KO LANTA YAI
It's a long thin island running North through South. The West coast (or sunset coast) faces the Andaman Sea with a string of beautiful white-sand beaches that host most of the islands resorts.
About halfway down the island the paved road turns from the West and crosses the mountains to the East coast. This beautiful drive takes you through rice paddies, rubber tree plantations and jungle, as well as passing through a number of small Muslim villages.
The right-hand turning found opposite the small mosque in the little village just after the local school leads to Mai Keow Caves, and is signposted for tourists.
Just before dropping to the eastern plateau, the road sweeps around a bend to a scenic site with a spectacular view of the sea between Ko Lanta and the mainland. Scattered with tiny tropical islands set against the backdrop of Krabi mainland, the outlook, particularly at sunset, is simply stunning.
Colourful local fishing boats can be viewed close-up on many of the beaches. See them in large groups at the southern end of Klong Dao Beach or next to the paved road between Klong Kong Beach and the National Park turnoff.
The east coast is less developed and offers glimpses of life before tourism. It faces the mainland and has a coastline largely consisting of mangroves with some yellow-sand beaches in the South.
Follow the main road south towards Ko Lanta Village and en route you’ll see rice paddies and prawn farms. Take the left turnoff to beautiful Ko Lanta Old Town when you reach the main Police Station (on the right); continue on and you’ll pass the Buddhist Temple and the hospital before coming to the Sea Gypsy Village.
The Sea Gypsy Village at the southern end of the east coast offers a peek into the life of these ancient people, many who continue to live a nomadic existence on the sea. The village consists of small houses where people live private lives, therefore please respect their privacy and be sensitive about where you point your camera. If you’re lucky you’ll see the unique fishing cages used here, rigid constructions of about 1x2x3 metres with an entrance gate. They are taken out to places where tides concentrate fish, swum down to the ocean bottom and tied to rocks to keep them from being swept away (all without the aid of diving equipment!)
Follow the small stream on an enjoyable, relaxed walk through the jungle to the waterfall near Klong Jark beach in the south. It reduces to a small shower in the dry season, but the fresh water pool below remains a great place for a cool dip. The terrain is easy-going and the route takes about 45 minutes. Guides can be hired for a small fee at the café where the road fords the stream. Continue your walk back past the road and follow the stream to Klong Jark beach – one of KoLanta’s prettiest small beaches.
For an escape from the sun, take a hike to the popular Mai Keow Caves. Turn right off the paved road just after the mosque, and continue until you see the parking place. A guide from the family owning the land will walk you up through the rubber tree plantation and jungle, over rope bridges to the cave entrance. The caves consist of a series of spectacular chambers with rock stalagmites, stalactites and stunning rock formations. It involves some climbing up and down on rope ladders but is not overly strenuous. When you spot people with muddy clothes and big smiles, they’re just back from the caves!
Another choice for an underground adventure is the more recently discovered Tiger Cave. Find it off the national park road, just to the left.
The Ko Lanta National Marine Park is at the southern tip of the island at the end of a spectacular coastal drive. The park offers picnic areas with toilets & showers, a picture-postcard beach, and an interesting one-hour walk through unspoiled jungle, starting at the Park’s Headquarters. A small lighthouse on the southern point is popular for panoramic shots of the coastline. Take your own food for picnics; cold drinks are usually available on site.