Getting to Koh Lanta
Most people fly into Krabi and take a road transfer. The whole thing, door to door, takes about 4-5 hours from Bangkok including the flight.
Fly to Krabi, then drive #
Krabi Airport is the closest airport. Direct flights from Bangkok take about 1.5 hours. Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways fly from Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Budget airlines like AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang (DMK).
From the airport, you still have a 2-3 hour drive depending on ferry queues. The road goes south through the mainland, then you take a short car ferry across to Koh Lanta Noi, then cross the Siri Lanta Bridge to reach Koh Lanta Yai where everything is.
The car ferry is a small roll-on roll-off barge that takes about 15 minutes. It runs from 5am to midnight daily and departs as soon as it fills up. During high season (December to March), queues at the ferry can stretch to over an hour in the afternoons. Morning crossings are usually fine.
Transfer options from Krabi Airport #
- Shared minivan 350-450 THB
- Private transfer 2,500-3,000 THB
Shared minivans wait until full before leaving, so allow 60-90 minutes after landing before you’re actually on the road. A private transfer picks you up on arrival and makes sense if you’re traveling with others or have a lot of luggage.
See the transportation page for specific transfer companies and contact details.
By ferry from other islands #
During high season (November to April), ferries connect Koh Lanta to Phuket, Phi Phi, Ao Nang, and other islands. Most routes shut down in low season.
| From | Time | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Phi Phi (ferry) | 1.5 hrs | 400-500 THB |
| Koh Phi Phi (speedboat) | 45 min | 600-800 THB |
| Phuket | 2-4 hrs | 600-1,200 THB |
| Ao Nang | 1.5 hrs | 400-600 THB |
Operators include Tigerline Ferry, Bundhaya Speed Boat, Andaman Wave Master, and Satun Pakbara SpeedBoat Club. Book through travel agencies in Saladan or online through Ferryhopper or 12Go Asia. In peak months (December/January), book at least a few days ahead as popular routes sell out.
All ferries arrive at Saladan Pier on the northern tip of the island.
Budget options from Bangkok #
If you’re not in a rush:
- Night bus from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. Takes 15-17 hours and drops you on Koh Lanta. Cheapest option.
- Overnight train to Trang (16-17 hours in a sleeper berth), then a 2-hour minivan to the island. More comfortable than the bus, but the connection adds hassle.
Both work fine, but you lose a full day of travel either way. Most people just fly.
Good to know #
- There is no bridge from the mainland to Koh Lanta yet. A second bridge project is underway with completion expected around 2029, but for now the car ferry is the only road connection.
- If you're coming from Phuket by road rather than ferry, the drive is about 4-5 hours via the mainland (through Krabi).
- Travel agencies all over Saladan sell combined tickets for any route. Prices are similar everywhere.