Koh Lanta.

My recommended hotels in Koh Lanta:

My recommended hotels in Koh Tao:

Mid-range: Koh Tao Heights Pool Villas
Budget: Sensi Paradise Beach Resort

Location & How to Get There

Both Koh Tao and Koh Lanta are located in South Thailand, but in different seas. Koh Tao is located on the western Gulf of Thailand, and Koh Lanta is located in the Adanman sea in Krabi Province. To get from one island to the other, you’ll have to cross mainland Thailand first.

There is no airport on Lanta and Koh Tao. They are only accessible by boats. The closest airport to Lanta is Krabi and Phuket Airport. The closest airport to Koh Tao is in Koh Samui. If you fly into their nearby airport, you need to use additional road and boat transport to get to your final destination.

To get to Koh Tao, you can also take the boat ride from nearby places such as Koh Phangan, Sura Thani, and Chumphon. To get to Ko Lanta, there are direct boats from surrounding areas such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Railay/ TonSai, and Ao Nang/ Krabi.

Beaches

Both Koh Lanta and Koh Tao have a good selection of beaches to explore. I personally enjoy the beaches on Koh Tao more because it has a more scenic atmosphere, and crystal clear turquoise water.

Popular beaches on Koh Tao are Sairee Beach, Mae Haad Pier, Chalok baan kao bay, and Tanote Bay. Then you have some secluded beaches that are more difficult to access such as Mango Bay and Ao Hin Wong. There are boat trips around the island, so you can easily book it to explore all the beaches.

The popular beaches in Koh Lanta are Klong Dao, Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, and Kantiang Beach. There are also small secluded beaches such as Ao Nui Bay, Nui Bay, and Bam Boo Beach. Most beaches in Lanta are easily accessible by scooter.

Koh Tao’s beaches have a more lively scene from sunset time. There are many tables and chairs on the sands for visitors to enjoy the meal when the sun goes down, especially in the Sairee Beach area.

The sunset scene in Lanta is quieter, as the beaches are mostly very long and the beachfront restaurants and bars are quite spread out.

Accommodations

Both islands have hundreds of accommodations, so if you book in advance, you will have lots of choices. Many accommodations are located high on the hill, which offer stunning views of the island. But it also comes with a challenge of hiking up and down to the room.

Accommodations in Koh Lanta are much more easily accessible. You can find budget backpacker hostels, family-run guest houses, and mid-range beachfront resorts.

Whether you choose to visit, make sure to book well in advance, especially in the high season. These are well-known destinations in Thailand, attracting large numbers of tourists, during the period from November to May each year.

See more:

Nightlife

Koh Tao is the driving paradise and is known for having a vibrant, youthful, and lively nightlife scene, especially for backpackers and party-goers. The bars and clubs are concentrated in Sairee Beach and Mae Haad Pier area.

Many beachfront restaurants and bars on Sairee beach set up tables and chairs on the sand around sunset, creating the perfect setting for a romantic dinner.

Koh Lanta has a much more relaxed, laid-back vibe than Koh Tao. While there are still some lively spots to enjoy, the nightlife on Koh Lanta is generally more low-key, offering a calm and peaceful ambiance.

Some popular nightlife spots in Lanta are at the nightmarket area in Sala Dan, along the main road in Long Beach, Klong Khong Beach, and Klong Nin Beach.

Shopping

There are no modern shopping malls on either island, but there are 7-11 Stores as well as many smaller shops where you can buy daily necessities and souvenirs.

The shops in Koh Tao are concentrated in the main town Sairee Beach and Mae Haad Pier area. There are more shops in Koh Tao selling diving and water sports equipment.

The shops in Koh Lant are clustered around the main town Sala Dan Village. It’s home to a night market and a plaza where you can shop for clothes and Thai souvenirs. There are some cute shops in Lanta Old Town, which is also a great place to learn about the island’s history.

Food

Both islands have a wide range of local dishes. You can find seafood restaurants and many family-run restaurants serving typical Thai food rather than western dishes.

As a less developed island, the food scene in Koh Lanta is more authentic. Koh Lanta has a larger Muslim population, so there are more halal food options in this island.

Cultural attractions

These islands are not Thailand’s best places to explore cultural attractions. I didn’t see any cultural attractions in Koh Tao, but in Koh Lanta, you can explore the old town on the eastern coast of the island.

The Old Town offers a glimpse into the island’s past, with its well-preserved architecture, fishing village vibes, and tranquil atmosphere. The houses have a mix of Chinese and Thai influences, with traditional wooden houses on stilts and colorful shopfronts that are perfect for a leisurely stroll.

Viewpoints and Hiking

There are more scenic hiking trails and viewpoints in Koh Tao than in Koh Lanta, so if you’re after hiking, Koh Lanta is a better place to go. Some of my favorite trails in Koh Tao include the coastal trail from Chalok baan kao bay to Tao Thong Beach, and the trail to John-Suwan Viewpoint.

With more mountainous terrain, there are many beautiful viewpoints on Koh Tao such as John-Suwan Viewpoint, Summit Viewpoint, and Grape Viewpoint. I drive the scooter all the way to Summit and Grape Viewpoints, but you can always hike to these places.

Koh Lanta has some interesting trails including the natural trail in the Mu Ko Lanta National park and the trail to Klong Chak Waterfalls.

Island Hopping

Koh Lanta is a great base for island hopping in the Andaman Sea. Koh Tao is a great base to explore the islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

From Koh Lanta, you can take boat trips to Koh Haa, Koh Rok, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Ao Nang, Railay/ Tonsai. These are some of the most populous islands in Thailand.

From Koh Tao, you can take a day trip to the nearby Nangyuan Island, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Getting Around

Koh Tao is around 7km long and 3km wide, which is much smaller than Koh Lanta, so it’s possible to explore the island on foot. Koh Lanta Yai is about 20 km long and 6 km wide, so renting a scooter is the best way to get around.

I rented a scooter to explore the island. I suggest you only do this if you’re an experienced driver, as the terrain is very mountainous. Several well-known viewpoints, like Summit Viewpoint and Grape Viewpoint, are accessible by scooter, but you can hike if you’re not comfortable riding to the top.

The roads to some beaches such as Aow June Juea, Sai Nuan Beach, Tanote Bay, or Ao Hin Wong are also extremely winding, so be cautious if you are driving.

It’s easier to drive around Koh Lanta because the road is mostly flat. The roads in the southern part of the island, near the National Park and from Klong Nin to Old Town, are somewhat hilly, but they’re still easier to navigate than those on Koh Tao.

If you don’t drive, there are plenty of tours, long boats, and local songthaews to help you to get around the island. There are no ride share services such as Grab, InDrive, or Bolt in these islands. The local taxis are quite expensive, and you need to bargain before taking the ride.