Are you island hopping in Thailand and looking for your next destination? Koh Lanta is actually one of our favorite Thai islands to explore and this current trip marks our third visit! One of the most popular routes is going from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta via the ferry system. Here’s everything to know about how to get to Koh Lanta from Koh Phi Phi and tips from our own experience.
Island Hopping in Thailand
Our latest adventure started off on the island of Phuket. We had some amazing days of beach hopping, exploring old town, seeing the Big Buddha statue, and so much more. When it was finally time to move on we decided to take the speed boat from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi.
Our adventurous visit to Koh Phi Phi included a private longtail boat to Maya Bay, a trip to Monkey beach, and of course hiking to the 3 scenic island viewpoints. Be sure to check out our 16 best Hotels on Phi Phi Island before your visit.
After this, it was time to head to Koh Lanta! When we were originally planning our time island hopping in Thailand, Koh Lanta was at the top of our list. Now we just had to make sure we were taking the most direct route to get there.
→ 22 Fun Things to Do in Phuket Thailand For Your First Visit
Booking Phi Phi to Koh Lanta Ferry Tickets
Whenever we’re island hopping (or using any transport like buses and ferries) in Thailand we first check 12Go. This website gives us an idea of the different routes, costs, and times.
This particular route was surprisingly the only ferry we didn’t book online. After three jammed packed days on Koh Phi Phi full of boat rides, beach hopping, and hikes, we knew Koh Lanta would be perfect. It’s a great place to slow down and enjoy the slower pace of island life.
There was only the later speedboat offered so we asked our hotel P2 Wood Loft on Koh Phi Phi about the morning ferry. Personally, we like taking morning ferries in Thailand. This way we don’t have to deal with asking the hotels to store our bags before we can check in. It also helps us make it to our new accommodation before the heat of the day.
To get to Koh Lanta from Koh Phi Phi the best boat (according to our hotel) was the Bundhaya Speed Boat which goes directly there in 30 minutes. We had used the company years before when we were making the trip from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta and had a good experience.
Now you don’t have to necessarily take the direct speedboat to get to from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. There is a slower ferry which takes you back to Krabi before connecting with a different boat to Koh Lanta. Not only will this be a much much longer travel day, but you won’t save much if any money at all.
Know that there are different companies and times aside from Bundhaya. We recommend booking beforehand online, especially in the busy season. Whatever you do, just make sure to choose the 30 min direct ferry!
9am Koh Lanta Ferry Check-in
For our morning ferry we were told to check in at the companies stand half an hour before. We got our tickets, stickers, and bags ready to go early. Check-in was quick and we had a few minutes to grab a coffee while waiting.
The stickers are kind of a funny thing if you’ve never been island hopping in Thailand before. Basically, you get stickers that tells the company where you are going. Then when you are getting on the boat they double check them to confirm you are heading to the right place.
I mean, it makes complete sense if you think about it with the language barrier. On our boat there were plenty of other travelers heading from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. However, there were others who were continuing on to Koh Lipe.
Koh Lipe is actually one of our absolutely favorite islands and it’s definitely earned its nicknamed as the “Maldives of Thailand.” Check our article below if you’re planning your own Thai island adventure!
→ 16 Koh Lipe Thailand Tips You NEED to Know Before You Go
Leaving Koh Phi Phi by Fast Ferry
Before we go any further, you should know that every boat and route is different. Still, the one thing to know is to never put anything fragile or breakable in your bag. You should separate everything important into a small backpack and keep it with you while you’re on the boat.
Never been island hopping in Thailand before? Well, then you might be slightly alarmed with the bag situation on routes like Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta.
Large and small bags are piled up and stacked right on top of each other. They’re kind of tossed with zero regard so just know that before handing it off to the staff.
When we were getting on this Koh Lanta ferry there was one girl who handed her bag to the crew. She asked them if they could take care of it because there was fragile things in it like her computer.
We couldn’t help ourselves, and politely told her she shouldn’t leave anything fragile in the general bags. She quickly brushed us off and got on the boat.
The crew (who in their defense might have not understood her) threw the bag into the massive pile and kept loading everything on top of it. There is limited to no room on the boat for luggage so it’s all stacked up. Just keep this in mind when taking boats in Thailand!
30 Minute Ride From Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta
The high speed ferry blasted across the water and we were pulling into the Koh Lanta port before we knew it. Hands down, this is the most convenient way to go.
When we visited Thailand years ago this route either wasn’t available or we were on too much of a budget to take it. But wow, it cut the ride down by hours from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta!
We will say that the ride can be very bumpy on many speedboats in Thailand. If you get any sort of motion sickness plan accordingly. We always travel with motion sickness bands for all the buses, boats, and transfers we take.
Arriving at the Koh Lanta Ferry Terminal
As we unloaded the boat, those traveling to Koh Lipe were directed onto another ferry. The people staying in Koh Lanta had to confirm they were actually supposed to be there. It wouldn’t be a great start to your vacation if you got off on the wrong island!
The hotel we booked had a free pick up and our driver was waiting at the port. If you don’t have a ride know that you’ll be met with a bunch of tuk tuk drivers all fighting for your attention.
It’s a good idea to email your hotel before making the journey from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta. If they don’t offer a pick up service they should be able to at least give you an estimate for how much a tuk tuk should cost.
Koh Lanta is actually quite large, and depending on where your hotel is the price to get there can range. Read all our articles about this beautiful island below to help plan your visit!
→ 10 Fun Things to do on Koh Lanta Thailand on Your First Visit
→ 8 Best Koh Lanta Beaches For the Ultimate Thailand Holiday
→ Exploring Koh Lanta Thailand by Motorbike: One Fun Day
Where to Stay on Koh Lanta in Thailand
Ultra Luxury – Layana Resort and Spa – One of 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. Spend your time in the two pools which are in a lush jungle setting.
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.
→ 22 Best Koh Lanta Hotels: 5 Star Resorts to Budget Stays!
We hope you found our experience traveling from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta helpful. Want to share your own thoughts or tips for the Koh Lanta ferry? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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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 Posts
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
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
Planning my trip to Thailand this summer has been made so much easier thanks to this ultimate guide! From purchasing ferry tickets to finding accommodations, it has simplified everything for me. Thank you for sharing!
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You’re very welcome!