Top Things to See
 Like nearly every island in Thailand, Koh Lanta enjoys beautiful sandy beaches, clear water and balmy weather all year long. As one of the lesser-populated and lightly developed islands in the south, Koh Lanta is a quiet, laid-back place where most of the activities are self-generated. Apart from the main port town of Sala Dan, the rest of the action on the island revolves around each beach and individual resort. There is a lovely national park at the southern tip of the island, near the intriguing village of Sea Gypsies, as well as the original port town of Lanta Old Town, with its 100-year old wooden buildings. You can trek up to the impressive Tham Khao Maikaeo cave and explore its subterranean depths or take a boat out to a deserted island for a secluded day trip. Most visitors come to Koh Lanta precisely for its lack of boisterous activities, so bring some good books and plan to get into chill-out mode.
 Koh Rok
One of the nicer islands in the Mu Koh Lanta National Park group is Koh Rok. Actually made up of two small islets connected by a sand bar at low tide, Koh Rok Nai comprises limestone cliffs, pristine beaches and untouched coral reefs interspersed among underwater boulders. Its twin sister, Koh Rok Nok, is better known for its wonderful shallow coral reefs which are perfect for snorkeling and soft white beaches. Most resorts on Koh Lanta can arrange a boat to the island for an afternoon, so if you’ve never been to a deserted tropical island, this is your chance.
 Lanta Old Town
This was the island’s original port back in the days when Koh Lanta was still a major stopover on the sea trading route from Phuket to Malaysia. It’s a real pleasure to stroll through the sleepy town with its well-maintained stilt houses and shops which are over 100 years old. You can catch a delicious bite to eat at one of the pier-side seafood restaurants, and check out the Gypsy House, an organic driftwood creation where traditional music fills the air and local artists sell their jewellery and handicrafts.
 Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park
Established in 1990 to help protect the 15 islands in the Lanta group, the main land-based section of this national park can be found along the southern tip of Koh Lanta. Here you can bask in the stunning natural beauty, walk along the park’s trails and check out the scenic lighthouse. There are usually long-tail boats here which can take you out to some of the tiny deserted islets in the area. The marine park also includes Koh Rok Nok, with its cliff-backed crescent bay, perfect beaches and excellent coral reefs. You can even camp out on Koh Rok Nok and nearby Koh Ha with permission from the park headquarters. Since nearly every other beach on Koh Lanta has been developed, this last piece of pristine coastline is well worth a visit.
Orchid Nursery Farm
If you are a fan of flowers, then you’ll probably find the world of orchids absolutely fascinating. They come in myriad colours, shapes and sizes and the tropical environment of Koh Lanta is ideal for their growth. This orchid farm can be found on Phra Ae Beach, also known as Long Beach, and is easily reached by motorbike or bicycle. The collage of colour is simply magical and worth the time to get there.
 Sea Gypsy Village
One of the truly unique aspects of life on Koh Lanta is the presence of Sea Gypsies, who lead simple lives based around fishing and the sea. Once considered pirates who roamed the Andaman Sea, they have since settled at the southern end of the island and built a village of stilted wooden houses which reach right out into the water. You can visit their village and check out a way of life that is hard to find in our modern world.
Tham Khao Maikaeo
One of the most interesting and unusual sites on Koh Lanta is this vast cave network located on the forested hillside above Nui Beach. The result of millions of years of tropical rainstorms pounding away at the limestone cliffs has resulted in one of the nicest caverns in Thailand. Guides are available to lead you through both vaulted caverns and tiny passages. There’s even a pool where you can take a chilly dip. The rock formations are fantastic, and although you’ll undoubtedly come out muddied and sweaty, it’s a great experience. The nearby Tiger Cave is another interesting underground world worth exploring if you need even more spelunking.
Top Things to Do
 Explore the islands on an island Boat Tour. There are a fair number of tiny deserted islands scattered around like jewels in the Andaman Sea. Koh Lanta is relatively undeveloped and if you really want to experience the surreal beauty and tranquillity of an empty untouched piece of the tropics, then take a day boat to some of the islets surrounding Koh Lanta. They come in many sizes and styles, with some ideal for snorkeling and swimming, while others ideal for lounging on the beach and walking through the jungle. Nearly every resort on Koh Lanta can organise a custom boat tour for you, so pack a picnic lunch and get lost for a day.
Visit Mu Koh Lanta Marine Park. If you don’t feel like boating out to one of the unpopulated islands for an afternoon of isolation, the next best thing is to head down to the southern end of Koh Lanta and explore the national park area. Not only can you find the best swimming, snorkeling and beach lounging here but there are also walking trails through the tropical forest if you need to stretch your legs. The park is a great place to take an elephant ride or explore one of the classic Muslim Thai fishing villages.
 Get wet. Scuba diving is the main sporting attraction on Koh Lanta, and for good reason. Just off shore lie a number of superb undeveloped islands with some of the finest coral reefs and marine life in the world. Among the top dive sites accessible from Koh Lanta is Hin Daeng (Red Rock) and Hin Muang (Purple Rock) which boast some of the nicest soft coral scenes in Thailand. Koh Ha, where whale sharks and other exotic sea creatures are regularly spotted, is another popular site. Instruction and training is available for newcomers, while experienced divers can go as extreme as they want. Most resorts on Koh Lanta have a representative for one of the diving companies, so you won’t have to go far to organise a trip.
Kayak around the Eastern Coast. Most of the beaches and bungalows are found on Koh Lanta’s west coast. The eastern side is a wild rocky place filled with limestone caves, secret coves and clear emerald water. The best way to experience this remarkable, and completely uncrowded, part of Koh Lanta is in a sea kayak. These sturdy fibreglass boats are easy to paddle and let you get to some inaccessible spots of the island. Most resorts rent them out and can show you the basics of how to use them and where to go. The calm waters around Koh Lanta make it an ideal place to try out this fantastic form of exploration.
 Indulge in a massage. Traditional Thai massage involves kneading and stretching the muscles to improve circulation and relieve the body of stress. Considering the extremely affordable cost of having someone massage your body for an hour or two, you shouldn’t miss out on indulging in this pleasure as much as you can. Although not every massage therapist camped out on the beach is trained as an expert, you’ll still get a good experience. These women often work out of individual resorts, or can be found freelancing along the beach.
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