Mu Ko Lanta National Park's headquarters sit at Laem Tanot, the southern tip of Koh Lanta Yai, with a small beach, a white lighthouse on the headland and a nature trail of about 1.7 km into the forest. Foreign adults pay 200 baht (October 2026), and the monkeys around the car park are wild animals, not pets.
The park is much larger than this one corner. According to the Department of National Parks (DNP), it covers 134 square kilometers and 25 islands, including Koh Rok, Koh Ha, Koh Ngai and the dive sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Those offshore parts need a boat and have their own season and higher fee. This page is about the part you can reach by road: the headquarters, the lighthouse and the trail.
It is a half-day trip from anywhere on Lanta, best combined with a swim at Ta Nod beach and lunch on the way back up the west coast.
Laem Tanot headquarters at a glance
- Where
- Southern tip of Koh Lanta Yai, at the end of the west-coast road
- Fee
- Foreign adult 200 baht, child (3–14) 100 baht; Thai adult 40 baht (October 2026)
- Vehicles
- Motorbike 20 baht, car 30 baht
- Hours
- About 08:30–16:30; the park restaurant keeps the same hours
- Nature trail
- A loop of about 1.7 km, moderate
- Overnight
- Park lodges and a campsite with tent rental
- Phone
- +66 75 656 576 (park office)
Getting to Laem Tanot by scooter or car
The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes a paved road running down the island parallel to the coast to the park headquarters and the lighthouse. The last section beyond the southern beaches is narrow, steep and winding; the DNP warns that some routes on the island are steep enough that a four-wheel-drive vehicle helps. On a scooter, go slowly on the downhill bends and avoid the road in heavy rain.
If you are not confident on two wheels, hire a car with a driver or a tuk-tuk for the half day. Our guide to safe scooter riding in Thailand covers helmets, licenses and insurance, which matter on a road like this one.
The fee: what 200 baht covers
National park fees in Thailand are set by park category, not by attraction. Mu Ko Lanta is a Category 2 park, so foreign adults pay 200 baht and children 100 baht at the headquarters, with small extra charges for vehicles (all as of October 2026). Pay at the gate and keep the receipt: the DNP asks visitors to carry it for inspection.
The offshore islands are different. Koh Rok, Koh Ngai, Koh Ha and Hin Daeng–Hin Muang are a special zone where foreign adults pay 400 baht, usually included in the price of a snorkeling or diving trip. Paying at Laem Tanot does not cover a boat trip on another day, or the other way round.
The lighthouse and Ta Nod beach
Below the visitor center lies Ta Nod beach, a short crescent of sand about 300 meters long with shallow, clear water. At its western end, a white lighthouse stands on the rocky headland. TAT lists the Tanod Cape viewpoint among Lanta's highlights, and it is the classic photo: the lighthouse, the open Andaman Sea and, on clear days, islands on the horizon.
A path leads up the headland to the lighthouse. The rocks are sharp and slippery after rain or spray, so wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops. Late afternoon has the softest light, but remember that the park day ends around 16:30.
Swimming at Ta Nod is pleasant when the sea is calm. In the southwest monsoon, waves come straight in, and lifeguards put up red flags. On 5 June 2026, park staff found Portuguese man-of-war, a dangerous stinging jellyfish, washed up at Laem Tanot and banned swimming there for the day. Follow the flags, and see our guides to jellyfish in Thailand and rip currents and beach flags.
Walking the nature trail
The nature trail starts near the visitor center and loops through the forest for about 1.7 km before coming out on the main road. The reference site Thai National Parks rates it a moderate walk; expect climbs, roots and steps. The DNP lists nature walks, birdwatching and plant-spotting among the things to do at Laem Tanot.
The forest is lowland rainforest on the Lanta ridge, and the park records 185 bird species, including the brahminy kite. Go early in the day, when it is cooler and birds are active. Bring water, wear insect repellent, and do not leave the marked path. Our list of ways to avoid mosquito bites is worth reading before any forest walk, and our guide to heat and sun applies to the exposed stretches.
How to deal with the monkeys
Crab-eating macaques, also called long-tailed macaques, live in the park, together with dusky leaf monkeys, which are shyer and stay in the trees. The macaques are the ones you will meet around the car park, the picnic areas and the trail. They are used to people, and some have learned that tourists carry food.
- Do not feed them. Fed monkeys become bold and aggressive, and it changes how the whole troop behaves.
- Keep food and drinks out of sight. Plastic bags and water bottles are what they grab first. Close your scooter's seat box and do not leave bags on the seat.
- Do not stare, smile with teeth or crowd them. To a macaque, that looks like a threat. Walk past calmly.
- Watch children and do not let them hand anything to a monkey.
A monkey scratch at Laem Tanot needs a doctor the same day. TravelHealthPro advises cleaning any bite, scratch or lick from an animal in Thailand thoroughly and getting urgent medical assessment, even if the wound looks trivial, because of the rabies risk. Go to a clinic or hospital on the island rather than waiting. Our guide to dangerous animals in Thailand has more.
Staying overnight and the offshore islands
The park has lodges and a campsite at headquarters, with tents and equipment for rent, and a simple restaurant. It is a quiet alternative to a resort for a night, but facilities are basic. Bookings are handled through the DNP; ask a Thai speaker to phone the park if the online system does not work.
For Koh Rok and Hin Daeng–Hin Muang, you go with a boat tour from Lanta. These sites close in the monsoon, and official pages disagree on the dates: the DNP park page gives a closed season of 16 May to 15 November, while TAT says the smaller islands are typically closed from May through October. Check the current opening with your tour operator. Koh Ngai, also part of this park, is covered in our guide to the Trang islands.
For the rest of the island, see our Koh Lanta guide and the guide to Lanta's beaches; Bamboo Bay and Klong Jark are the nearest beaches to the park.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee to Mu Ko Lanta National Park?
At the Laem Tanot headquarters, foreign adults pay 200 baht and children aged 3 to 14 pay 100 baht (October 2026). Thai adults pay 40 baht. Motorbikes cost 20 baht and cars 30 baht. Offshore islands such as Koh Rok are a separate 400-baht zone.
Is the Koh Lanta lighthouse worth visiting?
Yes, if you combine it with the nature trail and a swim at Ta Nod beach. The headland view is one of the best on Lanta. On its own, it is a long ride for a short walk, so plan a half day rather than a quick stop.
Are the monkeys at Mu Ko Lanta National Park dangerous?
The macaques are not usually aggressive if you ignore them, but they snatch food and bags and can bite or scratch. Do not feed them, keep food hidden, and see a doctor the same day after any bite or scratch because of rabies.
What time does the park open?
The headquarters area is open daily from about 08:30 to 16:30, and the park restaurant at Laem Tanot keeps the same hours. Arrive by early afternoon so you have time for the trail and the lighthouse.
Sources
- Department of National Parks – Mu Ko Lanta National Park (checked October 2026)
- Department of National Parks – Portuguese man-of-war found at Laem Tanot and Phi Phi, 6 June 2026 (Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Ko Lanta (checked October 2026)
- Thai National Parks – Mu Ko Lanta National Park: fees, hours, trail and wildlife (checked October 2026)
- Kapook Travel – National park entry fees by park and special zone, citing DNP (Thai) (checked October 2026)
- TravelHealthPro (UKHSA) – Thailand (checked October 2026)