From party-going backpackers at the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, dive enthusiasts on Koh Tao, rock climbers in Krabi, honeymooners and families on holiday on Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi, the islands in southern Thailand offer something for just about everyone. As a result, many have become increasingly popular and crowded over the years, especially during the drier winter season. The reality of secluded white sand beaches meeting vibrant turquoise waters, where your only company is that of the gentle offshore breeze and a few picturesque wooden longtail boats anchored off the beach, has become mostly a myth at this point. Instead, many of these islands are now home to trash-littered beaches, overcrowded tours, and hiked up prices.

Except for this one largely yet to be discovered island off the coast of Krabi: Koh Lanta.

This sleepy, slow-paced island has yet to be claimed by The Beach effect (Maya bay on Koh Phi Phi–where the famous movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed–is closed indefinitely due to environmental damage from heavy tourist traffic) and remains relatively undeveloped compared to holiday hotspots like Phuket and other Thai islands. On Koh Lanta, one can still find empty beaches and seclusion from the crowds to truly get away from it all.

I went to Koh Lanta after a wild–and sleep deprived–week ringing in the New Year in Chiang Mai and needed some beach time to relax and recover, and that’s exactly what I found.

The Beaches

Easily, the best aspect of Koh Lanta is the quiet and idyllic beaches. The entire west coast of the island is littered with, what are in my opinion, the nicest beaches in all of Thailand. Imagine long, wide stretches of fine-grained white sand, calm, clear tropical waters to swim in, and only a few other people to share it with. Or, just take a look at the following photos and see for yourself:

Other beaches include: Nui Bay (small and scenic but can get busy during mid-day), Klong Chak (title image), and Klong Khong (best nightlife, especially at the Mushroom Bar).

What to Do

Rent a Motorbike

The easiest, and cheapest, way to get around Koh Lanta is via motorbike. Renting one will cost around 200 baht per day for an automatic bike (you can get a small discount if you rent it for multiple days). While riding motorbikes on many of the other Thai islands (particularly Koh Phangan), and just driving in Thailand in general, can be extremely dangerous, there is hardly any traffic on Koh Lanta and only a few roads, making it near impossible to get lost. It is actually a great place to learn if you’ve never driven one before! However, do use caution if you choose to drive yourself as the roads can have many potholes and Thai drivers can be very unpredictable.

Head south towards all the beaches mentioned above; the further south you go, (generally) the quieter the beaches will get. I spent most of my days driving around and beach hopping on my motorbike.

At the southern tip of the island is a National Park with a few hikes and another secluded beach. I didn’t go because I’m quite poor and the entrance fee costs 200 baht (and the beaches are free!).

Browse the markets and shops of Old Town on the east side of the island.

Go north to the quieter Koh Lanta Noi and drive through the countryside and past small local villages. This part of Koh Lanta is virtually void of tourists and offers a small glimpse of local island life.

Explore!! There’s only one road that goes around the island and a few that cross it, but it’s easy to get away from it all here. I could have easily spent another week driving around and discovering new spots.

4 Island Tour

If you’re feeling as if you actually need to do something instead of wasting away the days sun bathing on the beach, the 4 Island Tour is a popular option (but is there anything really that wrong with relaxing on the beach all day? Didn’t think so). I’m usually not a fan of tours or “Top-things to Do,” as they are often overcrowded and overpriced tourists traps; however, this tour, though still being overcrowded, is well worth the 700 Baht price and brings visitors to some incredible sights.

The four islands include Koh Ngai for snorkeling and beach time, Koh Mook for the majestic Emerald Cave and lunch on the beach, and more snorkeling on Koh Chueak and Koh Kradan.

The highlight of the trip is the Emerald Cave–a true geologic wonder that is only accessed by an 80 meter swim from the open sea through a tight dark tunnel before it opens up to a small emerald pool and sandy beach in the middle of the island. The beach is surrounded by immense steep cliffs on all sides and can only be seen from the sky above, making it the perfect little secret hideout. Legend has it, pirates once used the cave to safely store their treasure. It’s a refuge even Robinson Crusoe would have been jealous of!

My only complaints of the tour is that it is overpacked with people (but that’s how it always goes) and much of the time is spent on the boat, leaving little time to actually enjoy the stops. Although, for 700 Baht (including lunch and snacks), it is one of the more reasonably prices tours I’ve found on any of the Thai islands and allows you to see some of the lesser visited islands in the area. If you are with a group, I would, instead, recommend hiring a private longtail boat for a day (about 7,000 Baht for the boat), allowing you to visit the same places without the huge crowds of people.

Enjoy the Sunsets!

Koh Lanta has some incredible sunsets and a number of bars and restaurants offering seaside views where you can watch the sun go down while enjoying a delicious local Thai or seafood meal.

These are just a few of the reasons Koh Lanta has become my favorite island in Thailand. I would highly recommend a visit if you are planning a trip to the Land of Smiles, but please, please, please (I seriously can’t emphasize this enough) travel responsibly and sustainably so this magical place doesn’t end up like all those other crowded, polluted Thai islands. Remember to always be mindful of buying single-use plastics, where your waste ends up, and how your actions affect the local environment and communities.