How to Get from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang and Vice Versa

By Speed Boat

The quickest way to go from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta and back is the express transfer, which is accomplished by both a minivan and speedboat that will accompany you and drop you right at your door. The trip takes about 2.5 hours; however, the price of the whole thing is about 2450 Baht per person (all prices are subject to change) and children’s ticket prices are 1225 Baht from 2 to 12 years, and children under 2 are not charged.

You can take a minivan from Ao Nang to the Krabi speedboat pier which takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Then you get on board the speedboat which will result in taking you on a trip to the coastline of Koh Lanta that lasts for 15 minutes. Your speedboat will then arrive in Koh Lanta at Saladan, where you will be transferred to your hotel by car. The Journey’s total time will take from 2 to 2 and one half hours, depending on your hotel’s location.

By Ferry

Ferries are always the best option as they solve the very difficult equation of price and quality. They are cheap and at the same time very comfortable and offer a high-quality service to all its happy passengers.

The ferry departs and arrives in Nopparatthara Port in Ao Nang and from Saladan Pier in Koh Lanta. There is a stop at Koh Phi Phi in Tonsai Pier.

Note that the ferries stop in Koh Phi Phi along their way. The waiting time for a ferry at Koh Phi Phi can take up to 2 or 3 hours, prior to moving on to your final destination. This means that you have some time to check out Koh Phi Phi. There is always a daily service running from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang, and vice versa, especially in the high season.

Check the updated schedules, prices and book your trip here

The trip from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang takes about 2 hours.

The schedule as the time of writing is as follows:

From Koh Lanta at Saladan Pier (13:30) to Ao Nang at Nopparat Thara Pier ( 15:30 ) (2:00 hours)
From Ao Nang at NopparatThara Pier (10:30) to Koh Lanta at Saladan Pier ( 12:45 ) (2:15 hours)

The ferries operate daily, going from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang, and vice versa in the high season, from November to April. But sometimes from September through May the service is almost shutdown because of the unpredictable hard and large waves which can make the journey dangerous. If you are going to travel from September to May then other ways of transport should be considered. Also, be prepared for sudden weather changes and high tides that may lead to the cancelation of your trip, however this is rare in the high season.

By Minivan

The trip from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta takes from 3 to 4 hours, as the trip includes both ferry and car to Koh Lanta. The time of the journey may change anytime, depending on whether or not there are waiting lists for the car or ferry. It also depends on your hotel’s location and where it is located in Koh Lanta. The journey does not include any snacks so we would always recommend that you bring some snacks and water with you which can be purchased from anywhere prior to departure in Koh Lanta or Ao Nang. The minivan driver will drop the passengers off at the front door of your hotel.

Have an enjoyable trip from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta in an air-conditioned private minivan transport. The minivan costs about 3900 Thai Baht, which carries from one to six passengers. The price of the minivan is for the whole thing not per passenger, but if you have a group of people the price can be divided and shared. Its full capacity is 6 people, and the minivan does not pick up extra guests.

This a comfortable but expensive option, that requires some time and a lot of money, unlike the ferry option which is both comfortable and cheap.

When to Visit Koh Lanta and Ao Nang?

The best time to visit is from November to April, which is called the high season, the weather in the high season also rarely has any rapid and dangerous changes as opposed to the low season which is from September to May. This low season is packed with all the rapid and hasty weather changes which sometimes leads to the shutting down of services such as ferries.

Overall, Ao Nang and Koh Lanta have great atmosphere and weather conditions, and it is of course hot most of the time because of the tropical vibe of Thailand. Therefore, it is advised to apply sunscreen before you get out into the beautiful sun and wear protective clothing. However, sometimes it gets cold at the beach at night so also take a jacket and comfortable clothes.

What is the point of a vacation without the amazing privilege of getting to explore new and amazing places?

Places to Visit Near Ao Nang

Visit the Krabi surrounding Islands

It is known that there are almost 200 islets and islands all around the coastline of Krabi, many of them have outcrops of rocks that are small and rise precariously from the inside of the sea and have no landing. Other islands are an exception as they are larger but uninhabited with distinctive white sand beaches, intricate cave systems, and coral reefs.

You should go and hop all around these islands and explore all of their riches. You can rent a local boat from Ao Nang, Krabi Town or even Railay, and explore all of these islands lead by an informative guide. Also, you can go kayaking or snorkeling on a trip of your choice. Some of the surrounding islands include:

Bamboo Island

One of the 6 islands in the Koh Phi Phi region located south of Krabi province and also one of the best. It is a 600m wide and 700m long embodiment of a tropical dream come to life, the island is completely surrounded by a white sand strip and the central part has magnificent looking vegetation which is filled with bamboo trees, giving the island its name.

It is definitely a perfect place for a picnic or a day trip, it is also a haven for snorkelers all around as it has superb coral reefs and flora and fauna.

It also has bars that serve snacks and drinks, and tents if you want to stay and spend the night on this beautiful island.

Koh Phi Phi islands

Koh Phi Phi Island is the superstar of all of Thailand’s islands. It has been in films, it is the talk of the town. Even with the huge hype around the island it never fails to impress every traveler that sets foot on its majestic prowess. When you approach the island by boat you will notice it rising from the waters like a beautiful fortress, with towering cliffs and the jungle in front of the beach.

The thing that is most endearing about this place is its attitude, you will never find a place on earth with the same attitude as this island.This chill, laid back vibe can’t really be described but only experienced. There are no crowds or the hustle and bustle of other tourist attractions, it is utter heaven.

Places to visit in Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta Old Town

This amazing place is filled with history and precious memories. It is a little hard to find but once you find it you will marvel at its greatness. It is filled with pleasing wooden houses that are located on stilts and many of these houses are actually restaurants. The location has a reputation for being filled with great local cuisine and internationally influenced cafes and restaurants like Caouthchow Restaurant. Its food is a mix between Thai cuisine and French cuisine which is very flavorful and you will never forget it.

The town has museums and shops where you can purchase some souvenirs, taking a piece of history and memory with you back home. The best time to visit is early in the morning or at the end of your day. It's filled with private and public museums, and it’s also a place for a lovely picnic. There are many cafés and restaurants to keep you refreshed along the day.

Klong Chak Waterfall

Imagine yourself hunting for waterfalls in the jungle and suddenly you come upon a hidden waterfall named the Klong Chak Waterfall. You will feel that you came across a treasure. After you pass an elephant tour you will start to walk to a small jungle that will thicken gradually as you trek deeper and deeper.

At the end of the day you will find yourself walking alongside and into a stream, which you must ford to reach the other side.The waterfall doesn’t have much water into the high season but is still very impressive and has a powerful flow that will sometimes be able to knock you over.

There is a pool at the bottom end of the waterfall, which has red sand and crystal-clear water which will make you feel like you are in a surreal dream. This is a very accessible and easy adventure that you will never forget.

Recap

After all of the hard and worthy comparisons we can conclude that the ferry is the best means of transport because it is cheap and comfortable. It also gives you the opportunity to actually explore the sea and take a look at some islands and maybe take some photos to capture the breathtaking moments that you will remember at your most stressful times.