Old Town Lanta Koh Lanta Holidays
Old Town Lanta
Holidays
Koh Lanta's most atmospheric and historic settlement — a beautifully preserved 200-year-old Chinese-Malay trading town on stilts over the sea, with the finest cafes, galleries and seafood restaurants on the island
Search Old Town Lanta Holidays
Flight Time
11h to Krabi (via Bangkok)
Best Time
November to April
Country
Koh Lanta, Thailand
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Old Town Lanta Holiday Guide
Old Town Lanta is the most atmospheric and culturally rich destination on Koh Lanta — the 200-year-old stilted shophouses, the Chinese temple, the excellent cafes and the finest seafood restaurants make it an essential half-day excursion from any beach on the island.
Best visited as a day trip from Long Beach or Klong Nin. 20 minutes from the ferry pier.
We search across Travelpack and JTA Holidays for the best Koh Lanta deals.
Popular Areas in Old Town Lanta
Average Temperatures
Jan
29°C
Feb
30°C
Mar
31°C
Apr
32°C
May
31°C
Jun
30°C
Jul
29°C
Aug
29°C
Sep
29°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
28°C
Dec
28°C
Ready to Book?
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll find you the best deal across Travelpack and JTA Holidays.
Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Old Town Lanta
The stilted shophouses, Chinese temple, atmospheric cafes and finest seafood restaurants that make Old Town Lanta the most characterful and culturally rich destination on the island.
The Old Town
Old Town Lanta (Ban Ko Lanta) is one of the most atmospheric and well-preserved historic settlements in Thailand — a 200-year-old Chinese-Malay trading town built on stilts over the sea on the east coast of Koh Lanta. The town has a single main street of beautifully preserved wooden shophouses, a Chinese temple, a mosque, a church and a genuine community of long-established Lanta families. The town is a living heritage site and one of the most characterful places in the Andaman.
Architecture & Photography
Old Town Lanta is the most photogenic settlement on Koh Lanta — the wooden shophouses, the stilted walkways over the sea, the Chinese lanterns, the fishing boats and the mangrove views create an extraordinary visual landscape. The town is particularly atmospheric in the early morning when the fishing boats return and the cafes open, and in the late afternoon when the light is golden. It is one of the finest photography destinations in southern Thailand.
Seafood Restaurants
Old Town Lanta has the finest fresh seafood restaurants on Koh Lanta — a string of excellent restaurants built on stilts over the sea, serving the freshest fish, crab, prawns and squid at very reasonable prices. The Mango House restaurant and the Old Times restaurant are the most popular, with beautiful sea views and excellent Thai seafood. The seafood in Old Town is significantly fresher and more affordable than in the beach resort areas.
Cafes & Galleries
Old Town Lanta has the best cafes and art galleries on Koh Lanta — a collection of charming, creative cafes and small galleries in the restored shophouses, serving excellent coffee, fresh juices and light meals. The Hammock House cafe and the Lanta Old Town Gallery are the most popular. The cafes are the most atmospheric places to spend a morning on Koh Lanta, with views of the sea and the fishing boats.
Crafts & Shopping
Old Town Lanta has the best selection of traditional crafts and souvenirs on Koh Lanta — batik fabric, hand-woven textiles, silver jewellery, wooden carvings and traditional Lanta crafts are all available from the shophouses. The quality is generally higher and the prices lower than in the beach resort areas. The town is the best place on Koh Lanta to buy authentic Thai and Malay crafts.
Cultural Heritage
Old Town Lanta is a unique example of the Chinese-Malay-Thai cultural mix that characterises the communities of the Andaman coast — the town has a Chinese temple (Saan Jao), a mosque and a church within a few hundred metres of each other, reflecting the diverse heritage of the Lanta community. The town is the best place on Koh Lanta to understand the island's history and culture.
Sea Views & Mangroves
Old Town Lanta is on the east coast of Koh Lanta, facing the mainland and the mangrove forests — the views from the stilted walkways and restaurants are of calm, sheltered water, fishing boats and mangroves rather than the open sea. The east coast is calm year-round and the mangrove forests are home to a variety of birds and wildlife. Kayaking through the mangroves from Old Town is an excellent half-day activity.
Practical Tips
Old Town Lanta is 20 minutes from the Saladan ferry pier by songthaew or motorbike. The town is best explored on foot — the main street is approximately 500 metres long. The town is on the east coast and does not have a swimming beach — it is best visited as a half-day excursion from one of the west coast beaches. The town is busiest in the morning and late afternoon. Most cafes and restaurants are closed during the wet season (May to October).
Explore Old Town Lanta on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
Google Maps embed — add your API key to activate
Set mapEmbedUrl in the destination data to display an interactive map here