Koh Lanta is one of those Thai islands that slowly grows on you. It is not the kind of place that tries too hard, but once you’ve visited, it will stick with you forever. There are no wild parties on every corner, no constant noise, and you don’t feel the rush to visit a famous viewpoint so early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Instead, Koh Lanta feels calm, warm, and a little bit sleepy, but in the best way you can think of.
I visited Koh Lanta twice: once in November 2023, during the rainy season (which luckily wasn’t too bad), and again in April 2025, when the island felt hotter, and a bit more alive. Both times, I stayed for about one week, which honestly felt like the perfect amount of time to slow down.
In this post I’ll break down a list with a mix of fun things to do on the island and things that I’ve done myself and give you my honest opinion about them. Hopefully this will make it easier for you to plan your activities in Koh Lanta and get an impression of the best things to do on Koh Lanta.
Best Things to Do in Koh Lanta Thailand
1. Rent a Scooter and Explore the Island at Your Own Pace
One of my favorite things to do in Koh Lanta was simply renting a scooter and driving around without having every stop planned out. Koh Lanta is the kind of island where this actually makes sense, because the best part is not always one specific “must-see” hot spot, but the feeling of finding your own little beach, stopping at a local cafe, finding a more ‘hidden’ viewpoint.
Both times I visited Koh Lanta, we rented a scooter to get around the island. We used it for beach hopping, going to cafes to get some work done, visiting the gym, doing laundry, and just handling the normal everyday things you somehow still need to do, even when you are on a tropical island. Very glamorous, I know. Nothing says island life like balancing a laundry bag on a scooter while sweating through your clothes.
My honest tip: if you feel confident driving a scooter, rent one. It gives you so much freedom. But only do it if you are comfortable, wear a helmet, drive slowly, and be extra careful on busier roads or after dark.
2. Rent a Kayak and Spend a Day on the Sea
Renting a kayak is a great activity if you want to do something active in Koh Lanta but still keep the slow island feeling. It is the kind of activity that sounds very peaceful in your head, until you realize your arms are doing more work than expected and the sea has its own opinion about where you should go.
We didn’t rent a kayak during our time in Koh Lanta, because we already went on a kayak tour in Koh Phi Phi, but there were some people going out on the water from time to time. So, who knows, maybe I’ll try it for myself next time!
3. Visit an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
If you want to see elephants while visiting Thailand, please only do it through an ethical elephant sanctuary. For me, this is really important, because unfortunately, not every elephant sanctuary in Thailand is responsible. I would personally avoid every company that offers elephant riding, bathing, feeding them, or unnatural interactions just for tourist photos.
An ethical elephant sanctuary should be focused on observation, learning about the animals, and supporting their care, rather than using elephants as entertainment for tourists.
This kind of experience can be really special, especially if you are visiting Thailand for the first time and want to learn more about elephants in a respectful way.
Luckily there are some ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. Koh Lanta has one of the oldest ones: Following Giants. We haven’t visited the one in Koh Lanta, but they opened a second place in Krabi, which we did visit and were completely blown away by it. The caretakers are very knowledgeable and tell you everything about the sanctuary and the past of each elephant they rescued. It’s very interesting and lovely to see the elephants being happy in their natural habitat. I really recommend visiting one of the Following Giants sanctuaries, in Koh Lanta or Krabi.
4. Explore Other Islands with 4 Island Tour
The 4-Island Tour is one of the most popular day trips from Koh Lanta, and it is a good option if you want to see more than just the main island. Koh Lanta itself is beautiful and calm, but the boat tours give you that classic Thailand island-hopping experience with clear water, limestone cliffs, snorkeling spots, and small islands that feel completely different from Long Beach or Klong Nin.
Expect to swim in turquoise waters, through a dark tunnel ending up at a 360 degrees rainforest wall, giving you one of the most spectacular views you can find in the area. That’s only one of the four stops. You’ll also visit Koh Kradan, Koh Chuak and Koh Ngai.
Sadly, the day of our reservation the weather was too bad to go out on the water, so our trip got canceled.
5. Go Beach Hopping Around the Island
Besides Long Beach, one of the nicest things to do in Koh Lanta is visiting different beaches around the island. The island has a very relaxed beach-hopping rhythm, and because many beaches have their own atmosphere, it is worth exploring more than just the one closest to your hotel.
What I liked about this is that you can keep it very low effort. You do not need a strict itinerary. Just take the scooter, choose a direction, and stop when a beach looks inviting.
I’ll share my 3 favorite beaches quickly with you: Long Beach, it’s a great beach to watch the sunset and have dinner. Nui Beach, perfect for a day full of soaking up the sun and searching for some seashells and marine life. Kantiang Bay, a picturesque beach further down south, meaning it will be less busy. The beach also has one of the bluest waters around Koh Lanta, perfect for tropical vacation pictures! 😉
I would recommend bringing swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and enough water, because once you are out exploring, it is easy to stay out longer than expected. Also, do not underestimate the heat. Koh Lanta can look very relaxed and innocent, but the sun is absolutely not joking around.
6. Try Local Thai Food at the Night Market
The night market was such a fun place to visit, especially if you love trying different Thai dishes and sweets. I always enjoy markets because they give you the chance to taste a bit of everything without committing to one full restaurant meal. It is also great when you are hungry but have no idea what you want, which is basically my personality after 6 p.m.
What I liked about the night market in Koh Lanta was the mix of food options. You can try Thai snacks, small dishes, grilled food, sweets, and whatever catches your eye while walking around. It is an easy evening activity and a nice break from sitting down at a restaurant.
I would keep in mind to bring cash as there were almost no stalls with ATMs. Go to the market with an empty stomach and try some of the smaller dishes instead of one big meal to get the real local food experience.
7. Snorkeling Tour Koh Haa and Koh Rok
This is a great activity if you want to spend a part of the day on the water. The tour includes several snorkeling stops, time to swim, and lunch is included as well. It is the kind of day where you leave the island for a while, see a completely different side of the area, and come back tired in the best way.
A snorkeling tour to Koh Haa and Koh Rok is such a cool day trip to consider if you want clearer water, see some coral, and more of that classic uninhabited island feeling. For sure, Koh Lanta itself has lovely beaches, but for proper snorkeling, I would say it’s better to join a boat tour to explore nearby islands.
Always remember to check the season and sea conditions before booking. Boat trips can depend a lot on weather, visibility, and waves, so it is better to stay flexible. Bring motion sickness tablets if you get seasick easily, cause boat rides can be rough sometimes. Nothing ruins a dreamy snorkeling day faster than realizing your stomach did not agree to the itinerary.
8. Visit Lanta Old Town
Lanta Old Town is located at the east side of Koh Lanta. It’s such a small, charming & authentic town where you’ll get the feeling that you’re stepping back in time. It’s an old fisherman’s town and the moment you enter you’ll understand what I mean. It looks like they are still living in the 1900s, which is part of the charm. Especially the houses and restaurants on stilts are a beautiful sight.
I personally enjoyed visiting Old Town as a day trip, because it gave a bit more variety to our week. Koh Lanta is great for beach days, but after a few days of sand, sea, and scooter rides, it is nice to see another part of the island. Old Town is not huge, so you do not need a full day unless you want to take it very slowly, have lunch, browse some shops, and sit somewhere at the waterfront with a drink.
My Final Review About Things to Do in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is maybe not the most popular and action-packed island in Thailand, and that is exactly why I liked it. It is calm, easygoing, and perfect for travelers who want to slow down for a few days. After visiting twice, I can say that Koh Lanta is one of those places I would recommend if you want beaches, sunsets, cafes, scooter rides, and a more relaxed version of island life.
My personal favorite area was Long Beach, because it had the best mix of beach, food, cafes, and convenience. I loved being able to start the day with a beach walk, work from a cafe, explore by scooter, and end with dinner by the sea. It felt relaxing in the best way possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Things to Do in Koh Lanta
Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting?
Yes, in my opinion it’s so worth it to add Koh Lanta to your Thailand itinerary. Especially, because of the laid-back vibe and it’s much quieter and less touristy compared to other ‘overrated’ Thai islands, I prefered Koh Lanta more.
How to Get to Koh Lanta?
Depends on where you are coming from, but if you go from Krabi, I suggest booking a minivan (incl. boat transfer) in advance. From Phuket or Koh Phi Phi, you can go by (speed)boat, which is a little faster, approximately 1 hour.
Best Time to Visit Koh Lanta?
From my own experience I would say, go around March/April, cause it’s hot and sunny all the time, perfect to book water activities or just chill at the beach and stroll slowly around the island.
Free Activities to Do in Koh Lanta
Explore the variety of beaches Koh Lanta has to offer. Go for a beach walk in the morning (one of my favorite things to do) to start the day in an active way, and after sit down at one of the cafes at the beach. Visit Lanta Old town to teleport back in time and discover more about the roots of this island.
Read My Other Koh Lanta Blogs
The Ultimate Koh Lanta Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Koh Lanta
