Koh Lanta

From CruisersWiki

Contents 1 Ko Lanta Yai, Thailand 2 Background 3 Charts 3.1 Local Radio Nets 4 Weather 5 Approach and Navigation 5.1 Offshore Islands 5.1.1 Islands to the North 5.1.2 Islands to the West 5.1.3 Islands to the East 5.1.4 Islands to the South 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 Fresh Markets 7.6 Sea Food Market 7.7 Eateries 7.8 Internet/WiFi 7.9 Motorbike & Car Rentals 7.10 Marine Stores & Facilities 7.11 Yards/Repairs 7.12 Garbage Disposal 7.13 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

Ko Lanta Yai, Thailand

Background

• Ko 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

Islands to the North

• Ko Pu (Jum)

Islands to the West

• Ko Ha
• Ko Rok Nok/Ko Rok Nai

Islands to the East

• Ko Po (Por)
• Ko Bubu
• Ko Kam Yai
• Ko Kam Noi
• Ko Talebeng

Islands to the South

• Ko Ngai (Hai)
• Ko Muk
• Ko Kradan (Trang province)
• Ko Ma
• Ko Chuek
• Ko Wean

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 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

• Ko Lanta is developing quite quickly as a mainstream tourist destination with tourism now providing the mainstay of the islands economy. Marine tourism to the other islands in the archipelago including SCUBA diving, traditional longtail tours and speedboat tours are very popular, whilst on the island itself you can take an elephant trek to one of the waterfalls or caves, see a monkey show, snake show, butterfly sanctuary and Orchid nursery, or you may want to take Thai cooking lessons or learn Thai kick Boxing (Muay Thai). Add to these a host of good eating places and bars and you have enough to keep you occupied from dawn until after dark.
• The two main towns on the island are Ban Saladan in the North; shopping, banks, restaurants, dive shops and the 'commercial' center of the island and 'Old Town' half way down the east coast, which is the 'cultural' center of the island. Old Town has the islands only Chinese temple and Buddhist Wat, the only museum and a host of interesting shops and restaurants set in amongst the 100 year old teak shop-houses that line the main street and stretch out over the sea on stilts. Most visitors to Ko Lanta will find their way to Old Town at some point, either because of its cultural and historical interest, for the Sunday market or simple because of 'beach boredom'. However you look at it, Old Town is one of Ko Lanta's biggest attractions.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

• Fuel is available in small quantities by jerry can from the many fuel stations on the island. The easiest access is from Old Town as the fuel can be taken to the end of the pier for loading into your tender.
• Drinking water is widely available in bottles. Drinking ice is also widely available in small quantities, with larger quantities being available in the early morning on Old Town pier.
• Shower water can be taken at HW at the end of the pier in Old Town.

Laundry

• Laundry services are widely available on the island.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• There are basic groceries and general supplies available throughout the island. The best variety is available in Ban Saladan at the north of the island or in Old Town on the east coast.

Fresh Markets

• The traveling fresh market is found at Klong Nin village on Friday evening/Saturday morning, then Saladan on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, and finally Old Town on Sunday evening.

Sea Food Market

• In Old Town there are two fresh sea-food markets that supply much of the island, and you can often buy fresh squid from the boats tied up at the side of the pier.

Eateries

• There are a great many restaurants all over the island, from five-star restaurants within 5 star resorts, to no-star local stalls. Menu options cover all the regions of Thailand and western dishes too and prices are generally reflected by the kind of establishment you choose.

Internet/WiFi

• Internet and an increasing coverage of WiFi are available all over the island. The internet shops usually double as tour shops and charge varying amounts from 1bt/min and up. The WiFi services are usually free for patrons.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

• Motorbike & Car Rental is available throughout the island both from resorts and specialised outlets.

Marine Stores & Facilities

• Lanta Marine Services Co Ltd. 'Orange House', 15 moo 2, Sri Raya Rd, Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai, Krabi. 81150. Thailand. Tel:- +66 (0) 831043109. Email. Offer secure storage moorings and a range of care packages to keep your boat in tip-top condition while you go traveling or working.

Yards/Repairs

Garbage Disposal

• Garbage can be disposed of in bins provided all around the island.

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

• Call Graeme at Lanta Marine Services for local knowledge of available resources, island information, cruising information and up-to-date information on the latest official requirements. (Customs etc). Tel:- +66 (0) 831043109. Email.

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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