How to get to Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is an island located in the Andaman Sea, Krabi province, in southern Thailand. Getting to Koh Lanta is very simple, as it is very close to the famous Phi Phi islands, can be accessed by road, and is only one hour from Krabi International Airport. Thailand is famous for having a very good connections between different places and offers multiple options throughout the year to reach Koh Lanta. Your means of transportation to the island will depend on two factors; the starting point to Koh Lanta and your budget to get there.
To make it easy for you, we have written a short guide on how to get to Koh Lanta from the most common places. As well as the different transport options, schedules and prices that you have at each starting point.
Getting to Koh Lanta from Phi Phi
The maritime connection between the neighboring islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta is very good, and it works all year round. The ferry ride is quite fast, around 30 minutes. You can choose between two departure times from Koh Phi Phi; At 9:15 a.m., and 11:45 a.m. Both Ferries will arrive to the Port of Baan Saladan, Koh Lanta Yai, in the north of the island.
Getting to Koh Lanta from Krabi
There are many options to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi or its airport. The distance between Krabi and Koh Lanta is only 60 km, and it takes about an hour to cover that journey by road. Here are the different means of transportation to get from Krabi to Koh Lanta:
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By Minivan (Shared van):
This is the cheapest option to get to Koh Lanta. It is ideal for backpackers, groups of friends, or large families. This service can be contracted from Krabi Town or directly from the airport.
This service is available throughout the year, with minivans running regularly from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The service includes the pick-up of the passengers, crossing by Ferry to Koh Lanta from the port of Hua Hin, once on the island, the minivan driver will take you comfortably to the door of your accommodation, with which, once you get in the van, you will not have to worry about anything else when it comes to transport. The price is usually around 450 Baht per person.
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By Car:
If you decide to come by road, either with your car, a private taxi service, or a rental car, you will have to drive your vehicle from Krabi to the port of Hua Hin. Where a ferry service operates for vehicles-crossing to the island of Koh Lanta Noi, which will take about an hour.
Crossing by ferry to Koh Lanta takes about 20 minutes, maybe a little longer, as the ship usually waits until it is reasonably full of vehicles to cross to the islands and pay for the journey. This service is open in high season from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. And in low season from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
If you can’t arrive on time, and you need to cross to the islands outside of the regular ferry hours, don’t worry, there is a private ferry service that will cross you to the islands at any time you need. It is much more expensive, but in an emergency case is an excellent option.
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By Ferry:
This option is more comfortable than going by road, and with a price of around 400 – 600 Baht, it is a highly recommended option. This option is only available during the high season (November – April).
You will have to head to Klong Jilat port, which is very close to Krabi town. You have two times to choose from, at 11:30 a.m., or 2:30 p.m. This service operates daily and it will take you about 2 hours to reach the destination port, which is Baan Saladan, the main port of Koh Lanta Yai, the street where our dive center is located.
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By Speedboat:
This is the fastest way to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi. If you are one of those who prefer to get to the destination point as quickly as possible, this is your means of transportation to Koh Lanta.
The service, like the ferry, is offered from the port of Klong Jilat, and is only available during the high season months; from November to April. The speedboat ride takes just 15 minutes, and the price is usually around 1700 – 2000 Baht per person.
Getting to Koh Lanta from Phuket
You can get from Phuket to Koh Lanta by road (230 Km), or by sailing (73Km). The Ferris service is available only during the period of months from October to June, while by road you can access it throughout the year.
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By Minivan or Microbus:
To get to Koh Lanta using the minivan or minibus service, you will need to go to Bus Terminal 1. Which is the bus station located in Phuket Town. Be careful not to be mistaken, since there is a Bus Terminal 2, which is more modern and larger, but which is in another part of the city and does not offer the Phuket – Koh Lanta bus service.
The minibus leaves towards Koh Lanta every day at 2:30 PM. The minivans are private, and they usually leave when you manage to have some passengers that make the trip profitable. The price per trip usually costs approximately 450 Baht, and the duration of the trip by road is between 4.5 and 5.5 hours. Both by minibus and minivans will take you to the door of your accommodation, so you will no longer have to worry about anything until you arrive on the island.
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By Ferry:
This means of transport is only available between October and June, and there are many schedules available depending on the ferry company.
The Ferry service between Phuket and Koh Lanta operates from Rassada Pier, near Phuket Town. Normally, almost all ferry companies include a passenger pick-up service at the door of your hotel, so the whole trip is quite comfortable.
Many companies offer this service, and you can choose between different types of boats, which will take more or less time to reach Koh Lanta depending on their characteristics and price. Once you’ve chosen your ship, you just have to enjoy one of the most popular and most beautiful sea routes in Thailand. Some ferries even stop for a stop of minutes at the entrance to the world-famous Maya Bay beach, so you can take some photos and admire the beauty of this natural paradise.
Getting to Koh Lanta by plane
If you plan to get to Koh Lanta from somewhere further afield in Thailand and need to take a flight, for example from Bangkok, or Chiang Mai, you should know that Koh Lanta does not have an airport on the islands. The closest airport to Koh Lanta is Krabi International Airport, just 60Km.
Internal flights in Thailand are frequent and quite cheap, so this is a great option to get closer to the wonders that the islands of the Andaman Sea have to offer.
Once you are at Krabi airport, you will need to choose one of the options described earlier in this article in the section “How to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi”
Koh Lanta Map
Click on the map below to see how to get to Koh Lanta from your exact location.
Koh Lanta Dive Sites
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