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Koh Lanta with kids: where to stay and things to do for families

Koh Lanta with kids: where to stay and things to do for families

An oh-so-cool Jack Sparrow look-alike warmly welcomed us off the beach and into the Reggae Bar on Klong Dao Beach; the chilled-out hippy vibe immediately transporting us back to our pre-kids backpacker days. Before we could make ourselves comfy amongst the mats and cushions spread over the floorboards and order our Happy Hour Chang, Mr Sparrow had brought out a big bag of toys for the kids. Genius!

Disclaimer: We were offered discounted hotel rates at Banana Beach Resort. The boat tour with Lanta Garden Hill Tours was complimentary. However the opinions and words are all my own, based on our own experiences. Hotel photos used in this post are courtesy of Banana Beach Resort. This post contains affiliate links. Should you click on a link to purchase, it is at no extra cost to you, but I get a small commission that goes towards the running of this blog.

Watching the boys play happily in the sand, we clinked Changs with our old mates who had joined us from Sydney, sat back on our cushions and breathed in that fresh sea air before catching up on the past 5 years. What a fantastic idea it was to visit Koh Lanta with kids!

Thailand with kids - Ko Lanta

After a couple of days in Bangkok, our group holiday to Koh Lanta with kids was all about keeping it easy. We wanted to kick back with our old besties (who also have two boys), let the kids play freely on the beach and in the pool, and soak up some tropical sunshine.

However, despite visiting after the supposed rainy season, the weather was grey and drizzly for our entire week stay! For many, this would result in a disaster family holiday to Thailand. But we had awesome company and the drizzle by no means put the kids off playing in the sand and jumping in the waves.

Klaong Dao Beach

We based ourselves at Klaong Dao Beach, on the northwest coast of Ko Lanta. Here the sea is warm and shallow with very gentle waves, perfect for little ones. The sand offers a range of consistency for various sand building projects, and there are small rocks to explore.

A string of colourful restaurants and bars, which are all kid-friendly, hug the curved bay as far as the eye can see. Some even have slides and hoppers to play on, and they all offer kid-friendly food on the menu (pancakes, fried rice, omelette, fries, pasta).

Where we stayed in Koh Lanta with kids

Banana Beach Resort at the Southern tip of Klaong Dao Beach was perfect for our two families. We had two Sea View rooms next to each other with a double bed, bunk beds for the kids, ensuite and a large adjoining balcony. Rooms were basic, but clean, and there is also a fridge and kettle.

The staff are absolutely wonderful! So polite and friendly, and were always on hand to answer questions or sort something out for us.

There is also a restaurant onsite, overlooking the beach, serving the usual dishes. But the big hit with the boys was, of course, the pool. There’s a separate kids pool with a slide, although be wary that this pool was too deep for our 2yo to stand up in, but our 4yo was fine.

Koh Lanta with kids - Banana Beach Resort

If a parent can get a free moment away from the kids, we thoroughly recommend popping for a massage next door.

If you’re looking for accommodation a bit more upmarket however, but still family friendly, our friends at our3kidsvtheworld.com have a great review of the Avani Plus Koh Lanta Krabi Resort, which sits at the Northern end of Klang Dao Beach.

Away from Klong Dao Beach

If you’ve chilled out enough on the beach and need to get out and explore, it’s worth flagging down a tuk-tuk to take you to Sala Dan.

Wander the markets and treat yourselves to some ‘authentic’ t-shirts, local jewellery or sarong, before heading to the Pier for a seafood dinner over the water as the sun sets (not that we got to see a single sunset, due to the drizzle and grey weather!)

Alternatively, visit Lanta Old Town on the East Coast with its traditional Thai wooden houses fused with a distinctly Chinese influence. Enjoy a drink in one of the cool bars and then walk along the Pier to enjoy the breath-taking views out to the island.

Koh Lanta old town

One of the things you must do is take a speed boat tour out to explore the outlying islands. We went on a 4 Islands Tour for a day of snorkelling, tropical beach fun and a visit to Emerald Cave, Ko Mook, which involved swimming 80 metres through a dark tunnel to reach a pristine lagoon.

Emerald Cave with kids, 4 Islands Tour, Lanta Garden Hill Tour

Getting to Koh Lanta

Check out this guide on That Bangkok Life for how to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta for up-to-date information. Alternatively if you’re coming from Phuket, check out this Phuket to Koh Lanta guide.

We took a direct flight with AirAsia from Bangkok to Krabi. A private minibus then drove us direct to Banana Beach Resort (1.5-2 hours). Booked through Banana Beach Resort, the private minibus cost THB2500 and also included the 10 minute car ferry across from the mainland to Ko Lanta.

Alternatively, there are ferries connecting Ko Phi Phi and Phuket.


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Lonely Planet Thailand (Travel Guide)
  • Eimer, David (Author)
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