Getting
to Koh Lanta, Krabi Thailand
Getting
here
There are many ways that you can get to Ko
Lanta. You could fly from Bangkok to either Phuket, Krabi
or Trang (which is the favoured way of many local people)
and then transfer here by bus or boat.
Alternatively, you could catch the train from
Bangkok to the South and transfer by bus from Trang. Similarly,
you could do the same from Hat Yai to the North.
By Car
Koh Lanta does not have roads connecting it directly to the
mainland, but it is served by car ferries. Take road 4206
off highway 4 about 60 kilometers south east of Krabi airport
(this road is only signposted in Thai). Cross over to Baan
Hua Hin .There is a car ferry from Baan Hua Hin to Koh Lanta
Noi. Follow the "ferry" signs on Ko Lanta Noi to
the second car ferry to Koh Lanta Yai. Ferries operate from
7am to 10 pm.
By
boat
Ferry services run boats are leaving twice daily from Klong
Chi Lard Pier to Koh Lanta Yai's Saladan pier.about 5 kilometer
our of Krabi down town. The old Chao-Fa Pier in Krabi Town
is no more usage. The departure time is at 11:00 and 13:30.
Because the Tsunami effect, by today there are only one trip
a day at 11:00. The boats arrive to Saladan at the northern
tip of Ko Lanta about 2 hours later.
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Krabi
Ferry Time Table
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Route
Description
|
Frequency
|
Times
|
Price
|
|
Depart
|
Arrive
|
|
Krabi - Phi Phi Island
|
Daily
|
09.30
11.00
15.00
|
11.00
12.30
16.30
|
250
250
250
|
|
Phi Phi Island - Krabi
|
Daily
|
09.00
13.30
15.30
|
10.30
15.00
17.00
|
250
250
250
|
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Ao-Nang, Railay Beach - Koh Phi Phi
|
High season Oct.-May
|
09.00
|
10.30
|
300
|
|
Koh Phi Phi - Ao Nang, Railay Beach
|
High season Oct.-May
|
15.30
|
17.00
|
300
|
|
Koh Phi Phi - Phuket
|
Daily
|
09.00
14.30
|
10.30
16.00
|
350
350
|
|
Phuket - Koh Phi Phi
|
Daily
|
08.30
13.30
|
10.00
15.00
|
350
350
|
|
Krabi - Koh Lanta
|
High season Nov.-May
|
10.30
13.30
|
12.00
15.00
|
250
250
|
|
Koh Lanta - Krabi
|
High season Nov.-May
|
08.00
13.00
|
09.30
14.30
|
250
250
|
|
Koh Lanta - Phi Phi
|
High season Nov.-May
|
08.00
10.30
13.00
|
10.00
13.30
15.00
|
300
300
300
|
|
Phi Phi - Koh Lanta
|
High season Nov.-May
|
11.30
14.00
15.30
|
13.30
16.00
17.30
|
300
300
300
|
Get around
The main road which loops around the island
is paved with cement. Some roads are unpaved dirt. Most of
the unpaved roads are in very bad condition with deep ruts;
some would be very difficult to negotiate in an ordinary sedan
car. It's worth knowing the names of the resorts near yours:
both the pickup trucks and motorcycle taxis will often want
to pick you up or drop you at a nearby resort with a better
road.
Resorts and some of the major tourist services
(like the dive shops) own large pickup trucks and transport
tourists around in the tray. Very occasionally, they own minibuses
instead. If you come in by ferry your resort will almost certainly
meet you at pier with their truck; if you're travelling with
very small children who you don't want to cling to while you
bump along sitting on the side of the truck you might want
to warn them in advance that you'll want to ride in the cab:
it's generally assumed to be the private domain of the driver.
You will find the locals almost exclusively
ride motorcycles; you can hire these in several places for
a few hundred baht a day. You can also hire motorcycle taxis
with sidecars. These will happily take you on the unpaved
roads but the ride can be as slow as walking. A typical fare
for a ride from Saladan to Klong Dao Beach is 40 baht.
Jeeps can be hired for 1200 baht per day.
Be sure to check insurance, contract terms and the condition
of the vehicle. The "roads" of Ko Lanta combined
with the driver operation characteristics of some renters
are a serious challenge for any car. The frequently available
Suzuki Sporty seems primitive and therefore sturdy, and a
replacement should cost around 150000 baht.
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