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Lanta Islands National
Park
covers 152 square kilometers of Lanta Islands. This Island forms
the most southern district of Krabi Province. It was known long
ago by its name in the Malay language, Pulao Satak, which means
Long Beach Island. Later so many Thais, both Buddhist and Muslim,
came to live on the Island that there seemed to be a million eyes,
which is what some people think Lanta means in Thai. Others hold
that the name is corrupted from Javanese Lan Tas, and means a grilled
fishes (which is built of wood with a aquare grill on top where
the fish are set in a circle). Several important Islands are in
the national park.
 Travel to Koh Lanta : |
 Boat
depart from downtown Krabi to Koh
Lanta Yai daily. The journey takes 2 and a half hours. Boat
tickets are available at Chaofa Pier.
Tourist may a minibus from Krabi Town to Bo Muang Pier in Amphoe
Khlong Thom, 80 kilometres away. Few boats depart from Bo Muang
Pier to Koh Phi
Phi daily. The trip take about 45 minutes.
Since Koh
Lanta possesses both marine and terrestrial endowment, there
are many interesting attractions and activities waiting for your
discovery, be it beaches, dense rain forests, or cultural experience
in sea gypsies' village. Visitors can start traveling on Koh Lanta
at Ban Sala Dan Village, a typical Thai fishing village where most
of boats from Krabi and Phi Phi terminate. Motorbikes rentals are
available here; you can hire a boat for snorkeling or diving from
here as well.
The highlighted spots of Koh
Lanta are absolutely its wonderful beaches and crystal clear
water. Most of the best beaches of Koh Lanta lie along the western
shore of Lanta Yai Island, each of which has its characteristic
beauty and provides the excellent sunsets.
Klong Jark
This is the southernmost beach on Lanta. Despite its average
beauty by most standards, the beach offers its solitude and tranquility,
making it a good place to stay. The nearby deserted beach like Mai
Pai and the National Park are also the good secluded places. You
can go to waterfall in the surrounding area by elephant trekking
or self trekking.
Since Koh Lanta embraces more than 50 islands, there are several
interesting islands to visit for its excellent snorkeling and diving
sites.
Lanta Yai Island
is where the District and National Park offices are located.
Island geography is mountainous and rugged, especially near the
southern tip; some beaches are gravelly, others have fine white
sand. A clan of Chao Ley, or sea gypsies are resident on Koh Yao
Yai, and they preserve many of their ancient customs and ceremonies;
e.g., the setting of ceremonial boats adrift to bring good luck
and prosperity on the full moon nights of the sixth and eleventh
months. This and other features of their lives are open to view.
To visit the Island take a regularly scheduled ferry from Ban Hua
Hin Pier in Tambon Koh Klahng. Bor Muang Pier in Tambon Sai Kao;
or Chao Fa Pier in Krabi Town.
Taleng Beng Island
This Island is in some ways a smaller version of Phi
Phi Ley: Made of limestone-honeycombed with caves, inhabited by
the same swifts whose nests are made into soup. Small beaches and
caves appear when the tide ebbs.
Koh Hah (Hah island)
Consisting of five uninhabited islets, Koh Ha is under
responsibility of the Koh Lanta National Marine Park. These five
islets are visited for their flourishing corals, reef fish, caves
and swim-through caverns which cerate a good dive. The large pelagic
sharks and whale sharks are often seen here.
Ngai island
A fine sandy beach and coral reefs rundown the east side
of this Island. It is perfect for diving. Regular ferries and charter
craft are available from Pak Meng Beach in Trang Province.
Koh Rok Nai (Rok Nai Island)
The sub-division of the Koh Lanta National Marine Park
office is located on this island. The island is featured by the
sheer towering limestone cliffs facing the white fine beaches on
the east side.
Its waters are clear aquamarine, so clear that the colorful fish
and abundant corals underwater can be seen. The virgin nature of
Koh Rok Nai is still intact, and this is one of the most wonderful
dive sites of Lanta.
The inland area is covered with a dense tropical rain forest which
offers a natural walk to appreciate its floras and faunas. There
are also the camping sites on the island.
Transportation to Koh Rok Nok and Koh Rok Nai can be made from
the Pakmeng Pier in Trang, taking about 3-4 hours. Or, you can take
a speed boat from Kho Lanta; the boat service is available at tour
agencies, hotels and resorts on the island.
Koh Rok Nok (Rok Nok Island)
With its crescent shaped bay featuring cliffs, white
powdery sandy beach and a stand of banyan trees inland, Koh Rok
is extraordinarily magnificent. Camping is permitted on the island.
The offshore coral bed is good for snorkeling.
Hin Dang
This submerged open water reef in the Andaman features
a multiplicity of colourful corals to attract serious scuba divers.
| Getting to Koh Lanta: |
Koh
Lanta is actually 2 islands, very close to each other: Koh
Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai. For tourist purpose the only interesting
one is Koh
Lanta Yai, the one facing the open sea.
There are basically three ways to go there:
* by boat from Krabi
(2 hr., 200 baht)
* by minibus from Krabi (2 to
3 hr., 180 baht)
* by boat from Koh
Phi Phi (1 hr. 20, 200 baht)
The boats now look more "serious" that
the long tail which used to run 10 years ago and leave you at the
Pier in Saladan instead that on the beach.
I tried (for the first time) the minibus service
running three times a day from Krabi
(last trip 16.00). It took about one hour to get from Krabi to the
first ferry, and there we had to wait more than 40 minutes to be
able to get to Koh
Lanta Noi (15 minutes) the second ferry (to Koh Lanta Yai) was
faster.
Altogether it was a nice trip, even if the minibus was carrying
at least 4 people more than the normal load and we had to wait long
for the ferry. The ferry rides reminded me of the crossing of African
rivers, but with less rust on the ferry.
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