Ko Lanta Beach Pictures
Thailand Beaches
Klong Dao beach, Ko Lanta.
Ko Lanta is on the west side of Thailand's mainland in the Andaman Sea, Krabi Province.
Although Lanta's port area is cramped and the island's only road is a dusty, pot-holed mess strung with cables, bars, restaurants and net cafés, Ko Lanta's beaches are big, clean, relaxed and served by a string of efficient mid-range bungalow operations - some with pools.
The Andaman Sea here is warm and generally calm but hardly azure and though there are no concrete skyscrapers on the horizon, neither are there the gorgeous limestone karsts (rock pillars) of the Krabi and Phi Phi areas.
The island has sufficient facilities to keep seekers of interesting cuisine happy though late-night party people might find a limited number of venues.
A typical mid-range Khlong Dao beach resort, though much of the accommodation on Lanta is more simple bungalow or hut-style.
One of many unspoilt Ko Lanta beaches, Klong Khong, photo by Jens Petter-Salvesen.
Lanta's beaches are on the west side of the 30km long, 6 km wide island and the best are the first two - Khlong Dao and Phra-Ae. These are at the north end of the island, long and wide, with creamy-white sand and good though modest hotels directly on the shore.
Regular beach maintenance by experts on Klong Dao.
Relax Bay Hotel, at the far end of Pra-Ae Beach.
The ferry over to Ko Lanta from the mainland.
Getting there:
Visitors arrive at the north of the 25km(15m) long island via ferries from Phuket, Krabi or Phi Phi Don, or by a road/ferry combination.
Main attractions: Good value hotels. It's uncrowded, with big quiet beaches, good sand and clean water. Lanta also survived the 2004 Tsunami better than most of the west coast of Thailand due to being more protected.
Downsides: Lanta is not stupendously beautiful and it's a bit of a pain to get to.
About halfway down the island hotels get much cheaper, less well cared-for and even 'hippyish', with great ambience but sharp rocks in the sea make swimming tricky.
A beach in the south of Lanta.
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