Beaches, beaches, beaches, and even more beaches. That’s how I would describe Koh Lanta, and that’s what makes Koh Lanta such a special place to visit. It’s not overrun, it’s not too touristy, but it does have amazing beaches. There must be a catch, right?
Well, not really, that is if you don’t mind visiting an island not classified as party island. Expect Koh Lanta to be on the easy and slow side of things, not a hub full of party hostels and dirt cheap bars, rather a place that families and travelers looking to slow down to go. Next to that, Koh Lanta also has some of the best beaches that Thailand has to offer. That’s a win-win if you ask me.
I’ve loved going to the beach both times I was on Koh Lanta, the beaches are beautiful, clean, spacious, have that turquoise blue water, and above all, they’re not fully packed with people. In this post I’ll share some of my favorite beaches on Koh Lanta, so you won’t have to miss out on all the fun.
Best Beaches in Koh Lanta
Below you can read all about the best beaches on Koh Lanta according to my opinion. Please note that they’re not in particular order, they’re all great, although I do have my favorite. More on that later, so keep reading to find out!
1. Long Beach
Let’s start off at Long Beach (Phra Ae Beach), which as you can imagine, is quite long. It’s spread across 5 kilometers on the west side of the island and is home to plenty of beachfront hotels as well as numerous restaurants and beach bars.
In my opinion this is the main beach of Koh Lanta, even though Klong Dao beach exists and is closer to the main area, but let me explain. Long Beach, except for just being long, surprised me in a good way. It is very clean and on a sunny and calm day has that turquoise blue water that makes it feel fake, at the same time it also is the ideal place to chill out for a day.
Luckily for me our hotel was located right at Long Beach, so I’ve spent most of my mornings here. It’s the perfect beach if you want to cool off, catch some sun, play a bit of volleyball or enjoy a beachside dinner or drink.
It’s also the beach where a couple of my favourite restaurants are located at, like ZENITH CAFÉ and KinBurger, more on that in my Top Restaurants on Koh Lanta guide!
Long Beach is easily accessible from numerous points along Koh Lanta’s main road, but get there early to ensure you have a good parking space and to make the most out of your day.
2. Klong Dao Beach
This is Koh Lanta’s official main beach. Located right next to the main area of the island, Sala Dan, you’ll find Klong Dao Beach. This makes the beach one of the most popular destinations for tourists and you’ll notice that quickly. Even though it was busy when we visited the beach, it’s spacious enough to still find a quiet spot.
Instead of going during the day we decided to go during sunset and took some food with us to enjoy a sunset dinner on the beach. I can highly recommend it for a date night.
3. Secret Beach
Not so secret anymore, thanks Google ;), but still worth a visit. As said before, Koh Lanta isn’t too touristy so if you’re lucky the beach still feels like a secret and you’ll be there on your own. Expect to find a small secluded beach, white sand and turquoise water. The perfect beach to wind down and soak up some sun.
4. Nui Beach
A beautiful beach located about 15 to 20 minutes from the busy area in Koh Lanta, perfect as an add-on to a daytrip or to visit whilst beach hopping across the island. When I was there it was sunny, empty and small were waves rolling in. Perfect conditions as one might say, so it probably won’t surprise you to hear that we spent an entire morning here. When it’s empty and quiet it gives off a deserted island vibe.
However, I’ve heard from people on the island that it can be quite a hit or miss. There seem to have been some recent troubles with monkeys stealing valuables and food as well as literring in the bushes. So it’s good to keep an eye on your valuables as well as to not expect a squiky clean beach at all times.
5. Klong Hin Beach
Just a bit further south from Nui Beach you’ll find Klong Hin Beach on the side of the road. It’s one of the best places to watch the sunset, or just to chill. However it isn’t the best to swim though. When I visited it was low tide and all the rocks in the water were exposed, so I had to settle for views only! Make sure to check the tide schedule if you plan to swim here to avoid being disappointed when entering the beach.
6. Kantiang Bay
Kantiang Bay is located just at the end of a small village, and it really shows. There’s more tourism here, but at the same time it also had amenities like a local market closeby. Which is ideal if you want to stop in town to grab some lunch and enjoy it while sitting on the beach.
The beach itself can be categorized as the other ones; utterly stunning. It also has a couple of places to enjoy some food or a cold drink. But expect a bit more people here, you won’t experience true deserted island vibes here, but rather a laid-back vacation one.
I’ve visited here briefly during my day of beach hopping and it was just us and some other travelers, so you can say we were quite lucky.
7. Bamboo Beach
The last on our list for today, but definitely not the least. If you’re looking for a long beach, golden sand and turquoise waters, Bamboo Beach is your destination. It can get quite busy here, but the views make up for it. The beach is easily accessible by scooter or taxi and the views on the way there are already worth the entire trip.
I was treated to a day full of sun here and enjoyed absolutely every moment. It was just us, a book and an ice-cold coconut. What more can you ask for, right? So, if you’re looking for a beach to just ‘chill’, this is the one.
Map of Beaches
I’ve created a handy map for you to visualize some of my favorite beaches on Koh Lanta. As you can see, a lot of the beaches are conveniently located on the west side making it perfect to plan a day of beach hopping. You can read more on that in my favorite things to do on Koh Lanta guide.
Tips for visiting beaches
To make the most out of your beach day I would suggest going early in the morning. Each time I arrived I was there way before the crowds. This meant it was either more enjoyable because the sun wasn’t that harsh yet, or it was nice and quiet, giving off a more ‘remote island’ vibe. The best part about going early is that you’re able to enjoy the nature, hear the birds chirping, see the waves rolling in, and become one with your surroundings, without a lot of tourists and other noises.
Even if you’re going In the morning, make sure to take sunscreen with you, cause the UV in Thailand isn’t a joke. So yes, you can absolutely work on your tan (one of my favorite activities), but make sure to have some sun protection with you. I remember returning to our hotel one day with both my shoulders burned, just because I thought that the UV wasn’t that high and the sea breeze cooled me enough to think I didn’t need to put on some sunscreen.
Next to the sun protection, make sure you know what you’re doing when entering the waters. Especially the beaches on the west side of the island are known to have a steep decline a couple of meters into the water. This also bring in some pretty big rolling waves, so there is a possibility of getting swept of your feet.
Where to stay nearby
If you want a great mix of beach and amenities you should stay around or on Long Beach. It has by far the best on beach restaurants and prettiest views. That said, all the other beaches are at least an 8 out of 10 as well. And it depends on the vibe you’re looking for.
Long Beach is for travelers and families looking for a calm and peaceful stay on Koh Lanta whilst being close to everything. Klong Dao Beach is for travelers looking for a bit more hustle and bustle.
Both times I’ve went to Koh Lanta I’ve stayed in Lanta Sand Resort & Spa on Long Beach and I don’t regret it one bit. It has multiple pools (even with sea view), and lots of sunbeds right at the front of the beach. There are even a couple of hammock beds which create the perfect vibe to watch the sunset. And maybe even better, just around the corner you’ll find ZENITH CAFÉ and KinBurger for the best breakfast, lunch, and quick dinners on Koh Lanta. You’ll find more information about about the best restaurants in Koh Lanta in one of my other blogs.
Final Thoughts
Koh Lanta has numerous beaches and I’m only scratching the surface here, but in my opinion Long Beach is the best beach to go to for a mix of everything; white sand, blue waters, great beachside restaurants.
Although Long Beach is certainly my favorite on Koh Lanta, I would like to reaffirm that all the other beaches deserve credit too. All the beaches on the island are pretty in their own way, kilometers of sand, blue waters, secluded beaches, coral gardens, you can find it all across Koh Lanta. And that’s yet another reason to visit the island in the south of Thailand.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful in deciding which beaches you want to visit in Koh Lanta, and if you need some more tips, I’ve linked my other Koh Lanta guides below.
Read My Other Koh Lanta Blogs
The Ultimate Koh Lanta Thailand Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Koh Lanta
The Best Restaurants on Koh Lanta: Cafes & Restaurants I Would Recommend
What to Do in Koh Lanta Thailand: My Favorite Things to Do on an Island
