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Ko Lanta is located approximately
70 kilometres south of Krabi on the east side of Southern
Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. It stretches for 27 kilometres
in the north-south direction and is traversed
by a mountain range that is still covered by virgin
rain forest. The range reaches heights of 500 metres
in its northern and southern parts. The water off the
west coast is crystal clear and the beaches powdery
white.
To get around
Ko Lanta you'll have to rent a motorbike or
car and this can be done at most resort counters.
Make sure that you are
familiar with the vehicle and test the front and
rear brakes, the lights and horn. Drive with extra care
when passing through or by villages and schools and
remember, that swimming suits and naked upper body are
fine for the beach, but not the right attire for a drive
through the local villages.
The Island has a population
of approximately 20,000 people, who make their living
on fishing, rubber farming and prawn breeding. Today
many are working in the tourism industry. The
local trade, especially in Saladan is predominantly
under the control of Thai's from Chinese descent.
The name Lanta is derived
from a kind of rack (Lantan), that the people of the
South used, to grill the catch, that they regularly
found in the waters off these islands when travelling
along the Andaman Coast. Since 1996 the island
has been connected to Thailand's southern electrical
grid and since 2001 to the telephone network. The Island
can be easily reached by 2 car ferries, that now operate
from approximately 06:00 to 22:00. Some paved streets
exist in the two villages but most roads are still unsurfaced.
Accommodation on Ko Lanta
ranges from simple A-frame bungalows without private
bathroom to a wide choice of middle-class bungalows,
some with swimmingpool, and tops with properties in
the 4- and 5-star category. Local laws do not permit
buildings, that are higher than the coconut palms, a
law protecting Lanta from the negative impacts of tourism.
During the last
years, the number of resorts along the western
coast increased to more than 100, offering a choice
for everybody's taste.
This has worked
making Ko Lanta a great retreat from the hustle and
bustle of everyday city life.
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