How to get from Koh Lanta to Krabi
Krabi is the main town in the Province of Krabi and is located approximately 85km from Koh Lanta. There are numerous ways you can get to Krabi from Koh Lanta including traveling overland by minivan or taxi or by sea using a high-speed ferry. Highspeed ferries between Koh Lanta to Krabi mainly operate from November through to April mostly due to weather conditions and low seasons. During the low season, there are only bigger boats but cancellations are possible, so it is probably a better idea to settle for a minivan or taxi. There are several companies that offer van and taxi services for this route what is one of the advantages of traveling from Koh Lanta to Krabi overland. There are also a variety of departure times what means that if you miss the first van, you can catch the next.
From Koh Lanta to Krabi by Van
Bus Cooperative of Krabi is the main operator of minivans for this route. They offer air-conditioned vans that can pick you up from any hotel in Koh Lanta and drop you off at your hotel in Krabi or Krabi Bus Terminals roughly three hours later. Bus Cooperative of Krabi vans leave Koh Lanta at 7.30am and every hour or two after that until 2.30pm when the last van departs. A ticket for this trip will cost you THB 360.
It is, however, important to note that:
Pick-up times vary depending on the hotel location.
Ensure that you check-in at least 30 minutes before departure to avoid inconvenience because Bus Cooperative of Krabi does not accept cancellations or offer refunds.
From Koh Lanta to Krabi by Taxi
Though more expensive, a taxi will get you from Koh Lanta to Krabi faster and will definitely be less crowded than a minivan. You can also board at any time and do not have to wait for scheduled departure times. Lanta Gardenhill and Andaman Taxis are the main official taxi service providers from Koh Lanta to Krabi. A taxi ride from Koh Lanta to Krabi Airport via a Lanta Gardenhill taxi goes for THB 2,600 while to Krabi Town THB 2,800.
From Koh Lanta to any hotel in Ao Nang, a popular beach near Krabi Town, you’ll require THB 3,000.
Note: Pickup from Kantiang Bay and Bamboo Bay in Koh Lanta by a Lanta Gardenhill taxi will set you back an extra THB 200.
Andaman Taxis offers comfort class and 9-passenger class taxis that pick passengers up from any hotel in Koh Lanta to Krabi town, bus terminal, or airport. A comfort class taxi accommodates up to 3 passengers and costs THB 3,000 from Koh Lanta to Krabi town and bus terminal and THB 2,800 to the Krabi airport. A 9-passenger Andaman Taxi van costs THB 3,200 to Krabi town and bus terminal and THB 3,000 to the Krabi Airport and is a great choice for larger groups of friends and families. Travelling from Koh Lanta to Ao Nang is slightly more expensive at THB 3,300 if you are using the 3-pax car and THB 3,500 for the 9-passenger taxi.
From Koh Lanta to Krabi by ferry
One of the ways to get to Krabi from Koh Lanta is by sea using a high-speed ferry. However, ferries are only available during certain times of the year, mostly November through to April and when available, they can be unpredictable due to weather conditions.
Tigerline Travel is the primary ferry provider for this route. The company has offices in Koh Lanta located at the Saladan Village Pier and open each day from 7.00am to 10.00pm. They offer high-speed ferries with air conditioning on the first floor, steward services, and washrooms. Food and drinks are, however, not included.
Though it is possible to get off right at the pier in Krabi, Tigerline also offers combination ferry+van tickets bringing you from
Koh Lanta Ban Sala Dan Pier to Ao Nam Mao Pier, Krabi or the Krabi Airport. Expect to pay about THB 1,250.
Tip:
Tigerline Travel shuttle services from your hotel or resort in Koh Lanta to the Pier is on a request basis.
Check-in begins 60 minutes before departure. If you have not checked in 20 minutes before your scheduled departure time, you may miss your trip. However, do not despair because if you miss your ferry, Tigerline Travel accepts cancellations. You will also receive a refund on your ticket but not the whole price. For example, if your ticket cost THB 1,450, you’ll only receive THB 580.
If you are scheduled to fly from Krabi Airport, take into consideration the arrival times when booking your joint ferry+van or ferry+taxi tickets. To be on the safe side, use this means of transport for flights that leave after 5.00pm because you may encounter ferry delays particularly if there is a high volume of passengers and end up missing your connecting flight.
A more popular way to travel from Koh Lanta to Krabi by sea is by a bigger express boat which departs daily from Sala Dan pier at 11.30am – check the departure time in advance as it varies. It takes 2 hours to get to Krabi pier. Tickets are normally sold in all the street tour agencies and include transfer from your hotel in Koh Lanta to Sala Dan pier. This boat takes onboard passengers travelling to different destinations including Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railey Beach, Phuket and Phi Phi islands. There is a solid pier in Krabi Town but for other destinations the final leg to your destination is operated by a longtail boat what means you will have to leave your big boat in the middle of the sea and board a longtail. It is considerably cheaper than taking a highspeed ferry – expect to pay about THB400 for getting to Krabi Town.