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KANTIANG BAY
Almost entirely in the south of Koh Lanta your find the beautiful Kantiang Bay that also is called Bakantiang Beach or Kantiang Beach. An elongated bay where you can easily spend half a day relaxing! On the beach it’s almost never too crowded and in the area there is plenty to do. If you want to stay a few days at Koh Lanta, Kantiang Beach can be combined with a visit to the Mu Koh Lanta National Park. A scooter ride from this beach to the national park of Koh Lanta takes about twenty minutes.
Where on Koh Lanta is Kantiang Bay located?
Koh Lanta consists of a few main roads, the most important one runs almost entirely along the west coast of the island. This main road (4245 Horizon Road) runs from north to south. By the way, we didn’t find this road very difficult to drive by scooter, except for a few potholes the road surface was in good condition. From the Saladan Pier in the north to Kantiang Beach in the south it is about three quarters of an hour drive. A nice route because you drive along a number of other beautiful beaches of the island such as Long Beach (Phra Ae Beach) and Khlong Khong Beach. Kantiang Bay is located between Klong Hin beach and the beautiful little Ao Nui Beach.
Kantiang Beach, the beach in Kantiang Bay
Kantiang Beach is a quiet beach where you will not encounter many tourists. The beach is quite wide and about one and a half kilometers long. A nice area for a walk on the beach! Although the beach of Kantiang Bay is beautiful, you have to take into account that there is little shade, so rub in well and don’t brown them too much… Because the beach is not crowded yet, this is an ideal place to quietly read that good book or just enjoy your well deserved tropical holiday! And when the sun slowly sinks into the sea, Kantiang Beach is also a great place to watch the sunset.
The sea at Kantiang Bay
Depending on the season, the seawater of Kantiang Bay is beautifully clear. Nevertheless, as in many places in Koh Lanta, the sea is not the perfect place for snorkeling. If you still want to snorkel then the southern part of the sea in this bay is your best chance. There are also many rocks on the coast so swimming and walking into the sea is less pleasant. Of course there are places where you can cool off on this beautiful beach in the south of Koh Lanta. In the sea is a small floating pier where mainly boats moor that belong to the resorts that can be found at this bay.
PLEASE NOTE!
In the rainy season (May to October) the sea can be quite rough with strong waves.
What is there to do in the surroundings of Kantiang Bay?
Just before Kantiang Bay is a small village with a few streets. Here you’ll find a number of shops, restaurants, massage parlours, a school, mosque and so on. There is also an ATM machine so if you need to withdraw money you can do so here as well. Below we give some tips for nice addresses where you can eat or drink something. There are also some good hotels and resorts around Kantiang Bay.
TIP!
In the village just before Kantiang Bay you will find a 7-Eleven! Handy to stock up on some chilled drinks and a snack!
Good restaurants in the area around Kantiang Bay
Around Kantiang Bay there are a number of very good restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal. Below are a few of our discoveries. If you want to read more about the restaurants listed below read our article about the best restaurants on Koh Lanta!
Phad Thai Rock n Roll
Just before you reach Kantiang Bay from the north you’ll find Phad Thai Rock n Roll! And a dance of happiness you will make when you taste the food here! Also the fruit shakes are great too, shake it baby! Are you fond of pad thai or do you want to taste the most famous Thai dish in the world then you have to be here! The friendly team will serve you with a smile! More info.
Drunken Sailors
How about a good breakfast? Drunken Sailors is really the ideal hotspot to enjoy a good breakfast! If you’ve already had breakfast, you can of course also have an excellent lunch or dinner here! And after your meal you can chill out in the hammocks in front of the door and continue your journey, rested and above all satisfied! Psst they also have excellent cocktails! More info.
Cliff Sunset Restaurant
Of course, the name tells it all, this restaurant is situated on a cliff in the southern part of Kantiang Bay. The location offers you an amazing view over the bay and the sunset! Highly recommended to end your visit to Kantiang Beach! A top location for a snack and drink at reasonable prices and where beautiful pictures are guaranteed!
Same Same But Different
Same Same But Different is located right on Kantiang Beach! This place really makes a difference because of the fine location that this gem of a restaurant has. What could be nicer to eat at the beach! With good company and your feet in the sand while enjoying the delicious dishes and drinks this restaurant has to offer! Life is gooooood!
PLEASE NOTE!
Some restaurants like the Cliff Sunset Restaurant are closed in low season. We were here ourselves in August 2019 and it looked pretty deserted.
Best accommodations in the area of Kantiang Bay
We’ve found four top locations for you, from a superb and cheap hostel to one of the most beautiful and luxury resort on the entire island! A wonderful way to end your holiday! Want to know more about the best places to sleep on Koh Lanta? Check out our three articles on this subject: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget.
Aha Lanta Cozy Hostel
For backpackers or travelers with a smaller budget the Aha Cozy Lanta Hostel is a perfect location! There are single beds in mixed dormitories and dormitories for women only. Because this hostel is located in the “village” of Kantiang you can easily score some food and some entertainment is never far away! More info.
Kantiang Oasis Resort & Spa
Almost next to the 7-Eleven and just before entering Kantiang Beach is the Kantiang Oasis Resort! Even though this resort is so centrally located, you’ll really sleep in an oasis of tranquility. The resort is located in a beautifully maintained garden. This means you do not sleep along the road. And you are still within a few minutes on the beach! More info.
Baan Puteri Lanta
Baan Puteri Lanta is 100 meters from Kantiang Beach. That is stroll of a maximum of 10 minutes to the beach! The bungalows are very clean and the staff is very attentive. The bungalows are also ideal for families! A nice and luxurious place to sleep with a good price-quality ratio! More info.
Pimalai Resort & Spa
This won’t be a cheap night’s sleep but it’s worth every penny! Pimalai Resort & Spa is a truly amazingly beautiful and luxurious resort! The resort is not far from Kantiang Bay, has several restaurants and is so big that there is a takeaway service. That is to say, an electric trolley is used to transport guests across the grounds. More info.
Nice bars at Kantiang Beach
There are also some super cute bars on the beach of Kantiang! Below is a selection of the best bars in Kantiang Bay! If you want to read more about the best bars on Koh Lanta check out this article!
Aqua Bar
The Aqua Bar is located in the northern tip of Kantiang Beach. A great place to enjoy the sunset with a nice cocktail in your hand! Because exactly when the sun sets you can order a cocktail here for 100 baht between 16:00 and 18:00! The team that works at Aqua is very friendly which makes you feel at home at this nice little bar at Kantiang Beach!
Why Not Bar
A very famous bar in Kantiang Bay and even on Koh Lanta! The Why Not Bar is located right on Kantiang Beach and live music is regularly played here. Fire shows are also often given here. A very nice bar with a relaxed atmosphere! The perfect place to visit during your visit to Kantiang Beach! Why not? More info.
Even more fun on Koh Lanta!
Looking for even more fun bars, the best restaurants, beautiful beaches, great places to sleep or other fun activities on Koh Lanta? We’ve already done some preliminary work for you and picked out some great locations and activities for you. Some of them you really shouldn’t miss when you’re on Koh Lanta! Check out the InfoBox below for more tips and information.
Sleeping on Koh Lanta
On Koh Lanta you can make sleeping as cheap or expensive as you want. The range of accommodations is very diverse. From delicious luxury to back to basic in a nice small bungalow, the choice is yours! In general, the price-quality ratio on Koh Lanta is better than on the surrounding islands.
This is our selection of the best places to sleep on Koh Lanta:
- The best luxury resorts on Koh Lanta
- The beste middle class hotels on Koh Lanta
- The best cheap places to sleep on Koh Lanta
Also read our reviews of:
Good dining at Koh Lanta
- Yang Garden TIP
This is without a doubt our favourite restaurant on the island! Everything’s right here! Of course the food is great but also the location and staff get a big 10/10 from us! Do it! - Drunken Sailors
Near one of the most beautiful beaches of Koh Lanta (Kantiang) lies this gem! You can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here. Already eaten? The cocktails are also great here, just ask those swaying sailors who walk out the door… - The Reggae Bar TIP
All the way to the north of Koh Lanta and not far from the village of Saladan you can enjoy great dishes and powerful cocktails in your own private (tree) hut on a rocky beach! This special location belongs to the beautiful Avani+ Koh Lanta Resort. - Rareview Coffee & Restaurant TIP
Not only the dishes and drinks are here to savour, also the view is very appetizing! The team at this restaurant in Koh Lanta’s Old Town is super friendly and will do everything to make sure you have a great time! - Global Local – Home of the serious burger
They take the hamburger seriously here, very seriously! Taste it yourself! - Pad Thai Rock n Roll
Dance for joy as you taste the toad thai or other dishes here! Located just before Kantiang Bay in the south of Koh Lanta. - Di Farina Pizza
The best pizza of Koh Lanta can be found in Old Town, unfortunately closed in low season but if you are here in the months November to May then you know where to go!
If you want to know more about the above restaurants read our article about the best restaurants on Koh Lanta.
Koh Lanta is a lovely island to explore by scooter or car. You bypass the high taxi prices and you can visit nice places at your leisure. We have a very good experience with Lanta Sky. You can rent a scooter or car from them that they bring and pick up again when it suits you best. If you want to rent a car you have to leave your passport, that is Koh Lanta everywhere. Renting a scooter without your passport is often possible when you pay a few thousand baht deposit. Are you going to Mu Koh Lanta National Park? Then ask for a powerful scooter, especially if you want to go with two people on a scooter. The roads to the National Park go up a lot and that calls for some extra power.
What else to discover on Koh Lanta?
- Saladan Village & Pier
Almost everyone arrives at the pier in the village of Saladan. The small village has everything a traveler needs. - Klong Dao Beach
Klong Dao Beach is a nice long and wide beach near the village of Saladan where beautiful resorts such as Twin Lotus are located. - Long Beach
Long Beach is the most popular beach of Koh Lanta, you have plenty of choice of nice bars and good restaurants. - Klong Khong Beach
Klong Khong Beach, also known as Relax Bay has a hippie vibe, you will find nice bars and budget accommodations at the beach. - Bamboo Bay
Small paradise beach with not much more than a white beach and a blue sea. - Ao Nui Beach
Lovely small beach with a few nice beach bars for a cool drink. - Mu Koh Lanta National Park
The Mu Koh Lanta National Park is a beautiful area all the way south of Koh Lanta. Just the ride on the scooter is already worth it! - Old Town
Old Town has beautiful authentic houses, souvenir shops and nice restaurants with the famous Instagram swings by the sea. - Time for Lime
You can find the best and most enjoyable cooking course at Time for Lime! And the great thing is that a large part of the proceeds are donated to Lanta Animal Welfare! - Lanta Animal Welfare
Straight dogs and cats get a better future thanks to Lanta Animal Welfare! A must visit if you are on Koh Lanta.
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