Koh Lanta Yai is a beautiful, unspoilt island rising out of the emerald waters of The Andaman Sea, in the south of Krabi province, Thailand. It is often overlooked by those seeking a Thailand beach holiday, as it loses out to the promotion of the popular tourist destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui.  But for those who are fortunate enough to know about it,  Koh Lanta offers an ideal blend of idyllic, unspoilt beauty and relaxation, coupled with good facilities and a range of accommodation.

Each beach on Koh Lanta offers something different. Some are busier with more facilities, bars, restaurants, and accommodation, others are renowned for good beach parties, and others have become a haven for holiday makers who want to escape from it all, and chill out with a bottle of beer or gin and tonic while watching the sunset over the Andaman Sea. Most of the beaches are over 1km long, meaning that in some cases you can even find all three vibes on one single beach. Relax and enjoy the sunset at the quiet end of the beach, join the busy beach bar at the other end, or go for something in the middle. Koh Lanta offers a mosaic of activities, night life and accommodation, drawing a unique mix of tourists each year.

As a holiday destination, Koh Lanta offers something to everyone. Over the last decade it has developed considerably to offer a diverse range of accommodation from 5 star to backpacker standards and everything in between. As a relatively large island with eleven sweeping beaches along the west coast, there is plenty of room for the development of good quality accommodation without spoiling the idyllic island life many tourists seek. Building size and style has been regulated to remain in keeping with the island, there is a limit to the number of deck chairs permitted on the beaches, and selling on the beach is forbidden. If you think that Koh Samui, Phuket and Phi Phi are too busy for you, then Koh Lanta could offer just what you need for that idyllic Thailand beach holiday. In fact the long stretches of sun set beaches, combined with the laid back hospitality of the locals, creates an experience which often penetrates deep into the hearts of tourists, leading them to return to the island time and time again.

One of the most popular activities on Koh Lanta Yai is scuba diving.  The Andaman Sea connects to the Indian Ocean and is home to some of Thailand’s most diverse marine life and beautiful coral reefs.  The world class dive site of Hin Daeng offers some of the best diving in Thailand with regular (though not guaranteed) sightings of Manta Rays, and the occasional Whaleshark.  The closer dive sites are home to turtles, leopard sharks, cuttle fish, octopus, seahorses, and a wide selection of colourful reef fish.  Every dive from Koh Lanta is different, and with around 12 dive sites to explore, many people choose Koh Lanta specifically as diving holiday destination.  While there is plenty to see for the most experienced of divers, most of the dive sites are “easy” to dive, in that the currents are minimal, and the waters relatively shallow.  If you’ve never dived before, learning to dive during your holiday on Koh Lanta will ensure a holiday of a lifetime.

There are many dive shops on the island, and the majority of them are all members of PADI.  They are therefore subject to the strict safety regulations of this world wide diving authority, so you can be sure you’ll be in safe hands underwater. 

Accommodation: Operated by small family run businesses, larger hotel groups, or anything in-between, accommodation on the Koh Lanta can vary from a very basic wooden or bamboo hut with a fan (around 300 baht), through to 3 star concrete bungalows with hot water and aircon (between 1,000 and 3,000 baht), and 4-5 star luxury apartments with private swimming pools. At the bear minimum all resorts will provide a fan and running water, but if you’re looking for aircon and hot water you’ll need to consider the resorts that are 3 star or above.

Many resorts are built creatively to compliment the natural beauty of the island, and you’ll find Zen like fresh apartments, tree house looking rustic bungalows and pool side terraces – all with wonderful views. Beachfront bungalows are plentiful – so if you dream of opening your door in the morning to immediately greet the sea, you’ve come to the right place.

Nightlife: Most people are drawn to Koh Lanta for its easy beach bars and quieter, more low-key nightlife. And certainly the vast majority of bars are along the beach front, ideal for that sunset beer or gin and tonic. Chatting in bars, watching the stars, applauding the skill of the fire dancers, lighting lanterns and watching them float up into the starlit sky – are all common and pleasant evening pass times.

Some of the busier bays also cater for those who like to party with some bars hosting weekly party nights. In the quieter bays you will likely find at least one bar, which although in the early hours of the evening, may look quiet and THE least likely place for a wild night out – but as the evening unfolds someone may start to play an instrument, there may be some jamming, a band may come on, the music may be turned up – and for sure a party will happen. It could be a small party, it could be a large party... the atmosphere and size is usually rather spontaneous and dependent on the people around at the time.

Throughout Christmas, New Year, and the entire high season there are also many organised beach parties and concerts. Keep your eyes open for posters along the roadsides, on telegraph posts, and scattered around resorts to find out about any parties or beach concerts that may be happening during your stay.

Elephant trekking, kayaking, beach volleyball, island hopping, exploring caves and jungles, learning to cook Thai food, admiring the local nature, or visiting the historical Old Town are just some of  the activities available on Koh Lanta, but by far the most popular activity is to simply find a quiet, picturesque spot, where you can relax and fully recharge your batteries.  Koh Lanta is blessed to have untold spots of beauty and tranquillity, so take your pick, crack open a Singha beer and relax..

Chock Dee Kah!  (Cheers).