Exploring Koh Lanta Thailand by Motorbike: One Fun Day

Koh Lanta has always been one of our favorite Thai islands! It’s a beautiful place full of long sprawling beaches, lush jungles, and stunning scenery. This island is the perfect spot to slow down and relax, but to fully embrace it you need to mix in a little exploring… And the easiest way to do that is with a Koh Lanta motorbike rental! Waking up bright and early, we grabbed some coffee overlooking the beach and were ready for an adventure. Below we share our adventurous day on Koh Lanta in Thailand, renting a motorbike, and more tips for your visit.

Renting a Motorbike in Koh Lanta 

We have driven motorbikes up, down, and around Southeast Asia and feel very comfortable renting them. If you’re not then you can ask your accommodation about hiring a driver for the day! We paid 200 baht for our bike which came out to be around $6 USD.

Come to think of it, our experience was really funny. When asking our hotel about a Koh Lanta motorbike rental the owner said sure before pulling the keys from his pocket and handing them over to us. At first, we were confused but then he clarified that it was actually his bike he was giving us to use!

It was definitely one of those “only in Thailand” moments. Not having many other choices for renting a motorbike in Koh Lanta, we gave him 200 baht and were off on our island adventure. 

Our Route Around Koh Lanta in Thailand

We were staying in the northern part of the island but this trip can start from anywhere. Our day began cruising north and circling Koh Lanta before riding down the east coast. The second part of the day was spent beach hopping on the west side of Koh Lanta in Thailand and visiting the famous National Park! 

We spent the entire day from about 8am to 4pm with stops for meals, swimming, and some epic viewpoints. You could easily do it faster, but we recommend taking your time to fully embrace the nature of the island.

Morning Exploring the East Coast! 

To be honest, the northeast coast isn’t explored much by travelers. However, it makes for a great ride when renting a motorbike in Koh Lanta.

We drove slowly taking in the jungle scenery of this serene island. It felt like a night and day difference from driving a motorbike in Phuket where the roads are busy and filled with cars and bikes. 

At one point we stopped for gas and birdy and a cold drink. There are very few big gas stations in Koh Lanta. Instead of resorting to the old liquor bottles full of gas, look for the small fill-up machines in front of the local convenience stores.

Late Breakfast in Old Town Koh Lanta

After driving the entire East Coast of the island we made a stop in Koh Lanta Old Town for some food. Old Town is a very unique part of the island worth visiting! Wooden houses with coffee shops and restaurants hang out over the water perched up on stilts in this old sea gypsy village.

This area is small so you won’t need long to see it. Make sure to head out onto the long pier to get a view from the water! If you are on a motorbike like we were you can ride out to the end for a great view of Old Town and the mountains behind them. 

We were hungry after not having breakfast and stopped at Sunees Place for a quick meal. Its fun inviting style (and the cheap Thai food sign out front) made it an easy choice! We ordered a fresh juice, a veggie omelet with naan, and curry with roti.

Everything was super delicious and the women running the restaurant were very friendly! We actually liked this place so much we came back later in our visit to try the Barracuda with Panang Curry. If you want a view of the water you can eat at one of the main restaurants. Just know that they will cost almost double the price.

West Coast of Koh Lanta in Thailand

Jumping back our Koh Lanta motorbike rental, we cut up and over the middle of the island. We were so excited to hit the beaches on the west coast! Hands down this is our favorite stretch of Koh Lanta to experience. 

After passing beach after beautiful beach, we stopped at Tuesday Morning Cafe for a quick coffee break. It was then that we saw something crazy on the menu… Iced passionfruit espresso?? How could we not try it! The drink was so refreshing and just the energy boost we needed to keep riding in the heat of the afternoon.

Koh Lanta National Park & More Beaches

Next, we would cruise to the most southern point of the island and visit Koh Lanta National Park. Here there is a famous lighthouse, more beaches, and a walking trail. The 200 baht entry fee was more than worth the price of entry!

After spending about an hour at the park we worked our way back up the west coast stopping at almost every beach for a swim. We were so glad we decided to do the route this way instead of taking breaks so much on the way there.

This way we could take our time on the way back and really enjoy the beaches of Koh Lanta in Thailand! Make sure not to miss Bamboo beach, Diamond beach, & Nui Bay when renting a motorbike in Koh Lanta. 

Koh Lanta’s Wild Animals

We saw so many interesting animals on our motorbike journey! One thing you should know is that Monkeys run wild in Koh Lanta Thailand. They will randomly be on the side of the road, swinging above you in the trees, and always are together in big groups.

That means if you see one monkey there are usually some more around. Specifically, on the southwest coast of Koh Lanta, we felt like we were dodging monkeys in the road at every twist and turn!

So what else did we see on our island adventure? Well at one point we literally had to come to a quick stop as a herd of cows stampeded into the middle of the road. Then only about 20 minutes later, a MASSIVE monitor lizard jumped out of the jungle in front of us! Apparently, they aren’t aggressive towards humans but it was still a little crazy to see. 

Keep an eye out for any and all animals when using your Koh Lanta motorbike rental. Most importantly, don’t get too close to them for pictures OR try and feed them. 

Lunch with a View 

At one point we worked up an appetite and were ready for a late lunch. We stopped into the Diamond Beach Cliff Restaurant and grabbed a quick meal before heading down to the water.

The only way to get to this stunning beach is to go through the restaurant. However, if you’ve already eaten you don’t actually need to buy anything to pass through.

The view is amazing from the clifftops and you will quickly see why it’s one of the most popular sunsets spots on the island.

If you’re super hungry after the National Park and don’t want to wait till Diamond Beach you can also stop at Sam Pee Nong Family Seafood. The view over Bamboo beach is amazing and worth grabbing a drink to take it all in!

→ What’s Thai Food? 40 Delicious Dishes & Drinks You Must Try!

Ending the Day Exploring Koh Lanta

Just after 4pm, we pulled back into our hotel exhausted but happy with the amazing day out. We were just in time too as the sky turned black and we got rocked with one of the wildest rainstorms we’ve seen in Thailand!

Tropical rain is super common on Koh Lanta in Thailand. Don’t be surprised if the rain comes on hard and fast, then an hour later it’s completely gone and the suns back out.

This is a time when it’s very dangerous to be driving a motorbike so it’s wise to stop in at a cafe until the heavy stuff passes. We headed out again as soon as the rain stopped, but had already returned our Koh Lanta motorbike rental.

We finished our day with a beach walk for sunset before catching a fire show and eating a whole grilled fish for dinner. If this wasn’t the ultimate day on Koh Lanta then we don’t know what is! It was after this experience that we extended our time on the island, knowing we still had plenty more to see. 

Where to Stay on Koh Lanta in Thailand

Ultra Luxury – Pimalai Resort & Spa – Welcome to the most luxury resort in all of Koh Lanta! Sitting right on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, you’ll have everything you need for an amazing stay. Enjoy the infinity pool in a lush jungle setting, and the delicious onsite restaurant when you get hungry.

Fun Vacation – Beach Home Lanta – We stayed here on our recent trip to Koh Lanta and it seemed like literally, every room around us extended their visit! We actually booked it for three nights and loved it so much we ended up staying for ten. All bungalows are modern with an oceanfront view and just steps away from several great restaurants and beach bars.

Budget-Friendly – Lanta Infinity Resort – Koh Lanta in Thailand has some great budget options of good quality. Lanta Infinity Resort offers a swimming pool and air-conditioned rooms while being just a short walk to the beach.

Hostel Life – Best Stay Hostel At Lanta – If you’re all about the hostel life then this is the spot for you! The bar and shared lounge are a great place to meet other travelers, and it’s situated in the most fun part of the island for nightlife near Long Beach. For more places to stay be sure to check out our article below. 

→ 22 Best Koh Lanta Hotels: 5 Star Resorts to Budget Stays!

Have any questions on renting a motorbike in Koh Lanta or want to share your own adventures on the island? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

 Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar! 

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Thailand Travel Planning 

 Transportation: While traveling through Thailand 12Go is where we find all our ferries, trains, buses, and transfers! You can find everything from island hopping speed boats to the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

 Flights: We always find our cheap flight deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we found flights from Bangkok to Phuket for $12 USD, and Thailand to Vietnam for less than $50! 

 Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also,  Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget. 

 Tours: Check out Get Your Guide to find activities all over Phuket! You can find everything from a James Bond island luxury sunset cruise, to Phuket Old Town 15-taster food adventure, and 5-hour island tour! 

 Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.

 Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials! 

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Helpful Thailand Articles

Phuket: 22 Things to Do – Old Town Food Guide – 6  Sunset Spots – Rawai – Elephant Sanctuary – Promthep Cape Sunset – Sunday Night Market – Phuket Old Town – Big Buddha – Renting a Motorbike 

Phuket Beaches:  15 Best Beaches – Nai Harn & Yanui – Kata Beach – Kata Noi – Nui Beach

Koh Phi Phi:  Ferry from Phuket – 25 Things to Know – Maya Bay Private Tour – 3 Viewpoint Hike – Monkey Beach – Phi Phi Don Boat Tour 

Railey Beach:  12 Things to Do – 3 Epic Beaches – Krabi to Koh Phangan

Gulf of Thailand: Koh Phangan 10 Things to Know – Bottle Beach Koh Phangan – Koh Tao 12 Things to Know – Freedom Beach Koh Tao – Koh Samui 

More: Planning Thailand Trip – Koh Lipe – Chiang Mai

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