The fastest way to get from Bangkok to Ko Lanta (Koh Lanta) is a 1 hour 25 minute flight to Krabi and a 2 to 2.5 hour van to your hotel, about 5 to 6 hours door to door from about THB 3,080. The cheapest is the 19:00 night bus and van from Khao San Road, from THB 1,290, arriving around 10:30 to 12:00.
Ko Lanta has no airport and no railway, and every road route ends with a short car ferry. That ferry, not the distance, decides how long the last stretch takes.
See flights, night buses and private cars on one page
See Bangkok → Ko Lanta times on 12Go →The detail everyone misses: vans and buses reach Ko Lanta Noi on a car ferry from Hua Hin pier near Krabi, and it leaves when it is full, not on a timetable.
The crossing itself takes 10 to 15 minutes, but in December to February the queue of cars can add an hour or more.
The mainland bridge that will replace it is only scheduled to open in 2029.
At a Glance
Bangkok to Ko Lanta transport options
Compare fares and travel times, then jump to the option that fits your trip.
| Transport | Fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Flight to Krabi + vanDon Mueang or Suvarnabhumi | FareFrom about THB 3,080flight plus van, per person | Travel timeAbout 5h to 6h |
| Night bus + van from Khao SanThrough ticket, 19:00 departures | FareFrom THB 1,290per person | Travel time15h 30m to 17h |
| Flight to Krabi + boatAo Nang or Krabi Town piers | FareBoat THB 516 to 1,215plus the flight | Travel timeBoat 1h 10m to 2h 45m |
| Private car from BangkokHotel to hotel | FareFrom THB 10,350per vehicle | Travel timeAbout 13h to 15h |
Fares are 12Go and Bookaway listings for a Monday departure in November. Prices change with the date, so check live before you book.
Bangkok to Ko Lanta timetable
These are the regular services 12Go lists from Bangkok and its airports to Ko Lanta, with the lowest fares in baht.
Flights are not in this table, because they only go as far as Krabi.
| Transport | From | Time | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Bangkok | |||
| Bus + van (express and VIP) | THB 1,290 | 16h 30m | Evening departures at 19:00 |
| Private car | THB 17,655 | 13h to 15h | Pickup at any time you choose |
| From Suvarnabhumi Airport | |||
| Private car | THB 16,478 | 14h | Pickup at any time you choose |
| From Don Mueang Airport | |||
| Private car | THB 16,478 | 14h | Pickup at any time you choose |
Lowest fares in the 12Go timetable. The live search sometimes shows cheaper cars, such as a sedan for two from THB 10,350, so tap a route to compare.
1. Fly to Krabi and take the van, the one I would book
Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet fly from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi to Krabi in about 1 hour 25 minutes.
For a Monday three days ahead, 12Go listed more than a dozen flights, from THB 2,728 on Nok Air out of Don Mueang to around THB 5,600 on the busiest times.
From Krabi Airport, shared vans take you the rest of the way in about 2 to 2.5 hours, crossing the car ferry on the way.
12Go lists vans from THB 350, and most of them drop you at your hotel on the west coast, anywhere from Klong Dao down to Klong Nin.
Flight and van on one ticket
12Go also sells the two legs together.
One example: the 11:35 Thai AirAsia flight from Suvarnabhumi plus a Jijie Tour van that reaches Ko Lanta hotels at 16:50, for THB 5,300 in total.
These combos are marked “self-connect”, which means the van will not wait if your flight is late.
Leave at least an hour between landing and the van, and check the luggage allowance, since the cheapest fares include no checked bag.
Time your flight for the airport vans
Shared vans leave Krabi Airport roughly hourly through the day, and the last regular ones go around 18:30, with At Lanta Vacation running one more at 20:30.
A flight that lands by about 16:30 gives you a comfortable choice of vans.
Land later and you are looking at a private car, which costs about THB 2,100 to 3,300 from the airport and takes around two hours.
Flying into Trang instead? Lanta Transport runs two vans a day from Trang Airport, from 11:00, taking about 4 hours.
My verdict: the best choice for almost everyone.
You lose half a day instead of a night, and the van ends at your door, not at a pier.
Our Bangkok to Krabi guide covers the flights and airports in more detail.
Want the quickest way to the island?
Compare Bangkok → Krabi flights on 12Go →Already have your flight?
Book the Krabi Airport → Ko Lanta van on 12Go →2. Night bus and van from Khao San Road, the budget pick
Every through ticket from Bangkok to Ko Lanta works the same way: a coach leaves the Khao San Road area around 19:00, drives south overnight, and you switch to a van for the final leg in the morning.
12Go lists about 40 trips for a single day, most of them in that 18:00 to 19:00 window.
| Operator | Leaves from | Arrives | Price on 12Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Transport (bus + van) | Sapthaweephol office, Khao San, 19:00 | Ko Lanta, about 12:00 | THB 1,290 |
| Montanatip (bus + ferry) | Khao San Montanatip, 19:00 | Saladan Pier, about 11:30 | THB 1,309 |
| Bangkok Booking Center (express or VIP) | BBC office, Khao San, 18:45 or 18:50 | Ko Lanta, 11:30 to 12:10 | THB 1,450 to 1,595 |
| Jarinthon Tour (VIP 32 seats) | Khao San Montanatip, 19:00 | Lanta Transport office, about 10:30 | THB 1,575 |
Bookaway sells the same Khao San departures in US dollars, from US$34 for Montanatip to US$52 for the Jarinthon VIP coach.
The Jarinthon VIP bus is the quickest at 15 hours 30 minutes.
What the night really looks like
Recent 12Go reviews describe the same pattern: a change of vehicle in the early morning, sometimes two, and waits of up to two hours for the connecting van.
Pack a warm layer for the air-conditioning and keep your valuables in your day bag, not in the hold.
Check where your ticket ends.
Some end at Saladan Pier, some at a travel office in Klong Dao, and only a few at your hotel.
Doing it yourself: bus to Krabi, then a local van
You can also take a regular night bus to Krabi Bus Terminal and buy the last leg there.
Phantip services leave the terminal about hourly from 08:00 to 16:00 for around THB 410 and drop you at Saladan Pier in 2.5 to 3 hours.
Our Bangkok to Krabi guide lists the buses.
My verdict: fine for backpackers who want to save a night of accommodation. For everyone else, the flight costs a little more and saves a whole night.
Saving money on the night bus?
Book a Khao San night bus on 12Go →3. Fly to Krabi and finish by boat, November to April
If you like the idea of arriving by sea, you can skip the car ferry queue entirely.
Boats run from Ao Nang and Krabi Town to Saladan Pier, the main pier on the northern tip of Ko Lanta, and the schedule depends on the season.
| Boat | From | Departs | Price | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang Princess | Nopparat Thara Pier, Ao Nang | 10:30 | About THB 670 | From 15 November |
| Bundhaya speedboat | Nopparat Thara Pier, Ao Nang | 10:10, plus 13:00 and 14:40 | About THB 1,215 | All year, extra sailings from November |
| Lanta Super Concord | Klong Jilad Pier, Krabi Town | 11:00 | About THB 516 | November to April only |
The speedboat takes 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes, and the slow ferry from Krabi Town about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Nothing leaves Klong Jilad Pier in the rainy season, when the sea on the Andaman side is rougher, so from May to October plan on the van.
These boats leave in the morning, so in practice you fly to Krabi the day before or on an early flight and spend a night in Ao Nang.
That turns the trip into a two-day trip, with a beach stop on the way.
My verdict: the most scenic way in during high season, and a good fit if you want a night in Ao Nang first.
Arriving by sea?
See Ao Nang → Ko Lanta boats on 12Go →4. Private car from Bangkok, only for big groups
A private car or van picks you up in Bangkok and drives the whole 13 to 15 hours, ferry included.
12Go lists a sedan for two from THB 10,350, comfort cars for three from THB 17,852, and SUVs or 9-seat vans from THB 18,590.
| Vehicle | Price per vehicle | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan, 2 people | From THB 10,350 | 12Go |
| Comfort car, 3 people | From THB 17,852 | 12Go |
| SUV or van (At Lanta Vacation) | From THB 18,590 | 12Go |
| Private car from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang | From THB 16,478 | 12Go timetable |
Split between a family of four, a car costs more per person than flying, and you spend the whole day on the road.
It only makes sense with lots of luggage, a fear of flying, or stops planned on the way.
My verdict: fly to Krabi and book a private car from the airport instead. It covers the same last two hours for a fraction of the price.
Traveling as a group?
Compare private cars on 12Go →Want more options?
See Bangkok → Ko Lanta on Bookaway →At the van change you may be offered a hotel transfer on Ko Lanta for a few hundred baht. Skip it: travelers who paid THB 250 were still dropped at Saladan Pier, and the drivers waiting at the pier take you to your door anyway.
Step by step: flight and van to Ko Lanta
- Book a flight to Krabi that lands by about 16:30, from Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi.
- Book the airport van to your hotel on 12Go, or buy it at the transport desks in arrivals.
- Meet the van in the arrivals hall and show your booking.
- Cross on the car ferry at Hua Hin pier; you stay in the van and the fare is included.
- Get dropped at your hotel on the west coast, about 2 to 2.5 hours after leaving the airport.
What it costs for 1, 2 or 4 people
| Option | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night bus + van (Southern Transport) | THB 1,290 | THB 2,580 | THB 5,160 |
| Flight + airport van (cheapest fares) | From THB 3,078 | From THB 6,156 | From THB 12,312 |
| Flight + private car from Krabi Airport | From THB 4,828 | From THB 7,556 | From THB 13,012 |
| Private car from Bangkok | From THB 10,350 | From THB 10,350 | From THB 18,590 |
The flight rows use the cheapest fare 12Go showed, THB 2,728, plus a THB 350 van or a THB 2,100 private car from Krabi Airport.
For four people, flying plus a private car from the airport costs less than driving all the way from Bangkok.
Which option should you choose?
- Short on time: fly to Krabi and take the airport van.
- Tight budget: the 19:00 night bus and van from Khao San Road.
- Landing late in Krabi: a private car from the airport, about THB 2,100 to 3,300.
- High season and in no hurry: a night in Ao Nang, then the boat to Saladan Pier.
- Family of four: flights plus a private car from Krabi Airport.
- Staying in the far south (Kantiang, Klong Jark): any option that drops at your hotel, not at the pier.
Arriving in Ko Lanta
Boats and many van tickets end at Saladan Pier, in Saladan village on the northern tip of Ko Lanta Yai.
Taxis, tuk-tuks and songthaews wait at the pier, and the village has shops and restaurants right by the water.
- Klong Dao: the nearest beach, about 10 minutes by road from Saladan.
- Long Beach (Phra Ae): about 4 km south of Saladan; a songthaew costs about THB 40 to 90.
- Klong Khong and Klong Nin: further down the west coast; take a tuk-tuk or ask for hotel drop-off.
- Kantiang Bay and the national park: in the hilly south, the furthest from the pier.
- Old Town: on the quieter east coast, across the island from the beaches.
There is no public bus on the island.
Most visitors use tuk-tuks or rent a scooter, from about THB 200 a day, and small cars or jeeps go for around THB 1,200 a day.
Ko Lanta: things to do and where to stay
Ko Lanta is the laid-back alternative to Phi Phi and Ao Nang: long west-coast beaches, sunsets over the Andaman Sea and a slow pace after dark.
The southern tip of the island is Mu Ko Lanta National Park, best reached by jeep or scooter.
Snorkeling trips run to the islands south of Lanta, and divers head for Koh Haa, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.
On the east coast, Lanta Old Town is an old fishing village of wooden houses looking out over the sea.
See the tours section below for day trips.
Which area to stay in
- Klong Dao: a flat 3 km beach with shallow water, good for families and close to Saladan Pier.
- Long Beach (Phra Ae): the longest beach, with the most choice from bungalows to boutique resorts.
- Klong Nin: a relaxed village feel, with bars and restaurants right behind the sand.
- Kantiang Bay: the most upmarket corner of the island, quiet and far from the pier.
Best luxury hotels on Ko Lanta
- Pimalai Resort & Spa: a long-established resort on Kantiang Bay, with hillside pool villas set 60 to 80 m above the sea.
- Layana Resort & Spa: 57 rooms and villas on Long Beach, for guests over 12 only, with a wellness zone and a saltwater lap pool.
- Rawi Warin Resort & Spa: 185 rooms and villas on a hillside above Klong Toab beach, near the national park, with only four pool villas directly on the sand.
- Twin Lotus Resort & Spa: 129 rooms and villas on Klong Dao, adults only from 1 November to 30 April.
- Avani+ Koh Lanta Krabi Resort: 92 rooms, suites and villas on a hilltop near the northern tip, with its own small beach and the shortest ride from Saladan.
Pimalai and Rawi Warin are in the south of the island, so a van or private car to the door is far easier than a pier drop-off.
Practical tips before you go
Carry small cash. Tuk-tuk drivers at Saladan Pier and the night bus rest stops want baht, and rarely have change for a THB 1,000 note.
Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Airport, bus station and resort networks are open to everyone. A VPN such as ExpressVPN keeps your bookings and banking private.
Book ahead for December to February. Flights to Krabi, the night buses and the airport vans all fill up, and the car ferry queues are at their longest.
Check the season. Krabi Town boats stop in the rainy season and some smaller resorts close, while the vans run all year.
Going back? We have no Ko Lanta to Bangkok guide yet, but the vans back to Krabi connect with everything in our Krabi to Bangkok guide.
Heading on to another island? See Bangkok to Phuket, and our Bangkok public transport guide explains getting to Khao San and Don Mueang.
Tours from Ko Lanta
Island-hopping snorkeling trips and diving at Koh Haa are the classics.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Ko Lanta?
About 5 to 6 hours if you fly to Krabi and take a van, including the car ferry. The night bus and van from Khao San Road takes 15 hours 30 minutes to 17 hours, and a private car 13 to 15 hours.
What is the cheapest way from Bangkok to Ko Lanta?
The night bus and van from Khao San Road, from THB 1,290 on 12Go with Southern Transport. It leaves at 19:00 and reaches Ko Lanta around midday.
Does Ko Lanta have an airport?
No. The nearest airport is Krabi, about 2 to 2.5 hours away by van, and Trang Airport is a second option with two Lanta Transport vans a day.
Is there a direct bus from Bangkok to Ko Lanta?
Not a single bus. Through tickets from Khao San Road combine a night coach with a van or boat in the morning, often with one or two changes.
Do you need a ferry to get to Ko Lanta?
By road, yes: vans cross a short car ferry from Hua Hin pier to Ko Lanta Noi, then a bridge to Ko Lanta Yai. The fare is included in your ticket, and a mainland bridge is scheduled to replace it in 2029.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Ko Lanta?
No railway reaches Krabi or Ko Lanta. Some travelers take the night train to Surat Thani, then a van of about 4 hours, but the night bus through ticket is simpler.
Can you take a boat from Krabi to Ko Lanta?
Yes. From November to April the Lanta Super Concord leaves Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town at 11:00 for about THB 516, and from Ao Nang the Bundhaya speedboat and the Ao Nang Princess run to Saladan Pier.
How much is a taxi from Krabi Airport to Ko Lanta?
A private car costs about THB 2,100 to 3,300 and takes around two hours. A seat in a shared van starts at THB 350 on 12Go.
Ready for the island?
Live seats and prices for flights, night buses, vans, boats and private cars from Bangkok to Ko Lanta.
Prices last verified: November 2026. Sources: flight, bus, van and private car fares from 12Go’s and Bookaway’s live listings and the 12Go timetable; boat times and Krabi Airport transfer prices from Krabi and Ko Lanta travel guides; car ferry and bridge details from local Ko Lanta news; traveler reports from 12Go reviews.
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Tim Kroeger is a luxury wellness travel specialist, founder of Universal Traveller, and creator of The Restorative Index, a performance-based framework for evaluating wellness hotels. After 15+ years across 110+ countries, he shifted from destination-chasing to travel recovery. Based in Bangkok, he reviews luxury wellness hotels and spas on tim-kroeger.com through a performance lens, combining firsthand testing with expert insights.
