Ko Lanta
is the southernmost island off the coast in Krabi Province, Thailand.
Ko Lanta's geography is mountainous and rugged, especially near
the southern tip; some beaches are gravelly, other has fine white
sand. Clans of Chao Ley, or sea gypsies are the newest residents
on Ko Lanta Yai. They preserve many of their ancient customs, such
as setting ceremonial boats adrift to bring good luck and prosperity
on the full moon nights of the fifth and eleventh months. The island
is quite large and suffers from a spilt personality. The north end
is developed, with hundreds of hotels, resorts, cabins, rooms, shops,
restaurants and other regular backpacker haunts.
In the south development is more scattered, the jungle more prolific
and the beaches quieter and cleaner. The beaches are all on the
West cost, facing west onto the open Andaman Sea. The East side
of the island is mainly rocks and Mangrove forests, picturesque
in a dramatically different way, with many small islands on the
distant horizon.
Sun
Islnd Tours/Lanta Longtail is located at
our over-the-sea-house in Historic Lanta Old Town on the South Eastern Coast.
Originally, Si Raya (known today as Lanta Old Town) acted as the
port and commercial center for the island and provided safe harbor
for Arabic and Chinese trading vessels sailing between the larger
ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Today, Old Town was the district
capital; it has a Cultural museum, post office, police station and
the island’s hospital as well as a long pier. It is made up
of many charming old Chinese style wooden houses built 60-150 years ago. The village of Ban Sang Ga U on Lantas Southern tip
is a traditional Chao Ley fishing village. There are many good restaurants in Lanta Old Town. Two that come
to mind are Fresh Restaurant and Krua Lanta Yai or Beautiful. Both
sit on the waterfront with splendid views of Lanta’s eastern
Islands.
To
reach us, drive over the hill past the view point to the Eastcoast, once you pass the Ko Lanta police station take your next left, when you arrive at the pier turn RIGHT and follow the seaside road past the stilted houses. Check
out many original
Watercolors and Batik at the Lanta Leather shop in the middle of lovely Lanta Old Town.
MAP OF OLD TOWN
