Endlessly popular with travelling families, Koh Lanta knows how to welcome visitors, with a good mix of relaxation, perfect sunsets, activities and island tours to keep you all occupied. Larger than some of the other nearby islands, Koh Lanta is busy but never feels overwhelmed, even during the peak season.
Of all the Thai islands to visit with kids, Koh Lanta is the simple, hassle-free option, the one that ticks the most boxes and let’s you focus on some quality family time. Despite the rapid development that has touched almost everywhere in Thailand, Koh Lanta retains a balance between natural beauty, tourist infrastructure, uncrowded beaches, relaxed vibes, but still plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
No wonder Koh Lanta has become one of the top worldshcooling destinations in Southeast Asia and a must-visit island for those visiting Thailand with kids. Here we share our tips on where families should stay and our top 10 things to do on Koh Lanta with kids.
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About Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is one of the most popular islands in the Andaman Sea and is easily accessible via frequent boat services and a short car ferry ride to the mainland. A long time favourite with European families, digital nomads, and domestic tourists, the island usually manages to cater for the crowds without ever feeling overwhelmed (unlike, for example, Krabi, which often feels bursting at the seams during peak season).
Although, do be aware that accommodation on Koh Lanta is at a premium during the peak-peak season (mid-December to Easter holidays), when most prime beachfront resorts are full. Book ahead if at all possible.
Several major roads run through the interior of the island, making short hops between the sights straightforward, if some of the tropical island vibe is lost when you’re near the asphalt. Don’t worry about that too much though, most visitors base themselves on one of the magnificent beaches and seldom stray more than a few hundred metres from the ocean. With a cold drink in your hand, the sun setting, and the kids playing happily on the beach, Koh Lanta is one of most perfect places in the country.
Getting to Koh Lanta
Click here to book your ferry to/from Koh Lanta
The easiest way to reach Koh Lanta is by boat, with frequent ferries running from the mainland and other major Andaman Sea islands during the high season (mid-October to mid-May), including Koh Lipe, Koh Libong, Koh Mok, Phuket and Koh Ngai.
Outside of high season, the frequency of services drops substantially, and some of the islands are removed from the schedule.
Ferries generally fall into the practical rather than romantic category of transport, with emphasis very much on getting you from A to B. Don’t expect a leisurely cruise with panoramic views, most of the time you’ll be indoors with only small windows to peer through. Bring some sea-sickness medication if you or the kids are prone to motion sickness.
Buying tickets online is the smoothest approach although some travellers do prefer to book tickets with the many travel agents who operate in various destinations across Koh Lanta. We always booked online using 12Go though, finding this much easier than doing it in person. The website lets you check routes, prices and availability, and you can show your email pdf confirmation before boarding.
If you are coming from the mainland via public or private transport, there’s a handy car ferry that brings vehicles the 1.5km from Hua Hin Pier to the Khlong Mak Pier, from where you continue by road to the tourist areas.
How to get around the island
Unless you have your own vehicle, the easiest way to get around the island is via the fleet of tuk-tuks and songthaews that throng Koh Lanta’s tourist spots. If you find a friendly and reliable driver, it’s a good idea to take their WhatsApp number in case you get stuck, or your hotel can call one for you. When you’re out and about in the main tourists areas (e.g. around Old Town and Walking Street), you’ll nearly always find several hanging around looking for business.
Fitting three or four passengers, the tuk-tuks are a fun way to get around the island with kids and cost from around THB100 in total. Some eastern parts of Koh Lanta are extremely hilly and the tuk-tuks don’t have the power to get up the inclines. In this case, you’ll either need to find a car or hire a motorbike.
The main road in Koh Lanta is easy enough to walk alongside if you’re popping between shops and restaurants, but it’s busy with limited pavements. A short tuk-tuk ride is usually easier and less tiring in the Thai sun.
Where to stay
Unsurprisingly, the majority of accommodation options in Koh Lanta take full advantage of the stunning beaches, with the west coast and its sunset views the most popular and populous. Our preferred spot is Khlong Dao beach in the northwest of the island, a magnificent semi-circle of golden sand surrounded by crystal clear waters and lush rainforest.
We used to recommend Banana Beach Resort at the southern end of the beach, but unfortunately, recent reports from readers (along with our own return visit) suggest that both the resort and this part of the beach have gone downhill and now feel rather tired.
In light of this, our new recommendation is the family-focused Twin Bay Resort. Including family bungalows, kids swimming pool, air-conditioned kids play room, with a friendly restaurant and staff, this is an easy choice for families travelling with kids. Read our full review here for all the details.
Top 10 things to do on Koh Lanta with kids
While Koh Lanta has a laid-back vibe and may not have the waterparks of nearby Phuket, there’s still a wide variety of family activities to enjoy on the island.
1. Explore neighbouring islands on a speed boat
It might feel like you never want to leave Koh Lanta but if you fancy some time out on the water, it’s definitely worthwhile taking a speed boat tour out to explore the outlying islands.
The Four Islands Tour is popular business here and offers a day of snorkelling, tropical beach fun and a visit to Emerald Cave in nearby Koh Mook, which involves swimming 80 metres through a dark tunnel to reach a pristine lagoon. It can be a long day with kids but if you catch it on a perfectly clear day, it’s certainly a memorable one too.
2. Sweat it out in a Muay Thai class
The national sport of Thailand and a key component of the country’s psyche and personality, Koh Lanta is an ideal place to try your hand (and feet) at the sport. All ages are welcomed (especially kids) and you can choose between private sessions or group classes, lasting from one hour to one month!
Check out Lanta Muay Thai Complex for more information, private lessons start around THB600 for one hour.
3. Eat and shop at Walking Street
Everywhere in Thailand seems to have a walking street nowadays, and Koh Lanta is no exception. Attached to the main tourist market from where you can buy the usual array of clothes, plastic toys and souvenirs, the walking area is a small collection of food stands and low-key bars.
It’s a limited but enjoyable place to visit, just don’t expect Khao San Road. Kids are welcome to visit at all times and there’s plenty of Western and Thai food available, all at reasonable prices.
4. Kayak around the mangroves
Head to the east coast of the island, take to the water in kayaks and explore the extensive network of mangroves that cover much of the island. The two-hour trip is best done with a guide who can take you further into the mangroves and point out interesting features along the way.
You don’t need to book onto a tour that picks you up from your hotel. You can just turn up and arrange on the spot.
5. Wander the Old Town
An often overlooked part of the island, the Koh Lanta Old Town is a pretty heritage area overlooking the waterfront, largely comprised of one street lined with tourist shops and restaurants. It’s a good place to pick up some souvenirs, but the best experience is to visit one of the waterside restaurants, grab a table next to the water and enjoy a Thai meal. Bring some cards to play with the kids over a Chang and you can easily spend a few hours here.
6. Cook a Thai meal from scratch
If you’ve been savouring all the incredible flavours of Thailand since you arrived, perhaps consider taking the kids on a Thai cooking class, where you’ll be involved in the whole process from gathering ingredients, preparing the food, cooking and finally, of course, tasting.
This lunch time cooking class has lots of experience with families.
7. Visit Koh Lanta Lighthouse and National Park
Muk Ko Lanta National Park is at the southern end of the island and makes for an interesting half-day excursion from the beaches. At the southern tip of the park stands a lighthouse which many visitors climb up to to get amazing views. Note that tuk-tuks can’t make it up the numerous hills to get here, so you’ll need to arrive either by car or motorbike.
8. Meet rescued elephants
Interactions with elephants have long been on the Thai tourist trail but concerns over ethics and the treatment of the animals in recent years has led many travelling families to take a visit off their itinerary. While understandable, it’s important to remember that not all sanctuaries are poorly-run and some of them still manage to offer an ethical, safe and educational experience, at the same time providing vital income and support for local people.
Although we haven’t visited ourselves yet, one place that has been highly recommended to us is Following Giants, where the elephants are the boss and tourists leave as light a touch as possible.
9. Watch sunset from Long Beach
A simple pleasure it might be but, after a long day sightseeing, there is always something magical about watching the sunset as a family. Long Beach is ideally positioned to take full advantage and, although it can get busy with Western tourists, it’s always easy to find your own peaceful spot, watch the sun disappear under the sea, and then retreat back to one of the numerous bars for a nightcap, meal and watch a fire show.
10. Snorkel and scuba dive nearby coral reefs
There are plenty of dive operators on Koh Lanta, including Hidden Depths Diving and Lanta Diver, offering trips to nearby islands to explore the underwater world. Children aged 10 and up can try a first dive down to 6 metres, while those aged 8 and 9 can take part in the Bubble Maker program, which allows diving to a depth of 2 metres. Younger children can still join in the fun with snorkelling trips to stunning spots like Koh Haa and Koh Rok, where shallow reefs are home to colourful fish and vibrant corals.
FAQs
Yes, there is an efficient and cheap car ferry that makes the 1.5km crossing from the mainland at Hua Hin Pier to Koh Lanta.
Yes, Koh Lanta is definitely one Thai island that will suit kids, with enough activities and sights to keep you active, with less of the partying backpacker scene that can affect some other nearby islands.
As long as you can! Many families arrive here planning to stay a few days and stay for weeks. Ideally, plan to spend at least five days on Koh Lanta to give you enough time to see the sights and relax.
For the combination of peaceful beaches, great resorts, beach bars and accessibility to the main Walking Street, we recommend Khlong Dao Beach, especially Twin Bay Resort.
Final thoughts on Koh Lanta with kids
The vibe on Koh Lanta is that it’s worked out what visitors want from a Thai island. Other islands might be quieter, have more activities, better diving, cheaper hotels, or feel more authentically Thai, but few of them offer the all-round package Koh Lanta can.
For families visiting Koh Lanta with kids, that means a big part of the potential stresses are removed from your visit and you can arrive safe in the knowledge that your days will be chilled. Koh Lanta works best by choosing an excellent resort and planning plenty of rest days interspersed with activities such as Muay Thai, island tours, mangrove kayaking and wandering from beach bar to beach bar.
Within a few hours you’ll be into the groove and it’ll soon become clear why so many families arrive in Koh Lanta and decide they never want to leave.
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