Koh Lanta is an island in the Andaman Sea and part of Krabi province in Southern Thailand. If you are planning to visit this laid-back travel destination, find the best way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Koh Lanta is located about 80 kilometers south of Krabi Town, the capital of Krabi province. When traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, you need to get to Krabi, Trang or Phuket first as there is no direct route connecting the island with the capital of Thailand.
Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is not that complicated even if you need to transfer at one of the nearby cities. You can take one of direct flights from Bangkok to Krabi, Trang or Phuket. Plenty of buses also operate between Thailand's capital and these 3 southern provinces. On top of that, Trang can also be conveniently reached by train if you like that kind of travel.
The best way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lanta depends on your needs:
- the fastest way - taking a direct flight from Bangkok to Krabi Airport (KBV) and then transferring to Koh Lanta by a private car
- the cheapest way - taking an overnight bus to Krabi Bus Terminal and then transferring to Koh Lanta by a minivan
- the most comfortable way - taking a sleeper train to Trang and then transferring to Koh Lanta by a minivan
Just choose the way to travel depending on your preferences.
Flight from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
The nearest to Koh Lanta airports are Krabi Airport, Trang Airport and Phuket Airport. Krabi and Trang airports have direct road and boat connections to Koh Lanta so flying to one of these airports is the best option for traveling to Koh Lanta by air.
Flight from Bangkok to Krabi
Krabi Airport (KBV) is located only about 60 kilometers from Koh Lanta. Krabi Airport receives daily flights from both airports in Bangkok. Flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Krabi are offered by Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways and Thai VietJet Air. From Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Krabi you can fly with Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and AirAsia. Flight from Bangkok to Krabi takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Flight deals on this route can be found here:
From Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta
The most comfortable way for getting from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta is by private transfer. Private transfer can be booked here: Private Krabi Airport Transfers (KBV) for Hua Hin Pier (Koh Lanta).
Otherwise you can take a minivan directly from the airport to Koh Lanta. Trip from the airport to the island normally takes up to 1 hour.
Flight from Bangkok to Trang
Trang Airport (TST) is located about 90 kilometers away from Koh Lanta. From Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Trang you can fly with Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and AirAsia. Flight from Bangkok to Trang takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Flight deals on this route can be found here:
From Trang to Koh Lanta you can travel by a minivan and it can take about 2 hours to get there.
Flight from Bangkok to Phuket
Phuket Airport (HKT) is well connected with both airports in Bangkok by a big number of daily flights. Flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Phuket are offered by Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways and Thai VietJet Air. From Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Phuket you can fly with Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and AirAsia. Flight from Bangkok to Phuket takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.
Flight deals on this route can be found here:
Flights from Bangkok to Phuket
From Phuket to Koh Lanta you can travel by a ferry, minivan or private transfer. Various transportation options for a trip from Phuket to Koh Lanta can be found with this search form.
Bus from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is about 1,000 kilometers from Bangkok. If you want to travel by a bus from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, you need to take a bus to Krabi first and transfer there.
Bus from Bangkok to Krabi
Buses from Bangkok to Krabi depart from Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal. There are many bus companies providing the service. Most buses depart from Bangkok in the evening and arrive at Krabi Bus Terminal in the morning.
Bus schedule can be found and tickets can be booked here:
Minivan from Krabi to Koh Lanta
There is a direct minivan service from Krabi Bus Terminal to Koh Lanta which is very convenient as the minivan drops you off by the hotel. Minivans depart almost every hour and cost 250 baht.
Train from Bangkok to Koh Lanta
If you want to travel by train from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, the nearest railway station is in Trang.
Train from Bangkok to Trang
There are two daily trains from Bangkok to Trang. Trains depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in the evening and the journey takes about 16 hours so booking a sleeper is recommended.
It is possible to book train tickets at the station but booking a ticket online well in advance is recommended as sleeper trains on popular routes sell out quite often. Train tickets can be booked here:
Minivan from Trang to Koh Lanta
Once in Trang, you can take a minivan from Trang to Koh Lanta. Tickets for the minivan can be purchased from the tour agent opposite the train station.
Other options
More options for traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta can be found by using this search form.