Fly to Krabi and take the airport transfer.
The road distance from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is approximately 830 km. Since Koh Lanta has no airport, flying to Krabi and then taking a minibus is recommended. Around 18 direct flights depart daily from Bangkok's two airports to Krabi. The flight time is approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes, and prices generally range from 900 to 2,000 baht if booked several weeks in advance. Minibuses depart from Krabi Airport to hotels on Koh Lanta between approximately 8:00 am and 8:30 pm. The journey costs around 400 baht and takes 2 to 2.5 hours, including a short car ferry crossing.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Bangkok to Koh Lanta on 12Go.
Leave Bangkok in the morning and you'll be at the beach by early afternoon. The cheapest option is the night bus from Khao San Road, which takes about 16 hours and 30 minutes and costs 1,290–1,560 baht to get directly to Saladan Pier. While this saves money, it's not a huge amount, and it will cost you a night's sleep.
Where to stay in Koh Lanta
This route ends in Koh Lanta. Search for hotels in Koh Lanta for your travel dates or narrow your search to the specific region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My recommendations for every price category on Koh Lanta
Key facts
Approximately 18 flights to Krabi daily, flight time 1 hour 25 minutes
AirAsia, Thai Lion and Nok Air fly from Don Mueang, and Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways and AirAsia from Suvarnabhumi, usually for 900–2000 Baht.
Airport buses run from 08:00 to 20:30 and cost about 400 Baht.
You will be transferred to your hotel on Lanta in 2 to 2.5 hours. A private transfer costs approximately 2,100–3,300 baht and departs directly after your landing.
The night bus journey takes approximately 16 hours and 30 minutes.
The ship leaves the Khao San region at 7:00 PM and reaches the Saladan Pier the following morning for ฿1.290–1.560 with 12Go.
No train reaches Krabi or Lanta
The nearest train station is Trang. Night trains depart from Bangkok around 6:50 pm and 8:30 pm, and minibuses run from Trang to Lanta from 11:00 am.
Krabi Airport is 76 km from Saladan.
Every road trip requires a short ferry crossing to Lanta Noi. In December and January, the waiting time can be several hours.
The last minibus from Krabi airport departs at approximately 8:30 pm.
Almost every flight that lands in the early evening will take you to Lanta on the same day.
All routes from Bangkok to Koh Lanta compared
Flights and Krabi vans according to the Bangkok to Krabi and Krabi to Koh Lanta travel guides; buses, trains, and vans from Trang according to 12Go's offer (including booking fee); the speedboat from Phuket according to the Phuket to Koh Lanta travel guide. Distances based on OSRM routes via OpenStreetMap, including car ferry.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Bangkok → Koh Lanta: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the connection with the night bus from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
12Go lists combined bus tickets from Bangkok to Saladan Port with on-site seating and e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee.
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Flight to Krabi
Krabi Airport is Lanta's airport. There are approximately 18 direct flights daily from Bangkok: AirAsia, Thai Lion, and Nok Air fly from Don Mueang, while Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet, Bangkok Airways, and AirAsia fly from Suvarnabhumi. The flight time is about 1 hour and 25 minutes, and inexpensive tickets booked a few weeks in advance typically cost between 900 and 2,000 baht. If you are arriving in Bangkok from abroad, flying from Suvarnabhumi will save you the transfer across the city to Don Mueang.
My travel guide for flights from Bangkok to Krabi contains more detailed flight information. For Lanta flights landing around 6:00 PM, there is still plenty of time for the final airport transfer.
From Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta
Shared taxis depart from Krabi Airport to Lanta between approximately 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM. The journey costs approximately 399–429 Baht, including hotel transfer, and takes 2 to 2.5 hours. The route includes a short car ferry crossing to Lanta Noi and a bridge crossing to Lanta Yai. The shared taxi will then take you directly to your hotel.
A private car costs around 2,100–3,300 baht and departs whenever you're ready. I would book this if you have children, are traveling with a lot of luggage, or have a late flight. In December and January, allow extra time for the car ferry, as the wait can be several hours on the busiest days. My guidebook for the Krabi to Koh Lanta route also includes boat connections from Ao Nang and Krabi Town.
Fly to Trang or Phuket instead
Trang is the second closest airport to Lanta, 129 km from Saladan. Flights from Don Mueang depart at approximately 7:55 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 10:30 a.m., according to 12Go. Minibuses run from Trang to Lanta at approximately 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. for 400–550 baht (approximately 3 hours). This option is worthwhile if flight prices to Krabi are high, and only for morning flights.
Phuket offers more flight connections than the other two destinations and a speedboat service to Koh Lanta. Speedboats depart from the pier in Rassada in the morning and early afternoon, reaching Saladan in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes for 1,260–1,700 baht. Since Rassada is 35 km from Phuket Airport, this is a good option if you have an early flight. The boat schedules are included in my Phuket–Koh Lanta travel guide.
The best-rated hotels in Koh Lanta
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Koh Lanta. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
By night bus
The direct bus is a combination ticket that departs from Khao San Road around 7:00 PM and arrives at Saladan Pier on Lanta the following morning after approximately 16 hours and 30 minutes. Tickets are available through 12Go for 1,290–1,560 baht. It's the cheapest option for getting to the island and saves on a hotel night – albeit at the cost of a restful night's sleep.
The other option is to buy two tickets. The Lignite Tour bus departs Bangkok's South Terminal at 6:40 PM and arrives at Krabi bus station at 5:40 AM, costing 715 baht. In the morning, minibuses run from Krabi Town to Lanta, taking approximately 2.5 to 3 hours and costing around 410 baht. This option is cheaper, but requires a transfer in Krabi at dawn.
By train
There is no direct train service to Krabi or Lanta. The nearest train station is Trang. Night trains depart from Bangkok at approximately 6:50 PM and 8:30 PM. The journey takes between 12 hours 35 minutes and 13 hours 20 minutes and costs from approximately 1,080 baht (including the 12Go supplement for a second-class sleeper berth). From Trang, minibuses run to Lanta starting at 11:00 AM, allowing you to spend the morning in Trang. This is the most comfortable, but also the slowest, way to travel overland.
Koh Lanta Back to Bangkok
For the return journey, minibuses depart hourly from hotels on Lanta between approximately 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM, reaching Krabi Airport in 2 to 2.5 hours for about 380–540 baht. Flights from Krabi to Bangkok operate throughout the day and into the late evening, so taking the minibus after breakfast is ideal for an afternoon flight. The airport requests that passengers arrive two hours before departure. Therefore, leave Lanta four and a half to five hours before your flight, and even later in December and January due to the car ferry schedule.
The return journey is by a combination of minibus and night bus, leaving Lanta around 10:30 am and arriving in Bangkok 19 to 20 hours later; the cost is ฿1,150–1,350.
Koh Lanta → Krabi Airport
Check out the vans from Koh Lanta to Krabi Airport.
12Go lists the shuttle buses from hotels on Lanta to Krabi Airport, including seat reservation and e-tickets.
More information on how to get to Koh Lanta
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Fly to Krabi (approx. 1 hour 25 minutes) and take the airport transfer to your hotel in Lanta (2 to 2.5 hours, approx. 400 baht). The overnight bus journey from Khao San Road takes approximately 16 hours 30 minutes and costs 1,290–1,560 baht.
The route is approximately 830 km by road, including the short ferry crossing. The flight to Krabi takes 1 hour and 25 minutes, from where it's a 2 to 2.5-hour van journey – a total of about 5 to 6 hours door-to-door.
No. Lanta does not have an airport. Fly to Krabi, the nearest airport, or to Trang or Phuket and continue your journey from there by van or speedboat.
Yes. A combined overnight ticket departs from the Khao San area around 7:00 PM and arrives at Saladan Pier on Lanta approximately 16 hours and 30 minutes later. The price is between ฿1,290–1,560 (via 12Go).
Not quite. Take a night train to Trang, departing from Bangkok around 6:50 or 8:30 pm, and then a minibus to Lanta, about 3 hours, from 11:00 am.
Around 8:30 pm. Vans start leaving around 8:00 am and cost approximately 400 baht; after the last van, you can take a private car for about 2,100–3,300 baht.
Take a shuttle bus from your hotel to Krabi Airport (journey time 2 to 2.5 hours, hourly between approximately 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM) and fly from there. Leave Lanta four and a half to five hours before your flight.
Krabi is about 76 km from Saladan (by road and car ferry). Trang is about 129 km away, and Phuket can be reached by speedboat from the pier in Rassada.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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