The Koh Lanta surf isn’t big and isn’t amazing, but it happens on a chilled and gorgeous island with some of the best beaches and beach bars in the Andaman region.
An introduction to Koh Lanta surf
Koh Lanta has a lot going for it. Sadly, one of those things isn’t surf. A long, dog-leg of an island that bends through the central Andaman Sea from the southern side of Krabi town, it’s fast rising to become one of the major vacation centers of the Land of Smiles. But, shh – the secret isn’t quite out yet like it is in Samui and Phuket. This is still a land of reggae bars and paradise beaches, of low-key bungalow hotels and largely unspoiled coastline.
Which brings us to the waves. There aren’t many of them. The lie of the shore plus the shape of the wider bay that’s tucked into the swell shadow of Phuket island means that a lot of the beaches in Lanta offer nothing more than ankle-high froth burgers, even in the peak of the storm season. But there are one or two locations that work on occasion, dragging up the SW swell from the big Indian Ocean to give some half-decent SUP and beginner waves on their day. Thing is, you’ll be waiting and waiting for them. Thankfully, waiting ain’t such a chore in this fantastic corner of Southeast Asia!
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing Thailand
Koh Lanta surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Koh Lanta surf?
Where is Koh Lanta?
Koh Lanta lies off the southeastern edge of Krabi province, roughly midway down the Thai Andaman coast. It’s a whopping 10 hours from Bangkok by road but easy to access from both Krabi airport and the larger airport in Phuket. The whole region is also linked up by regular ferries – it’s about 4 hours on the connecting boat that goes via Phi Phi and about 1.5 hours on the boat that comes straight from the port in Krabi.
A guide to the Koh Lanta surf spots
Koh Lanta itself is actually made up of two isles: Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai. The first acts as a sort of steppingstone to the main island and has a good road link and has a boat link over to Yai, which is where the vast majority of travelers base their stay. It’s also the part of the island with the best surf breaks…
Laem Kho Kwang
Laem Kho Kwang – a triangular headland at the top northwest end of Koh Lanta – is the spot that can handle the most swell of all on the island. It rarely gets too big for it to close out but it can happen on mid-monsoon storms. When it’s not over three meters, then you can ride right peelers off the rocks into the sand stretch. It’s really the only spot that’s capable of accommodating rippers and shortboarders but take that statement with a bigger pinch of salt than they add to your evening pad Thai. Stay in the bustling port village of Ban Saladan to get good access to this one.
Khlong Dao
Khlong Dao is really the epicenter of the humble Lanta surf scene. The beach is a long, curving length of brownish yellow sand that is fronted by a shallow bay that’s filled with sandbanks of all shapes, sizes, and angles. When the tide pulls in then you can hop onto some decent sets, which are able to hold anything of up to a meter. The best days if you ask us come with the dry season on those uber-rare clean swells from the SW but most surfers still rely on the storm-driven wet season between April and May. Khlong Dao is a big SUP spot and really a logger-only locale. Koh Lanta Watersports is the place to go for rentals.
Long Beach
Long Beach is actually our 100% favorite place to stay whenever we visit Koh Lanta, surfboard in tow or not. It’s a stretched-out settlement of bars and restaurants and hotels that have access to one seriously lovely beach – called, appropriately Long Beach. The north is quieter and more taken by resort hotels with seaside pools. The south is where the action’s at. It’s got a smattering of reefs and a rivermouth. There can be a wave there at low tide in the storm season but for the most part this is sheltered SUP territory. Some of the hotels offer watersports rentals
Klong Nin
Klong Nin really begins the south side of Koh Lanta island. The topography here isn’t at all suited to surfing. The cliffs get higher and there’s a more Mediterranean-like drop-off that takes you from the shore to the sea, which leaves little reef for any meaningful waves to shape up on. We do know that there are some unexplored rocky points south of Klong Nin as the coastline bends into Kantiang Bay (Lanta’s most luxurious area), some of which might have breaks worth chasing. Our feeling is that a boat would really help here, though.
Phuket
Honestly, if you want anything close to reliable surf in these parts then it’s gotta’ be a ferry across to Phuket. The wet season can bring some pretty decent swell to the largest island in Thailand and it’s only a 4-hour ferry across the bay from the pier in Ban Saladan. You’ll want to be based on the west coast to hit the beaches of Patong et all there.
Check out our full guide to the surf in Phuket right now
Where to stay when surfing in Koh Lanta?
As we’ve mentioned, one of the top things about surfing in Koh Lanta is just how lovely it is to getting skunked here. No waves? No worries. You’ve got laid-back bars, reggae shows, and – at least in our eyes – some of the finest beaches in the whole of Thailand (yep, move over Samui). The hotel range is also top-notch and eminently affordable. Some of our absolute favorites here include:
Noble House Beach Resort SHA Extra Plus
Noble House Beach Resort SHA Extra Plus is the best stay on the Khlong Dao stretch. It puts you literally steps from the surf break here and within easy reach of the main port where you can hitch a boat ride across to Phuket. The hotel itself is lux, with modern rooms and a lovely pool right by the Andaman Sea.
Green Pepper
A stay with a difference, Green Pepper is tucked into the jungle-clad hills about 10 minutes’ tuk-tuk from the coast. It’s not the greatest place to base a surf trip, granted (the northern beaches where the waves are about 25 mins’ drive away). However, the spot is super-peaceful, has stylish bungalows with breezy porches, and a uber-welcoming owners who are always hanging around for a chat in the communal space.
Costa Lanta – Adult Only
If you’re traveling as a couple and prefer to steer clear of the family crowd (something Lanta specializes in), Costa Lanta – Adult Only is a top pick. This resort hotel has slick rooms done out in polished concrete and minimalist designs. It’s also a step off the reefs of Laem Kho Kwang for surfing when the waves get bigger.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Koh Lanta surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Koh Lanta surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Koh Lanta?
The wet season is responsible for bringing basically all the regular surf to the Andaman Sea. That runs from April to September, bringing extra rain but the strongest swells to this part of the Land of Smiles. However, we’re almost tempted to say that surfing in Koh Lanta is better in the dry-season months from November to March. The reason? The weather is better and the beaches are at their finest. What’s more, it’s probably going to be a waiting game for waves in the wet season anyhow, so you may as well hold out for the neater stuff of the peak time and also get the benefits of Lanta’s stunning coastline and vibe.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
