Planning the perfect Koh Lanta itinerary? Here’s our in-depth travel guide to help you plan your trip to this beautiful Thai island. We’ll show you the best things to do in Koh Lanta, where to stay and how to get around the island. Let’s find out what to do in Koh Lanta and how to create a 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary!
Koh Lanta is a stunning island on the Andaman Coast – home to amazing beaches, rainforests, mangroves and a lovely Old Town. It’s close to popular places to visit in Thailand such as Koh Phi Phi, Krabi & Phuket. This means spending 3 days in Koh Lanta can easily be added to your Thailand trip!
We’ve visited Koh Lanta twice in the last few years and always describe it as our little paradise. There are lots of amazing restaurants and places to explore on your Koh Lanta 3 day itinerary. Similar to other places in Thailand, some shops will never recover and the Thai islands are generally quieter than they used to be.
A quieter island is what makes Koh Lanta such a breath of fresh air to visit and you can often find beach sections to yourself. We spent two months on this lovely island Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare, so it holds a special place in our hearts.
We’re excited to help you plan your 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary – where to eat, where to sleep and the best things to do in Koh Lanta, Thailand!
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Planning a 3 Day Koh Lanta Itinerary
There are a few things you might want to know before spending 3 days in Koh Lanta.
- Thailand Currency – Thai Baht (Compare the currency here)
- Thailand Power Voltage – Plugs A & C (220 V)
- Koh Lanta is mainly a cash-only island but some places take card
Best time to visit Koh Lanta
The best time to visit Koh Lanta is November to April which is the dry season. Although it’s definitely possible to visit during the rainy season from May to October. Some shops and restaurants will be closed in the low season and it will be raining a lot more.
The benefit of travelling during this time is a quieter island and beaches all to yourself. It does rain in the dry season too, so there’s no real way of escaping it!
Thinking of switching to more sustainable travel products for your Koh Lanta Itinerary? Check out these 18 Great Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
How to get to Koh Lanta
Getting around Thailand is fairly easy, there’s always a tour company selling tickets for various places in Thailand. If you’re coming from the mainland such as Krabi, ask your accommodation for a bus or minivan to Koh Lanta.
Getting to Koh Lanta from Bangkok – Flight or bus. If you’re travelling from Bangkok, there’s an option to break your journey up with a stopover in Krabi! Find the best way using 12.Go!
Getting to Koh Lanta from Phi Phi Islands – There are multiple ferries a week that can get you to Koh Lanta in less than 2 hours!
How to get around Koh Lanta
The best way to get around Koh Lanta is by renting a scooter. Koh Lanta is a big Island with many things to do in different areas. If you’re not comfortable riding a scooter there are tuk-tuks that can help you get around for a small price!
We highly recommend Koh Lanta Bike Rentals. We rented our scooter with them for 2 months and they are a lovely family. They offer free bike drop off and pick up so you can get around the island easily! Message them on Facebook here or their Instagram here!
The roads in Koh Lanta are pretty smooth, we didn’t have any problems driving up and down the island. Just remember to always wear a helmet!
Planning on visiting more of the Thai Islands? Here's our detailed 2-week South Thailand itinerary!
3 Day Koh Lanta Itinerary
Once you’ve made your way over to the island, it’s time to start your Koh Lanta 3 day itinerary. We’ve created a plan for each day .nd also some alternatives if you have extra days in Koh Lanta or you prefer different activities!
Day 1 – Arrival & Beaches
To get the most out of your 3 days in Koh Lanta, we recommend arriving before midday. There are so many great things to do in Koh Lanta, you won’t want to miss anything!
Pra-Ae Beach
Once you arrive at Pra-Ae Beach head to Aleena’s for some lunch – they have a big menu with homemade bread and vegan-friendly options! It’s a few minutes walk away from the long sandy beach.
Pra-Ae-Beach is on the same strip as Long Beach and one of the best ways to be greeted on the island. There are many beach bars along this beach so you have the option to take a sunbed or use your own beach sarong! Here’s the location for Pra-Ae Beach – Location.
Lym’s Bar is a great spot to watch the sunset and they have so many comfy chairs. Every Monday there’s even a fire show! After you’re beach chill, head to Spring Rolls for some delicious Thai Food. We really recommend any of their curries and of course the spring rolls!
Lanta Cinema
If you’re feeling like heading out for the evening, there are many restaurants or bars with live music. However, if you enjoy a low-key night (like us) make your way to Koh Lanta’s open-air cinema (location here)! Lanta Cinema has a big space surrounded by a jungle where you can watch some of the best films.
We watched Bugs Life, Big Hero 6 and a few more Disney classics! Check out their website or Instagram to find out what films they’re showing! Unfortunately, they close during the low season due to the unpredictable rain!
Exploring more islands in Thailand? Here’s one of the best trips to do in Phuket!
Day 2 – Lanta Animal Welfare & Cooking Class
On Day 2 of your 3 days in Koh Lanta itinerary, have a big breakfast to keep you going for the morning and be prepared for your afternoon cooking class.
Lanta Animal Welfare Tour
We highly recommend checking out Lanta Animal Welfare on your Koh Lanta itinerary. This is the home to over 50 rescue dogs and cats from around the area and all of them are up for adoption.
If you’ve been wanting some cat cuddles or dog love on your Thailand trip – this is your chance to visit some amazing cats and dogs! Lanta Animal Welfare has treated and sterilised over 15,000 animals and continues to help many dogs and cats each day.
By visiting the centre and joining in on the daily tour you can help support the costs and care of these loving animals. The tour shares information about the centre and starts in Kitty City (the area to cuddle all the cats!) and as you walk through the dog areas you’re greeted by some friendly dogs at the very end – and they are all up for a stroke or two!
There is a donation to do this tour, but this is to help care for all of the animals here!
Thinking of Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare? This is an incredible experience. We volunteered here for two months and walked, fed, and socialised with many dogs each day. The shift patterns are mornings or afternoons so you have plenty of time to discover what to do in Koh Lanta and rest. They’re always looking for volunteers, message them to find out more!
Take a Thai Cooking Class
One of our favourite experiences in Thailand is learning about the wonderful Thai cuisine and cooking some of the best food. Koh Lanta has one of the best cooking classes in Thailand – Time for Lime!
Time for Lime has been running for 20 years and has taught many people how to cook delicious Thai food! The success of the cooking school meant that Lanta Animal Welfare could be built to care for all the animals in need. Time for Lime is still the biggest supporter of Lanta Animal Welfare and all profits go towards caring and feeding the dogs and cats. Here’s Time for Lime’s Facebook for more details!
The cooking class starts with a fun cocktail (or mocktail) making class before Chef Noi teaches you all about Thai cuisine. You will then get to start cooking your own dishes and the menu for this changes daily! We made a Khao Soi, fresh spring rolls, morning glory and caramelized sweet potato with rice – everything was SO good.
Chef Noi makes the cooking class such an experience with his jokes and as eight people can join the class, we met some lovely people! Definitely add Time for Lime to your 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary!
Time for Lime does close for low-season however they are open from October to around June. However, Lanta Animal Welfare is always open and does daily tours.
We shared our full experience Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare: Thailand!
After an amazing day seeing the dogs and cats at Lanta Animal Welfare and joining in with a Thai cooking class, it’s now time to relax again.
Pick a restaurant close to your accommodation – although we highly suggest checking out Yawee Restaurant during your 3 days in Koh Lanta. They make the best crispy tofu we’ve ever tried and our favourite massaman curry in Koh Lanta!
Day 3 – Old Town, National Park & Beaches
On Day 3 of your Koh Lanta itinerary, it’s time to visit the beautiful Old Town and explore the National park and beautiful beaches of Koh Lanta.
We highly recommend renting a scooter for this journey as it’s best to have the freedom to stop whenever you want. Koh Lanta Bike Rentals are the best place to go for renting a scooter in Koh Lanta! The roads are really good around Koh Lanta and they’re not busy at all. If you don’t want to rent a scooter an alternative way to get around is to get a songthaew driver or tuk-tuk for the day but this will cost more. It’s best to ask your accommodation about this!
Head to Koh Lanta’s Old Town
A lovely ride through the jungles of Koh Lanta will lead you through to the cosy Old Town. It’s a small stip of markets next to the ocean and there are also many shops and restaurants here too! It’s a very peaceful Old Town and feels like a little village. It’s a lovely place to stroll around and spend the morning.
During our 2 months in Koh Lanta, we bought clothes, necklaces and bracelets from some of the independent markets in the Old Town. If you’re looking for somewhere to cool down or have lunch we recommend visiting Sunee Place! They make amazing shakes, crepes and Thai food!
After visiting Old Town, jump back on your scooter and start heading south down the island of Koh Lanta eventually ending up at Mu Ko Lanta National Park. There are a few stops you can make on your way:
- Nui Bay – You can see the beach from the road & it’s a short hike down to the ocean. (location here)
- Bamboo Beach – The road is slightly bumpy to get down to the beach, however, the view from the top is beautiful and there’s a restaurant that offers the best views. (location here)
Visit Mu Ko Lanta National Park
Mu Ko Lanta National Park is spread out over 16 islands (Mu Ko means a group of islands in Thai) and Ko Lanta Yai is home to a big section of the rainforest! The smaller islands of the park (Ko Talabeng) are popular the diving and snorkelling!
We’ve visited Koh Lanta twice and decided to enter the national park on our second visit and we loved it! It’s worth mentioning now that there is, unfortunately, a cost to enter the park and for foreigners, it’s ฿200 which is pretty high.
We’re adding it to our 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary because we really enjoyed our visit as the beach was magical! There are also monkeys and wildlife that you can spot in the park (we had to save someone’s bag from a group of monkeys when they were swimming in the ocean!).
We chose to do one of the trails in the park and although it wasn’t a spectacular hike, the views were beautiful and it was a nice change to do on an island! There’s a short walk up to the lighthouse which is where we took the photo above looking over the beach in Mu Ko Lanta National Park.
The drive to the National Park is beautiful following the coastal road through the tropical jungle and even if you decide not to enter the park, the drive is definitely worth adding to your list!
Finish the evening at The Angels
The Angels restaurant is another one of our favourite places in Koh Lanta and a great way to end your 3 days in Koh Lanta itinerary. These people are so lovely and care about their food and guests! We totally recommend ordering the Khao Soi or any of their Thai dishes! It’s a really chill place to hang out and has a good vibe!
3 Days in Koh Lanta Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1 – Beaches & Cinema / Day 2 – Lanta Animal Welfare & Thai Cooking Class / Day 3 – Old Town & National Park
Thinking of switching to more sustainable travel products for your Koh Lanta Itinerary? Check out these 18 Great Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
More days on your Koh Lanta Itinerary?
- Check out Coco Grove Resort if you don’t have a swimming pool at your accommodation! For non-guests, they ask you to spend ฿100 on food or drinks and you can use the pool for free!
- Go on an Island Hopping Tour! If you have more than 3 days in Koh Lanta, then check out the 4 Island Hopping Tour in Koh Lanta – it takes you to Koh Chuek, Koh Muk (The Emerald Cave), Koh Ngai and Koh Ma.
- Discover the underwater world and go Diving in Koh Lanta! We recommend booking with Lanta Diver and exploring Koh Haa or Hin Daeng / Hin Muang. Here’s a breakdown of prices!
- Check out the markets near Sala Dan Pier (Lanta Plaza) – if you’re heading off on a ferry, be sure to browse around the markets here and even check out some of the oceanside restaurants.
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a long island and there are hotels and guesthouses spread out all across the island. We recommend staying near Klong Khong Beach or Long Beach for your 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary. If you want a more relaxing trip, there are some spots in the south of the island or in Old Town! Here’s a guide on all the different areas to stay in Koh Lanta and here are some of our recommendations:
Baan Suan Rim Klong $-$$ (Moo 2) – We stayed in one of the lovely bungalows here for 10 days and enjoyed our days being close to many things to do in Koh Lanta and swimming in the pool! It’s close to Lanta Animal Welfare and some lovely beaches. Find them on Booking.com – Baan Suan Rim Klong!
Ok Chawkoh Bungalow $ – If you’re on a small budget, these bungalows are perfect for you. We stayed in one of their air-con rooms but the fan rooms are a better price. It’s pretty hot in Koh Lanta though! Find them on Booking.com here – Ok Chawkoh Bungalow!
Coco Lanta Resort $-$$ – We visited here to use the pool and have put it on our list to stay next time we visit Koh Lanta – they have lovely accommodations, bungalows and the best pool in Koh Lanta! Find them on Booking.com – Coco Lanta Resort!
Best Restaurants in Koh Lanta
There are many restaurants for you to enjoy 3 days in Koh Lanta! Some of our favourite places on the island are home to our favourite Thai food. If you’re vegan, we’ve created a Koh Lanta Vegan Guide with all our best recommendations – even non-vegans should check it out!
Yawee Restaurant $ – Our favourite restaurant in Koh Lanta! During our two months on the island, we ate here multiple times a week ordering their amazing crispy fried tofu and curries! The prices are very affordable and the family here are so lovely! (Yawee Location)
Aleena’s Restaurant $-$$ – Another one of our favourite spots here on Koh Lanta. Aleena’s has a big menu serving up sandwiches with fresh homemade bread, wraps and pancakes! The prices are only slightly more than Thai food on the island so we were so happy to find this gem! (Aleena’s Location)
The Angels Restaurant $ – Some of the kindest people in Koh Lanta have a cosy and hip restaurant serving amazing Thai food. Our favourite is their Khao Soi dish, check it out! (The Angels Location)
Spring Rolls $ – A great spot for Thai food in Koh Lanta, we kept coming back for their curries and delicious spring rolls! (Spring Rolls Location)
How many days in Koh Lanta?
We recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days in Koh Lanta. There is so much to do on the island that you can spend a full week doing fun activities! It is a lot quieter than the neighbouring islands of Phi Phi or Ao Nang / Railay Beach but that’s what makes Koh Lanta so different. Check out other islands to visit in our The Best 2 week South Thailand Itinerary!
If I only have 1 day in Koh Lanta, what should I do?
If you only have 1 day in Koh Lanta, start your day with a morning tour of Lanta Animal Welfare, then head to Old Town on a scooter and browse the cute shops. After this, make your way to Long Beach or Pra-Ae Beach and relax before admiring the sunset.
Prices in Koh Lanta
It’s easy to find accommodation from ฿400 per night for budget private rooms or above ฿700 per night for mid-range accommodation. The food on the island is pretty affordable at ฿60-140 for Thai food or ฿100-250 for western food. Scooter Rentals from Koh Lanta Bike Rentals are around ฿150-200 per day. All of the beaches in Koh Lanta are free (apart from the National Park) and every other activity mentioned in this Koh Lanta itinerary does have a cost.
If you want to know more about visiting Thailand, check out our 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips!
What to pack for 3 days in Koh Lanta?
Thailand has a tropical climate so it’s best to pack for hot weather with the possibility of heavy rain! Here are a few things we highly recommend when packing for a trip to Thailand and Koh Lanta.
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Our metal water bottles have been our side throughout it all! They last a long time, are easy to clean and are better than plastic! Bring one along for your 3 days in Koh Lanta.
- International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The best plug to have when travelling to different countries – plus as well as an international plug it has 4 USB slots to charge your gadgets at the same time!
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are our ultimate saviour when it comes to backpacking and we even use them when packing a suitcase or in our home wardrobe!
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter – If you want to reduce your plastic consumption, we highly recommend buying a water filter. You’ll always be able to drink the water from any kitchen tap and after a year of using it, we haven’t fallen sick yet!
- Waterproof Bag 20L with Waterproof Phone Case – Having a waterproof bag in Thailand is great for all the amazing boat rides you’ll do to other islands. They keep your valuables safe and away from the salty water
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – GorillaPods are a great little tripod to carry on a Thailand trip, they’re lightweight and can fit in a carry-on bag. They capture some of the best photos when there’s no one around to take a photo of you. We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A6000.
Is Koh Lanta worth visiting?
Yes! Of course, Koh Lanta is worth visiting! We hope you’re a little more convinced after reading about what to do in Koh Lanta and how you can spend your days in Thailand. The thing about Koh Lanta is that it isn’t as touristy as Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang and Phuket so it has a different charm about the island. There’s something to do for everyone and we would totally visit again.
Check out our other Thailand Posts:
- Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare: Thailand (2024)
- Koh Lanta Vegan Guide: Best Vegan Restaurants in Koh Lanta 2024
- The Best 2 week South Thailand Itinerary (2024)
- 3 Day Koh Samui Itinerary: The Best Koh Samui Guide
- Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand
- The Best Krabi Itinerary: 3 Days in Krabi, Thailand
- 3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
- The Best 4 Day Phuket Itinerary: What To Do (2024)
- 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2024)
- Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Koh Samui, Thailand 2024
- Or browse our travel blog for more inspiration!
That’s the end of our 3 Day Koh Lanta Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)! We hope you have the best 3 days in Koh Lanta exploring the island from top to bottom! If you need any more help – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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