Ko Lanta is located approximately 70 kilometres south of Krabi on the east side of Southern Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. It stretches for 27 kilometres in the north-south direction and is traversed by a
mountain range that is still covered by virgin rain forest. The range reaches heights of 500 metres in its northern and southern parts. The water off the west coast is crystal clear and the beaches powdery white.

To get around Ko Lanta you'll have to rent a motorbike and this can be done at most resort counters. Make sure that you are familiar with the vehicle and test the front and rear brakes, the lights and horn. Drive with extra care when passing through or by villages and schools and remember, that swimming suits and naked upper body are fine for the beach, but not the right attire for a drive through the local villages.

The Island has a population of approximately 20,000 people.The northern Thai's have come to the Island to work in the tourism industry. The local trade, especially in Saladan is predominantly under the control of Thai's from Chinese descent.

The name Lanta is derived from a kind of rack (Lantan), that the people of the South used, to grill the catch, that they regularly found in the waters off these islands when travelling along the Andaman Coast.

Since 1996 the island has been connected to Thailand's southern electrical grid and since 2001 to the telephone network. The Island can be easily reached by 2 car ferries, that operate during daylight
time only, approximately from 07:00 to 19:00. Some paved streets exist in the two villages but most roads are still unsurfaced.

Accommodation on Ko Lanta ranges from simple A-frame bungalows without private bathroom to a wide choice of middle-class bungalows, some with swimming pool, and tops with properties in the 4- and 5-star category. Local laws do not permit buildings, that are higher than the coconut palms, a law protecting Lanta from the negative impacts of tourism.

During the last years, the number of resorts along the western coast increased to about 100, offering a choice for everybody's taste. This has worked making Ko Lanta a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.