You’ve already explored Bangkok with its temples, busy streets and great atmosphere, but now you want something quieter, a place where you can relax on the beach and live peacefully for a few days before returning to the real world. With so many great beaches, finding the perfect spot in Thailand can be a challenge, but if you prefer quieter places to party spots, Koh Lanta might be the place for you.
Ways to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
There is a long distance from Bangkok to Koh Lanta. As the crow flies, it’s about 700 kilometers (437 miles), but by road it’s even longer, passing through towns and cities to reach Koh Lanta, on Thailand’s east coast. Therefore, getting to your destination can be a bit tiring. But if you are looking for a little piece of paradise, the trip will be worth it. The best way to cover such a long distance is by plane. While this is a viable option, it requires a bit of extra work. The most common way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is by bus as it is a reliable way and you can buy combo tickets to take you to your destination although it is a very slow way to travel. Read on to learn all about these options.
Flight from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
Krabi International Airport © Decha Kiatlatchanon / Shutterstock.com
The fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is by plane, although it’s not as direct a journey as you might think. There is no airport on any of the Koh Lanta islands, and the nearest is Krabi Airport on the mainland. From there, there are two options: a fast boat or a minivan. The speedboat is a great way to travel, but before boarding the boat that will take you to Koh Lanta, you will need to take a van to get from the airport to the coast. Depending on the sea conditions, the speedboat trip will take between 1 and 1.5 hours.
If you don’t feel like going by boat, you can take a minivan from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta, but it will be a longer journey. The journey by minivan will take 2.5 to 3 hours. Still, with the addition of a 70-minute flight from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, it’s still the fastest alternative.
The disadvantage of flying is the price, as it is usually the most expensive mode of transport. Search well and book in advance to find good deals. You can fly with Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and Thai Smile from Suvarnabhumi Airport; and Thai Lion Air, Thai AirAsia and Nok Air from Don Mueang Airport.
Direct bus from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
Bangkok Morchit Bus Station © ltdedigos / Shutterstock.com
For die-hard travelers on a budget, the bus may be the only option. This is the cheapest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, and by traveling overnight you save on hotel costs. But this form of transport has its drawbacks. Undoubtedly, one of them is the duration of the trip, and traveling can be tiring being confined to such a small space for so long.
Transport Co Intl operates buses from Morchit Bus Terminal in Bangkok to Hua Hin Port. From there, you’ll need to take a short ferry ride to Koh Lanta Noi (small island), but you’ll probably want to continue on to Koh Lanta Yai, the large island where most of the beaches and hotels are located.
Therefore, although the bus is a cheap means of transport, the ticket will not take you to Koh Lanta, but you will have to use the ferry and taxi to reach your destination. That said, it’s usually not hard to find a company in Hua Hin Port that offers a combo ticket for the rest of your trip.
From Bangkok to Koh Lanta by bus and ferry
Short car ferry between mainland and Koh Lanta © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
If you don’t like the idea of being dropped off at Hua Hin Port to find your way to Koh Lanta, don’t worry. You can travel with Paradive Travel from Hua Lamphong in Bangkok. With this service, you’ll travel first by bus, then by van, and take the ferry to Koh Lanta, so you’ll have to make a few transfers, but Paradive staff should be able to tell you where to go and when. Upon arrival in Koh Lanta, you will be dropped off at Saladan Port which is located in Ban Saladan, one of the main towns on the island. From there you can easily get everywhere.
This combo ticket is more expensive than the bus ticket itself, but not much more, especially considering that if you take the bus, you will have to buy another ticket later to get to Koh Lanta.
Jolly Travel Bangkok is another travel option from Bangkok to Koh Lanta. Your bus and ferry ticket costs about the same as Paradive, and buses depart from the Khao San Road area. Jolly Travel is a reliable company, but be careful when crossing Khao San Road as there are also unscrupulous travel agents in the area. Combined bus and ferry tours are between 16.5 and 18.5 hours.
The last possible option, if you do not like to spend a lot of time on the bus, is to divide the trip into several parts. You can go to Surat Thani and spend a night or two there before taking the bus to Koh Lanta.