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Ko Por Cultural Homestay: Now you can experience, first-hand, the life of a local island family by spending a few days on the island of Ko Por living in a local family’s house and joining in with their daily routine.

A unique opportunity to take part in an islander’s way of life, the Ko Por Cultural Homestay lets you get to know a traditional Thai fisher-family’s way of life in a way that not many other people in the world will ever experience.

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

How much does it cost?

• 700 THB per person, per night

this is payable in cash, each evening, to your host family

What’s included in the price?

• Return Longtail boat transfers from Old Town Pier to Ko Por
• 3 meals per day
• Simple accommodation in the host family’s home. (A bed with a mosquito net is usually provided in a private room)
• Daily activities with your host family – usually the normal daily activities they do every day

What’s activities can I expect to take part in

• Cutting and collecting Sap from the Rubber Trees in the Plantation
• Fishing Trips by Longtail boat to catch crabs or prawns
• Digging for Mussels at the beach
• Preparing freshly caught seafood to eat
• Making hand-made curry pastes
• Sight seeing around the Island or Bird Watching

If you decide to stay longer, we can arrange for more activities such as visiting nearby islands or snorkeling trips.

Please note: All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day. Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Sun cream
• Mosquito repellent
• Personal toiletries
• Sarong
• Long sleeved tops and long trousers (for the early evening when mosquitos may be around)
• If you’d like to swim off the beach, you’ll need modest clothing too – bikinis are not allowed (board-shorts and a rash guard is fine – or even shorts and a T-Shirt) and you should try to cover up as much as possible in accordance with the Muslim faith. A short-sleeved T-Shirt and long shorts is acceptable – spaghetti-string tops and hot pants are not!

Please don’t bring alcohol, no gambling, please dress discreetly and kindly respect the Muslim way of life.

Other customs that need to be respected include:

• Alcohols and Drugs are strictly prohibited
• You must sleep in separate bedrooms if you’re not married, due to Muslim Regulations
• All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day
• Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

KO LANTA HONORED AS A TOP DESTINATION IN TRIPADVISOR’S 2010 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE DESTINATION AWARDS

Ko Lanta, Thailand, was chosen as a Best Destination in 3 categories, Beach & Sun, Romance, and Relaxation & Spa by TripAdvisor® in the 2010 Travelers’ Choice® Destination Awards, with Lanta Longtail / Sun Island Tours, Kantiang Bay and Lanta Klong Nin Beach being given a special mention in the ‘Don’t Miss’ section of each award.

• Beach & Sun: Ko Lanta – 1st Place in Thailand, 3rd Place in Asia
• Romance: Ko Lanta – 1st Place in Thailand, 4th Place in Asia
• Relaxation & Spa: Ko Lanta – 2nd Place in Thailand, 6th Place in Asia

The TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destination awards and honours the world’s top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers. Continue reading →

LANTA LANTA FESTIVAL
March  7th, 8th & 9th 2010

Don’t miss out on our annual party in Lanta Old Town, it is a showcase for the diversity of the Islands inhabitants.  Many food and beverage stalls, traditional arts & crafts, local music and dance.

Lanta Lanta Festival is an event that attracts people from all over the island and beyond, creating a fun atmosphere throughout the whole town, it is an absolute must do.

See you there!

The Old Town Walking Street Festival was a smashing success and has added many more dates for the 2010 season!
Join us from 4pm till midnight on the following dates:
JANUARY 2/3 AND JAN 30/31
FEBRUARY 6/7 AND 27/28
LAANTA LANTA :  MARCH 6/7

Performances include Shadow Puppet Theater (Nang Talung), Traditional Thai Dance and Sea Gypsy Folk Music (Rong Ngeng) Enjoy great and affordable Thai & Western food, beer, coffee and many local Arts & Crafts exhibits. Get away from the crowds and become a part of a real Thai Fishing and Cultural Community!

Artist Walking Street

December 26 & 27th, 2009

4pm until midnight

The LANTA OLD TOWN ARTIST WALKING STREET will be held on December 26th and 27th, 2009 on the main waterfront street in charming Lanta Old Town. Local and Foreign Artists and their crafts with a fine selection of Jewelry, Batik, Leather, Watercolors, Clothing and much more. Authentic food with an abundant choice of delicious snacks and meals available through out both evenings. Local Bars + Restaurants  will offer dinner and drink specials. Starts nightly at 4pm until 12 midnight.

Thai number for booking booths: 081 970 5972 or 085 884 9459.

Don’t Miss Out!

The 'Khulula Experience'

All aboard the good ship ‘Khulula’ for Ko Lanta’s most unique day trip!

The Flotilla

Tailor Made Marine Tours are offering a truly unique trip aboard their classic 50′ sailing cutter ‘Khulula’.  Although Khulula is the main base for the day, a flotilla of other boats come along too! There is a traditional Longtail boat, kayaks and a 10 man RIB (Rigid-inflatable-boat) which all help make this an unforgetable experience!

Exploring by kayak

From Old Town the fleet sails either to the beautiful eastern islands, or to the clear waters of Ko Ngai and Ko Chuek. where Khulula is then anchored. From here you can choose to do as you like! Snorkelling, Take a kayak and explore the shoreline, go on a mini-cruise with the longtail, a spot of fishing perhaps, a different mini-tour in the RIB, A visit to amazing Talabeng cave, cliff jumping or just relax aboard Khulula. The choice is yours.

Talabeng Cave

While you are away enjoying yourselves, our crew will be busy preparing a delicious BBQ and buffet lunch aboard Khulula which can be taken at a relaxed pace over the lunchtime period. When the time is right, we’ll hoist the sails and take a gentle sail through the islands and back to Old Town, where you can take a stroll through the main street before returning to your resort.

Please visit our main page ‘Tailor Made Marine Tours’ for more information and prices.

Never in a Hurry -

Never in a Crowd!

Tailor Made's Luxury longtail

‘Tailor Made Marine Tours‘ have announced a new tour.

Sun beds

The tours are aboard a luxury traditional longtail boat and are of the highest quality.

The first part of the tour is island hopping around the beautiful southern islands, with stops for snorkelling, cliff jumping (for those who dare!) a scenic cruise, and a visit to the magical ‘Emerald Cave’

Sumptuous Beach BBQ

The afternoon is spent enjoying free time to swim or stroll along the beautiful beach at Ko Ngai while a sumptuous BBQ is prepared, followed by a gentle cruise along the east coast of Ko Lanta before returning to your resort.

Visit our main page for more details. Tailor Made Marine Tours.

Never in a Hurry,

Never in a Crowd!

Banana House

Gay friendly villas for rent in Southern Thailand

Special Grand Opening-All room rates-20% off

Start Time:
Saturday, November 14, 2009
End Time:
Thursday, January 14, 2010

Floating Flower Arrangement for Loy Krathong

The local authorities here in Old Town have just announced a ‘Loy Krathong’ festival. Loy Krathong is an annual event celebrated in the whole of Thailand which allows you to appease the spirits and to get rid of your bad luck all at the same time!

To do this you must set adrift a ‘Krathong’ which is an ornately decorated float made from a piece of banana tree (actually it’s not a tree, it’s a plant, hence banana plantation) this is then decorated with flowers, incense, money, bits of hair, fingernails, candles and stuff like that. The idea is that the ‘Krathong’ drifts with the wind or current and disappears along with all your bad luck! It is a very beautiful festival and this year, as a promotion of Thai culture and traditions, the powers that be are making a special event in Old Town, for Thais and tourists alike.

Loy Krathong Festival Goers

On November 2nd, starting around 4pm, there will be a parade through old town with displays of magnificent Krathongs and beautiful Thai ladies! this will be followed by a beauty pageant, a competition for the best Krathong, a competition for the best ideas for promotion and preserving this kind of Thai tradition, stage shows and, of course the launching of the krathongs.

Best Krathong Competition

In true ‘Old Town’ fashion, we expect this to be a really great event and we invite all of you to come along, with your ‘krathongs’ (no Styrofoam please!) and enjoy it with us.

The Lanta Old Town Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at the Lanta Old Town Chinese Temple and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals are performed by entranced devotees known as “Ma Song”.