Koh Lanta is a beautiful archipelago of around 52 islands, which rise picturesquely out of the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea along the west coast of Thailand. Situated in the Krabi province, just south of Phuket many of these islands are uninhabited to humans but home to some of the most lush greenery, and stunning beaches you will ever find.
Beautiful Long Beach is about 150 m from the school.
Lanta International Language School is located on Koh Lanta Yai, which is probably one of the largest islands and with a population of around 20,000 people is certainly the most developed.
Historically Koh Lanta Yai was an important “temporary harbor” for Chinese and Arabic trading ships traveling between the trading capitals of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Now, however it is a thriving tourist destination, which prides itself on maintaining its natural beauty and tranquility. Many locals earn a living from tourism, but the more traditional livelihoods of rubber tree plantations, fruit growing, fish and prawn farming, still flourish and provide an income to many of the local families.
Our Thai friends show us how to make rubber.
Koh Lanta Yai is 22km from North to South and 6 km wide. It is a relatively new tourist destination and you will not find the intensive commercialism of Phuket and Bangkok here. The authorities and different organizations are actively working to limit the negative impact that tourism can bring; building permits are restricted and local authorities make an effort to recycle as much litter as possible; selling is prohibited on the beaches and there are restrictions regarding deck chairs.
Koh Lanta offers a perfect environment for studying. The tempo is relaxed and you have plenty of time to participate in local life. Prices of services are low so you don’t need to think about grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning or doing laundry. If you choose to stay close to the school you will not need to spend more than a few minutes per day on transportation – leaving you plenty of time to focus on your Thai studies.
Thailand has a tropical climate and the daytime temperature on in our area ranges from 30 to 34 degrees C throughout the year. Nights are a little bit cooler with temperatures around 25-27 degrees C but you never need more than “one layer of clothes”. The sea temperature ranges between 28 and 32 degrees C so you can swim for hours without feeling cold.
The weather is best between October and May. October to January are the coolest months with the days becoming hotter from February onwards. May to October is the rainy season when there are heavy rain showers and some storms but still plenty of sunshine in between.
The nature on Koh Lanta Yai ranges from untouched jungle in the south to rubber tree and palm oil plantations further north. The sunset facing west coast is fringed with long, sweeping beaches and this is where most hotels, resorts and bungalows are located. The east coast consists of mangrove forests, prawn farms, and rice fields.
Students supporting the eco-tourism project started by the poor villages on the east coast.
A thick, green mountain range runs along the middle of the island, reaching its highest point in the South of the island where a National Park has been established to protect the ancient trees and wildlife that live there. The mountains are also home to several caves, which can be visited and explored on day trips.
Koh Lanta is surrounded by the Andaman Sea, which is home to some of Thailand’s best diving. During your stay here, you have the perfect opportunity to learn how to dive and gain an appreciation for the amazing feeling of breathing underwater and swimming weightlessly amid some of the most diverse marine life Thailand has to offer. The dive season operates mainly between October and April, with a few dive operators remaining open all year round.
Students exploring the underwater world.
Contact any of the local dive companies for more information about diving:
Atlantis Diving
Blue Planet Divers
Ko Lanta Diving Center
Kon-Tiki Diving & Snorkeling Center
Lanta Diver
Palm Beach Divers
Good food is cheap on Koh Lanta. You can get one dish in a traditional Thai restaurant from as little as 30 baht, and western dishes are available for around 100-200 baht. Laundry costs 30-40 baht per kilo and as you don’t need to wear more than shorts and a t-shirt your laundry will not be very heavy.
Local transportation is via motorbike, bicycle or tuk tuk (which is a kind of “motorbike taxi with extra seats”). A couple of kilometers by tuk tuk costs 40 baht. It costs between 2500 and 6000 baht per month to rent a motorbike. The price varies depending on rental period, and type of moped (new, old, automatic or manual). Bicycles cost between 500 and 1000 baht per month to rent.
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