Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi, which is better?

Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi are two quiet islands located in the Andaman Sea, South Thailand. They are both conveniently located close to other Thailand’s famous places such as Phuket and Krabi.

In this article,I will compare Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi, focusing on their location, accommodations, beaches, nightlife, shopping, food, and cultural attractions. I visited both islands and many other places around Thailand, so I can give you some useful information based on my real experiences.

If you’re deciding between visiting Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi, keep reading.

Is it better to visit Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi?

I enjoyed my visit to both Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi. Both are perfect escapes from nearby touristy areas such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Ao Nang/Krabi. They have secluded beaches, peaceful atmosphere, and more authentic local experiences.

Generally speaking, Koh Yao Noi is better than Koh Lanta if you want to explore an island close to Phuket and Phang Nga Bay. Koh Yao Noi also has a more tranquil atmosphere and stunning views of the limestone cliffs in Phang Nga Bay.

Koh Lanta is better than Koh Yao Noi if you want to access a wider range of tourist amenities, and activities. Unlike Koh Yao Noi, Lanta has a historic old town, a night market, more bars, and a couple of nice hiking trails that take you to caves, waterfalls, and viewpoints.

They are both located in the Andaman Sea, making it easy to travel by boat between Lanta, Yao Noi, and other nearby islands. You can easily take boat trips to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Hong, Railay/ Tonsai, or James Bond island.

My recommend hotels in Koh Lanta:

My top hotel picks in Koh Yao Noi:

Luxury: Six Senses Yao Noi
Mid-range: Laguna Villas Boutique Hotel
Budget: Bang Mee Homestay

Location & How to Get There

Koh Lanta an Koh Yao Noi location on map

Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Yai are located in South Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. They are 60km apart, which is around 2-3 hours boat ride.

Koh Yao Yai is closer to Phuket, James Bond island, Hong island, and Khao lak. Koh Lanta is closer to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Pu, and Koh Jum.

There are no airports on these islands and the only way to reach them is by boat. The closest airport to Koh Yao Noi is Phuket. Krabi Airport and Phuket Airport are the closest airports to Koh Lanta.

There are direct boats from nearby piers in the Andaman Sea to either Koh lanta and Koh yao Noi. You can take oats from Phuket, Ao Nang, Railay, Phi Phi, or Koh Lipe.

Beaches

Both islands have a wide range of beaches for swimming and sunbathing. The beaches in Koh Yao Noi have stunning views of the limestone cliffs in Phang Nga Bay.

Koh Lanta is a larger island, so it has a wider range of beaches including long beaches and small secluded coves. The beaches in Koh Yao Noi are heavily influenced by tides, so swimming is best at high tide.

Popular beaches on Lanta are located on the west coast. They are Klong Dao, Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, and Kantiang Bay. There are many remote beaches with no resorts on it such as Ao Nui Bay, Nui beach, and Bam Boo Bay.

Popular beaches on Koh Yao Noi are Pasai Beach, Klong Jark, and Tha Khao Beach. There are some remote beaches such as Long Beach and Little Long Beach.

Accommodations

hotel in Koh Yao — accommodation in Koh Yao

Both islands have a wide range of accommodations for all budgets. There are large resorts as well as cozy family-run guest houses.

Like many other parts of Thailand, accommodations in Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi are often in high demand especially in the high season. So make sure to book well in advance a few months to secure your spots.

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Nightlife

Both islands have a relaxing nightlife scene, which is ideal for a relaxing and unwind holiday. Koh Lanta, is a larger and more developed island, and has a wider range of bars and restaurants. Nightlife on both islands mostly revolves around finding a nice place to eat.

The nightlife in Koh Lanta is centered in some areas such as the night market in Sala Dan Village, as well as a small clutter of bars aroundLong Beach, Klong Nin, and Klong Khong Beach.

Shopping

Both Koh Lanta and Koh Yao Noi are not Thailand’s best places to visit for shopping. They are all about the beaches and nature, but there are shops for basic necessities and souvenirs.

Koh Lanta has more shops than Koh Yao Noi. There is even a night market and a small shopping plaza in Sala Dan Village, and a range of tourist shops in Lanta Old Town.

It’s easier to find souvenirs in Koh Lanta than in Koh Yao Noi. There is one 7-Eleven in Koh Yao Noi and several 7-Eleven shops around Koh Lanta.

Food

Koh Lanta is a bigger island, so the wider range of restaurants around the island. In Koh Yao Noi, most restaurants and shops are concentrated in Pasai Beach and Klong Jark beach area.

In addition to a range of restaurants, Lanta has a small night market where you can find more local dishes. Both islands have large Musilm communities, so it’s easy to find local Muslim-influenced dishes.

You can find fresh seafood meals on both islands. In Koh yao Noi, you can find some famous seafood restaurants in the fishermen’s village near Tong Do Pier.

Cultural attractions

There are no significant cultural attractions in Koh Yao Noi. Both islands have a large of Muslim population, so you can see local Mosques around. In Koh Lanta, you can explore the old town on the eastern coast of the island or the old house in Koh Lanta Noi.

Koh Lanta Old Town has many traditional wooden stilt houses along the waterfront with a mix of Chinese, Muslim, and Thai influences. There is a Chinese shrine, and shops lining the around 1km long walking street. It’s a great place to see local life, architecture, and unique community history.

Viewpoints and Hiking

Koh Lanta is a bit hilly at the southern parts of the island, so you can go hiking, check out the nice viewpoint, caves, and a waterfall. Koh Yao Noi has flatter terrain, so it is all about the beaches.

In Koh Lanta, you can hike the steep trail at the Mu Koh Lanta National park. This trail takes you through the dense jungle, and ends up at the light house viewpoint and the sandy beach.

If you want a more easy chill hike, you can visit the Klong Chak Waterfall, which is around 15 minutes drive from the headquarter of Mu Koh Lanta National park. The ticket is for both Klong Chak Waterfall and the Natural trail if you visit them on the same day.

Island Hopping

Koh Yao Noi is located in the Phang Nga Bay area, so you can easily do island hopping tours to James Bond Bay, Koh Nok, Koh Hong, and Koh Yao Yai. These are some of the best islands in Thailand with beautiful limestone cliffs rising above the sea.

From Koh Lanta, you can take a around 1-hour boat trip to Phi Phi island, visiting iconic Maya Bay. For closer boat trips, you can go snorkeling and diving at Koh Haa or Koh Rok.

Getting Around

I rented a scooter to explore each island. They have relatively flat terrain, so it was easy to drive around on a scooter. Koh Lanta also has many local songthaews and tuk tuk options, especially in the main town Sala Dan Village.

Koh Yao Noi is less developed, so if you need a private taxi, you can ask your hotel or travel agencies to hire one for you. Don’t expect taxis or tuk-tuks to be waiting like they are in major tourist areas such as Phuket or Ao Nang. Make sure to book in advance.