Water Based Activities:

Scuba Diving: Many people come to Koh Lanta primarily for the fantastic scuba diving.  Warm, clear water mixed with coral reefs and an abundance of tropical fish make Lanta a world class diving destination.  During certain times of the year you can see giant Whale Shark and Manta Rays, which are a rare treat for scuba enthusiasts.  If you are to choose a scuba diving company, nobody does it better than Lanta Diver.  Visit their website for more information:
http://www.lantadiver.com/en/About-Lanta-Diver

Sea Kayaking: Many tour options are available for kayaking around Ko Lanta. You can stay near the island and explore the calm waters of the Mangrove forests or take a boat ride to nearby islands to explore sea caves and uncrowded beaches.

Long Tail Boat Tours: Long Tail boats are a traditional form of Thai water transportation and should be experienced by all visitors.  The best company for arranging a long tail boat tour is Sun Island Tours located in Lanta Old Town.
They can customize a tour to your liking depending on what you want to see and do.  Visit their website for more information.  http://www.lantalongtail.com/

Land Based Activities:

Elephant Trekking: One interesting and uniquely Thai activity would be taking a tour on an elephant.  Elephant rides can be arranged to take visitors to the top of the hill in Ko Lanta National Park and also to various other parts of the island.  Sumate Koh Lanta Yai Safari probably has the best program and tour options.  They will also show you how elephants are used as working animals in a rubber tree farm.  Visit their website for more information. http://sumatekohlantasafari.com/index.html

Khao Mai Kaeo Caves:  Getting away from the beach for the day, tourists can visit the stunning Khao Mai Kaew Caves which are located in the centre of the island, offering a wonder of rocks and caverns and housing spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, some of the caves are just huge and one of them contains a pool. For getting around inside the caves you will need a guide, but one is cheap, around 200baht per person. You can also take an elephant-ride for arount 600baht per person. Take some good shoes, as the caves are slippery. The caves are located just off the lower of two cross-island roads, down a narrow 1.5 kilometer dirt path through the rubber plantations.

Rent a motorcycle and explore: You can rent a motorcycle almost anywhere on the island for about 250 THB per day.  It is a great way to see the island and explore all of the little side roads through rubber tree plantations and have  a look at the local Thai people.

Points of Interest:

Lanta Old Town: Lanta Old Town is a small village on Ko Lanta's East side. It's one of the regions most culturally diverse with Chinese merchants, original Thai fishing families and an ancient Sea Gypsy community. Many years ago, Ko Lanta's Old Town acted as the port and commercial center for the island and provided a safe harbor for Arabic and Chinese trading vessels sailing between the larger ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Today, Old Town is the district capital; it has a post office, police station, Buddhist temple, Chinese temple and the island's hospital as well as a long pier. It's a charming place to visit and boasts many good restaurants and interesting shopping like handmade Hammocks and an original Batik and Art Gallery. The main village street is flanked by beautiful old Chinese style wooden houses and there are a handful of restaurants, all of them with great views over the water. Every time we visit Old Town we say to ourselves that we should come here more often.

Sea Gypsy Village: If you carry on south from Lanta Old Town and cross the small little bridge you will find yourself in the village of Lemglang which is a small Sea Gypsy village. A stroll through Lemglang is a fascinating experience and a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Saladan.  Known to the Thais as Chao-Le, sea gypsies have occupied the area for hundreds of years settling along the coast in stilt-built houses erected between the water level of high and low tide. They are unique in that they mix very little with the general population, speak their language and have their very own supernatural and traditional beliefs and rituals.

Ban Saladan: The village of Ban Saladan is located at the far north end of the island. In Saladan you will find shops, restaurants, banks, exchange booths, the Health Center. Despite the fact that the businesses do everything to cater for the needs and wants of tourists, Saladan is still a genuine Thai village. The modern email cafes have no trouble fitting in next to the local fish monger, the green grocer and the local travel agents are one and the same and you can book your elephant trekking at the chemist and next to the electricians American DVD films are shown. The locals still go about their business the same way they have done for generations. However, Saladan has also started to attract guests from all over the island; we notice the difference especially in the evenings. Now the many cozy restaurants and shops encourage people take a tuk tuk (on Lanta the tuk tuks are mopeds with covered side cars, but there are also an increasing number of small lorry type tuk tuks, cheap and comfortable) into the village. In the evenings the small streets and lanes are filled with people and street vendors selling delicious food and a heady, almost exotic atmosphere is created.

Other Activities:

Learn Thai Cooking: There are several cooking schools on Koh Lanta, but we highly recommend At Home Thai Cooking.  They offer high quality foods with professional instruction for small groups in a very comfortable and beautiful setting.  The reviews we get from all of the participants in the cooking classes have been great, you will be very pleased with your choice. Visit their website for more information.
http://www.athomethaicooking.com

Learn Muay Thai Boxing:  There are several camps /resorts who train people in Muay Thai Boxing.  Probably the most professionally run operation is Lanta Gym.  See their website for more information. http://www.lantagym.com/

Shopping:  Thailand is known for it’s shopping bargains and Lanta is no exception.   There are several tailors on the island if you want any handmade clothing.  Lots of different clothing stores, CD/DVD  shops, and other Thailand souvenirs can be purchased at one of the many stores in Ban Saladan.

Eating Thai Food:  One of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting Thailand is the amazing food.  Once you mix the traditional Thai spices and cooking with the fresh seafood available on Koh Lanta, you have a magical combination.  Explore the many restaurants available on the island, most with an ocean view , all are very affordable and eat until you can not eat another bite.

Relax on the Beach:  The western side of the island has all of the beautiful white sand beaches.  There are approximately nine beaches on the west coast and the further south you go, the less crowded they are.  Try to find all nine of them and see which one is the best. 

Have Fun and Enjoy Your Stay!!!