Last checked: 22 September 2026. Conditions, fees and rules can change — always confirm current details before you travel.
Visa & entry requirements
This changed recently: as of 15 September 2026, Thailand cut its visa-exemption stay from 60 days to 30 days for the roughly 60 nationalities that can enter visa-free (including most of Europe, the UK, Australia, Canada and the US) — travellers who entered before that date keep whatever stay their entry stamp already gave them. The exemption can be extended once, by 30 days, at any Thai immigration office (currently ฿1,900, usually same-day). Separately, 21 nationalities — including Mexico, Sri Lanka, Uruguay and several others — lost visa-free entry entirely and now need an e-Visa arranged in advance. Every visitor should also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival, and make sure their passport is valid for at least 6 months from the entry date. Check your own nationality's current rule before booking flights — this is exactly the kind of thing that changes with short notice.
Sources: VisasNews, Issa Compass
The bridge and the ferry
Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai — the two halves of the island — are linked by the Siri Lanta bridge, opened in 2016. The mainland crossing, however, is still by car ferry, between Ban Hua Hin pier and Koh Lanta Noi.
Source: Bangkok Post
Ferry queues and the mainland bridge
In November 2025, tourists faced long queues and hours-long waits for the Koh Lanta ferry. Pile driving for a mainland bridge was scheduled to begin in 2026, with opening expected in 2029.
Source: Khaosod English
Getting here from Krabi or Phuket
The simplest way to reach Koh Lanta from Krabi Airport, Phuket Airport, or towns along the way is a private van transfer, timed around the ferry crossing. See our transfer routes for prices by group size.
Getting around once you're here
Koh Lanta has no public bus service. Most visitors rent a scooter (roughly ฿200–300 per day) to get between beaches, or use a songthaew (shared pickup-truck taxi) for shorter hops — songthaews run when there are enough passengers, not on a fixed schedule, so they're better for one-off trips than for exploring the island freely. If you'd rather not drive yourself, our scooter and car rental page has delivery-to-hotel options, and a valid driving licence is required either way.
Source: Milehacker
Which beach to base yourself on
Koh Lanta Yai's west coast is a string of beaches, each with a different feel. Klong Dao, near Saladan pier, is the longest and most family-friendly, with the island's widest choice of restaurants close by. Long Beach (Phra Ae) is the liveliest — restaurants, bars and shops right along the sand. Klong Nin, further south, is quieter and popular with longer-stay and budget travellers. Kantiang Bay, near the southern tip — where Siam Lanna Villas sits — is the most low-key of the four: a small, sheltered bay, fewer crowds, and a short scooter ride from Koh Lanta's national park and viewpoints at the island's southern end.
Source: Ko Lanta Beaches and Areas
Best time to visit
The dry season runs November to April — sunny, little rain, calm seas for island-hopping and snorkeling. December through February is peak season (book accommodation and tours well ahead, especially around New Year), while February itself tends to be the driest month and a bit quieter. May to October is the monsoon — some tour boats reduce schedules or pause in bad weather, and a few of the outer islands (including Koh Rok) are officially closed by the national park for part of this period. Ask us when booking if you're travelling outside November–April and we'll confirm what's running.
Source: Champion Traveler
Things to do in Krabi, if you have time before or after Koh Lanta
Krabi is worth a stop of its own, whether it's a night either side of your ferry crossing or a full trip extension. Railay — reachable only by boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town, no road access — is Thailand's best-known rock-climbing spot, with dramatic limestone cliffs and the postcard-famous Phra Nang Beach. Ao Nang is the main resort town, and the usual launch point for day trips to Phi Phi, Hong Island and the Four Islands. Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea), just outside Krabi Town, has a viewpoint at the top of 1,237 steps — a serious climb, but the views over the province are the payoff. Krabi Town itself has a night market Friday–Sunday evenings, good for local food. And the Emerald Pool and hot springs, inland in Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, are a popular half-day trip if you're not spending all your time on the water.
Source: We Seek Travel
Money, SIM cards and national park fees
Thailand uses the Thai Baht (฿) — ATMs are easy to find around Saladan and the main beaches but scarcer further south, so it's worth carrying some cash if you're staying near Kantiang Bay. Tourist SIM cards (AIS, True, or dtac) are sold at kiosks in the arrivals hall at Krabi and Phuket airports — worth picking up on landing, since coverage on Koh Lanta itself is generally good but choice is more limited on the island. A few of our island tours visit Mu Ko Lanta National Park (Koh Rok, Koh Ha and others), which charges its own separate entrance fee, payable on the day — currently around ฿200 for foreign adults, ฿100 for children — on top of the tour price.
Sources: Traveltomtom, Thai National Parks
Health & safety basics
Dengue is present year-round in Thailand, with more cases in the rainy season — a DEET-based repellent (30–50% DEET), reapplied every few hours, is the single most useful precaution, especially around dawn and dusk. The sun is stronger than it feels: SPF 30+ reapplied through the day, a hat, and avoiding direct midday sun (roughly 10am–3pm) go a long way, even under cloud. If you're renting a scooter, wear the helmet — scooter accidents are one of the more common ways tourists actually get hurt in Thailand, and Koh Lanta's roads, while quiet, aren't an exception.
Sources: Théo Courant, The Thaiger
Tipping, wifi and tap water
Tap water isn't safe to drink straight from the tap anywhere in Thailand, Koh Lanta included — bottled or filtered water is the norm, and most guesthouses and villas provide it. Wifi is widely available at hotels, villas and restaurants, though it can be slower on the more low-key beaches like Kantiang Bay than in Saladan. Tipping isn't traditionally expected in Thailand, but it's increasingly common and always appreciated — rounding up for a tour guide, driver or restaurant bill is a normal, welcome gesture rather than an obligation.
Source: Northabroad