The island and province of Phuket, with some of the country’s most famous beaches, has long been one of the country’s most popular beach and party destinations. With many high-end resorts and restaurants, Phuket is not just a place for tourists and young people who want to party. In fact, its beautiful landscapes include a mountain jungle that attracts tourists from all over the world. There are many other islands within easy reach and Koh Lanta is one of the most recommended after visiting Phuket. Its limestone structures contrast with the lush jungle, and several islands are part of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. Enjoy the best of Thailand on a day trip from Phuket to Koh Lanta. We suggest how to get there!
Travel options from Phuket to Koh Lanta
It is only about 90 kilometers as the crow flies from Phuket to Koh Lanta, but as these are islands, the journey may be longer than you think. Road travel is possible in one of the many available vans, buses or taxis. Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so the journey is not as complicated as it may seem. However, Koh Lanta does not have the advantage of having a bridge to another region, so you will need to travel by water at some point. The problem with traveling by land is the distance. Since you cannot travel in a straight line, the trip from Phuket to Koh Lanta ends up being over 240 kilometers, which translates to a total journey time of 4 to 6 hours. For this reason, many tourists decide to choose a ferry to cover this route, although they also have their disadvantages.
From Phuket to Koh Lanta by ferry
A common way to get to Koh Lanta is to take the ferry, which stops for an hour at Koh Phi Phi
Taking a ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta is usually the most popular way to get from one place to another. In addition, there is not just one type of ferry or one company offering this service. In addition to the variety of companies, there are also many departure times and points, which should be taken into account when deciding where to start your journey. You can travel by standard ferry which will take a long time from Phuket to Koh Lanta or opt for a high speed ferry or fast boat.
As we mentioned earlier, all travel by water also has its downsides as ferries, especially fast and fast boats, can be heavily weather dependent. If the waters are rough, the cruise may be canceled or delayed. In addition, high-speed ferries only operate during peak season when the waters are more predictable. Therefore, if you are traveling in low season, it is better to start your journey by bus, van or taxi, and then take a ferry from the mainland to Koh Lanta.
That said, in high season and with calm seas, traveling by ferry is much preferable to the road. Ferries are relatively comfortable and, depending on the service chosen, also quite fast.
The standard ferry is the slowest as it does not go directly to Koh Lanta but instead goes through Koh Phi Phi. From Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, the journey takes approximately two hours, there is an hour stopover, then another hour and a half from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta.
It is possible to purchase a combination ticket that includes hotel pickup, but this service is sometimes delayed, which may result in you taking the ferry later than planned. Phi Phi Cruiser sells combo tickets if you are interested in that option.
Fast boat from Phuket to Koh Lanta
Satun Pakbara Club fast boat on its way to Koh Lanta © spcthailand.com
The Satun Pakbara Club Speedboat is a great way to travel from Phuket to Koh Lanta. It departs from Rassada twice a day, at 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM, and takes you to Koh Lanta in an hour and a half. Satun Pakbara also offers combo tickets via 12Go.asia which include pick up from your hotel in Phuket. This raises the price of the ticket a bit and makes the journey longer, but saves you having to get to the port yourself.
Fast ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta
The third option is the fast ferry. The travel time on this ferry is halfway between the options above, but the price is about the same as a fast boat, so you won’t necessarily save if you choose this option. However, if you are not keen on sea travel, a fast boat is not the way to go, and even a fast ferry can be too hectic for you, so it is important to take this into account when making your decision.
Tigerline Travel high-speed ferry arriving in Koh Lanta
WITH Tigerline Journey you can buy a combo ticket which includes pick up from your hotel in Phuket. Or, if you’re landing at Phuket International Airport and want to travel directly to Koh Lanta, convenient airport pick-up options are also available. These ferries can take up to two hours to cover the route from Phuket to Koh Lanta.
Bus, van or taxi from Phuket to Koh Lanta
A van with 9 passengers is waiting in Phuket
While we recommend traveling by ferry instead of road, it is not always possible to choose this option. On the other hand, if you are prone to seasickness, you may not even consider a sea trip. There are other options that are more profitable in the off-season when fast boats and ferries do not offer their services. Tour operators have private cars and vans to cover this route, in which case you can count on a journey of about 4-5 hours. If you are traveling in a group, multi-person vans are quite affordable as you can split the total cost among everyone.
Whichever option you choose to travel from Phuket to Koh Lanta, we advise you to book your tickets through a trusted travel website to buy combo tickets and have refund, change and cancellation guarantees in case of unforeseen events.