At a Glance
- Location: Krabi Province, southwest Thailand – accessible by car ferry from the mainland
- Best time to visit: November to April: dry season, calm Andaman Sea
- How long to stay: 7 days is enough to get a good feel but longer if you want to totally chill
- Best for: Couples but also families who want beaches without the heavy tourist trail
- Budget (family of 4): ~6,000 baht per day (USD$180)
- Getting there: Car ferry from Hua Hin Pier (mainland): see our full guide here
- Getting around: for a family then Hire car is strongly recommended but for couples and singles the scooter is king and they are everywhere, dominating the roads
- Best area to stay: Head south for quieter beaches, better scenery
- Family friendly rating: 7/10: beautiful beaches but busier than we expected, and watch out for the cheeky monkeys
Koh Lanta had a reputation that was quiet, laid back and great for families including worldschoolers like us so after two months in Hua Hin, we headed off in search of a chilled vibe and great connections.
The reality was a little more complicated than what we heard, as we found it busier than expected, a lack of worldschoolers and home to a tribe of monkeys who had absolutely no respect for hire cars, packed lunches, or personal boundaries.
We loved it anyway.
This is our honest guide to Koh Lanta with kids – the stunning beaches, the cheeky wildlife, the dodgy waterpark, and everything in between.
In This Article:
- What is Koh Lanta like for families?
- When to visit Koh Lanta with kids
- Getting to Koh Lanta
- Getting around Koh Lanta with kids
- Where to stay in Koh Lanta
- Where to eat in Koh Lanta
- Things to do in Koh Lanta with kids
- The monkey situation – a warning
- The waterpark – proceed with caution
- Day trips from Koh Lanta
- Costs and budget
- Is Koh Lanta worth it for families?
- Frequently asked question
What is Koh Lanta Like for Families?
Koh Lanta is a sizeable island in Krabi Province, large enough to take about 45 minutes to drive from top to bottom, sitting in the Andaman Sea off the southwest coast of Thailand. It’s connected to the mainland by car ferry.
The island has a reputation as one of Thailand’s more relaxed family-friendly options – far less developed than Phuket, less party-focused than Koh Phangan, with long stretches of beach, warm clear water, and enough to do without being overwhelming.
We arrived expecting quiet. We found busier than anticipated – the main strip was crawling with sunburnt tourists on scooters when we arrived but the key to Koh Lanta is simple: head south. The further south you go, the quieter the beaches, the better the swimming, and the more the island starts to deliver on its peaceful reputation.
Our honest take: We never fully clicked with Koh Lanta’s vibe – it felt more geared towards couples and younger travellers than families. That’s not to say we didn’t have a great time. We did. The beaches in the south were genuinely beautiful, and the wildlife encounters were pretty unforgettable. We probably just had expectations of a more idyllic island. Go with flexible expectations and you’ll have a good time.
When to Visit Koh Lanta with Kids
Dry Season (November to April) – Best
The Andaman coast has a different weather pattern to the Gulf of Thailand. The dry season here runs November to April with calm seas and sunshine. We visited in January and the weather was outstanding.
Wet Season (May to October) – Avoid
The southwest monsoon hits the Andaman coast hard. Heavy rain, rough seas, and many guesthouses and restaurants close entirely during the low season.
Getting to Koh Lanta
By Car Ferry: Our Route
We drove from Hua Hin – a ten-hour journey we wisely broke into three days, stopping at Phraya Nakhon Cave and various small coastal towns along the way. The drive down the coast was stunning.
The car ferry crossing onto Koh Lanta takes about ten minutes and runs regularly throughout the day – there’s no timetable, it just runs when its full and there appears to be a constant stream in high season.
Read our full guide: Car Ferry to Koh Lanta – Everything You Need to Know Here.
By Minibus and Ferry from Krabi
If you’re coming without a car, minibus and ferry combinations run regularly from Krabi Town and Ao Nang. Book in advance through Bookaway – seats fill quickly in peak season.
Book your ferry, minibus, bus travel here with bookaway.
Getting Around Koh Lanta with Kids
Hire Car: The Best Option for Families
Having our own car was, without question, the best decision we made on Koh Lanta. The island is too large to walk anywhere useful, taxis are scarce and expensive, and the distances between the beaches mean that without transport you’re largely stuck wherever you’re staying.
With a car we had the flexibility to go where we wanted and when. Driving is straight forward enough but you need to take it easy as there’s so many inexperienced tourists riding scooters.
Book your car hire here.
Scooters
The majority of tourists get around on scooters. They’re everywhere, they’re cheap, and they give you complete freedom. With young kids though, a car was our only realistic option so we’d suggest a car over a scooter for families with younger kids.
Taxis and Songthaews
Available but infrequent and can be expensive. Don’t rely on them as your primary transport option.
Where to Stay in Koh Lanta with Kids
Stay South
This is the single most useful piece of accommodation advice we can give about Koh Lanta: stay south. The north of the island around Ban Sala Dan (the main town) is busier, more developed, and the beaches are less impressive. The further south you go, towards the Hat Nui and Kantiang Bay areas, the quieter, more beautiful, and more genuinely relaxing it gets.
The south also has the best beaches for swimming and is closer to the national park, which is worth visiting.
The stayed in a 2-bedroom villa called Patcharin House, located just a 5-minute walk from Khlong Noen Beach. It was very spacious, clean and had everything we needed. Just a short walk to cafes, bars etc.
Book Patcharin House here.
Or find other Koh Lanta Accommodation here.
Where to Eat in Koh Lanta with Kids
Koh Lanta has a decent range of food options. The main tourist strip in the north has the most choice. The further south you go, the more limited the options become. In general, food is noticeably more expensive than the mainland. For example, in Hua Hin, we were paying 40 baht for the cheapest dish. Here it was 60-80 baht.
Tips for Eating with Kids on Koh Lanta
- We ate a couple of times at Lek Lek restaurant, just back from Lanta Klong Nin Beach. Small, friendly and decent food – cheaper than the beach front places on the other side of the side. 80 baht per dish.
- If you’re missing Western food and fancy a good burger, then Kin Burger just up the street from Khlong Noen Beach does great burgers starting at 99 baht for a single burger.
- View Restaurant – you can’t miss this place as you head south, located on a bend with fantastic sea views. We went for breakfast, and the kids had quite possibly, the fattest pancakes I’ve ever seen, for 100 baht each.
- We went for sunset at Klong Dao beach to Kaw Kwang Café – whilst the food was ok but nothing to shout home about, the sunset was spectacular. 730 baht for four including two beers.
Things to Do in Koh Lanta with Kids
1. The Beaches: Head South
Koh Lanta’s beaches are genuinely beautiful – long, wide sweeps of white sand with warm clear water and the kind of turquoise you hoped for. The beaches in the south of the island are the pick of the bunch: less crowded, better for swimming, and backed by jungle rather than tourist infrastructure.
Sandy Beach in the National Park: The best beach on the island in our opinion but you do need to pay to enter the park (200 baht adults, 100 baht kids) but it’s wonderful spot with shade, stunning waters and stunning surrounding scenery.
Klong Chak beach: hidden, located down a track, this beach has a couple of restaurants where you can hire umbrellas. There are some rocks for the kids to go rock-pooling. The sea was calm and gentle.
Relax Bay: A really nice beach but a little too rocky and no shade
Klong Dao Beach: A great spot for sunset at this huge endless beach
Bamboo Beach: Another stunning beach and what’s good about this one is the trees to shelter under right next to the white sand. Located down a hard-to-find turning but totally worth it when you find it.
2. Koh Lanta National Park
The southern tip of the island is a national park which has a protected stretch of jungle, mangroves and a rocky coastline with a couple of stunning beaches thrown in for good measure. There’s a lighthouse at the very southern point with views across the Andaman Sea, and walking trails through the jungle if you fancy something more active. The beach here, Sandy Beach, in our opinion was the best on the island.
Entrance fee is 200 baht adults and 100 baht for kids and it was almost empty when we went. A good option for families who want something beyond the beach.
3. The Monkey Situation
This is worth its own section.
Like most parts of Southeast Asia, Koh Lanta has monkeys. A lot of them. And they have absolutely no fear of humans, hire cars, or the concept of private property.
One afternoon, eating lunch with the car parked nearby, an entire troop emerged from the bushes and launched a full-scale assault on our vehicle. At first it was amusing. Then I noticed the increasingly concerning way their leader was eyeing the door handle, wipers and anything else he could grab.
I tried to confront him but I was welcomed with a loud hiss and a display of fangs that were considerably more impressive than my attempt at intimidation. I retreated.
They got bored eventually but not before depositing a fresh offering on the car roof that required some skills to remove to avoid an explanation to the hire company.
A day later, I made the mistake of leaving the car door open for just one minute. Immediately, a monkey was in the front seat and out with a packet of crackers before I’d processed what was happening. He then climbed a tree to scoff the lot right in front of me.
Practical advice:
- Never leave food visible in your car
- Never leave windows or doors open unattended
- Don’t approach them – they look cute, but they can be vicious
4. The Waterpark – Cheap, fun, run-down – proceed With Caution
We headed to Chom View Water Park for a few hours. It was a bit run-down as both me and the kids came out with minor cuts and bruises so it’s worth being extra cautious on the slides.
It’s approx. 4 large slides and several other smaller slides. My kids went on all of them no problem.
But at 200 baht for adults and 150 baht for kids, it was a cheap afternoon out.
And the kids loved it.
Our verdict: You know you’re getting old when you injure yourself at a waterpark. But the kids didn’t care it was a bit tired, they just had a blast.
5. Day Trip to the Surrounding Islands
One of the best things you can do from Koh Lanta is take a day trip by longtail boat to the surrounding islands. The Andaman Sea around Koh Lanta is dotted with limestone karst islands — the same dramatic formations that make Phang Nga Bay and Koh Yao Noi so spectacular. Often dressed up as “4-island tour” – they nearly all take in Hong Island plus a selected 3 other islands, depending on what the captain fancies. The star of the show is by far Hong Island – anything else on top is a bonus.
Ours costs 2,800 baht for a family of four for a 4.5-hour tour. It could’ve been longer, but kids were exhausted so we skipped an island. There is also a 300/150 baht entrance fee (adult/child), payable on Hong Island.
Hong Island is the new Maya Bay (Koh Phi Phi Lee, where the film, The Beach was filmed). It’s a breathtaking lagoon hidden from the ocean. There’s a walkway to the top of a cliff with the most stunning views across Phang Nga Bay and looking down at Hong Island lagoon. The walk takes just ten minutes, and whilst it is a steep climb, it’s totally worth it.
The only made two other islands as the kids were exhausted:
- Ko Pak Ka – we stopped here for snorkelling which was a great experience for the kids. Life jackets are provided.
- Ko Ka Mit – a large sand bank hanging off the edge of one of the karsts, with stunning views
Book tours and trips on Koh Lanta here.
Is Koh Lanta Worth It for Families?
Yes, absolutely! but manage your expectations going in.
Koh Lanta is not the quietest or most family-focused Thai island. It felt more like a couple’s destination to us with younger crowds, scooter-heavy, with a vibe that didn’t entirely suit a family of four looking for a relaxed base. If that’s what you’re after, Koh Yao Noi was a better fit for us personally. We met other families with the same view as us but also online people talked up Koh Lanta as a great family spot. So, check it out yourself and make up your own mind.
But the beaches in the south are genuinely beautiful. The national park is worth a morning. The day trips to surrounding islands are excellent. And the monkey encounters, in retrospect, from a safe distance, make for brilliant travel stories.
Go south, hire a car, keep your windows closed, and don’t leave snacks unattended. Do all of that and Koh Lanta will give you a good time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Koh Lanta good for families with young children?
A: Yes, with some caveats. The beaches in the south are beautiful and safe for swimming in the dry season, and there’s enough to do for a week. We just had expectations of it being a little quieter, but if you’re ok with that, then it’s an awesome spot.
Q: When is the best time to visit Koh Lanta with kids?
A: November to April is the dry season on the Andaman coast and the best time to visit. The sea is calm, the beaches are perfect, and the island is fully operational. Avoid May to October as the monsoon can be severe and some facilities close entirely.
Q: How do you get to Koh Lanta?
By car ferry from the mainland if you have a vehicle – just a ten-minute crossing. Or by minibus and ferry combination from Krabi Town or Ao Nang, which can be booked through Bookaway. We drove from Hua Hin and broke the journey over three days, which we’d recommend. See our full car ferry guide here.
Do you need a car on Koh Lanta?
Yes, or at least some form of motorised transport. The island is too large to navigate on foot and taxis are infrequent and expensive. We hired a car and it was essential for exploring the south and getting between beaches. Scooters are the most popular option for other travellers but with young kids we’d strongly suggest a car.
Are there monkeys on Koh Lanta?
Yes. And they are considerably bolder than they look. Keep food out of sight in your vehicle, never leave windows or doors open unattended, and do not attempt to approach or feed them. They are faster, more determined, and significantly less intimidated by adults than you might expect. We learned this the hard way, twice.
What are the best beaches on Koh Lanta?
Head south. The beaches in the southern half of the island – around Kantiang Bay and beyond towards the national park, are the quietest and most beautiful. The further south you go, the better the swimming and the fewer the crowds.
Our favourites were:
Sandy Beach at the National Park
Klong Chak beach
Bamboo Beach
Is Koh Lanta expensive?
Koh Lanta is affordable by Western standards and cheaper than Phuket, but being an island, it is more expensive than the mainland and almost double the prices we paid in Hua Hin. Budget accommodation is available, street food and local restaurants are cheap, and day trips are reasonably priced. A family of four can manage comfortably on USD$180 per day.
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