Koh Lanta Attractions

The reasons why people choose a holiday destination or a place to visit vary widely, no matter where those people come from. There are many who visit Thailand to experience the culture and enjoy the Asian lifestyle. Others find refuge in the bars and spend their time trawling the go go clubs of Bangkok and Pattaya, engaging with the local population – female and male. There is a good percentage of tourists whose sole aim is to spend their entire 2, 3 or 4 week break doing absolutely nothing. A beach, some good books and somewhere to eat in the evening are top priorities.

The last thing they want is a banana boat with screaming children aboard, zooming past their carefully chosen piece of fine sand. They aren’t looking for a night of unparalled revelry in a noisy club or bar. They will return to their homeland completely relaxed, with a glorious tan having done nothing more than eat, swim and chill out. Koh Lanta is ideal for such a visitor.

The island is quiet and with recent development, now has some very good resorts and hotels. The interior is forested, with mangrove swamps one if the special features. For those interested in natural history, Koh Lanta is a haven of untouched beauty, not as yet affected by mass tourism.

In the main town where the Krabi ferry arrives, Saladan, there are markets selling fresh food and all manner of items. They are open early from 7am and take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Sea Gypsy Festival

On the Full Moon day of the sixth and eleventh Lunar month, the Chao Ley (Sea Gypsies) hold a ceremony where they set adrift boats at Saladan village. The event is quite unique to Koh Lanta so well worth going to see.

Chao Ley Village

The village is an example of the many sea based communities living on the islands across the Andaman Sea. Most of the gypsies still work as fishermen and have steadfastly refused to change their ways in favour of a more modern way of life. Hit very badly by the effects of the Tsunami there have been attempts to re house the Chao Ley in alternative settlements.

The islands other attractions lie in its beaches, the clarity of the water for diving and snorkeling and the dramatic limestone outcrops which offer opportunities for rock climbing. So, there is a further type of tourist who comes to Lanta and those are the people who find it impossible to laze around for 8 hours a day with a book. Activity tourism in Thailand is very much on the increase and places such as Koh Lanta do provide opportunities for the active holiday maker who engages with the natural world rather than the man made world. In the centre of the island there are the cool Tham Keow Mai Kaew caves with the cavern pool and lots of stalagmites and stalactites.

Elephant trekking

Elephant trekking is another way of seeing the island, from a lofty perch, and this is an ideal environment for the mammals. The treks can be arranged from the hotels, or at Phrae Rai and Nui beaches.

Other islands

Further afield it’s a good day out to go island hopping around the National Park. Some of the islands are populated whilst others are simply large outcrops of rock with a beach or two. A typical day can take in Rok Nok and it is possible to camp on some of the islands. To get more information on renting tents and camping contact the National Parks office on +66 (0)75629018 or www.dnp.go.th

In essence Koh Lanta is an island destination which attracts people who make that extra effort to enjoy a quiet relaxing holiday.