Wonderfully Tropical Escapism – Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, and now the even less developed Koh Jum.
Krabi is located on the west coast mainland facing the Andaman Sea and and slightly further south of island of Koh Lanta which is linked by car-ferry and/or speedboat. Both are wonderfully tropical, with limestone islands emerging from the generally turquoise waters. Krabi is much more developed and has a lively nightlife scene at Ao Nang, although our featured hotels are located away from this.
Koh Lanta is quieter with just a couple of good hotels, glorious beaches and a real sense of escapism. There are regular flights Bangkok to Krabi (60 minutes). For Koh Lanta you travel on by road and/or speedboat for about another 90 minutes.
Koh Jum is located just to the west of Krabi, about 30 minutes by ferry. You can see it on the horizon as you travel to Koh Lanta. Hardly known, even within Thailand, it is totally authentic with just 3 small villages.
Weatherwise
Both are generally at their best December to May. The summer months are described as Red Flag season (maybe more aptly long face season), with higher sea swells and beach erosion.
Pleasures
Our three hotels in Krabi Provence are rated as amongst the best in the region (listed below), but with very different personalities and locations. They are wonderfully tropical, particularly Rayavadee, which must have one of the most photographed beaches in the world! Many of Krabi’s hotels, especially the newer ones, are not on the beach so you have to travel to find one. Not surprisingly many end at Railay Beach, the location of the Rayavadee.
Koh Lanta, maybe because it is more of a longer experience to get to, has a wonderfully quiet and relaxing atmosphere, with extremely limited nightlife and shopping. It appeals to those seeking to avoid mass tourism. It is coming, but the beaches are rarely crowded even on the busiest days.
Koh Lipe is located in the extreme south of Thailand, almost on the maritime border with Malaysia. It is within the Tarutao National Park, an area populated with numerous small islands and sand banks. Tourism is very much in its infancy here, mainly domestic & regional travellers, some back backers and a few Europeans. Getting here is part of the holiday experience, flight to Had Yai then road transfer and finally ferry. Or during the winter months a 90 minute ferry from Langkawi Malaysia.
Koh Lipe has been referred to as the Maldives of South East Asia and is known for its crystal clear waters and abundance of marine life. Just a few rather charming boutique hotels of which we think The Irene looks particularly inviting.
A Sea Plane link with Phuket is planned for 2025. There are also ferry services from Krabi/Koh Lanta and Phuket with journey ranging from 3 to 5 hours. Generally at its best weather wise November to early May.
Our featured hotel in Koh Jum is Koh Jum Beach Villas. located just west of Krabi and North of Koh Lanta. You can circumnavigate by bicycle in just under two hours. Three small fishing villages, with a resident population of around 2000. It is totally tropical, with rubber plantations, high drooping pine trees and quiet beaches strewn with coral stones and shells and mountains in the north. Total chill out escapism.
Travel Experiences
Both Krabi and Koh Lanta have an abundance of eco-adventures such as trekking and hiking, elephant camps (the fantastic Elephant Hills Jungle Resort is just 2 hours away), sea adventures and yacht hire. Krabi has a couple of fun golf courses – Koh Lanta doesnt!
Krabi is home to some of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches, including Railay Beach, known for its dramatic limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters.
Krabi features several national parks, including Than Bok Khorani National Park, which is known for its mangroves, limestone hills, and diverse wildlife.
Koh Lanta boasts some of the longest beaches in Thailand, including Klong Dao and Long Beach, perfect for relaxation and water sports.
Koh Lanta is adjacent to the Mu Koh Lanta National Park, which encompasses several islands and is known for its rich marine biodiversity, making it a great spot for snorkeling and diving.
There are now direct flights from Chiang Mai to Krabi, so twin or multi-centre options are very easy to arrange.
Realities
Many of the newer more moderate hotels in Krabi are away from the beaches, so day trippers will want to share your more upscale slice of paradise! Travelling to Koh Lanta can either be a chore or part of the unique holiday experience, but it tends to keep the crowds away.
“There’s no such thing as the best hotel, just the right one…”
Click for Booking Terms, Price Guides & Flight Information
All price guides are Per Person Sharing Double Room (Entry level), based on travel between May and/or June when prices are generally at their lowest and include promotional offers.
Supplements will probably apply at other times, particularly mid-summer in the Med, and for rooms and/or transfers arranged for single travellers.
For example, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean prices for winter can be approximately double the May – June level and about 50% more in Asia.
For the Mediterranean & Canary Islands, Caribbean, Arabia and the Indian Ocean (except Sri Lanka) price guides generally include airfare and transfers.
*For Sri Lanka and Far East we show a per person per night hotel guide, excluding air fare, as arrangements tend to be individually tailored multi-centre itineraries.
Please refer to Travel Advice on our home page or look at www.fco.gov.uk as the Foreign Office may have issued specific destination information on safety and terrorism.
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