Krabi to Koh Lanta

The fastest way and the easiest way

The fastest way across is the speedboat from Ao Nang. The easiest is your own van, all year: picked up at the airport or hotel, onto the car ferry, dropped at the villa.

Every car, van and bus crosses one short car ferry from Hua Hin pier to Lanta Noi, then the Siri Lanta bridge to Lanta Yai.

Insider tip: the boats land at Saladan on the north tip, so you still need a car to the beaches.

Ask Tanner which way suits your landing time.

Is Koh Lanta part of Krabi?

Yes. Koh Lanta is in Krabi province. Saladan, its pier town on the north tip, is about 77 km by road from Krabi airport, 89 km from Krabi Town and 103 km from Ao Nang.

The beaches and resorts run down Lanta Yai's west coast, from Klong Dao to Klong Nin.

Insider tip: a 2.5 km bridge from the mainland is due to open in 2029. Until then, every car takes the ferry.

Ask Tanner which beach suits your group.

The Krabi to Koh Lanta ferry

The Krabi to Koh Lanta ferry runs from Klong Jilad pier in Krabi Town from November to April only; nothing sails from there in October. The Lanta Super Concord leaves at 11:00 and takes about 2h45, and Andaman Wave Master leaves at 09:40, arriving around 11:45.

Rough seas can cancel any boat, and the bags ride with you, so pack light.

Insider tip: the boat lands at Saladan, so have a car waiting at the pier.

Ask Tanner to meet the boat.

The minivan and the car ferry

Minivans and buses run all year. From Krabi Town, hotel-pickup vans leave about hourly from 07:40 to 16:45, and Phantip runs the Krabi to Koh Lanta bus from the bus terminal about hourly from 08:00 to 16:00, 2.5 to 3 hours to Saladan pier. The car ferry from Hua Hin pier takes about 15 minutes and runs every 20 minutes from 6am to 10pm, Songserm Tran, the operator, says.

The car ferry from Hua Hin pier to Lanta Noi runs all day and leaves when full. Queues are usually short, but in December and January the line can stretch for kilometres.

Insider tip: in the peak weeks, cross in the morning, before the ferry line builds.

Ask Tanner to time the drive.

From Krabi airport

Airport minivans run from about 08:00 to 20:30 and take 2 to 2.5 hours, dropping at the west-coast hotels. A Krabi to Koh Lanta taxi goes door to door in about 2 hours.

Insider tip: landing after about 8pm? The last van has gone, so book a car.

Flying in? See Bangkok to Krabi, the Krabi airport transfer and every route on Getting around Thailand.

Ask Tanner to hold a van for a late flight.

Why the group goes by private car

Your own van leaves when the flight lands, not when the minivan fills, with the bags loaded once at the airport. You still queue for the car ferry, but the drinks are cold while you wait.

A luxury van takes up to 4, a party van up to 10, and a coach 20 or more.

Tanner's pick: for a group with bags, take your own van, all year. Plan it with Tanner.

From Ao Nang

Bundhaya's speedboat runs all year from Nopparat Thara at 10:10 and Railay East at 10:30, about 1h10 to 1h50. From November to April it adds afternoon boats, and the slower Ao Nang Princess ferry starts on 15 November.

By road, Google Maps puts Ao Nang to Saladan at about 2 hours 20 minutes (105 km) with the car ferry, checked 2 Nov 2026. Shared vans with hotel stops take longer. Boats also link Lanta with Phi Phi: see Krabi to Phi Phi.

Insider tip: the speedboat skips the car-ferry queue altogether.

Ask Tanner to book the boat and the car at Saladan.

When to go

November to April is best: the boats run and the sea is calmer. From May to October it's the road, and many bungalows and bars close; September and October are the wettest months.

Christmas and New Year are the peak weeks, when the car-ferry queue is longest. See our Koh Lanta guide and the Krabi nightlife guide.

Insider tip: the full boat timetable starts in November, so a late-October trip means the road.

Ask Tanner to hold the villa.

Krabi to Koh Lanta in short

• Fastest by sea: the Ao Nang speedboat, 1h10 to 1h50, all year.

• Krabi Town ferry: Klong Jilad, November to April, about 2h45.
• By road: about 2 hours by car, 2 to 3 by minivan or bus, all year.
• The crossing: a short car ferry from Hua Hin pier to Lanta Noi.
• Peak weeks: December and January bring long car-ferry queues.
• Groups: your own van, airport to villa door.

Checked 2 November 2026.