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.

TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on the millions of real reviews and opinions from travelers on TripAdvisor.com™. The top destinations were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor travelers’ favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.

“Millions of travelers on TripAdvisor have identified the world’s most amazing destinations”

said Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

“From stunningly beautiful locales to spots with outstanding attractions, the 2010 Travelers’ Choice Destination Award winners are truly incredible places that travelers love.”

• For reviews on Koh Lanta, go to Ko Lanta Reviews.
• For the complete 2010 Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards list, go to Travellers’ Choice Destinations.

About TripAdvisor:

TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 34 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 30 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions. TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.

©2010 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

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!

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!

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.

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

PADI Dive Courses All Year Round

During the high season (November – April), Scubafish’s boats are moored in Kantiang Bay in the south of Ko Lanta, and during the low season (May – October) the dive boats depart from the pier in Lanta Old Town, making it really convenient if you plan to stay in Lanta Old Town during the summer months.

Ko Lanta is the best place to base yourself if you want to dive some of the top dive sites in Thailand. With spectacular reefs, unmatched marine diversity and great visibility, Ko Lanta offers the convenience of day-diving with the chance to enjoy the relaxed and laid back atmosphere of island life.

PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, Scubafish offers the full range of PADI Dive Courses from complete beginner through to professional Dive Instructor.

Courses start from Bubblemaker – for kids (1 Day Course, Age 8+), Discover Scuba Diving (1 Day Course, Age 10+) or the full PADI Open Water certification (3-4 Day Course, Age 10+) and go right up to a 6-8 week Divemaster Training Course or 2 week Dive Instructor Course (Age 18+).

You can even start your PADI Dive Course on-line to day!

For further information about staying in Lanta Old Town during low season (and why this is actually the best time to come), see Low Season? Not In Old Town.

Come try our hammocks!

The Hammock House is home to the largest selection of quality hammocks in Thailand and is located in one of Old Town’s traditional wooden stilt houses, overlooking the sea.

With a Jumbo Hammock, it’s not only you who gets to relax, but also the manufacturer! Now, by making these quality hammocks, the Mlabri tribe have been able to establish financial independence within their home village. The project makes alternatives such as tough fieldwork or sweatshop labor unnecessary. Instead it has brought them healthcare and probably the first unemployment fund in Thailand. Positive products from and for positive people.

All our hammocks are hand-woven by the Mlabri tribe of northern Thailand.

Please visit www.jumbohammock.com for more information, prices or to order a hand-woven hammock.