Bangkok and Krabi to Koh Lanta — Minivan and Car Ferry via Hua Hin Pier, or Speedboat from Ao Nang in High Season
Koh Lanta has no airport and no bridge to the mainland. How to get there from Krabi airport or town by road and ferry year-round, when the Ao Nang speedboats run, and how to route from Bangkok.
Koh Lanta is a large, quiet island south of Krabi with no airport and no bridge to the mainland. Getting there is always Krabi first, then either a minivan with a short car ferry, or a boat down the coast. It is simpler than it sounds, and the road option works in every season.
Step 1: Bangkok → Krabi
| Option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fly | 1 h 20 min | Many low-cost flights from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi; the default |
| Overnight bus | About 11–13 hours | Arrives at Krabi bus terminal before dawn; minivans to Lanta start mid-morning |
| Train to Trang or Surat Thani + road | Overnight sleeper + 2–3 hours by road | For rail travellers; Trang is the closer station |
Step 2: Krabi → Koh Lanta
By road and car ferry (all year)
Minivans from Krabi airport or town drive about 1.5 hours south to Hua Hin pier (not the Hua Hin beach town), cross by car ferry to Koh Lanta Noi in a few minutes, then continue over the Siri Lanta bridge to Koh Lanta Yai, the island with the beaches. Door to door is about 2–2.5 hours, and most vans drop you at your resort. This is the reliable option in the rainy season when boats stop.
- Book airport-to-resort minivan transfers Krabi–Koh Lanta: open 12Go
By boat (roughly November to April)
In high season, speedboats and ferries run from Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi's Klong Jilad pier to Saladan pier on Lanta, taking about 1–2 hours depending on stops. Some continue on to Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Lipe, making Lanta a step in an island-hopping chain. Boats are suspended or cut back in the monsoon months.
- See the full Bangkok–Koh Lanta options in one search: open 12Go
On the island
- Saladan, at the northern tip, is where boats arrive and where most shops, banks and dive schools are.
- Beaches run down the west coast: Klong Dao and Long Beach (Phra Ae) in the north are busiest; Klong Nin and the beaches further south are quieter, with the national park at the southern tip.
- Distances are large by island standards (the main road is about 25 km); a rented scooter or the resort's transfers are the usual way around.
Seasons
Lanta is an Andaman island: dry and calm from November to April, wet with rough seas from roughly May to October, when many resorts close and boats stop. The road-and-ferry route still works, and low-season prices are attractive if you accept rain.
Common mistakes
- Searching for boats in the rainy season. Use the minivan and car ferry; the boats are not running.
- Landing at Krabi late in the day. The last car ferry runs into the evening, but minivans thin out; book your transfer with the flight time.
- Underestimating the island's size. Choose the beach first and book accommodation there; moving between beaches means a taxi or scooter.
Summary
Fly to Krabi and take a minivan with the car ferry to your resort, which works in every month. In high season, consider the boat from Ao Nang for the scenery or to continue island-hopping south. Choose your beach before you book.