• By Air

  • Nowadays, many airlines are landing on Krabi. TG flies from Bangkok to Krabi daily.  The flight time is 1 hr 20 mins. Return ticket prices start from 6460 Bht incl airport tax and insurance.

    Tiger Airways (tel:+662-206-2222) has two direct flights from Singapore on odd days.

    During the high season (Nov - Apr) Nova Air flies direct to Krabi from  Stockholm every Wednesday.  Flight time is about 10 hours.

    Thai Air Asia is set to begin a daily flight from Bangkok on 1st Mar 06.

    From Krabi Airport Onwards

    There are several ways to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi Airport (Tel:+6675 636-545-9).  The adventure seekers are recommended to rend a car from Krabi Airport as there are many different cars to choose from.  Car Rental companies: Avis tel +662 251 1131-2 or Budget +662 203-9200.  To get a better car or luxury one, you have to reserve in advance.  However, due to some path is a dirty and sloppy, four wheel drive is the most suitable.  You have to make sure to having credit line available at least 30,000Bht for guarantee and payment.
    
    Distance from Krabi to Koh Lanta is approx 70 kms. About 1 hrs from Krabi to Hua Hin pier (Car Ferry Pier).  Fee is about 100 Bht/car and 20 Bht/persons from Hua Hin Pier to Saladan.  You may see the Koh Lanta Map, actually you have to take 2 piers: Hua Hin Pier to Khaung Mak Pier (Koh Lanta Noi) and drive about 8 kms on Koh Lanta Noi to Langsod Pier, then taking the other car ferry to Saladan Pier.  From Saladan Pier, you are able to drive along the road, along the beach to the last beach at the end of the island, but not to the Head Quarter of the National Marine Park.  During my survey time on Apr 06, the road has not yet been ready for cars from Ba Kan Tiang Beach to the end of the island, unless you have a 4-wheel drive.

    In case you don't rent a car, each resort will arrange private transfer from Krabi Airport for you.

    
    

• Private Car:

• From Bangkok
  The distance from Bangkok to Krabi is approx 950 kms or about 12 hrs by car.
  Route 1: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn - Phang Nga - Krabi = 946 kms.
  Route 2: Phetburi - Prachuabkirikhan - Chumporn (Highway No 41) to Chaiya (Suratthani) - Krabi (Viangsra) - Highway No 4035 - Krabi (Ao Luk) and along Highway 4 again = 814 kms.
   

• From Phuket
  The distance from Phuket to Krabi is 176 kms along Highway No 402 and 4, about 2 hrs.

• By Sea:

• From Krabi:
  Visitors can travel from Krabi to Koh Lanta via ferry during high season (Nov - Apr).  The ferry departs from Klong Chi Lard Pier, which is about five kms from downtown Krabi.  The ferry departs at 11 am and arrives at Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta 1pm.  The return trip to Krabi at 8am. There is no ferry during low season (May - Oct).

• From Phuket:
  There are no direct regular ferries from Phuket to Krabi but it's possible for you to charter a boat from Phi Phi or Ao Nang. Ex: departing from Phuket at 8am to Koh Phi Phi at 11:30am charting another ferry at Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai Bay Pier) to Koh Lanta at 3:00pm.

• From Koh Phi Phi:
  About 3 hrs from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta.  During high season, there are two trips from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta: 11:30am and 1pm.

• By Air-Conditioned Bus

• From Bangkok:
  Daily bus services are available from the Southern Bus Terminal (tel: +662 434-7192, +662-434-7862) in Boromratchchonni Road in Thonburi.  The trip takes about 12 hrs.  The fares about 710 Bht.  The schedules are 6pm and 6:30 pm.

• From Phuket:
  The trip from Phuket to Krabi takes at least 3 to 4 hrs.  There are buses daily leaving from Phuket.

Timetable: Southern Bus Terminal Air-Conditioned Buses Telephone Bangkok-Krabi Time (hrs) Krabi-Bangkok Time (hrs) Lignite Co., Ltd. [First Class Air Con] 38 Seat One Way 580 Bht Rountrip 1,160 Bht Bangkok Office: +662 8845767 +662 435 7428 Krabi Office: +6675 612 847 +6675 611 601 15:30 16:30 20:40 17:00

Ferry Schedules
Valid November 2005 - April 2006

Notes:

It is hard to forecast weather condition, so the ferry schedule may change from time to time.  Thus the above ferry schedule will be slightly changed each year.

Koh Lanta -From Koh Lanta - Koh Phi Phi, Koh Phi Phi - Koh Lanta, pls contact Lanta Petpailin Co., Ltd. +6675-684428 to update ferry schedule. 

Ko Lanta lies on the west coast of Andaman Sea in between Krabi and Phi Phi Island. Large Size Island with 6 km wide and over 30 kms long, 9 beaches lie from north to south along the sunset coast. Stunning scenery, fantastic white sandy beaches, coastlines have more than 70 small islands and plenty with forest, coral reefs and under water life.  Koh Lanta consists of 52 islands that from the Southernmost district of Krabi province. The two largest islands are Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. The other islands are many different-sized island, some of which are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs such as Koh Ha, Koh Rok and Koh Hai (or Koh Ngai).  The main island in the park is Ko Lanta Yai, where both the District Headquarters and National Park Office are located.  The island itself is generally rugged and mountainous.  There are beaches both gravelly and sandy toward the south.  The suitable time to visit Ko Lanta is from November to April.

Koh Lanta has emerged strong despite the horrendous results of the Tsunami in Dec 04. Unlike other islands, Koh Lanta made it through relatively scathed.  Recovery and rebuilding has taken place to a point that the island is back to its routine of playing the most exemplary of hosts to its visitors.

Koh Lanta was very lucky in that no big damage occurred to the natural scenic beauty. All the beaches remain as beautiful as ever. All dive sites did not suffer in the disaster, rather the water is cleaner and clearer than ever.

Now back in full tourism mode, Some stay for weeks or months at a time.  People say Koh Lanta's charms are found not only in the azure bounty of its divers islands but also in the friendly hospitality of its people. 

Climate:

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 stop alternatively. 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.

Population:

People here is about 20,000, the majority of which are Muslims(80%).  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 have managed to live happily together for several centuries.  The steadily increasing population other than Muslims come from other parts of the country because of the development of tourism.  During the high-season, we say that tourists are more visible than the local residents.

Most people live in Koh Lanta Noi which is Kon 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.  Seasonal residents are foreigners, mostly Europeans who spend six months of the year in Koh Lanta running small businesses such as bar and restaurants.

Local Products:

OTOP (One Tambol, One Product) of Koh Lanta as supported by the government are batik textiles, wooden furnitures, local coffee, herbs, crab cakes, shrimp crackers and handicrafts made from toey panan (pandanus tectorium soland), a local pant.   In the fresh food department, there is hoi chak teen i.e. a winged shell which looks similar to walking legs, referred as "feet" or 'teen' (informal Thai). Hoi Chak Teen is eaten with a Thai seafood sauce which is an essential dip made with fish sauce, garlic, chilies, lime juice and sugar.

Financial Matters:

Nowadays, there are ATM machines all over the island. Bank office can be found at Saladan village.  Bank operate daily Monday to Friday from 8:30 - 15:30 hrs.

http://lanta.krabi.info/koh-lanta.htm