Located in the southwest of Thailand, Koh Lanta Yai is a magical tropical and paradisiac corner in the Andaman Sea. Enjoy making your own motorcycle trip around this unique island. In low season, there are hundreds of motorcycles to rent.
This place is mostly quiet, and a perfect spot to visit. You will only see the smiling locals listening and singing along to Bob Marley. Head first to the Lanta Emerald hotel in Baan Saladan of Krabi, and once you leave your belongings there, go to the Thing Tong bar where you can order a cold beer and incredible food as you sit down and chat with the Lantians, while listening to local bands playing melodramatic music.
A good way to relate and greet Thai people is by asking them “Have you already eaten?”. Sometimes, they say ‘no’ as an excuse to get food, because they always look for a reason to eat! The Thai menu is ample, and all food places will offer spicy food, meat larb; cups of white rice steamed or sticky, molded and fluffy; and fried or fried noodles. You must be careful what you order since the menu is in Thai, so read carefully and point exactly want you want to order. You can have fun trying to pronounce some words. Do not forget to try the desserts, ice cream sandwiches in hot dog breads or rice soaked in coconut milk with beet or taro root.
The next day, the birds will be your alarm clock. After renting your motorcycle, start your journey, and when you have covered about 24 km along the east road of the island, you can rest in Baan Lanta or “Old Town”, in this city you can admire the houses built on stilts on the sea that once served as a port for Chinese and Arab ships.
After the rest, you can take a free Lanta Biker Map while you watch the hammocks made by the indigenous tribes of the hills. Take tea at the boutique hotel Mando House and travel 10 km to Sang Kha Ou Resort and Spa. If the hotel is not open you can talk to its owner, a very kind man who will give you an inn in his own house in the tree with Seaview. The next day, have breakfast with owner Dtong and his staff, then leave the map and the smell of salt water will continue to guide you to the tour of this island.
You can visit this place in the low seasons, which is from April to June and from September to October. You will have the island almost for you alone and the temperature is quite cool. Do not forget to take a coat and prepare for refreshing showers.
You can get to the island from Krabi in a minivan, ferry and car, about three hours away. When arriving, for being low season many hotels may be closed, however, those that are open always offer a 50% discount for their clients.
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