the soul of Ko Lanta
The magic of Lanta Old Town is an intangible thing that's extremely hard to describe. If you're looking for a unique holiday or vacation experience, where you can truly step back to a time where life unfolds on a personal level, where fascinating cultural events take place on a day-to-day basis and when fresh seafood becomes a way of life, then Lanta Old Town might be the place for you...
There's not many places in the world where you can find accommodation that is literally 'on the sea'. The sensation of waves lapping beneath your wooden teak-floorboards is strangely comforting and the views from a wooden deck over the water are breathtaking (especially at sunrise). This is a sea-view with a difference!
Everywhere within Lanta Old Town is within walking distance and if you're a seafood lover this is pretty amazing. Local fishermen deliver catches of fresh fish and seafood to the local restaurants daily. Almost all the restaurants in Old Town cater primarily to the locals, so you can expect authentic flavours, the best and freshest of the daily catch and prices that will make you want to stay here forever!
Lanta Old Town lies within a perfect Natural Harbour, which means there are plenty of things to do right on your doorstep. There are several trips and tours that operate from Old Town - find out about snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, mangrove tours, kayaking or island hopping during your stay.
Shopping in Old Town is a unique experience - nearly every house on the main street is also a shop of some kind. If the doors are open, and you can see something of interest, don’t be afraid to enter and take a peek. The Hammock House and weekly market are not to be missed.
Whether you want to explore the many habited and uninhabited islands that lie within a short distance of Old Town, take a look at the Buddhist Temple or learn Thai cooking, Lanta Old Town has a range of activities to tempt everyone.
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'
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.
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.
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”.
OCT, 4th & 5th 2009. Traditional Chao Ley Festival (literally translated: ‘Boat Day’) celebrated with food, music and dance in Hua Laem 2, Lanta Old Town. From Sunset to Sunrise
Art cooperative starting in Ko Lanta!
We are a group of eclectic artists and are dedicated to promoting visual arts and handicrafts in Lanta Old Town, Ko Lanta, Krabi, Thailand. We are looking for a few more Artists to join our cooperative. Our goal is to create, show and sell our work together. Must volunteer 1 day a week to work in our shop. Come be apart of this charming village.
Contact Susanna for more info.
Welcome to Lanta Old Town!
Ko Lanta means ‘dazzling island’ and with its eight long deserted beaches, breathtaking sunsets and laid back feel, Ko Lanta has all the ingredients to charm and delight.
Lanta Old Town captures the most special character or 'soul' of Ko Lanta.
Many houses and shops are built on stilts, rambling out over the sea, and the 100 year old, teak-wood-lined streets remain home to a cosmopolitan mix of Thai-Chinese, Thai-Buddhist, Thai-Muslim, Chao-Lay (Sea Gypsies) and a growing community of western residents.
Lanta Old Town retains the natural charm and friendliness of rural Thailand combined with a cultural richness and diversity not found in many other places.
There's plenty of Things To Do, with a variety of Trips & Tours departing directly from Lanta Old Town. Take some time to browse the unique range of Accommodation, Restaurants and Shops & Services that Old Town has to offer.
Take a look at the useful information about Getting Here, along with maps and public transport timetables for the local area.
Experience the magic of Lanta Old Town, on the east coast of Lanta Island - where life goes on, virtually unchanged, much as it has done for the last 100 years.
