Key hubs
Koh Lanta airport and railway station
- Airport
- Krabi International Airport (KBV) is the usual gateway, about 2.5 hours by van and ferry; Trang and Phuket airports are also options
- Railway station
- None on the island. The nearest station is in Trang province; most visitors fly into Krabi and continue by road and ferry.
- Getting around
- Hotel pick-ups, tuk-tuks and songthaews on the west-coast road; motorbikes and jeeps for hire; longtail boats for island trips
How to reach Koh Lanta by air
The usual gateway is Krabi International Airport (KBV), about 2.5 hours by pre-booked van and ferry. Trang and Phuket airports are also options. Direct flights from Indian cities change often; check current schedules, and expect many itineraries to connect via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
How to reach Koh Lanta by train
There is no railway on the island. The nearest station is in Trang province, with trains to Bangkok, and onward travel is by road and ferry. Most visitors fly into Krabi instead.
How to reach Koh Lanta by road
Lanta has no bridge to the mainland. By road you cross by car ferry to Ko Lanta Noi, then use the bridge to Ko Lanta Yai; vans and private transfers do this from Krabi Airport and Krabi town. Allow 2 to 3 hours, longer with queues. Seasonal boats also run from Krabi and Phi Phi to Saladan pier.
Getting around Koh Lanta
On the west coast, tuk-tuks and songthaews run between Saladan and the beaches, hotels offer pick-ups, and motorbikes and jeeps are for hire. The road to the national park is unpaved. Longtail boats serve island trips; agree fares and return times first.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Koh Lanta
- Ask your hotel to book the van and ferry transfer door to door. The journey from Krabi Airport takes roughly 2.5 hours and includes a ferry queue.
- Do not rent a motorbike unless you ride confidently. Tuk-tuks, songthaews and hotel pick-ups are safer, and the unpaved road to the national park becomes treacherous after rain.
- Carry travel insurance with medical cover. The island has small clinics and Ko Lanta Hospital near the Old Town; serious cases may need transfer to the mainland.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.