Claire's guidebook for Koh Lanta
Food Scene
Here you can read about our favourite restaurants on the island... a mix of authentic Thai and more high-end special spots to dine.
A fantastic Thai beach dining experience. The only place on Koh Lanta you will see waiters running. Its seafood BBQ is second to none. Great atmosphere and very popular!
Thai Cat Restaurant
A fantastic Thai beach dining experience. The only place on Koh Lanta you will see waiters running. Its seafood BBQ is second to none. Great atmosphere and very popular!
On Kantiang beach, in the far south - a very cool setting, this is a great place for lunch and to escape the sun if on a day exploring the southern part of the island.
10 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Same Same But Different Restaurant
On Kantiang beach, in the far south - a very cool setting, this is a great place for lunch and to escape the sun if on a day exploring the southern part of the island.
This 5* resort has an amazing restaurant. Definitely worth a visit if you fancy splashing out and having a special evening. Strictly no children. Call to book ahead and observe the dress code of no open-toe shoes (ask for full details when you call). They also do a great champagne brunch.
Layana Resort & Spa
This 5* resort has an amazing restaurant. Definitely worth a visit if you fancy splashing out and having a special evening. Strictly no children. Call to book ahead and observe the dress code of no open-toe shoes (ask for full details when you call). They also do a great champagne brunch.
This 5* resort has Royal ties and is a stunning place… again, perfect for a special/romantic evening. They often have buffets on a weekend. Highly recommend getting there early for 'happy hour' at sunset when they normally have 2 for 1 cocktails. Call ahead to - book and observe the dress code.
10 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Pimalai Resort & Spa
This 5* resort has Royal ties and is a stunning place… again, perfect for a special/romantic evening. They often have buffets on a weekend. Highly recommend getting there early for 'happy hour' at sunset when they normally have 2 for 1 cocktails. Call ahead to - book and observe the dress code.
Tucked away in front of Fruit Tree Lodge, this serves the best coffee on the island and breakfast options including avocado on granary bread. Air-con or outside option.
6 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Fruit Tree Coffee Shop
Tucked away in front of Fruit Tree Lodge, this serves the best coffee on the island and breakfast options including avocado on granary bread. Air-con or outside option.
A large popular café with a great standard of favourite breakfast/brunch options.
15 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Living Room Bakery
A large popular café with a great standard of favourite breakfast/brunch options.
We love this restaurant! In fact it is our favourite on the island, which is particularly fortunate as it happens to be based in Coconut Bay. Come for it's prime position over the beach, making it an ideal spot for a sunset cocktail and stay for the fabulous Thai food - we recommend the tempura prawn and Yam sam o (pomelo and prawn salad).
Coco Tango
We love this restaurant! In fact it is our favourite on the island, which is particularly fortunate as it happens to be based in Coconut Bay. Come for it's prime position over the beach, making it an ideal spot for a sunset cocktail and stay for the fabulous Thai food - we recommend the tempura prawn and Yam sam o (pomelo and prawn salad).
Considered one of the best restaurants on the island, famous for its grilled meat… It’s hard to disagree… romantic, atmospheric hide-away. Need to book ahead in high season.
10 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Yang Garden
Considered one of the best restaurants on the island, famous for its grilled meat… It’s hard to disagree… romantic, atmospheric hide-away. Need to book ahead in high season.
Perfectly situated next to Coconut Bay, just a 2 minute walk down the road, this highly popular, Thai beach style restaurant is anything but shabby when it comes to serving stand-out Thai food - definitely one not to miss but make sure you book ahead.
Shanti Beach House
Perfectly situated next to Coconut Bay, just a 2 minute walk down the road, this highly popular, Thai beach style restaurant is anything but shabby when it comes to serving stand-out Thai food - definitely one not to miss but make sure you book ahead.
A cute European/Thai style health cafe, which happens to by situated just behind Coconut Bay on the main road... pop in for a healthy breakfast, great smoothies and coffees.
SMOON
A cute European/Thai style health cafe, which happens to by situated just behind Coconut Bay on the main road... pop in for a healthy breakfast, great smoothies and coffees.
I wouldn't normally recommend Mexican food in Thailand but this is a consistent favourite of ours, not just because it serves some of the best Mexican food we've ever eaten but because the setting, service and frozen margaritas are also top notch!
Beachcomber Restaurant @ Lanta Castaway
I wouldn't normally recommend Mexican food in Thailand but this is a consistent favourite of ours, not just because it serves some of the best Mexican food we've ever eaten but because the setting, service and frozen margaritas are also top notch!
Essentials
If you are staying for more than a few days, you may want to stock-up at this large supermarket in Saladan. This is by far the best place to buy everything you might want from western branded items and everything from your basics to pasta, cereals, baby food, toiletries and alcohol etc., all in one place.
23 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Lanta Market
If you are staying for more than a few days, you may want to stock-up at this large supermarket in Saladan. This is by far the best place to buy everything you might want from western branded items and everything from your basics to pasta, cereals, baby food, toiletries and alcohol etc., all in one place.
These are scattered up and down the island and are fine for basics including water, other drinks, toilet rolls, milk, yoghurt, some cereals, some tinned goods and a basic range of toiletries. The closest one to Coconut Bay is in Klong Nin.
14 người dân địa phương đề xuất
7-Eleven
These are scattered up and down the island and are fine for basics including water, other drinks, toilet rolls, milk, yoghurt, some cereals, some tinned goods and a basic range of toiletries. The closest one to Coconut Bay is in Klong Nin.
Sightseeing
Old town An authentic and charming Thai sea gypsy fishing village on the east coast, with lots of nice, quiet restaurants sitting on stilts over the water, enjoying views of the dramatic sea views here. Worth a trip, as much for the beautiful drive through the interior of the island. You can do this on your own with a bike, motorbike or car or just hire a tuk tuk/taxi. (approxim. 6km)
28 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Thị trấn cổ Koh Lanta
Old town An authentic and charming Thai sea gypsy fishing village on the east coast, with lots of nice, quiet restaurants sitting on stilts over the water, enjoying views of the dramatic sea views here. Worth a trip, as much for the beautiful drive through the interior of the island. You can do this on your own with a bike, motorbike or car or just hire a tuk tuk/taxi. (approxim. 6km)
Parks & Nature
National Park On the south of the island, this is a real hidden gem, with a beautiful beach, landscaped gardens with huge palms and a 2 hour walk that you can do through the National Park. The trail is all marked out and relatively easy apart from the steps that take up the first 20 minutes or so. Again, we recommend this early in the morning before it gets too hot. I did this with our baby in a carrier but with toddlers it may be difficult unless they are being carried. (25 minutes drive, entrance fee)
37 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Mu Ko Lanta
National Park On the south of the island, this is a real hidden gem, with a beautiful beach, landscaped gardens with huge palms and a 2 hour walk that you can do through the National Park. The trail is all marked out and relatively easy apart from the steps that take up the first 20 minutes or so. Again, we recommend this early in the morning before it gets too hot. I did this with our baby in a carrier but with toddlers it may be difficult unless they are being carried. (25 minutes drive, entrance fee)
Favourite beaches
A 2km long white sand beach and the sea is very calm due to the shallow incline of the beach. Extremely clean water. Great for kids, especially in the area in front of Castaway resort/restaurant as there is some shade there, particularly until early afternoon.
12 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Bãi biển Pra-Ae
4245A 2km long white sand beach and the sea is very calm due to the shallow incline of the beach. Extremely clean water. Great for kids, especially in the area in front of Castaway resort/restaurant as there is some shade there, particularly until early afternoon.
The two last beaches before the National Park. Wide sweeping beaches, mostly fine sand with some rocks around the edge. The quietest and wildest of Koh Lanta’s beaches with stunning backdrops of the National Park.
9 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Bãi biển Vịnh Kantiang
The two last beaches before the National Park. Wide sweeping beaches, mostly fine sand with some rocks around the edge. The quietest and wildest of Koh Lanta’s beaches with stunning backdrops of the National Park.
Days out and activities
Aside from beach visits, here are our favourite activities on Koh Lanta.
You can do this by long tail boat but we recommend kayaking if you can as the peace and quiet is part of the appeal of this trip. On this trip, you feel thousands of miles from civilisation and yet you’re only on the waters between Koh Lanta Noy and Koh Lanta Yai. In high season, you will see large groups of monkeys (waiting to be fed)… you have the option to feed them which means they are likely to come onto your boat/kayak. If they do, particularly if you have kids, just note that if you were to be scratched (quite unlikely) you would need to get rabies jab, just in case. Recommend early morning before it gets too hot.
Kayak Camp
You can do this by long tail boat but we recommend kayaking if you can as the peace and quiet is part of the appeal of this trip. On this trip, you feel thousands of miles from civilisation and yet you’re only on the waters between Koh Lanta Noy and Koh Lanta Yai. In high season, you will see large groups of monkeys (waiting to be fed)… you have the option to feed them which means they are likely to come onto your boat/kayak. If they do, particularly if you have kids, just note that if you were to be scratched (quite unlikely) you would need to get rabies jab, just in case. Recommend early morning before it gets too hot.
Koh Lanta offers World Class diving and has lots of dive shops, particularly around the Saladan area. There are lots of reputable companies but we recommend Lanta Diver, Saladan, Dive & Relax, Long Beach and OK Club divers, Klong Khong. Lanta Diver is probably the biggest dive company, with at least two big boats going out each day in high season. Dive & Relax is great if you prefer to travel by speedboat to get to sites quicker and to dive in smaller groups. This is the company I use.
Ko Bida Nai
Koh Lanta offers World Class diving and has lots of dive shops, particularly around the Saladan area. There are lots of reputable companies but we recommend Lanta Diver, Saladan, Dive & Relax, Long Beach and OK Club divers, Klong Khong. Lanta Diver is probably the biggest dive company, with at least two big boats going out each day in high season. Dive & Relax is great if you prefer to travel by speedboat to get to sites quicker and to dive in smaller groups. This is the company I use.
If you’re into yoga, Koh Lanta is a great place to do it with open air salas, sea breezes and relaxed vibes. I can highly recommend Oasis Yoga in Saladan or Lanta Yoga, Long Beach.
Oasis Yoga
If you’re into yoga, Koh Lanta is a great place to do it with open air salas, sea breezes and relaxed vibes. I can highly recommend Oasis Yoga in Saladan or Lanta Yoga, Long Beach.