I woke up already at 4:30 the next morning, because I wanted to get ready for the continuation of the journey calmly and slowly, and this time it was by plane. I had an early morning flight at 7 o’clock to Krabi in southern Thailand and practically here, in Chiang Mai, I was finishing my tour of the “continental,” i.e., northern part of Thailand.
But even the continuation of the journey wasn’t in the form of a “rest” with days of lounging on the beach. Yes, I wanted that, but Thailand is so interesting and offers so much that I thought it would be a shame to go to just one place on this occasion. I decided again to spend two nights in each resort. This practically meant: one day of travelling and an afternoon on the beach, a free day and then transferring to the next destination the day after.
So, my plan for this day was to fly from Chiang Mai in the north to the city of Krabi in the south and that flight takes 2 hours. Upon arrival at the airport, I was supposed to catch a mini-bus that goes to Ko Lanta island. I already had a hotel booked on the island and they told me that I just needed to go to the information desk at the airport and they would direct me on where to catch the mini-bus. In any case, I thought it wasn’t too much of a problem to transfer because I arrived in Krabi around 9 in the morning and Ko Lanta is only about 75 km away. The fact that it’s an island posed no problem for the mini-bus, because there is a ferry that crosses the narrow strait between the mainland and the island.
After landing and picking up my luggage, it turned out that it really wasn’t a problem at all to transfer from Krabi Airport to various destinations, including the island of Ko Lanta, where I was heading.
As soon as you pick up your luggage and head towards the exit, there is a section of the airport with stands from various transport providers. Here, you can buy a ticket to one of the numerous destinations covered by this service and wait for the minivan that takes you further. The service is “door-to-door,” meaning the minivan departs from the airport, waits in line for the ferry, if you’re heading to an island, and then transports passengers around that island.
Boarding the ferry
Technically speaking, the ferry goes to Ko Lanta Noi and from there, a little later, one transfers over a bridge to Ko Lanta Yai, where the majority of tourist attractions are located. When people refer to Ko Lanta, they usually mean Ko Lanta Yai. Throughout this travelogue, I will also be referring to Ko Lanta Yai as Ko Lanta.
Moving to the island of Ko Lanta Yai
The hotel was very well positioned for my standards, especially considering my short stay on the island. I quickly received the key to the bungalow I had reserved. Both the hotel and my accommodation were practically on the beach, only a few dozen metres away from it.
Accommodation on Ko Lanta
I had to test immediately how this terrace in front of the room worked when I make myself coffee and I was very satisfied.
Sipping coffee on the terrace in front of the room
I came to this island based on a good recommendation and later I found out that an acquaintance of mine had spent a few weeks here and greatly enjoyed it. I didn’t have that much time, so I planned to make the most of practically a day and a half both to enjoy the island and to take a day trip from here.
What I really liked when I arrived was the excellent service at the hotel reception. Not only did they speak English very well (which is extremely important and, in my experience, quite rare in Thailand), but also through them I managed to buy not only a ticket for the excursion the next day, but also a ticket to transfer to the next destination. I thought I would have to take a van, a ferry, etc., again, however, transportation here is very well developed and you can almost go directly from any place to any other place. You just need to inquire.
As for the island of Ko Lanta, it is known for its long beaches and good diving spots. Motorised water sports are prohibited, allowing for a peaceful vacation. According to what I’ve read, the southern parts of the island are more beautiful, with more interesting nature. However, I preferred to stay closer to the north due to my limited time, although the island is not large – its length is about 23 km and the maximum width is around 5.5 km. Hotels are mostly located along the west coast.
After the short coffee break on the terrace of my bungalow, I went to the beach, but only briefly to quickly take some photos. The beach is called Pra-Ae, which means “long beach.” The origin of the name is quite clear.
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
I didn’t linger here for long because, on the one hand, it was early afternoon and quite hot and, on the other hand, I had to eat as soon as possible. Suddenly, I was very hungry, so, contrary to my usual habits, I immediately ordered two dishes! Objectively, a meal and a half would have sufficed, but I couldn’t order that, plus I didn’t know the portion sizes.
Green mango salad with grilled prawns
Phad Thai made in a slightly different fashion
With my tummy pleasantly full and content, I settled onto a hotel sun lounger, relaxing while digesting my lunch. However, as I lay in the shade provided by the surrounding trees, at one point, an exceptionally charming collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) landed on a branch. I had to capture that moment.
Collared kingfisher
After some time, I went into the water for a swim, which was quite refreshing. Later on, I took a stroll along the beach. As I’ve mentioned, this was the “Long Beach” or Pra-Ae on Ko Lanta Island.
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
Having returned a bit later to the section of the beach where my hotel was located, I reclined on a wooden platform to enjoy relaxation as the day slowly approached its end. I even felt like having a cocktail, although it was still afternoon. It wasn’t strong, so there were no issues in the end.
Long beach on Ko Lanta island
I might have stayed here a bit longer, but I remembered that I needed to secure more local currency for myself and I also wanted to buy some fruit, so I set off for a walk – first to the main road and then further along it.
Street leading to the main road along Ko Lanta island
Of course, there was also the option to catch a local “taxi,” but I decided to walk as it provided a better view of the surroundings, plus I wasn’t going far.
Ko Lanta, a detail
And as for the fruit, I bought some that I was familiar with and some I wanted to try. In the latter group, there were two types: langsat or langkong and longan or lamyai. In both cases, the first names are more commonly used, but the sellers at the market mentioned the latter names to me. Either way, here are the photos:
Langsat or langkong
Longan or lamyai
They may seem similar at first glance, but they are entirely different species, botanically belonging to the same order. Both of these fruits grow on trees that can reach a height of about 30 meters.
That evening I didn’t eat these fruits I had just bought, but I had them the next day, so here are the photos. In the case of langsat or langkong, I had to use a knife in order to reach the soft part of the fruit that consists of several segments. On the other hand, with longan or lamyai, it’s enough to squeeze the fruit strongly and the tough skin simply cracks, revealing the inner part consisting of one piece with a black seed in the centre. I don’t know if it helps, but the tastes are similar to lychee and rambutan.
Langsat or langkong
Longan or lamyai
While returning to the hotel after buying fruit, I noticed that the sky had a truly incredible effect. I hurried to reach the beach in time and I succeeded.
Fabulous sunset on Ko Lanta island
Fabulous sunset on Ko Lanta island
Fabulous sunset on Ko Lanta island
It was just the right time for dinner and the restaurant in my hotel was the ideal place for that.
Hotel restaurant
Among other options, one could order the fresh catch of the day in a grilled form, so when I decided to go for it, my dinner arrived a bit later. As they told me, it was king mackerel.
King mackerel
Dinner on Ko Lanta island
As it was quite warm outside, I opted for a local beer served in a cooler, but I had to drink it quickly to prevent it from warming up.
Beer with the dinner on Ko Lanta
The hotel also organised some beach entertainment where a performer skilfully manipulated a device with ignited fire. However, I must admit that I would have enjoyed more an undisturbed view of the dark night and the sound of the waves. Therefore, I didn’t stay on the beach for long and, at some point, I retreated to my bungalow. Before going to sleep, I bid good night to a cute gecko.
Gecko on the wall of my room
The next morning, I woke up early because I had a tour to go to and before that I wanted to have breakfast. I managed to do everything nicely – first, I took photos of the beach and then I sat down to eat. Breakfast is a particularly important meal in Thailand and I fully dedicated myself to it.
Morning on Ko Lanta
Breakfast on Ko Lanta
The previous afternoon, I saw an impressive bird that had squeezed itself among the branches of a tall tree growing within the hotel complex and I realised it had a nest there. That’s why this morning, I paid attention to what was going on in the treetop and was rewarded with a view of the brahminy kite (Haliastur indus).
Brahminy kite
Brahminy kite
At some point, they came to pick me up and transport me to the port where the excursion started. By now, I found it very interesting to “experience” constantly new types of transportation and this time around I rode in the open cargo bed of a pickup with benches along the side walls for the passengers.
All the passengers heading to various boat excursions are brought from hotels and apartments to the main pier on the island, where they are then sorted into groups depending on their destinations. The excursions are carried out either by smaller, more traditional boats (long-tail boats) or by larger speedboats with powerful engines.
Pier on Ko Lanta
The excursion has started
The trip I took on this day led to a smaller archipelago called “Phi Phi Islands.” The largest island within this group is called Ko Phi Phi Don and it features accommodation and tourist facilities. However, the main attraction of the archipelago is the smaller island called Ko Phi Phi Le. It is widely known because the film “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed there, but in reality, it is simply an indescribably beautiful place. The island itself is interesting, but its most beautiful part is Maya Bay, attracting a large number of tourists.
Even before, it had been clear for some time that the large number of tourists, making noise, leaving waste behind and arriving here with boats and speedboats that create specific problems, lead to a serious disruption of the natural balance and contribute to the gradual destruction of the beauty that everyone desires to visit. This became even more noticeable during the corona virus pandemic when Thailand was locked down and tourists were absent. In just a couple of years, nature began to regenerate on its own. This led the authorities to decide that now Ko Phi Phi Le and Maya Bay can be visited, but in a specific and limited way.
To begin with, it is prohibited to enter the bay with boats and tourists who approach the beach from the rear are only allowed to dip their feet and nothing more. Swimming is strictly forbidden.
So, the island consists of tall cliffs covered with vegetation and, between them, there are several shallow bays and a couple of larger coves. Since entering Maya Bay with boats is prohibited, visitors are transported to the rear where pontoons and stairs are set up to cross to the mainland and then a path between two elevations leads to the bay and the beach. While visitors go to see the beach, the boats wait.
Ko Phi Phi Le, long-tail boats waiting for their passengers
Ko Phi Phi Le, access to the pontoon
Ko Phi Phi Le, view from the stairs at the pontoon and the cove
Ko Phi Phi Le, view from the stairs at the cove
Ko Phi Phi Le, access to the island
Ko Phi Phi Le, getting to the dry land
Still, it should be mentioned that there are some basic facilities here, such as toilets, as well as places for guards and the like.
The path leads to the middle of the beach where there is an observation point with, to say the least, a spectacular view.
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
But to reach the beach itself, one must go all the way to the left. Here, it is mandatory to take off your shoes, as if entering a temple. On the other hand, why would anyone want to walk in shoes on such beautiful and soft sand?
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
The nature or God have been absolutely selfless here and created everything perfectly, as they have a habit of doing. I didn’t know what was more beautiful – the details or the overall picture.
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Then I walked a little along the beach towards the other end and that was quite good. On the one hand, the beauty of the scenery remained undiminished and only the angle of admiration changed along with some details. However, on the other hand, there were fewer people and that still created a better impression of untouched nature.
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
I was so amazed that I couldn’t stop taking photos. After capturing a few shots with my camera, I would do the same using my mobile phone. I also exchanged photography moments with another girl here – first, I took some photos of her with her mobile phone while she was in the water, and then she did the same with my phone.
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay
I also made a short video in order to record the sound of the sea waves.
At some point, I had to tear myself away from the beauty of the landscape. So, I took a path through the forest, but it was a different route than the one I had previously taken and I slowly made my way back to the speedboats. The plan included more visits.
Ko Phi Phi Le, a detail