Where Koh Lanta is
Koh Lanta (เกาะลันตา) is a district in the south of Krabi province: Lanta Yai and Lanta Noi islands and smaller islands nearby. It had 36,656 registered residents in December 2025 (DOPA): 7,224 in Saladan subdistrict at the north of Lanta Yai, 8,116 in Lanta Yai subdistrict including its municipality, and 6,346 on Lanta Noi.
The holiday coast is the west side of Lanta Yai: from north to south run Klong Dao, Phra Ae (known as Long Beach), Klong Khong and Kantiang. Ferries and boats dock at Saladan pier at the northern tip. Lanta Old Town is on the east coast, as is the state hospital.
Who Koh Lanta suits
- People who winter here. Under TMD normals for Ko Lanta station, January to March brings 24-69 mm of rain a month and 2-6 rainy days, drier than Krabi Town or Phuket
- People who want quiet and long beaches. Beaches follow one another along the whole west coast of Lanta Yai
- Divers. Koh Rok, Koh Ngai, Koh Ha and the Hin Daeng and Hin Muang reefs belong to Mu Ko Lanta National Park, with a 400-baht fee (DNP table, 2023)
- Families with school-age children for a season. Saladan has an OPEC-licensed international school
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a private hospital. The island has only the state hospital; private ones are in Krabi Town, about 2 hours away with the ferry
- Frequent flyers. Krabi airport is 1 hour 40 minutes away without waiting for the ferry
- People coming for the sea in summer. May to October brings 17-20 rainy days a month, 342 mm in August
- Condo buyers. Koh Lanta has no condos on the Treasury register and none in our catalogue
Koh Lanta by the numbers
| Indicator | Value | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| Registered residents of the district | 36,656 | DOPA, December 2025 |
| Condos on the Treasury register | 0 | Treasury, snapshot 05.08.2024 |
| Rent | to be confirmed | no own measurements yet |
| KBV airport to Saladan pier | 75.8 km, about 1 h 40 min without waiting for the ferry | OSRM on OpenStreetMap, 17.10.2026 |
| Phra Ae beach to Koh Lanta Hospital | 18.0 km, 28 min | same |
| Annual rainfall | 2,219.5 mm | TMD, Ko Lanta station |
| Driest month | February, 24.1 mm | same |
Seasons on Koh Lanta
The Ko Lanta TMD station is on the island itself. Average temperatures range from 27.1 to 29.0 °C, with a mean maximum around 34 °C in March and April. August and September are the wettest months (342 and 319 mm), and October still has 297.5 mm and 20 rainy days. The park’s islands close to visitors in the rainy season: check the dates for the season on the DNP park status page.
Koh Lanta’s beaches
| Beach | Where |
|---|---|
| Klong Dao | north of the west coast, closest to Saladan pier |
| Phra Ae (Long Beach) | south of Klong Dao |
| Klong Khong | middle of the west coast |
| Kantiang | south of the west coast, a bay |
Property on Koh Lanta
The Treasury valuation register (snapshot 05.08.2024) has no condominium on Koh Lanta: building here is villas, bungalows and hotels, and villas are not in this register. Foreigners generally cannot buy land, so for any villa the ownership structure needs checking: lease, company or building rights. How this works is explained in freehold, the 49% quota and leasehold. Koh Lanta projects on sale are listed in our Krabi catalogue.
Living on Koh Lanta: hospital, school, transport
Hospital. The state Koh Lanta Hospital is on the east coast of Lanta Yai (OpenStreetMap). The district has no licensed private hospital (HSS list of 31.07.2026). The private hospitals of Krabi Town are about 91 km and 2 hours from Phra Ae beach.
School. The OPEC register lists one international school on the island, in Saladan subdistrict (251 Moo 5).
Getting around. There is no fixed bridge from the mainland, cars and buses cross by ferry. The Department of Rural Roads is preparing a 1.8-billion-baht bridge between Ko Klang and Ko Lanta Noi subdistricts; according to Thairath on 09.10.2025 it is due to open at the end of 2028. Passenger boats dock at Saladan pier; their timetables change with the season, so we do not publish them.
Koh Lanta vs the mainland
| Koh Lanta | Ao Nang | Krabi Town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 36,656 (district) | 15,862 (subdistrict) | 30,459 (municipality) |
| February rainfall | 24.1 mm | 35.9 mm (Krabi station) | 35.9 mm |
| To KBV airport | 75.8 km plus ferry | 27.7 km | 13.9 km |
| Hospital | state | private, 3.6 km | state and 2 private |
| Condos on register | 0 | 9 | 4 |
More on the mainland areas on the Ao Nang and Krabi Town pages.
Homes in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta and nearby areas
Computed from our project registry and catalogue at build time.
| Area | Projects | L1 | Under construction | Completed | On sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Lanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1, from ฿12.5M |
| Krabi Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2, from ฿3.9M |
| Ao Nang | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5, from ฿4.9M |
| Railay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FAQ
Where is Koh Lanta?
In the south of Krabi province, in the Andaman Sea just off the mainland. Koh Lanta district includes Lanta Yai and Lanta Noi islands and nearby smaller islands. The resort side is the west coast of Lanta Yai, with Saladan pier at the northern tip.
How do I get to Koh Lanta from Krabi airport?
By road with a ferry crossing: 75.8 km to Saladan pier, about 1 hour 40 minutes by OSRM without waiting for the ferry. There is no fixed bridge from the mainland. The Department of Rural Roads is preparing a bridge between Ko Klang and Ko Lanta Noi subdistricts, which Thairath reported on 09.10.2025 is due to open at the end of 2028.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lanta?
December to March. Under TMD normals for Ko Lanta station, January has 31 mm of rain over 4 days, February 24 mm over 2 days and December 65 mm. From May to October there are 228-342 mm a month and 17-20 rainy days.
Koh Lanta or Ao Nang: which should I choose?
Ao Nang is more convenient: 33 minutes from the airport, a private hospital 3.6 km away, boats to Railay and the islands. Lanta is quieter, with longer beaches and a deeper dry season, but the trip includes a ferry and the only hospital is a state one. For a first trip with children people usually pick Ao Nang, for a long quiet winter Lanta.
Is there a hospital on Koh Lanta?
Yes, the state Koh Lanta Hospital on the island's east coast: 18 km from Phra Ae beach, about 28 minutes. The district has no licensed private hospital (HSS list of 31.07.2026). The nearest private hospitals are in Krabi Town, about 2 hours away including the ferry.
Can I buy a condo on Koh Lanta?
The Treasury register has no condominiums with unit titles on Koh Lanta: building here is mostly villas, bungalows and hotels. Foreigners generally cannot buy land, so buying a villa means checking the ownership structure with a lawyer.
Is there an international school on Koh Lanta?
The Ministry of Education private school register (OPEC) lists one international school on Koh Lanta, in Saladan subdistrict (251 Moo 5). The province's other three international schools are on the mainland, near Ao Nang and Krabi Town.
Sources
- DOPA, Ministry of Interior. Population by subdistrict and local authority, December 2025
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Ko Lanta station (48 566)
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals, 02.06.2023 edition (CSV)
- DNP. National park opening and closure status
- Ministry of Public Health, HSS. Licensed private hospitals as of 31.07.2026 (PDF)
- OPEC. Ministry of Education private school register (search: Krabi, international)
- Thai Treasury. Condominium valuations (condo_all, snapshot 05.08.2024)
- Thairath. Koh Lanta bridge: procurement, opening targeted for late 2028 (09.10.2025, Thai)
- OpenStreetMap. Koh Lanta Hospital (node 7856632160), Saladan pier (node 260742654), Phra Ae beach (way 212246066), Klong Dao beach (way 51 250 515)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: KBV airport to Saladan pier
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: KBV airport to Phra Ae beach
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phra Ae beach to Koh Lanta Hospital
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phra Ae beach to Krabi Hospital
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