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 Koh
Lanta in Brief
Area: 152 sq.km.
This island forms the most southern district of Krabi province. It was
known long ago by its name in the Malay language, Pulao Satak, which
means Long Beach Island. Later, so many Thais, both Buddhist and Muslim,
came to live on the island that there seemed to be a million eyes, which
is what some people think Lanta means in Thai. Others hold that the name
is corrupted from Javanese "lan-tas", and means a fish grill (which is
built of wood with a square grill on top where the fish are set in a
circle). Several islands are in the National Park:
Koh Lanta Diving Packages 2005
Lanta
Yai Island
is where the District & National Park offices are located.
The island geography is mountainous and rugged, especially near the
southern tip; some beaches are gravelly, others have fine white sands. A
clan of Chao Ley, or "Sea Gypsies" are resident on Koh Yao Yai and they
preserve many of their ancient customs and ceremonies; e.g. the setting
of ceremonial boats adrift to bring good luck and prosperity on the full
moon nights of the sixth and eleventh month. This and other features of
their lives are open to view. To visit the island take a regularly
scheduled ferry from Ban Hua Hin Pier in Tambon Koh Klahng, Bor Muang
Pier in Tambon Sai Kao or Jao Fah Pier in Krabi Town.
Taleng
Beng Island
This island is in some ways a smaller version of Phi Phi Ley;
made of Limestone, honeycombed with caves, inhabited by the same swifts
whose nests are made into soup. Small beaches and caves appear where the
tide ebbs.
Hah
island
 A group of five islands. Hai Yai island has a field of grass
on its ridgeline. Another island resembles in shape a sailboat; one has
water that passes from one side to another beneath it. There are some
corals in shallow waters.
Ngai island
A fine sandy beach and coral reef run down the east side of
this island. It is perfect for diving. Regular ferries and charter craft
are available from Pak Meng Beach in Trang Province.
Rok Nai Island
is composed largely of formidable cliffs. On the east side
are a fine sandy beach and coral gardens growing around sea rocks. On
the northern side are San Jao Bay and Thong Bay.
Rok Nok Island
The southeast and southern ends of this island have fine sand
beaches and shallow water corals. Also not to be missed are Man Sai Bay
and Talu beach. Transport to the island is via charter from either Pak
Meng Beach in Trang Province or from Lanta Yai Island. There are tents
for rent, contact Lanta National Park Tel.: +66 (075) 629018-9.
Hin
Dang
This submerged open water reef in the Andaman features a
multiplicity of colorful corals to attract serious scuba divers. |
Local
festivals and Religious Rites
takes place on
Lanta Island during full moon of the sixth and eleventh month in the
lunar calendar. This is a religious rite performed by Sea Gypsies who
gather on the beach near Ban Saladan Village.
They dance their famous "rong ngeng" round the boats to be set adrift.
Ceremonies feature singing and dancing; the reason for the festival is
to bring prosperity and happiness to the participants, it is something
hard to find elsewhere.
From Bangkok take
Route 4 passing Petchburi, Prajuab-Kirikan, Chumporn, Ranong, and
Phang-nga Provinces before reaching Krabi; a total distance of 946
kilometers. An alternate route is to take Route 4 to Chumpom and then
tum onto Route 4L. This leads through Lang Suan District of Chumpom to
Chaiya and Wieng San Districts of Surat Thani; from there follow Route
4035 passing Ao Lur District of Krabi, back onto Route 4, and down to
Krabi Town. This shortcut is just 814 kilometers, and is followed by the
bus services from Bangkok. For information regarding bus transport,
contact tel. (02)435 1195-6 (non-air conditioned buses);or tel. (02)435
1200(air conditioned buses).
Until recently
limited access has been the major restraining factor in the growth of
Krabi's tourism industry. The nearest airport was 155km to the east in
Phuket and the drive on what is a rather basic road took a good two
hours. But all of that has changed with the opening of Krabi Airport
(see issue7). Now the problem is no longer access rather accommodation.
Currently Karbi has a total of 5,000 hotel bedrooms of which 3,000 are
in the three to five star category. Several resorts are working flat out
to be complete and open for the start of the high season in November as
1,000 bedrooms extra bedrooms are already fully booked and paid for by
major Travel Agents allocation.
