Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is what Koh Phi Phi used to be before the crowds arrived — a long, forested island in Krabi province with a string of excellent beaches down its west coast, diverse coral reefs, a small-but-genuine Old Town of stilted Malay-Thai fishing village shophouses, and an atmosphere firmly calibrated toward relaxation rather than spectacle. It draws a diverse crowd: families who've graduated from Phuket's intensity, long-stay couples seeking a quiet month by the sea, yoga retreaters, serious divers, and a growing community of European visitors who return year after year.

The island is 30 km long and surprisingly undeveloped, particularly in its southern half. The west coast has five main beaches running from north to south: Long Beach (Hat Khlong Dao, widest and most developed), Phra Ae Beach (good mid-range options), Hat Khlong Khong (bohemian guesthouses and fire shows), Hat Khlong Nin (quieter, good reef access), and Ao Kantiang (the southernmost major beach, with dramatic scenery and the island's highest-end resorts). The east coast is mangrove forest and fishing communities — largely unpopulated.

The diving around Koh Lanta is excellent and underrated. The Hin Daeng and Hin Muang sites, 45–60 minutes offshore, are among Thailand's top 10 dive sites — deep submerged pinnacles with strong currents, bull and white-tip sharks, manta rays (seasonal), and spectacular hard coral formations. The Phi Phi Islands are 45 minutes by speedboat. The Four Islands (accessible from the southern tip) offer great day-snorkelling. And Tham Seua cave, on the southern tip near Koh Lanta Marine National Park headquarters, is accessible on an overland and kayaking circuit.