From Krabi airport, Krabi Town or Ao Nang, the route to Koh Lanta that works all year is by road: a minivan, taxi or rental car to Ban Hua Hin pier, a short car-ferry crossing to Koh Lanta Noi, then a bridge onto Koh Lanta Yai. In the dry season you can also go by boat, which lands at Saladan on Lanta's northern tip.
Koh Lanta is really two islands. Koh Lanta Noi, the smaller one, faces the mainland; Koh Lanta Yai, where the beaches and almost all the hotels are, lies beyond it. There is no bridge from the mainland yet, so every road journey still includes one ferry. A bridge is under construction, but it is not expected to open before 2029.
Which option is best depends mostly on the month. From roughly November to April, the boats are the easy, scenic choice. In the southwest monsoon, from about May to October, seas get rough, boat services shrink or stop, and the road route becomes the only one you can rely on.
Krabi to Koh Lanta at a glance
- Year-round route
- Road to Ban Hua Hin pier (Highway 4206), car ferry to Koh Lanta Noi, bridge to Koh Lanta Yai
- Seasonal route
- Passenger boat or speedboat from Krabi to Saladan pier, mainly in the dry season
- Boat time
- 60–90 minutes by speedboat from Krabi; about 30 minutes from Phi Phi (operator figures)
- Arrival point
- Ban Saladan, on the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai
- New bridge
- Mainland to Koh Lanta Noi; opening expected in 2029
The year-round route: minivan and the Hua Hin car ferry
The road route runs south from Krabi on Highway 4, then turns onto Highway 4206 toward Ban Hua Hin, a small pier village in Koh Klang district. Do not confuse it with the beach town of Hua Hin on the other side of the country. The Department of National Parks gives exactly this road as the way to the island.
At Ban Hua Hin, vehicles drive onto a car ferry for the short crossing to Koh Lanta Noi. On the other side, the road crosses Lanta Noi to the Siri Lanta Bridge, which has linked Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai since 2016. Some official pages, including the national park's own, still describe two car ferries; that was true before the bridge opened, and it is no longer the case.
Shared minivans do this trip every day from Krabi airport, Krabi Town and Ao Nang, usually with drop-off at your hotel. Ask whether the ferry crossing is included in the ticket price. Our guide to minivans in Thailand covers luggage limits, seat choice and booking. Allow at least three hours from Krabi airport to a hotel on the west coast, more in high season.
The Hua Hin car ferry can mean hours of queuing in December and January. In November 2025, Khaosod English reported traffic backed up for several kilometers and waits of several hours in both directions, and expected it to get worse in the peak months. Leave early, do not book a tight flight connection on the way back, and carry water and snacks.
Private taxi or rental car
A private transfer follows the same road and the same ferry, so it is not much faster, but it leaves when you want and goes door to door. It makes sense for families, groups of three or four, and late arrivals at Krabi airport. Agree the price, and whether the ferry fee is included, before you set off. We have not printed fares, because they vary with the season and the company; ask at the official taxi counter at the airport or through your hotel.
Driving yourself is straightforward on good roads, and a car is useful on long, spread-out Lanta. You pay for the vehicle on the car ferry. Check your license and insurance first: our guide to the international driving permit explains what you need, and the page on renting a car in Thailand covers insurance and deposits.
The seasonal boat from Krabi
When the sea is calm, boats run from Krabi to Saladan pier. The national park lists a ferry from Khlong Jilat pier near Krabi Town, and the speedboat operator Tigerline sells Krabi (Ao Nammao pier) to Koh Lanta with up to four trips a day and 60 to 90 minutes on the water. Tigerline gives 1,000 to 2,000 baht as its price band for this route (October 2026); slower ferries cost less. Several companies sell combined tickets with a pickup from Ao Nang hotels.
The boat is the nicer trip: no queues and a view of the islands of Krabi on the way. Its weakness is the season. The park's own pages describe the southwest monsoon as unsafe for sea trips, and operators adjust or cancel services by season and weather. If you travel between May and October, assume the road route and treat any boat as a bonus.
From Phi Phi the boat is the obvious choice. Many travelers do Krabi, then Phi Phi, then Lanta. Tigerline gives about 30 minutes from Phi Phi to Lanta by speedboat, with up to six trips a day in season, compared with a long return trip to the mainland by road.
Arriving at Saladan and getting to your beach
Boats land at Ban Saladan, the village on the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai. TAT calls it the island's main arrival point, with banks, clinics, markets and motorbike rental. From the pier, hotel pickups, taxis and tuk-tuks (on Lanta, motorbikes with a sidecar) take you down the west coast. Minivans on the road route usually drive straight to your hotel.
Lanta Yai is long, over 30 km from north to south, so the beach you choose decides how long the last stretch takes. Our guide to Lanta's beaches from north to south helps you pick one, and the Koh Lanta island guide has the rest of the island.
Which option to choose
| Option | Runs | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared minivan | All year | Budget travelers, airport arrivals | Ferry queues in peak season |
| Private taxi | All year | Families, groups, late flights | Agree price and ferry fee first |
| Rental car | All year | Exploring Lanta | License and insurance |
| Boat from Krabi | Mainly dry season | A relaxed, scenic trip | Cancellations in rough weather |
| Boat from Phi Phi | Mainly dry season | Island-hopping routes | Same as above |
Coming from farther away? Krabi airport is the usual gateway by air; our Krabi guide covers the area, and you can also reach Lanta by speedboat from Phuket (Tigerline gives 60 to 90 minutes). If you are continuing south, our guide to the Trang islands and the Koh Lipe guide pick up the route. The overview of ferries in Thailand covers operators and safety, and our 12Go article explains how combined bus-and-boat tickets are sold.
The bridge that will end the ferry queue
The Department of Rural Roads has planned a road bridge from the mainland at Ban Hua Hin to Koh Lanta Noi for several years. Khaosod English reported in November 2025 that the bridge would be about 2 kilometers long, cost 1.8 billion baht, start piling in 2026 and open in 2029. Until then, the car ferry stays. Treat any claim that "Lanta now has a bridge to the mainland" as out of date or confused with the Siri Lanta Bridge between the two islands.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a bridge from the mainland to Koh Lanta?
Not yet. A bridge links Koh Lanta Noi with Koh Lanta Yai, but the crossing from the mainland at Ban Hua Hin to Lanta Noi is still by car ferry. A mainland bridge is under construction and is expected to open in 2029.
How long does it take from Krabi airport to Koh Lanta?
By road, allow at least three hours to a west-coast hotel, including the car ferry. In December and January, queues at the ferry can add hours. A speedboat from Krabi takes 60 to 90 minutes on the water, plus transfers at each end.
Do boats run from Krabi to Koh Lanta in the rainy season?
Do not count on them. Boat services depend on season and weather, and the southwest monsoon from about May to October brings rough seas on the Andaman coast. The minivan and car-ferry route runs all year and is the safe plan.
Can I get from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta directly?
Yes. Minivans pick up from Ao Nang hotels all year, and in the dry season boat companies sell tickets with an Ao Nang pickup to the pier. Check whether your ticket is a direct boat or a connection through Phi Phi.
Sources
- Department of National Parks – Mu Ko Lanta National Park (how to get there) (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Lanta (checked October 2026)
- Khaosod English – Tourists face long queues, hours-long waits for Koh Lanta ferry (6 November 2025) (checked October 2026)
- Tigerline Ferry – Official timetables and pricing structure (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – Koh Lanta bridge on the cards (26 November 2020) (checked October 2026)