Koh Lanta – Southern Thailand
A district within Krabi province below Phuket on the Thai Malay peninsula, Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai are two of fifty two islands that make up the archipelago and are the easiest to access by boat from the mainland. As Koh Lanta has only very recently begun its tourist development you still find long stretches of mangrove interrupted by coral rimmed beaches. In 1990, the Koh Lanta National Marine Park was established to protect the fragile coastal environment. The Marine Park incorporates 15 of the 52 islands and covers an area of 134 sq km.
The largest of the islands is Koh Lanta Yai which was the last real hippie stronghold along Thailand’s Andaman Coast until the mighty gentrification machine moved in jettisoning those pioneering travellers to their new haunt, the southern shores of Cambodia which is now also following the same trend; they find it, its talked about, other people want to go and suddenly the place is awash with duck-down pillows and the scent of lemon grass wafting through the air from the prerequisite on-site spa.
You can still find beach huts on Koh Lanta Yai and even some that remain pitifully basic and cheap but as you venture further towards the southern tip of the island the beach huts begin to take on a new persona. They are still beachfront beach huts but very, very nice beach huts with polished teak floors, air conditioning, loos with a view and spacious balconies with breath taking panoramas over the Andaman Sea.
Despite the morass of islands within the archipelago, Koh Lanta Yai is to-date the only one with suitable accommodation and Pimalai Resort & Spa is the pick of the bunch. It is here that you will find those polished floored beach huts, the breath taking views and an infinity pool like no other and it all comes packaged in a heavenly bay with 900 metres of beach where peace, tranquillity and unadulterated beauty abound.
Indeed the Pimalai has been developed so sensitively that from many angles you would hardly know that you were staring at a 121-roomed resort! The huts and villas are scattered over 100 acres in a resort that was skilfully planned around Mother Nature rather than on top of her which is a very refreshing take. Free beach water sports including kayaking & dinghy sailing, the Andaman’s smartest dive boat at 20m long, a spa that you want to take home with you and a superb choice of on-site restaurants make the Pimalai ideal for Weddings, Honeymoons, Romantics, exotic Meetings and Corporate Retreats or a well-rounded family holiday.
There are other very comfortable options for accommodation on Koh Lanta but our advise is to head further south on the island for a quieter, slightly more exclusive and quintessentially tropical experience. Whilst enjoying Koh Lanta take time out from revelling in the ultimate beach hut experience and explore the islands within the archipelago by boat. If you are a diver you are in for a treat as you will be surrounded by some of Thailand’s most highly rated dive sites.
When to Go
By far the best time to visit destinations around Thailand’s Andaman coast including Koh Lanta is from November through to April. This is when you are least likely to suffer torrential monsoon rains and when the sea conditions are at their best. Hence it is the time to go whether you are planning on having a beach holiday or are an avid diver or sailor.
Towards the end of April the monsoon arrives and the winds swing from the Southeast to the North West. The sea conditions get rougher and the tidal range greater while the weather can be overcast with bloated monsoon clouds. If water sports are your thing, particularly diving, the high season (November to April) is the time to come for it is then that you have the mind-boggling underwater visibility so perfect for submersed sightseers.
However, if water sports are not high on your list of priorities and you are simply looking to be pampered then there is no reason not to book during the low season and you will save a fortune by doing so. This is the perfect opportunity for people who enjoy a champagne lifestyle to indulge themselves on a beer budget. Hotel prices can tumble as much as thirty percent.
Recommended Further Reading
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Contact ZiZ Asia
Contact Us for more information about Southern Thailand Beaches & Islands. We offer a complete trip planning service that incorporates regional flights, airport transfers, Thailand hotels & accommodation, tours and activities. Our events team is at hand to arrange Meetings, Conferences, Corporate Hospitality and Social Events including Honeymoons. Come to ZiZ Asia for a unique Thailand trip plan with accommodation, activities and indulgences designed to fit your requirements.
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