What to See in Koh Lanta: My 3 Must-Sees

By Víctor Redondo

Over 2 months exploring the island

Koh Lanta, Thailand

If you’re after a “20 things to do” list to fill your days, look elsewhere. Living here taught me that the magic of Koh Lanta comes down to three moments. Do these three and you’ll have truly made the most of the island.

Forget about Phi Phi for a moment (that’s a separate day trip). This is what you have to see on Koh Lanta itself, no matter what.

The Secret Sunset Facing Ko Raeng 🌅

Lots of people watch the sunset from their hotel in Klong Dao or Long Beach and leave it at that. Big mistake.
The best spot on the whole island is at the far northern tip, on Kaw Kwang Beach. Just offshore sits a small uninhabited island called Ko Raeng.

The plan: head up there around 5:00 p.m.

The moment: when the tide goes out, a path of sand and rocks appears that almost lets you reach the island. The photos you can take from the restaurant are gorgeous. The sun going down right in front of you, with the orange sky reflected in the water, could be the best photo of your trip.

Where exactly: The Rock bar & restaurant (at the Avani+ hotel). Really good cocktails and food, a rocky spot out in the water and chill electronic music.

It’s a superb hotel right by the beach, with amazing views and top-quality pools and restaurants. And if you want to see more hotels or figure out where to stay, I’ve written the definitive guide.

Mu Ko Lanta National Park (The Wild South) 🐒

Rent a scooter and ride until the road literally runs out. Getting there is part of the experience (winding roads through the jungle, past several of the island’s best beaches), but the end of the road is the crown jewel.

The lighthouse: that white lighthouse on top of the cliff you’ve seen in every photo. Climbing up there gives you a 360-degree view, and it’s where I took my favorite photo of the whole trip. Yes, the panoramic one.
Forest walk: there’s a one-hour trail through the forest with a few uphill stretches, but nothing difficult.
The unspoiled beaches: on either side of the lighthouse there are beaches (like Sandy Beach) with hardly anyone on them. The water here is much clearer than up north.

⚠️ Watch out for the locals: the monkeys run the place here. Keep food out of sight and zip your backpack up properly: they know how to open zippers! That said, they don’t get as close as they do on other beaches I’ve been to around Krabi.

Lanta Old Town (The Most Famous Village) 🏮

If the west coast is all about beaches, this is all about history. It’s the perfect contrast.

What it is: a single, beautiful street full of red lanterns and wooden houses built on stilts over the sea.

What to do: come in the late morning, around lunchtime. Browse the craft and clothing shops (the quality here is better than at the beach markets).

The must-do lunch: stay and eat on one of the terraces over the water.

My recommendation: Mayutis Bar. The food takes a while to come out (island pace), but eating fresh fish or a schnitzel with the waves lapping under your feet is priceless.