Koh Lanta consists of two adjacent islands: Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi.

Koh Lanta Yai, This island is home to "Chao Le" or sea gypsies who continue to maintain their traditional lifestyle and beliefs, such as setting a boat a drift to drive out evil and bring good luck, which is practiced during the full moon in June and November. In addition, the island provides tourist facilities while Koh Lanta Noi is the location of the district office. Most of the beaches are on Koh Lanta Yai such as Kho Kwang, Khlong Dao, Phra Ae, Khlong Khong, Khlong Nin and Ba Kan Tiang lies in the west, can be reached by road and offer a wide range of accommodations.

Koh Lanta is situated off the Andaman Sea, off the west coast of Thailand and is about 70 kilometers south of the province of Krabi. It’s considered the main jewel among the islands in the Koh Lanta archipelago, which alone has more than 50 islands. Koh Lanta Yai has an area of 152 square kilometers and measures 30 kms along the north-south axis and less than 6 kms from east to west. Being on Koh Lanta means encountering beautiful landscapes, un-spoilt beaches and tropical forests and unique ethnic groups.

Geographically, Koh Lanta Yai is divided into two parts. The west coast overlooks the Andaman Sea with picturesque beaches adjacent to warm, clear and emerald green water. All the resorts are concentrated on this side of the island. The east coast is more low-key and reflects more of the traditional way of life where several local villages are found. To get to the east coast, visitors need to cross the mountain from the west coast. The main attractions along the way are forests, rubber plantations and rice paddies.

Koh Kwang
Its aquamarine water together with its finest sand offers you the real sentiment of relaxation. The beach is well-known for its nicely curved shape and its desertedness.



Klong Dao
It is a spectacular three kilometer stretch of white sand and shallow clear water, located two kilometers from Saladan pier. Here is the first beach to be developed on Koh Lanta, just over 5 years ago with its spectacular sunsets and white sand landscape we can see why.

The beach is straightly lined with casuarinas, offering dazzling sand, tepid and translucent water as well as the panoramic view. Excellent, safe swimming makes this the most popular family beach on Koh Lanta, but even in peak season this huge beach never get crowded, and a short walk will find you a patch without neighbors. This is then a great place for isolation and relaxation. The beach offers a wide selection of up-market and small family owned resorts with something for all budgets.



Pra Ae or Long Beach
It is just a south of Klong Dao and well-known as Long Beach. It is a stunning crescent of sand some 4 kilometers long, lying on the northern end of the island. The beach is steeper and the water not as sheltered as at Klong Dao which makes for spectacular and safe swimming for adults. The resorts here are spread out over a great distance, mainly clustered at the north end and south ends. Accommodations are affordable and the food is delicious and abundant. Most visitors find Long Beach 'deserted', even in peak season.



Klong Khong
A little further south is Klong Khong Beach, another three-kilometer stretch of sand with palm tree and good collection of resorts famous for their sunsets and laid-back locals. The small beach Klong Khong offers extremely peaceful and serene atmosphere, standing nine kilometers from Ban Saladan. You can see the rock when the low tide; here is the house of underwater life. With its small size, the sand is limited; however, there are plenty of coral reefs offshore providing an excellent opportunity for diving. 

The abundance of sea life makes for nightly beach feasts second to none. Swimming and snorkeling is excellent right off the shore.  Bungalows price here are substantially lower than the northern beaches, and many are small and Koh Lanta local family-owned.



Klong Nin
Turn right off the paved road on the same way to National Park is Klong Nin Beach, a few kilometers stretch sand beach with emerald green-water. It may not be a place for any water sport activities, but perfect if you need a real secluded and relaxing paradise. Along the beach covered with the tropical tree, coconut and pine trees; the back end is the greenish of tropical rain forest. Like almost all beaches on Koh Lanta, Klong Nin Beach offers tranquil and peaceful atmosphere; its sand is white and fine. Bungalows are scattered down along few kilometers beach ranging from simple, inexpensive family bungalows to more upscale pool and spa resorts.



Kan Tiang 
It is a spectacular stretch of white sand and iridescent aquamarine water will retain you for long time that you will never want to go anywhere else, excellent swimming surrounding by the mountains of Koh Lanta National Park. This small beach is only one kilometer long feel very privacy. There are excellent corals for snorkeling as well. Kantiang beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, lying 18 kilometers south of Baan Saladan. Just only a few resorts on the beach make this tiny beach secluded, ranging from simple family own resort until to only one five stars resort on Koh Lanta.



Far South Beach
There are a few beaches on south most of Koh Lanta before get through the National Park area. All are the tiny beaches with a few hundred meters sand beach; Ao Nui, Ao Mai Pai (Bamboo). The beaches are very secluded and dessert. Around the area is the high mountain covered with tropical rain forest of National Park area. The distance and condition of the road make less people come here but the reword is true nature, silent and peaceful. There are just only a few resort on these beaches mostly is small family own resort with no star. If you want to hide away here is perfect.



Ao Nui
A bit further south of Kan Tieng, curved beach with white sand and clear water with only a hundred meters. On shore covered with the perfect tropical rain forest and back drop with the high mountain which make this beach cut out of outside world. The tide is shallow which is very perfect for swimming. There is still don't have any resort on the beach make this beach very dessert and secluded. Do the picnic or rest park during on the way to national park is excellent. There is one family own resort just a few hundred meters away up hill.



Ao Mai Pai or Bamboo Bay
The beach surrounded by high mountain of Koh Lanta National Park, make it privacy and cast away from the outside world.  Here is good place for swimming which the tide is not deep with small wave. The northern part of this beach is a bit rocky which can snorkel to see some small fish. The last beach before get through the National Park area, a bit curved beach with around five hundred meters long with white sand and clear water. One hour walk uphill can see a small waterfall and cave. There are just a few basic resorts spread along the beach.



Klong Jark
This is the southern most beach on Koh Lanta. The nearby deserted beach like Mai Pai and the National Park are also the good secluded places. You can go to waterfall in the surrounding area by elephant trekking or self trekking. Despite its average beauty by most standards, the beach offers its solitude and tranquility, making it a good place to stay.

The average temperature is 27-33 degrees Celsius or 81-91 Farenheit year-round. From May to October, the monsoon occasionally brings heavy rains, but days are sunny and the rain starts and stops alternately. From November to April, the humidity is low, and the breeze can be quite cool in the evening. These periods are commonly called ‘green-season’ and ‘high-season’ respectively.

Koh Lanta’s population is 20,000, the majority of which are Muslims. The Sea Gypsies (Chao Lay in Thai) and Thai-Chinese people also blend into the total population living on Koh Lanta. Despite their difference, the three groups of people have managed to live happily together for several centuries. The steadily increasing population of people other than Muslims come from other parts of the country because of the development of tourism. During the high-season, it must be said the tourists are more visible than the local residents.

Most people live in Koh Lanta Noi, which is Koh Lanta’s administrative center and Koh Lanta Yai has recently become a melting pot of people of all cultures. The Sea Gypsies are still making a living fishing. Some others take care of their rubber or coconut plantations. The local, younger generation has begun to seek work in the new professions offered within the island: tourism. Seasonal residents also are foreigners, mostly Europeans who spend six months of the year in Koh Lanta running small businesses such as bars and restaurants. They temporary close during the low-season and head home.

There’s never a moment when you’ll encounter any cash shortage since Koh Lanta is conveniently dotted with ATM machines all over the island. For more serious banking activities, Siam Commercial Bank (Tel: 075-620-621-3) and Siam City Bank (Tel: 075-611-320), located in Saladan Village, operates Monday to Friday from 8:30am-3:30pm. There is also a Western Union, just in case you need money from home instantly.

There is no immigration office in Koh Lanta. For visa extensions, visitors must contact the offices in Krabi. Krabi Immigration Office (Tel: 075-611-097) is located on Utarakit Road in Krabi Town.