Koh Lanta
Ko Lanta · Koh Lanta Yai · Ko Lanta Yai
7°36.8'N 99°3.2'E
Depth
4–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
Set 75m radius off the main anchorage on the western coast. The strait between Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi provides excellent protection. Tidal range 2–3m.
About This Anchorage
Koh Lanta is a large island south of Krabi, stretching 27km and offering a calmer, more authentic alternative to the packed Phi Phi Islands. The western coast has several good anchorages in the NE monsoon with good sand and mud holding. The town of Ban Sala Dan at the northern tip has customs, immigration, and provisioning. Southern end has marine national park. Popular with cruising sailors as a staging post for routes south to Langkawi (Malaysia).
Protected From
N · NE · E · W
Exposed To
S · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (national park fees in southern section)
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Check in at Ban Sala Dan customs office. National park fees apply in the southern Ko Lanta marine park area.
Restrictions: No anchoring in the Ko Lanta Marine National Park restricted zones in the southern section of the island. Do not anchor on coral.
Hazards
- !Exposed to SW swell on western coast — May–October untenable
- !Shoals extending from the north tip near Ban Sala Dan — approach carefully
- !Fish farms along the eastern coast (Koh Lanta Strait) — navigate in channel
Skipper's Tips
- →Ban Sala Dan (north tip) has customs, fuel, provisions, and restaurants
- →The western coast beaches are beautiful and relatively uncrowded compared to Phuket/Krabi
- →Ko Lanta is a common last stop before Langkawi, Malaysia — stock up here
- →Old Town (Ban Ko Lanta) on the eastern coast has traditional Chinese-Portuguese shophouses
Facilities
Good range of restaurants in Ban Sala Dan and along the western coast
Nearest provisions: Ban Sala Dan (1nm)
Best Months & Season
November, December, January, February, March, April
NE monsoon season (November–April). Western anchorages exposed in SW monsoon. The eastern Koh Lanta Strait provides year-round shelter.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
Around the Phi Phi Islands and Krabi coast, swell can enter bays unexpectedly and the large Andaman tidal range means your position changes constantly. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can enjoy the rock climbing, snorkeling, and sunsets with complete confidence.
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