How to go from Phuket to Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta remains less explored Island in Thailand. It can be hectic to reach to this Island. However, we are here to show you how to get from Phuket to Koh Lanta easily and comfortably.

In this blog, we want to share with you reliable information you can use to get to Koh Lanta from Phuket! We tell you the prices as well as the top reputable companies offering ferry services to Koh Lanta.

More so, we will answer any burning question you have in regards to going to Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta is a beautiful island with couples, families, and backpackers who are particularly popular. Covering 6 km wide and 30 km long, Koh Lanta has nine attractive sandy beaches with coastal views of rough islands jutting out of the Andaman Sea.

Even if you’re looking for a band, this Island is more about serenity!

Long Beach walks and sunset watching rolling waves and coral-rimmed shoreline.
Lanta Old Town is surrounded by an excellent little natural harbor with plenty of character and local atmosphere.
You can find lots of wooden shophouses steeped in history, selling all sorts of interesting little items.
This small harbor used to be the main trading port for Koh Lanta, and it still has that feeling about it.
As a bonus, you can find several activities and trips leaving the city, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing trips, mangrove tours, or hops on the Island.

Phuket to Koh Lanta speedboat

For those with no time to waste but more money to spend, a speedboat is a choice. Speedboats have full schedules as well and sail many times a day.

Travel time is usually about 1 hour and 35 minutes, but between the islands, it may stop. And the cost is not too high, ranging from 1000 to 1500 THB.

You should weigh the possibilities well when comparing a speedboat to a ferry. The speedboat is faster and will save some of your time for activities and exploration.

Still, on another hand, the ferry is less expensive and gives you time when you’re on board to do some sightseeing. But you always have to decide!

Phuket to Koh Lanta ferry cost

The most famous is typically traveling by ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta. There is not just one type of ferry or company to choose from, as several different ferries are operating on this route.

There are also two different starting points, so bear this in mind when considering your options as one may be much closer than the other to where you are staying.

You can choose to ride on a regular ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta, or there are high-speed ferries.

The regular ferry takes the longest time, but that’s because it’s not going directly to Koh Lanta; it’s going through Koh Phi Phi.

It’s about two hours from Phuket to Phi Phi. Then on that Island, there’s an hour of waiting, then another one and a half hours from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta.

The high-speed ferry gives you time to ride. It’s somewhere between the other two options. Still, the price is about the same as the price of a speedboat ticket, so by taking this option, you won’t necessarily save any money.

However, if you’re someone who usually doesn’t like to travel by sea, the speedboat isn’t a preferred choice!

You might even find that the high-speed ferry is too rough for you, so bear this in mind as well.

There are different companies offering ferry services from Phuket to Koh Lanta, and their prices vary from one company to another. Phuket Rassada Pier to Koh Lanta is around 1500 Baht.

Here are the top companies offering ferry services from Phuket to Koh Lanta

Tigerline Travel-charges $ 58 to Koh Lanta from Phuket
Ao Nang Travel and Tour-charges $ 38 to Koh Lanta from Phuket
Phi Phi Cruiser- charges $ 40 to Koh Lanta from Phuket
Satu Pakbara speed boat club-charges $ 50 to Koh Lanta from Phuket

Phuket to Koh Lanta distance

On a straight line, the distance from Phuket to Ko Lanta is 80.8 km.

These two destinations are both islands; however, the journey will take longer than expected. On one of the many vans, buses, or taxis available, you can fly by road.

Through a bridge, Phuket is linked to the mainland, so it’s not as difficult as you might imagine.

Koh Lanta, however, doesn’t have a bridge to the mainland. This means that at some point, you need to travel across a stretch of water.

The problem with going primarily by land is the length–the ride from Phuket to Koh Lanta ends up being more than 240 kilometers (150 miles) because you can’t travel in a straight line.

So you’re looking at a travel time of between 4 and 6 hours from one destination to the other. For this reason, most tourists agree that the ferry is the best option, but these are not without their downside as the weather often turns out to be wrong, and you have to use the route.

Phuket-to-Koh-Lanta.-A-view-of-Rassada-Pier-and-Asia-marina-Pier-in-Phuket — Phuket to Koh Lanta. A view of Rassada Pier and Asia marina Pier in Phuket

Phuket to Koh Lanta bus

As there are no direct bus transfers to Koh Lanta Island, the option to travel from Phuket to Koh Lanta by bus will include the ferry. You’ll need to go to Krabi first to take the bus.

You will need to arrange the land transfer to the Pier when you arrive in Krabi, at the pier you will than board the ferry bound for Koh Lanta.

Step 1: Phuket to Krabi by bus

First head to Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to book bus to Krabi

Step 2: Bus + Ferry to Koh Lanta

Once you arrive at the Krabi bus terminal, look for the Koh Lanta vans.

Such vans are going to go to the Hua Hin Pier and fly to Koh Lanta by ferry. You may need to get out of the van and go through the sea to the passenger deck.

Ferries depart from 07:00 to 17:00 every hour, and the journey takes about 3 hours. The ticket costs 360 THB per person ($12). While booking the van trip, the ferry ticket is included in the price.

Phuket to Koh Lanta ferry time

In case you take the standard ferry, it will depart from Phuket, then stops first at Koh Phi Phi to than continue the route to Koh Lanta.

However, if you take the direct route ferries high-speed, the time will be shorter. Here is a timely departure from Phuket to Koh Lanta Saladan.

Tigerline Travel

It operates two transfer schedules from Phuket airport transfer to board the ferry.

The first transfer from Phuket airport takes place at 06:00 and arrives at 10:00 at Koh Lanta. The second schedule takes place at 09:00 from Phuket airport and arrives 12:15 at Koh Lanta.

TigerLineTravel for direct bookings

Ao Nang Travel and Tour

The company operates one schedule from Phuket hotel transfer and board ferry at 06:30 AM and arrives at 10: 00 AM at Koh Lanta.

Phi Phi Cruiser

The company operates one schedule from Phuket, any hotel transfers to the board the ferry at 07:00 AM, and arrive at Koh Lanta at 12:00 AM.

Satu Pakbara speed boat club

The company only has one schedule Phuket any hotel transfer at 07:00 AM, and arrive Koh Lanta at 12:45 AM.

Phuket airport to Koh Lanta

This route, Phuket Airport to Koh Lanta ferry transfer, provides also the service of taxi pickup from Phuket Airport to the Pier, included together with the ferry crossing to Koh Lanta.

Tiger line travel

You will depart Phuket Airport at 06:30 – Arrive Koh Lanta at 10:00, or depart Phuket Airport at 09:00 – Arrive Koh Lanta at 12:15.

At Phuket Airport at 06:30

At the airport, you will be picked up by taxi at 06:30 and transferred to Phuket’s Ao Po Pier.
Here you will check-in to boarding the ferry, departing from Phuket at 08:00. The ferry journey to Koh Lanta is 2 hours.

You arrive at Saladan Pier Koh Lanta at 10:00

At Phuket Airport at 09:00

There will be picked up by taxi from Phuket Airport at 09:00 and transferred to Phuket’s Rassada Pier.
Here you will check-in, board the ferry departing Phuket at 11:00. The ferry journey to Koh Lanta is 1.5 hours.

You arrive at Saladan Pier Koh Lanta at 12:15

Where do you get the ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta?

Ferries from Phuket to Koh Lanta leave on the outskirts of Phuket Town from Rassada Pier. It may be a little frenzied at the Pier early in the morning when a couple of ferries leave at more or less the same time.

There are a few stalls that sell expensive snacks, but there’s not much here, so it’s worth preparing for the journey with some drinks and snacks.

It’s good enough to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to be able to find good seats for the journey. Be mindful that there can be very bad traffic on Phuket, so make sure you leave plenty of time to get there before your ferry leaves.

How long is the ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta?

The ferry can take up to two hours to make the trip from Phuket to Koh Lanta. However, it will depend on the type of ferry you board as the high-speed boats take lesser time compared to the standard ships.

Here is the exact location of the Phuket Rassada Pier for all the ferries departures

Here is the exact location of the Koh Lanta (Saladan Pier) for all the ferries departures

How do you get to Koh Lanta?

There are ways to get to Koh Lanta.

Actually, arriving at Krabi, the nearest airport, would be the best choice!

Sadly, direct flights from Europe to Krabi are not available. But that’s not a problem because a trip to the Island can easily be coupled with a stopover.

From Krabi to Koh Lanta

A car & ferry connects to Koh Lanta mainland. To Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket are daily ferry ships. They don’t run from May to the end of October during the low season, so the only alternative then is the car& ferry.

By ferry boat

Daily ferries are running from Krabi to Koh Lanta during the peak season from November to April. Only take a taxi from the airport for about 700 baht to the New Pier in Krabi and take the ferry from there.

Please note: during the season, ferry times tend to change a few times. Before your trip, make sure to double-check. The same applies to the prices.

You will have to take the earlier ferry from Krabi if you want to carry on to Koh Lanta the same day.

You can also take the minibus, which operates throughout the year and travels on two car ferries to Koh Lanta.

When you arrive in Krabi, one of the many travel agencies and nearly every hotel will arrange minibus transportation. Minibusses depart for 400 baht (about 10 euros) per person per hour.

If possible, when you book the ride, you can give the name of your hotel to let the driver know where to go. Otherwise, at Saladin Pier, will let you out, and from there, you’ll have to make your way.

The first car ferry is about a1-hour drive away. It will take you to Koh Lanta Noi, the northern part of the Island. Once you get there, the second ferry station is only a short drive away.

To your destination on Koh Lanta Yai, you shall be taken by the second car &ferry.

The whole trip takes 2.5 hours.

From Phuket to Koh Lanta via ferry boat

From November to April, regular ferries are available during the peak season.
Phuket (Rassada Pier) to Koh Phi-Phi to Koh Lanta.

The first departure is at 8 am Travel time: 2 hours to Phi-Phi, 5.5 hours layover in Phi-Phi.

It takes another 1 hour from Phi-Phi to Koh Lanta. You will arrive at approximately 4:30 pm 2nd departure time: 1 pm Travel time: 2 hours to Phi-Phi, one night to Koh Phi-Phi, next morning to Koh Lanta at 11:30 am (1-hour drive).

Note: A Ferry time seems to change a few times, especially during the low season. Hence make sure to double-check before your trip. The same goes for the prices.

By minibus

You can book a minibus to Koh Lanta at every travel agency in Phuket, or request your hotel accommodation to arrange transportation for you.

Here there are some example of pricing for the transfers from Phuket to Koh Lanta with combinations of minivan and ferry

From Phuket	To Koh Lanta	Minivan + Ferry
Patong: 12.30 PM	18.30 PM	From 800 to 900 Thai Baht
Kata, Karon: 13.00 PM	18.30 PM	//
Phuket Town: 13.45 PM	18.30 PM	//

How long does it take to drive around Koh Lanta?

To drive from Krabi to Ko Lanta, head south towards Trang on Route 4. A few kilometers past Klong Thom, a signposted right turn (Route 4206) for the Hua Hin pier, at the end of the road about 30 km further.

You can go to the pier when you reach the end of the road. The crossing takes place in two parts, first to Ko Lanta Noi, nearest to the shore, then to Ko Lanta Yai from the other side of the Island.

Turn right when you arrive in Ko Lanta Noi and follow the road until you see a sign to the next Pier on your left. For a two-person car, Ko Lanta Yai’s cost (one-way) is 113 baht.

The last ferry leaves every night at the Hua Hin pier at 10 pm.