Koh Lanta - 6 months on a Thai island worldschooling our 4 kids

It’s also well developed enough to have most of the amenities a young family would need for practicality and safety. Medical clinics, pharmacies, supermarkets, hardware and electrical stores.

As I write this, we have just left the island and arrived in Malaysia for some city life in Kuala Lumpur. It’s officially the low season in Koh Lanta now and the weather has changed to reflect that. We are a family of 6 with 4 young children and have been living on Koh Lanta for the last 6 months (Dec to May) which makes us well qualified to talk about life on the island as both a visitor and temporary resident. This blog will talk about everything you need to know and help you decide if you and your family would like to visit this amazing island. As always, we don’t shy away from the bad bits and any tough periods we went through. We tell it uncensored. Good or bad!

Don’t forget to follow us on our socials and support our journey. We really appreciate it.

Facebook       Instagram       You Tube

After a leisurely morning and the kids finishing English and Maths on their Reading Eggs online subscription, Dionne takes them to a lunch time meet up at the Backyard restaurant which is part of the Bliss Worldschooling community calendar. Seven families turn up today. With this activity calendar, there is no pressure or commitment expectations. No money changes hands for families to take part in this Bliss Worldschooling Community. It’s created by families and supported by every family that joins it.

The Backyard is always busy but there is plenty of space at the rear with the kids playground and a large seating area next to it. The children all sit in a circle near the reserved tables to introduce themselves and welcome new joiners and also share what they have done over the week just gone. It’s April which is Planet Earth month. Some of the parents have brought pre-printed activity sheets for the children to take part in an exercise which teaches them about the planet and the importance of recycling, reuse and helping to protect our precious world. Another family does a small presentation on a shark conservation charity and the recycling of plastic from the ocean to create useful everyday household products. They founded the global charity Shark Guardian. I finish it off with my popular quiz where the kids get into teams answering planet Earth questions. A bag of sweets for the winning team is all the motivation they need!

After we indulge in the tasty Backyard menu - huge protein smoothie bowls, smashed avocado on toast and delicious fruit shakes are the favourites. Three hours have passed. The families all go their separate ways. Families have their own time to do what they want to do whether that be an excursion, chilling on the beach or by a pool. Normally there is a meet up somewhere on one of the lovely beaches in the late afternoon for some fun stuff like Team Frisbee followed by a sunset bite to eat. This is what a typical day on Koh Lanta has looked like for families in the Bliss Worldschooling Community between December and April. Arts and craft, beach clean ups, football and beach frisbee practice. So much fun and plenty of healthy socialsing for the kids and adults.

Getting to Koh Lanta is an adventure in itself! You can get there directly by road or sea. Indirectly, you can fly to a nearby airport (Krabi) or get a train (Trang). The boat option is the most direct route to get to Koh Lanta.and they depart from various places such as Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lipe, Trang, etc. Driving requires an unavoidable ferry crossing. Train connections are good from major cities in Thailand with Trang the closest to Lanta but you will still need to drive overland or get a boat from there. If you are flying whether that be international or domestic, Krabi International Airport is your closest. Phuket or Trang is a bit further away but also an option with a longer drive. The drive from Krabi airport to Koh Lanta is around 1.5 hours but this varies based on time of day and how busy the ferry is. The 15 min ferry ride is the only way to get to Koh Lanta if you are driving. The ferry is efficient and quick, running from 5am to midnight 7 days a week during high season and its relatively cheap. It cost us 140 Baht (just under 4 GBP) for a car with 6 passengers. It’s a scenic ride and you get to see the magnificent mangrove forests that surround the neighbouring islands. The ferry drops you off on Lanta Noi which you then drive through to get to Koh Lanta over the connecting Siri Lanta bridge.

There are actually 52 islands within the archipelago that makes up Koh Lanta. Most are tiny. Koh Lanta is 6kms wide and 30 kms long. It takes 40 mins to drive from one end to the other. It’s an island of two halves. The West coast is the busy half with the best beaches especially during the high season. The East is very quiet all year round with mainly mangrove forest lined coast and Old Lanta town being the only popular spot for visitors. It’s also where the pier is as a departure point for the popular island boat trips.

The Northern tip is where you enter from the ferry. Kho Kwang beach has a bunch of resorts including some of the more swanky high end hotels. Our favourite to spend time at is Coco Cape Lanta Resort. There are a bunch of nice relaxed bars along here including Hippie Trail Bar which is one we like to visit. The large town of Saladan backs onto Khlong Dao beach which is our favourite. Very family friendly and so many resorts and bars along here. We rented a house on the main road 5 mins walk from this beach. As you head South, you come to Long Beach (Phra Ae Beach) which is also very busy and just like Khlong Dao. Most visitors to the island are staying near these two beaches in the North West of the island.

As you move South, there are so many more great beaches such as Beautiful, Relax, Khlong Khong, Khlong Nin, Nui, Kantiang Bay, Bamboo beach all with resort options littered along the coastline. It becomes quieter and more rustic (less developed) the further South you go until you get to the National Park on the Southern tip.

The middle (interior) of the island is hilly and mostly jungle but there are plenty of accommodation options available if you prefer to stay in a more natural habitat of a tropical rainforest landscape. The East coast is very quiet. Many more locals and expats live here because it is cheaper and quieter. Mangrove forest coastline all along it with beautiful stilt house villages. Old Lanta Town is also half way down the East coast. A lovely market is here full of cafes, boutiques and souvenir shops. A popular spot for tourists.

You can't visit this paradise island and not visit a beach!! I mentioned the various beaches earlier in this blog. On the West Coast they are all really nice and will suit different tastes. Khlong Dao and Phrae Ae (Long) beach are the busiest and most family friendly. Khlong Khong and Khlong Nin are quieter but still have plenty going on. Further South from here and it gets very peaceful. One favourite quiet beach is Kantiang Bay. We find a table under shade at Same Same But Different beach bar and then have fun on the white sandy beach with crystal clear warm water. There are also parts of some beaches with lots of rocks which are great for exploring and snorkelling.

The high and low seasons are mainly separated by the weather. Koh Lanta enjoys a tropical climate, with warm temperatures all year-round. There are two seasons. Dry and wet. If you want very little rain, clear skies and lots of sunshine, the best time to visit is during the dry season from November to April. The temperature is cooler (around 30c) in Dec, Jan and Feb. March onwards the temperature and humidity starts to rise (35c plus). Dec to Mar will see the busiest period for visitors. After Songkran mid April, the winds change and that effects the tides and rings the start of monsoon season. We stayed up until 24th May. It became from mid April and it also became very hot and humid with temps over 40c! However, even during the rainy season from May to October, the rain showers are usually short-lived with about 3 or 4 major monsoon outbreaks between these months. Many of the long term expat residents look forward to low season for peace, relaxation and refreshing rain to restore the lush green beauty of the island. Unfortunately for this island, from May to October, the low season brings a complete change in direction for the winds and it becomes exposed to tides that are difficult and dangerous to swim in. The tides now come from the Indian Ocean which brings more storms and also rubbish from other countries washes up on the West coast beaches.

This is a very subjective question to answer as everyone has different budgets, standards and expectations. I would encourage you to do your own research on this. Google Maps and Facebook groups are a good source of reviews. The busiest areas are the North and West of the island. Saladan which is on Khlong Dao beach and also Phrae Ae (Long) beach. There are plenty of resorts, apartments and villas available along the North and West coast including Khlong Khong and Khlong Nin beaches. This applies to beachside, the main road which runs alongside (about 200 metres back from the beach) and the middle interior of the island. Rest assured, there are options available to suit everyone's budget and tastes.

Based on our time on the island and hearing good and bad things from friends about places they have stayed at, we would like to mention a few places…

Budget Banana Beach (Khlong Dao) Coco Cape Lanta (Khlong Dao) Lanta Lilly (Long Beach) New Coconut Bungalows (Khlong Khong) Easy Life Villas (Lanta Old Town)

Mid-Range Lanta Sport (Long Beach) Andaman Lanta (Khlong Dao) Villa Lila (Long Beach) Lymms (Long Beach Chalets) El Pillax (Khlong Khong)

High end Avani + (Klong Dao) Rawai Warin (Nui Beach) Pimalai (Kantiang Bay) Malee Beach Villas (Long Beach) Malee Highlands (Long Beach)

There are also many villa and apartment rental companies on the island. To name a few:

www.lantahideaways.com

www.amazinglanta.com/koh-lanta-villas/

And of course you have www.airbnb.co.uk and www.booking.com.

If I had to choose the best family friendly areas, it would be Khlong Dao and Long beaches in my opinion. They are well set up to cater for kids. Family friendly resorts with pools to suit any budget. Beach bars with shade and boxes of toys. If you want a luxurious and expensive stay for a family it’s the Rawai Warin (Nui Beach) or with more of an adult focus, head to Kantiang Bay further down South (The Pimalai).

One thing I will add is that all over the island, Koh Lanta has struck a nice balance between being developed enough to cater for all needs high end to budget. It caters for young backpackers and families in a way where every visitors have their needs met (including plenty of Western food options on menus for fussy kids). It’s calm and the nightlife scene is good but stays low key. It’s not overly developed where there is too much tourism and it’s lost its soul - like Koh Phi Phi!!! Koh Lanta has always given us the warmest welcome whether that be from locals or long term expat residents.

Koh Lanta has developed at a moderate pace over the last few years and there are plenty of things to do that are family friendly. If you are looking for a place with large theme parks/hotels, high rise buildings and stuff like that, this island is not for you. Koh Lanta still maintains a peaceful rustic charm and that’s what we love about it.

We have 4 young children (2 boys and 2 girls) so we always have their various demands for attention and doing stuff. As we have been long term visitors to the island, there is no rush and we have enjoyed the slow pace of life here. Fortunately, being part of a 5 month worldschooling community here with an informal calendar of activities has enabled us to continually keep a regular routine to suit our tastes and energy levels. Arts and craft, culture, quizzes, team building, communication, sports, helping our planet, etc. Having this community has made our time on the island as a family that extra bit special. And of course we have still made time to see some of the sights and try the activities the island has to offer.

If you want to be part of this worldschooling community, it will be happening again from Dec 2024 to April 2025. Bliss World Schooling Community 

Other than the obvious things to do such as chilling by the pool, beach time, eating tasty Thai food, watching amazing fireshows and breathtaking sunsets, having a relaxing massage, driving a bike down the coastline, here is a list of things we have tried and would recommend:

The most popular day trip in Koh Lanta is the four islands trip, which takes you on a journey around the breathtaking limestone cliffs of the Trang Islands. You get to spend the day island hopping and snorkelling. These islands (Koh Ngai being one of them) are picture postcard perfect with white sand and crystal clear warm water. One of the highlights is the Emerald Cave at Koh Muk. You swim through emerald green waters and darkness in the cave before being greeted by a hidden beach on the other side, surrounded by limestone cliffs.

So much of Koh Lanta’s coastline is surrounded by magnificent Mangrove forests. You have options to go out on a half/full day trips via longboat or kayaking where you are going to see an abundance of wildlife amongst it’s natural habitat including monitor lizards, birds, monkeys and mudfish.

Situated at the Southern tip of the island, it costs 200 Baht to enter. Explore the rainforest, find a secret secluded beach and cliffs with a lighthouse. At a moderate pace, the trek takes about 2 hours through a lush rainforest before you finish at a beautiful secluded beach. The scenery from the lighthouse cliffs is breathtaking. If you have young children or are elderly/unfit, I would advise they don’t attempt the trek as it’s quite a tough one and of course it gets very hot. So I did this without Dionne and the kids. It’s so worth it!

Tham Mai Kaew cave - An awesome experience both getting to the cave and then navigating your way through it. You need a guide for this. It’s quite a small cave compared to others we have been to and there are some tight spaces. Again I wouldn’t advise this for young children or elderly/unfit as the trek to the cave is a tough one. It’s definitely different and worth trying if you have the energy. Tham Seua cave is less strenuous and family friendly. You don’t need a guide and you can visit nearby Khlong Jak waterfall.

Lanta Animal Welfare is a rescue home for cats and dogs set up by a woman who made it her mission to end the suffering of abused animals on Koh Lanta. They also help inured animals after road accidents. She’s done a huge amount for the community, treating and sterilising over 15,000 animals. You can visit the home, go on a guided tour and meet the rescued cats and dogs. You can even take the dogs for a walk. Be careful not to fall in love with any of the cute animals otherwise you are in danger of taking one home!

There are plenty of places to learn Thai cooking. It’s very popular alongside Muay Thai boxing. We recommend a couple of places for cooking classes on Koh Lanta. Cooking with Mun and Time for Lime. Time for Lime used to run a popular restaurant but have now switched exclusively to cooking classes. Their profits go to Lanta Animal Welfare, which is just next door.

If you are looking for an ethical elephant experience, Following Giants is supported by the World Animal Protection group. Its a ‘no touch’ sanctuary. 1,500 baht for adults and 800 Baht for children. Pick up from and dropped back to your resort. Spend time observing and walking with the elephants learning about their habitat, diet, behaviours, etc. We already did the elephant experience in Chiang Mai but this is worth adding to your list.

This is awesome! The kids loved it. Zip lining from towering trees at high speeds. What an adrenalin rush! Well organised and safe with plenty of guides available to look after everyone. Equipment was in good condition. Before you part with 800 Baht per child, if you are not sure your child will be brave enough, they can try out a small zipline right next to reception. That was handy as two of our kids chose not to do it. The other two loved it. It lasts about 40 mins to complete all the ziplines.

Chomview water park is the only water park on the island. It’s not too big. About 6 slides all of which accommodate everyone from toddler to grown up. It's set up to have something for every age group and is a pleasant day out. There is a cheap supermarket and restaurant on site. Price varies according to the height of the person. Kids/adults above 1.1 metres pay 200 Baht each.

This is quite new on the island and seems to be going down well with the kids. It’s not that cheap at 200 Baht for 5 laps but it definitely gets a thumbs up from the kids. The cars are all electric which is good for the environment and safer for everyone. There is also a Koi Carp pool on site which the kids enjoyed feeding the fish.

Lanta cinema was an amazing experience. When you come from a country where everyone is used to being indoors to watch a film, experiencing this outdoors with warm air and clear starry skies above is awesome. Lanta Cinema is a modern well built place with a fully licensed bar and restaurant on site so even the parents can enjoy it.

No trip to anywhere in Thailand is complete without taking part in the country’s national sport. This sport is deep rooted in Thailand’s cultural and historical traditions. It has gained worldwide popularity for its unique techniques and physical demands. There are quite a lot of training gyms and all over the island offering training sessions for kids/adults from beginner level upwards. Prices are about 300 - 400 Baht per session. We tried and recommend the Muay Thai Lanta Complex in Saladan. If the physical exertion is not for you, then just get some tickets for a Muay Thai boxing fight night and experience it that way.

Like anywhere, it depends on your perspective. If you compare it to places like Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong, then yes its really cheap. Thailand as a whole is ranked as one of the cheapest 5 countries in the world. The general rule is you will find the cheapest prices on the mainland in the less populated rural areas. And the North is cheaper than the South. The places more popular with tourists will be a bit more expensive. This is definitely the case for the Thai islands in the South such as Koh Samui and Phi Phi Islands.

So Koh Lanta is more expensive than other parts of Thailand but that’s to be expected. But let’s keep perspective…if you are living on a tight budget, you can still find affordable accommodation on the island from as low as $500 a month for a family of 4. A bottle of local beer is $2. A plate of local Thai food such as Pad Thai or Chicken Fried Rice is $2. Most excursions are relatively cheap including diving. The one thing that doesn’t feel that cheap is healthcare amongst the small private clinics. I say that because Koh Lanta has no large hospitals where healthcare will feel cheaper vs your home country is you have top pay for it. I come from the UK where our healthcare is free (sometimes!).

So all in all yes Koh Lanta is cheap but it's not compared to the rest of Thailand. And stay safe don’t have anything happen that requires you to go and get medical attention!

We always pride ourselves on being honest about places and our family experiences. Our time on Koh Lanta being part of the Bliss Worldschooling Community has been nothing short of fantastic. Our time and experiences have created so many wonderful memories for us as a family.

If you are not a big fan of extreme temperatures and humidity, I would not visit the island from April to June. The monsoon season changes the winds and we experienced temps of over 40c and 100% humidity which makes it very uncomfortable for most people. The monsoon season also brings a step change to the bug count! A lot more mozzies come out and that’s not good for anyone!!

If you are looking for a built up well developed city type environment, you won’t find it here. Rest assured, there are plenty of amenities available including medical clinics and pharmacies. If you did not serious medical treatment (surgery etc), then you would have to leave the island and head to Krabi (Ao Nang and Krabi Town), Trang or Phuket.

If you are on a budget and want to experience really cheap Thai prices, then this island is unlikely to fit for you compared to other parts of Thailand. To be fair, none of the Thai islands will be cheap. So it depends on how long you plan to stay.