Located a short distance off the West Coast of Southern Thailand, Koh Lanta is a group of two laidback islands. The smaller one is Lanta Noi in the North, and Lanta Yai is the Southern island, which caters to tourists. We spent a few weeks on Ko Lanta, Thailand, as part of our slow travel lifestyle. Here are our recommendations for things to do in Koh Lanta, based on our time there as a family.
Editor’s note: If you’re looking for a more long-term family stay on Koh Lanta, you might be interested in the Koh Lanta worldschooling hub. Check out the link to learn more.
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What is there to do on Koh Lanta Island?
Koh Lanta is all about chilled-out vibes. Outside of the rainy season, it’s a great place to visit if you’re after relaxation, warm water, and beautiful beaches. We walked around the area where we were staying because there were beaches and restaurants nearby. However, you’ll need transport to explore some of the hidden gems on the island.
We caught a tuk-tuk to and from our visit to Koh Lanta Noi, and we hired a scooter to explore Koh Lanta Yai. Here are our recommendations for fun things to do in Koh Lanta.
Hang out at one of the many beautiful beaches
We visited Koh Lanta as a family during the rainy season. Admittedly, it’s not a great time to visit the island. The beaches can be littered with washed-up rubbish, and the seas become too rough for snorkeling and swimming. However, as full-time travelers, we still wanted to visit, seeing as we were in Krabi beforehand, and it’s so close.
Having visited the Ko Lanta district many years prior (in the dry season), I can say that my Koh Lanta beach experiences then were completely different from what we experienced during the rainy season. So if you’re after stunning and calm swimming beaches, definitely plan your trip for the dry season.
Some beaches you might want to consider visiting include Klong Dao, Klong Nin, and Bamboo Bay, a beach in the beautiful Kantiang Bay.
Things to do in Old Town Koh Lanta
Lanta Old Town is located on the quiet, less-touristy East side of Koh Lanta Yai. It’s a tiny, quaint-looking town (pretty much just one main little street) that is well worth a visit. You’ll find little souvenir shops, restaurants in wooden houses, and a lovely long pier to explore. We enjoyed a beautiful view of the calm water and islands from our lunch spot. Our daughter also liked the old playground and exercise area there.
Visit Lanta Animal Welfare
Lanta Animal Welfare is a well-known organization on Koh Lanta. They’re doing amazing things for the furry friends of Koh Lanta. We got a tour around and spent a lot of time playing in “Kitty City” with all the beautiful cats. When we visited, there were about 20 cats.
You can also walk a dog at Lanta Animal Welfare. We tried to do so, but the one we were allocated wouldn’t come with us! Apparently, he usually gets walked with another dog that wasn’t available, so he decided he’d opt out of his walk with us altogether.
The volunteers at Lanta Animal Welfare told us that they had sterilized 90% of the dogs on the island. They also said it costs nearly $700 per day to keep the organization running. This is funded primarily by donations from Time for Lime cooking classes. If you’re looking for activities in Koh Lanta, we’d definitely recommend visiting the sweet dogs and cats at Lanta Animal Welfare.
If you’re keen on some delicious and healthy whole foods after your visit to Lanta Animal Welfare, make sure you check out Happy Veggie. It’s a vegetarian and vegan restaurant just along the road, and it’s one of the few places like this I’ve found on Koh Lanta. That said, there may be many more options in the high season.
Aunty Bee’s on Lanta Noi
For a little bit of adventure, we caught a relatively long (slow) and expensive tuk-tuk ride to Lanta Noi. This island is not set up for tourists, but we specifically went in search of Aunty Bee’s in Langsod Village.
If you’re visiting Koh Lanta, you’re welcome to visit Aunty Bee’s on Saturdays from 2-4 pm if you’d like to connect with the kids in the local village. They organize an hour of book reading (including time to talk about caring for the environment), followed by an hour of toys, games, and puzzles.
Little Miss loved playing with different toys and books. We don’t travel with many, so it was quite a treat! The kids are gorgeous, and everyone is welcome.
The toys and books have mostly been donated by tourists. One tourist brought an entire large suitcase filled with Lego and toys! So if you’re traveling to Koh Lanta and want to bring a few things to donate, they will certainly be appreciated here.
And as for Aunty Bee…she’s one of the trash heroes of Lanta! On an island with no rubbish bins, she’s raising awareness of the problem and making reusable bags and purses in the most creative ways. They’re all handmade from materials such as rice bags, cat food bags, and plastic straws.
If you’re wondering what to do in Koh Lanta but want to take a break from the usual tourist scene, then consider visiting Aunty Bee’s!
Visit Asa Lanta
If you visit Koh Lanta, Thailand, this organic tea house off the beaten track is totally worth the visit! Asa Lanta boasts such a serene setting, complete with a nature playground, local coffee with a side of coconut milk, homemade bliss balls, and even toys for the kids. Asa is a gorgeous little girl who lives there (hence the place name). She played with little Miss the whole time, so we got to chill out properly. It was definitely one of my favorite places to visit on the island.
If you’re wondering what to do on Koh Lanta, and you really want to get closer to nature, Asa Lanta is the place you want to be. You can also stay with them for the ultimate self-sufficiency and sustainable living experience.
Koh Lanta National Park
On the Southern tip of Lanta Yai, the National Park is a Koh Lanta must-see. We love natural beauty, so for us it was one of the best things to do on Koh Lanta. The entrance fee is rather pricey but well worth it in our opinion. We loved the wide-open green space, and the beach was the cleanest that we saw on the island.
There was a nature trail that we didn’t have time for, but we did a little mini walk up to the lighthouse to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Other things to do on Koh Lanta
There are other Koh Lanta attractions that you might want to consider. We didn’t get to these, but we know other travelers have enjoyed them. Other fun things to do in Koh Lanta include:
- Visiting one of the caves on the island. Khao Mai Kaew is one of the caves we thought we would visit while exploring the island on a scooter. However, it turned out that we needed a tour guide and about two hours for the visit, so we opted out. The caves do sound beautiful, though, so go for it if you have the time available.
- Khlong Chak Waterfall is located in the Southern part of Koh Lanta Yai. It’s a 30-minute jungle walk to a waterfall that may not be a lot to look at during the dry season. It’s still worth considering if you’d like a little hike! We planned to go when we hired a scooter for the day, but realized that another activity would have been overdoing it
If you’re after high-end resort-style accommodation on Koh Lanta, check out Avani Plus Koh Lanta Krabi Resort or Noble House Beach Resort.
Things to do near Koh Lanta
- Since Koh Lanta is just a very short ferry ride away from Krabi on the mainland, you might want to check out these fab things to do in Krabi. We also wrote a post about the best place to stay when you’re in Krabi, so take a look and see what you think!
- Koh Phi Phi is an awesome little island just an hour away from Koh Lanta by ferry. It can also be reached by speedboat, so it’s possible to pop across for a day trip, or for a few nights. If you enjoy a bit of island hopping, consider adding Koh Phi Phi to your itinerary.
- Koh Rok Island is another popular option for day trips from Koh Lanta. Tours that include snorkeling and a visit to the Emerald Cave are available from hotels and tour operators on Koh Lanta.
If you’re traveling to Northern Thailand, find out about our top picks for things to do with kids in Chiang Mai and our Bosshotel Chiang Mai Review. Plus, don’t miss these things to do beyond the temples in Bangkok.
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