Phuket to Koh Lanta: Ferry, Speedboat and Road Options

Koh Lanta is a long, relaxed island in Krabi province, southeast of Phuket, known for its quiet beaches and slower pace. Many travelers combine a few days in Phuket with a stay on Lanta. There are three main ways to make the journey: a ferry, usually via Phi Phi, a speedboat transfer, or a minivan or private car with a short vehicle ferry at the end.

To be clear from the start: we do not sell transfers to Koh Lanta. This is general, practical information to help you plan. Timetables and fares change by season and by company, so always check the current schedule with the ferry or transfer company before you travel.

Where Koh Lanta is

Koh Lanta is really two main islands. Koh Lanta Noi, the smaller one, is closer to the mainland. Koh Lanta Yai, the larger one, is where most beaches, hotels and restaurants are, spread along its west coast. The two are linked by a bridge. Boats from Phuket and Phi Phi usually arrive at Saladan, the main village and pier at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai.

By sea, Lanta lies beyond Phi Phi. By road, you leave Phuket over the bridge to the mainland and drive through Phang Nga and Krabi provinces before crossing to the island.

Option 1: Ferry via Phi Phi

Passenger ferries leave from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town on the east coast. Services to Koh Lanta usually call at Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don on the way, and some involve a change of boat there.

• When it runs: mainly in the high season, roughly November to April, usually with morning departures. In the monsoon months, direct services to Lanta are often reduced or suspended.
• Journey time: usually around 4 to 5 hours in total, including the stop at Phi Phi.
• Good for: travelers who like the sea route, and anyone who wants to break the journey with a night or two on Phi Phi Don.
• Keep in mind: the open-sea stretch can be rough when the wind picks up.

Our Rassada Pier guide explains the pier, arrival times and common mistakes.

Option 2: Speedboat transfer

In the high season some companies run shared speedboat transfers from Phuket to Koh Lanta, sometimes with a stop at Phi Phi. They are much faster than the ferry, but:

• Luggage space is limited, so check the allowance before you book.
• The ride is bumpier than a ferry and you may get some spray, so pack valuables in a dry bag.
• Like all speedboat trips, they are generally not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with back problems.
• They depend on sea conditions and can be cancelled on rough days.

Ask whether hotel transfers at each end are included, and where exactly the boat leaves from.

Option 3: Minivan or private car, with a short vehicle ferry

This is the route that runs all year. Shared minivans and private cars drive from Phuket through Phang Nga and Krabi provinces to the pier for Koh Lanta. The crossing onto the island has long been a short vehicle ferry, which the minivan companies include in the ticket. You then drive across Koh Lanta Noi and over the bridge to your hotel on Koh Lanta Yai.

• Journey time: usually around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic, the number of hotel stops and any queue for the vehicle ferry.
• Good for: the monsoon season, anyone who gets seasick, families with lots of luggage and travelers on a budget.
• Private car or shared minivan: a private car costs more but lets you stop when you want and goes straight to your hotel. A shared minivan is cheaper but collects and drops other passengers on the way.

Which option should you choose?

• Traveling May to October: the road route, because it does not depend on the sea.
• Prone to seasickness: the road route, or the ferry on a calm day.
• Want to see Phi Phi on the way: the ferry via Phi Phi Don, ideally with a night there.
• Short on time in high season: a speedboat transfer, if you travel light.
• Family or group with lots of bags: a private car.

Seasons and weather

The high season, roughly November to April, brings calm seas and the most boat services. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings more rain and rougher seas on the Andaman side. Many days are still fine, but sea transfers are more often changed or cancelled, and the road becomes the reliable choice. Koh Lanta is also much quieter in the low season, and some businesses on the island close or cut their hours, so check that your hotel and favorite beach bars are open.

See Phi Phi or Krabi's islands from Phuket first

If you are staying in Phuket before you move on, you can see some of the famous islands as day trips and still sleep in the same hotel. Both of these start and finish in Phuket, with hotel pickup and drop-off. Prices are the standard listed prices at the time of writing and can vary by date, so check the tour page for your date:

• Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island by speedboat: 3,100 THB per adult and 2,200 THB per child, with the national park fee, lunch and snorkel gear included. It covers Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave from the boat, Monkey Beach and the walk from Loh Sama Bay to Maya Bay, where swimming is not allowed. Our Phi Phi Islands guide explains the islands and seasons.
• Private 4 Islands charter: the whole boat for your group for 20,000 THB, visiting Poda Island, Chicken Island, the Tup Island sandbar and Phra Nang Beach, with up to 6 hours on the water. National park fees and lunch are not included. It is a return day trip from Phuket, not a transfer to Koh Lanta.

If you are planning a longer route through the region, our 10 day southern Thailand itinerary shows how Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi and Lanta can fit together.

Practical tips for the journey

• Book ahead in peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year, when boats and minivans fill up.
• Confirm the pickup and pier in writing, including the time you need to be ready.
• Pack a small day bag with medicines, passport, chargers and water, because larger bags usually go in a luggage area you cannot reach during the trip.
• If you get seasick, sit in the middle of the boat, look at the horizon and ask a pharmacist about tablets before you travel.
• Carry some cash for snacks and small costs along the way.
• Leave slack in your plans in the monsoon, in case a boat does not run.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Phuket to Koh Lanta?

Usually around 4 to 5 hours by ferry via Phi Phi or by road. Speedboat transfers in the high season are faster.

Do boats to Koh Lanta run all year?

Direct boat services run mainly in the high season, roughly November to April, and are often reduced or suspended in the monsoon. The road route with the vehicle ferry runs all year.

Can I visit Koh Lanta as a day trip from Phuket?

It is possible but not practical, with 8 hours or more of travel in one day. Koh Lanta is best enjoyed with at least a few nights on the island.

Do you sell transfers to Koh Lanta?

No. We sell day tours and private speedboat charters that start and finish in Phuket. Browse all tours if you want to see the islands while you are based in Phuket.