Koh Lanta

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Contents 1 Koh Lanta (Yai), Thailand 2 Background 3 Charts 3.1 Local Radio Nets 4 Weather 5 Approach and Navigation 5.1 Offshore Islands 6 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 6.1 Anchorages 7 Tourism & things to do ashore 7.1 Tourism 7.2 Fuel, Water, & Electricity 7.3 Laundry 7.4 Grocery & Supply Stores 7.5 Eateries 7.6 Internet/WiFi 7.7 Motorbike & Car Rentals 7.8 Marine Stores & Facilities 7.9 Yards/Repairs 7.10 Garbage Disposal 7.11 Transportation 8 Routes/Passages To/From 9 Cruiser's Friends 10 Forum Discussions 10.1 External Links 11 Personal Notes 12 References & Publications 13 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) 14 Page Navigation

Koh Lanta (Yai), Thailand

Background

Koh Lanta Yai is 6km wide and over 30km long, located approximately 70km from Krabi Town. The island has 9 attractive white sandy beaches, with splendid scenery all around the island. The eastern coastline has many small islands with beaches, caves and most are heavily forested. Coral reefs and under water life can be found on the Islands to the W and SE of Ko Lanta Yai. The island is divided by a mountain range that runs from North to South with the beaches and tourist resorts lying to the west of this range. The East side of the island remains largely unchanged by tourism, with communities of Sea Gypsies, Muslims, Thai Chinese and Thai Buddhist all living in harmony, as they have for many generations. The area between Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Lanta Nio is given over to a mangrove forest with many channels that are navigable by dinghy or Kayak.

A paved road runs along the West coast beaches all the way from the northern part of the island (Ban Saladan) to Kantiang Bay in the South, with partially paved roads from there to the headquarters of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park in the far south. Paved roads also run from Ban Saladan down the East coast through local villages and communities to [Lanta 'Old Town'] and on to the Sea Gypsy village of Sang Ga U. These roads form a 'ring' road of the island with the only break being the National Park area. There are 2 further paved roads that cross the island making access to all parts of the island easy and safe on hired scooters or cars.

Charts

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Local Radio Nets

Also see Cruiser's Nets

Weather

Weather in the region is tropical - there are only two seasons: the dry season from December to March, and the rainy season from April to November (although May, June and July are often dry). Temperatures during the year average 25ºC to 32ºC (77ºF to 89.6ºF) and the yearly rainfall averages 2568.5mm. Unlike in say Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily and quickly over short periods. The first rains usually arrive in April and are indicative of the onset of the SW monsoon, the second (heavier) rains usually arrive in September/October.

Ko Lanta is an all year destination for visiting yachts as the island is big enough to offer good protection from both monsoons. The West coast becomes untenable during the stronger SW monsoon (April - November) whilst the East coast is protected throughout the year, particularly in the SW monsoon. The sea stays at a warm 29 degrees Celsius all year round.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Approach and Navigation

Details?

Offshore Islands

List Islands

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

As yet there are no marinas on Ko Lanta

Anchorages

Anchoring is possible all along the West coast during the NE monsoon (Dec - Mar) with the more southerly bays offering the most beautiful and secluded backdrops, whilst the more Northerly beaches offer a greater range of facilities as these are the most populous tourist spots. There are some rocks (shown on the chart) but these are all within a few meters of the beach. If you stand off at least 300m you will be in safe water.

Holding is generally good on a sand bottom in 3-7m with the exception of Klong Kong beach <geo>48 46 36 N 121 48 51 W</geo> which has a rocky bottom in places, making it difficult to find comfortable swinging room and more difficult for the dinghy at low water.

Anchoring on the East coast is possible all year round with the best area being near to 'Old Town' in 3-5m with a sticky mud bottom. The pier gives all tide access to the town with it's provisions and restaurants etc, making this an excellent anchorage during the SW monsoon. During the early part of the NE monsoon (Jan/Feb) the wind is occasionally strong and, whilst the anchorage remains safe, it is more comfortable in the lee of neighboring Ko Po(Por) a few hundred meters away.

The area to the North of 'Old Town' is generally too shallow to navigate at anything other than HWS and thus not tenable as an anchorage.

The Islands to the east of Lanta offer good protection in both seasons.

Tourism & things to do ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Laundry

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Marine Stores & Facilities

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Yards/Repairs

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

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