Travel from Phuket to Ko Lanta by ferry, taxi or minivan and speedboat transfer. See our Phuket to Ko Lanta travel guide for timetables and prices.
There are three main ways to travel from Phuket to Ko Lanta:
- 1) Phuket to Ko Lanta Ferry
- 2) Phuket to Ko Lanta Express Transfer (minivan and speedboat)
- 3) Phuket to Ko Lanta Taxi Transfer
The fastest option is the Express Transfer.
The cheapest option is the Ferry.
Here are details on each type of transfer:
1) Phuket to Ko Lanta Ferry
Ferries from Phuket to Ko Lanta depart daily. The ferry departs from Rassada Pier in Phuket. The ferry arrives at Saladan Village on Ko Lanta.
You can buy tickets online for Phuket to Ko Lanta ferries. There are two types:
- Phuket Rassada Pier to Ko Lanta – make your own way to Rassada Pier to board the ferry
- Phuket Hotel Pickup to Ko Lanta – the ferry company will collect you from your Phuket hotel with a minivan and drive you to Rassada Pier where you then board the ferry
The ferry briefly stops at Ko Phi Phi on the way from Phuket to Ko Lanta for passengers to get off and get on.
The total travel time is around 2 hours and it’s a scenic trip across Phang Nga Bay. (Don’t forget to wear sunscreen if you stay outside on the deck!).
However, be aware the ferries are slow and often depart late. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, be advised you will need to carry your own bags and walk up and down staircases on the ferry. Luggage is stored in a big pile on the ferry.
Arriving At Ko Lanta On The Ferry
When you arrive at Ko Lanta and get off the ferry, you will be at the ferry pier in Saladan Village, which is the main port of entry on the island. Saladan Village is located at the top of Ko Lanta. Most of the beaches run down the west coast of Ko Lanta. You will need to hire a tuk tuk or a taxi when you arrive at Saladan to take you to your hotel. (Read our recommended Ko Lanta hotel shortlist if you need suggestions of where to stay).
Travel time from Saladan to the beaches is 5 minutes to an hour, depending how far south the beach is located. See our Ko Lanta map for more information.
How To Book A Ferry Ticket
You can check prices and departure times and book ferry tickets online. View the Phuket Rassada Pier to Ko Lanta ferry and the Phuket Hotel Pickup to Ko Lanta option.
Ko Lanta to Phuket
If you need to go from Ko Lanta to Phuket, see this Ko Lanta to Phuket ferry page for timetables and pricing.
Different Ferry Operators
Be aware there are numerous different ferry operators from Phuket to Ko Lanta with different timetables. Most of them stop at Ko Phi Phi. Check how long the ferry stays at Ko Phi Phi before moving on to Ko Lanta. Some services stop at Ko Phi Phi for several hours before continuing, which can make your total journey time quite long.
2) Phuket to Ko Lanta Express Transfer (minivan and speedboat)
The Phuket To Ko Lanta Express Transfer combines a private minivan and speedboat to get you from your Phuket hotel to your Ko Lanta hotel door to door. This is an easy option where you don’t have to think about anything. It’s a great choice if you are travelling with children or have a lot of luggage.
The minivan collects you from your Phuket hotel and drives you from Phuket through Phang Nga and to the Krabi speedboat pier. This is about a 3 hour drive. After you arrive at the Krabi speedboat pier, you then transfer to a speedboat which takes you across to Ko Lanta. The speedboat ride is about 15 minutes. When you arrive on Ko Lanta, there is a pickup truck waiting for you which then transfers you to your Ko Lanta hotel.
Please note: the speedboat does NOT cross the ocean direct from Phuket to Ko Lanta. To do so is quite a long, uncomfortable ride – around 90 minutes and very bumpy, which makes many passengers seasick. Therefore the combination of minivan transfer and speedboat to beat the car ferry queues onto Ko Lanta is a more comfortable choice.
- See pricing and book the Phuket to Ko Lanta Express Transfer.
- From Phuket Airport to Ko Lanta, see Phuket Airport to Ko Lanta Express Transfer
3) Phuket to Ko Lanta Taxi Transfer
The Phuket to Ko Lanta taxi option takes you door to door from your Phuket hotel to your Ko Lanta hotel. The minivan is private, meaning it’s just for you and your friends and family. No other passengers are picked up during the journey. Once you have been picked up, the taxi takes from Phuket through Phang Nga and into Krabi, where you arrive at the Ko Lanta car ferry pier. This about a three hour drive. You then go onto the car ferry to Ko Lanta Noi, the island next door to Ko Lanta.
Once you arrive on Ko Lanta Noi, you drive across the island and then cross by bridge over to Ko Lanta. The driver then goes direct to your Ko Lanta hotel. This option is slower than the Express Transfer because you have to wait for the car ferry which often has long queues in high season (November to April). The total travel time is 4 to 5 hours depending on the car ferry and your hotel location on Ko Lanta. If you are not in a hurry, it’s a great option.
- See pricing and book the Phuket to Ko Lanta Taxi Transfer
