Unless your children are afraid of the water, they should have a great time playing along the beaches, swimming in the warm Andaman Sea and exploring the jungle parks of Koh Lanta. This quiet, low-key island doesn’t offer anything else in the way of entertainment, so be sure to bring plenty of things to keep the kids occupied. It’s precisely this peaceful, unhurried environment which makes it very safe for children to play and enjoy the trip.

Beaches
There are a dozen or so beaches along the western coast of Koh Lanta where the majority of visitors stay and each beach has its own character. Some, such as White Sand, Klong Dao and Klong Kaong Beach are geared more towards families and offer the most recreational amenities. However, don’t expect the exciting parasailing or jet-skiing found on neighbouring Phuket. Swimming should be fine during the dry winter season, but keep an eye on the kids when they’re in the water because conditions aren’t quite as placid as other islands. Most visitors never even stray from the beach where their bungalow is, and after a couple of days your kids will know everybody there.

Elephant trekking
What kid wouldn’t jump at the chance to ride through a jungle on the back of an elephant. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can do this unique activity, but fortunately Koh Lanta is one of them. The only places on the island where you can go for a ride are the beaches of Phra Ae and Nui. A trained guide, called a mahout, will take you and your elephant along the beach and up into the forested jungle hills which blanket the island.

Tham Khao Mai Kaeo
For an exciting and unusual experience which is quintessentially Thai island-style, make an underground exploration of this vast cavern which has been formed over millions of year by rains pounding away at the limestone rock. Some of the chambers are as spacious as an arena, punctuated with stalagmites and stalactites, while other passageways are so tiny you have to squeeze through them. You can even go for a swim in the crystal clear underground pool. You get muddied up during this adventure so don’t wear your favourite shirt. A guide will lead you to the cave and provide flashlights. During the dry season you can also take an elephant from Nui Beach through the jungle to the cave.

Koh Lanta is a pretty low-key island, and doesn’t offer much in the way of flashy cultural activities. It does, however, have one of the few remaining clans of Sea Gypsies left in Thailand, and checking out their way of life is very interesting indeed. In addition, the Muslim culture of southern Thailand is a striking difference from the Buddhist majority in the rest of the country. Classical music and dancing performances are offered, and nothing beats a traditional Thai massage after a day of snorkeling. So, while there isn’t a vast selection of things to do on Koh Lanta, the offerings are impressive for an island of its size and population.

Cock fighting
One of the favourite pastimes of the Muslims on Koh Lanta is cock fighting. This sport and hobby is either loved or hated. The ornery roosters are well-trained by their owners, who treat them with as much care and attention as any other pet (until they get into the ring). Gambling is almost always a part of the cock fights, and they are exciting passionate affairs. A great deal of prestige goes to the owner of the champion roosters. The fights are low-key events, often taking place in someone’s backyard or in the village, so you can just wander up to one and enjoy the spectacle.

Lanta Old Town
The original port town of Koh Lanta was the centre of all commercial activity here during the trading heyday a century ago. Chinese and Arab merchant ships stopped in the old port during their trips between Phuket and Penang. A fair number of the traditional wooden stilt houses, so prevalent in the islands, are very well-maintained and have been standing for over 100 years. The town is small and makes for a nice stroll past seafood restaurants and small shops selling basic goods.

Music and Dancing
At some of the more posh resorts on the island you can watch an evening performance of traditional Thai singing and dancing backed by a traditional Thai orchestra. While the quality may pale a bit compared to the shows in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, it is still a great chance to see the delicate and exotic Thai dance.

Sea Gypsy Village
Koh Lanta is home to a large community of semi-nomadic Sea Gypsies, called Chao Ley, who live in the village of Ban Sangkha-Ou on the southern tip of the island. In the past they lived in their boats, moving from island to island and fishing for their food. Once considered pirates, these people have settled in stilt houses along the coast, and their way of life is a unique and interesting facet of Thai ethnic diversity. These people, who have never integrated into Thai society, have their own traditions, ceremonies and language. Their animistic spirituality involves a lovely annual ritual where they build a symbolic boat and set it adrift to ask the sea for forgiveness and good fortune in the coming year. If you are visiting during this period, don’t miss the chance to witness this amazing spectacle.

Traditional Thai Massage
There’s nothing like a Thai massage to relax your muscles after a hard morning of eating breakfast and sitting on the beach reading a book. Thai-style massage does not typically use oil. The body is kneaded and gently stretched to improve circulation and your general sense of happiness. Chances are your resort will offer this service. If not, simply walk along the beach until you find one. For a shockingly low price you can enjoy an hour of bliss.

Dining on Koh Lanta usually revolves around the restaurant connected to your resort, as this is always the easiest eating option. Most resorts offer nearly identical menus, based heavily around the delicious fresh seafood which gets brought in every day after the catch, and even the most modest bungalow operation will have some form of restaurant on hand. If you get bored of your resort’s menu, simply wander down the beach to the next resort and give them a try.

The only concentrated dining scene on Koh Lanta is found at the main port, Sala Dan. As the island’s only town offering any useful amenities for tourists, you can find just about everything you need here. There are a number of fresh seafood restaurants overlooking the water where you can pick your fish or seafood straight out of the tank, as well as the island’s only bakery. Sala Dan is also the best place to pick up sundries like toiletries, drinking water and sunscreen. To get to the town just walk out to the single road which runs along the coast and flag down a passing taxi truck when it drives by.

The cuisine in every restaurant will be mainly Thai, which means plenty of flavour and spice. Being in the southern part of the country means you can try some of the more Malay-styled dishes particular to this region of Thailand. The Muslim influence on Koh Lanta also adds a few differences to the standard Thai dishes. Your seafood will likely be grilled or steamed and served with a sauce, but don’t neglect to try some of the wonderful coconut curries, or the famous sweet and sour Tom Yum soup. Most restaurants also have a selection of Western dishes, but they usually aren’t as well-prepared as the Thai food.

Desserts range from incredible blends of tropical fruits you’ve never seen before, sweet mango and sticky rice (during the mango season), or salim, sweet noodles in coconut milk. Prices are always higher on the islands than in the rest of Thailand, so don’t be shocked when your fried rice is three times as much as on the streets elsewhere.

Shopping on Koh Lanta unfortunately isn’t nearly as exciting or varied as the dining prospects. In the port town of Sala Dan you can find plenty of small shops, but most of them sell beach gear, mini mart items or uninspiring Thai-style handicrafts. The art of batik is the one craft area in which the southern islands excel. Derived from the Malaysian style of dying fabric, you can find some very nice sarongs, wall hangings and even shirts. Other local products unique to the south, but sometimes harder to find in isolated spots like Koh Lanta, include notebooks and boxes made from pineapple paper and polished coconut shell objects such as drinking glasses, bowls, spoons and hair pins.

Like most of the islands in Thailand, Koh Lanta is blessed with wonderful, white sandy beaches and clear warm water. As a bonus, the interior is mountainous and relatively uncut, offering a fun jungle walking experience on the few trails at the southern end of the island. There is decent snorkeling and some very good diving sites around the 50 smaller islands within a short boat ride from Koh Lanta. Sea kayaking is another unique way to see the island from a more watery perspective. Otherwise, most visitors to Koh Lanta simply enjoy the sound of lapping water and palm frond breezes as they sit on the beach.

Beaches
Each of Koh Lanta’s dozen or so beaches has its own unique flavour and atmosphere. They are spread out along the west coast of the island, but you can’t walk from beach to beach along the shore as they’re broken up by rocky headlands and such. All of Koh Lanta’s beaches have nice white sand and clear blue water perfect for lounging and swimming. The most populous beach is Klong Dao, which is just 2kms from Sala Dan. This is a favourite with families and people seeking a bit of socialising. The northernmost beach is called Phra Ae, which is known for having the finest sand and a coastline that drops off precipitously. Klong Kaong is one of the more tranquil spots on the island, as is Klong Nin. At the southern end of Koh Lanta is many people’s pick for the most beautiful beach at Kantiang. The nearly deserted Mai Phai beach and the national park are also located at the southern tip, offering some of the finest water and beach conditions, as well as great snorkeling spots.

Elephant Riding
Riding an elephant isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a unique and interesting experience. On Koh Lanta, there are two places where you can ride an elephant: Nui Beach and Phra Ae Beach. Trained guides will take you along the beach and up into the hilly forested jungle to catch some great views and see sights that few other tourists will ever get to.

Limestone caves
The amazing system of limestone caves called Tham Khao Mai Kaeo was only discovered a few years ago when a forest fire opened up the hillside location to humans. Some of the caverns are cathedral-like, while others require hands and knees to get through them. All throughout the cave system are wonderful stalactites and stalagmites and other liquefied rock formations. When the sunlight makes a brief appearance through cracks in the ceiling, small pools of water light up like diamonds. One such underground pool is large enough for swimming if you want to clean off the mud you will inevitably acquire on your body. A short trek through the jungle from Klong Nin takes you up to the caves, where locals are available to guide you into the cavern if you desire.

Sea Kayaking
Although not quite as spectacular as the sea kayaking around neighbouring Krabi province, this activity is still one of the best ways to get a unique look at Koh Lanta while taking in a bit of exercise. Most beaches have at least one shop which rents out sea kayaks in various sizes and styles by the hour. You don’t need a guide to make your way along the coast or across the water to one of the tiny deserted islets. The shoreline mangrove forests also make fascinating areas for exploration. This rather rare biosphere can only be found in the tropics and acts as a nursery for dozens of sea creatures. Paddling through these water-bound trees is calming and surreal.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
The small islands that dot the Andaman Sea around Koh Lanta and Krabi offer some of the country’s finest snorkeling and diving sites. On Koh Lanta itself, the southern tip of the island offers the best environment, but there are much nicer sites around so you need to take a boat to get to the really good stuff. For snorkeling, the best spots are around Ko Rok and the Emerald Cave, both easily reached as a daytrip by boat.