Things to Do in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta welcomes beach bums from around the world, without a doubt, but if your idea of a holiday involves slightly more movement and stimulation than just lying on a beach towel then don’t despair, Koh Lanta has plenty to keep you off the sand.
Take to the seas and explore the beautiful neighbouring islands for the day and go snorkelling, or stay dry and visit the wild jungles of the national park and walk out to the lighthouse on the southernmost point.
If you like cats and/or dogs, the Lanta Animal Welfare Centre is popular with tourists who want their furry fix away from home. Or if you really want to chill and reenergize, join in one of the many yoga classes on the island - you can’t get a more perfect location than this!
Island hopping
Tours run daily 8am-3pm, 1,000-1,500THB
Koh Lanta has two trips you can take to spend a day in the ocean and on the beaches of the beautiful Thai islands. The more extensive one of the two is the Four Islands Tour which takes you around Koh Chuek, Koh Kradan, Koh Mook (Emerald Cave), and Koh Mah. You’ll be driven around in a comfortable speedboat, and taken to plenty of snorkelling points in the turquoise waters. You’ll get some decent beach time, too, and a picnic under the shade of palm trees!
The other island hopping trip is marketed as a snorkelling trip to Koh Rok (two sister islets, Nok and Nai) promising bright corals and exotic sealife. All trips include hotel pick up/drop off and lunch. Ask your accommodation to help you book, or approach any ticket sellers you’ll find across the island.
National park
Daily 8.30am-6pm, 100THB
There’s so much to see on land as well as in the sea in Koh Lanta. Enjoy the verdant jungly landscapes with a visit to the National Park – a must at the south of the island (Mu Ko Lanta National Park, Moo 5).
The best way to get there is to take a scooter and drive yourself (the views along the coast are amazing!) or hop in a taxi.
Once you’re there, there are two secluded rocky beaches that are never busy, an old lighthouse with stunning views out into the ocean and islands and along the islands craggy cliffs, as well as a (very up and down) 1.7km nature trail.
We suggest you bring everything you might need for the day, as when you get there you won’t want to leave.
Koh Lanta Old Town
The Old Town of Koh Lanta bears a palpable Chinese presence with red lanterns and typical shop houses lining its narrow streets. Small colourful boutiques selling hand-made hammocks or sea-shell handicrafts can take you the whole day to explore! The vibe is so relaxed there you won’t want to leave – and you don’t have to – at least until you taste the freshest catch of the day ever in one of the low-key restaurants that look very unassumingly from outside but once you step in, open up with wide breezy terraces facing the sea.
Yoga classes
Whether you’re a yoga pro or you don’t know your down dogs from your up dogs, Koh Lanta has been a heaven for yoga practitioners for years with dedicated yogis flying across the world for a sea view class in paradise.
You can find a range of studios offering all kinds of yoga; Oasis Yoga is one of the most popular at Klong Dao Beach, offering power and dynamic flows, through to relaxing sunset yin for THB400. For the same price, you can also visit Relax Bay Resort near Long Beach where you’re more likely to get a smaller more intimate group – its recommended to check times in advance – or similarly, the Sanctuary offers a morning and afternoon class to make the most of the cooler parts of the day, also priced at THB400.
Animal Welfare Centre
Daily 9am-5pm, Donations welcome
If you’re an animal lover, look no further. Koh Lanta has established an Animal Rescue Centre at 629 Moo.2 to deal with the endemic problem of stray cats and dogs that you can’t miss in Thailand. Their aim is to ‘relieve the suffering and pain of the animals on the island’ which is an admirable task. So get involved!
The centre is open every day and you’re welcome to visit the animals and pet and play with them, and you can even take the dogs for walks after 3pm. You can also join in a guided tour of the facilities every hour on the hour if you really want to get behind-the-scenes. If you’re visiting for longer and want to volunteer they accept applicants who can commit for a month minimum.
