Best beaches on Koh Lanta
For a small island, Koh Lanta has a huge array of beaches, hotels and places to explore
Koh Lanta is a relatively small island, at 25 km (16 mi) long and 6 km (3.7 mi) wide. The West side of Koh Lanta is lined with stunning beaches, on the East side you can find Old Town which is a historic old Chinese trading port and a popular day trip.
The beaches to the south of Koh Lanta are typically quiet and laid back – visiting Kantiang Bay, Klong Jark and Bamboo bay is highly recommended. Kantiang in particular regularly pops up in online articles as one of the best beaches to visit in Koh Lanta / Thailand / Asia. A few years ago the UK newspaper the Sunday Times voted Kantiang one of the best beaches in the world, so you might want to go check it out for yourself.
Centrally located halfway up the west side of the island is Klong-Nin beach with a long strip of white sand, with a number of chilled out bars and restaurants for food and drink. There are many other beachfront bars and restaurants to choose from in the Klong-Nin area, and definitely worth exploring.
The beaches to the north of the island – Klong Khong, Relax Bay, Long Beach (Pra-ae) and Klong Dao are lined with beach bars, restaurants and resorts. Although busier, they are are perfect for a cocktail and sampling of the many choices of food available. Spend a bit of time on any of the beaches and you’ll start to realize each has a different “vibe” to them – especially in the evening when many of the bars really come to life.
Wherever you end up, the clear warm water is perfect for swimming and there’s plenty of space for everyone. Ko Lanta is famous for its sunsets – be sure to bring a camera or fully charged smartphone with you!
How to book accommodation on Koh Lanta
The days of just walking into a random hotel and getting a great deal are long gone – especially for short term stays. Most resorts use online booking platforms such as booking.com or agoda.com. Hotels routinely have special deals and discounts for hotels on Koh Lanta.
For example, right now, booking.com are offering up to 15% off – even in high season!