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Ko Lanta Map and Information

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. A few years back most of the resorts were on the beaches in the North West: Klong Dao and Long Beach. Now there are quite a few resorts on all of the west coast. The roads have been recently sealed and they link all the main villages on the island that is 27 km long. Saladan, where the ferryboats and the minibuses arrive, is the village on the Northern tip of the island. It offers many restaurants, tour and information offices, mini markets, and banks.

Sun Fishing & Island Tours /Lanta Longtail is located at our 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 is 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
view point to the East coast, 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.
Look for our big sign out front

Check out the Art Gallery at Sun Island Tours, which features original Watercolors and Batiks.