Coconut trees sway in the breeze as you swing in your hammock, marvelling at miles of feathery white sand. In the back of your mind, a worrisome voice begs to know how you can stay a little longer checking out such sublime slices of paradise in Thailand without going over your modest budget. The answer? Head to Ko Lanta.
After checking out close to 100 properties in more than a dozen different areas, we were struck by the abundance of quality accommodation across all budgets on Ko Lanta — and especially in the backpacker category. In no particular order, we’ve singled out eight of the island’s best options for soaking up some paradise on the cheap. (Click on the names of each property for the full reviews.)
Andaman for all!
The Asylum
Best known for its homemade salsa, burritos and muesli, The Asylum is a rare budget hostel/restaurant/hangout zone on resort-dominated Haad Khlong Dao. Simple but comfortable fan-cooled dorms and private rooms run from just 250 to 450 baht in high season — not too shabby for the seaside setting on a corner of this vast and beautiful beach.
Artists welcome.
Served in an open-air cafe fronting the sand, the food and coffee are regarded as some of the best on Khlong Dao, but the atmosphere is what makes this a great place to stay. The laid-back owners outdo many pricey resorts to offer guests a truly memorable experience. Stay here and you’ll go home with some new friends in the Andaman — if you ever decide to leave.
Sea Culture Bungalows
Clusters of budget resorts are found on either end of Haad Phra Ae, or “Long Beach,” but we were drawn to Haad Baan Phruklom (or “Relax Bay”), a more secluded and often overlooked beach just over some rocks to the south. Here you’ll find Sea Culture, a funky hideaway staffed by a few guitar-playing shirtless dudes who aren’t afraid to let their long hair flow.
I’m feeling more cultured already.
The thatched roofed, cold-water bungalows are no better than what you’ll find at Blue Sky, Andaman Bay and others, but they’re spread farther apart and all come with good-size balconies for soaking up the sea breeze. If you want to lose yourself in beach-bum culture, you can’t do much better than this.
Sonya Guesthouse
Easy to miss off the main drag, Sonya is tucked behind some greenery in an attractive wooden house that’s been here since well before the tourists arrived. Haad Khlong Khong is a three-minute walk away — so you don’t get a beachfront location — but this is one of Lanta’s best places to meet other backpackers, perhaps over a house-made brownie and espresso.
Fine place to make friends.
Mixed dorms and one large private room with shared bathrooms are spread over an atmospheric second floor with high ceilings, comfy mattresses and mosquito nets. Flashpackers can settle into a handful of newer air-con villas out the back. Look no further if you’re into nose piercings, Chuck Tailors and Radiohead.
Bee Bee Bungalows
If you prefer to stay right on Khlong Khong beach, Bee Bee Bungalows nails the artsy backpacker vibe. In addition to the usual woven bamboo and hammocks, the individually designed huts might be perched high off the ground and reached by ladder, decorated with imaginative murals or equipped with open-air chill nooks nestled near the rooftops.
Now that’s what a bungalow should look like.
Bee Bee’s owner is very welcoming once she perks up from her hammock, and her on-site restaurant feels like a lost gypsy hangout. A quick stumble next door lands you at Where Else!, which also offers creative bungalows to go with a livelier scene after dark. If fire-spinning shows, buckets, DJs and the odd impromptu singalong are your thing, then this is your place.
Peacock Hostel
Of the half-dozen places now offering dorms on Lanta, Peacock is one of the best. Murals of psychedelic birds and octopi adorn this converted fisherman’s house perched on stilts overlooking the bay where diving boats arrive. A comfy 18-bed dorm room, seaside chill space and enough guitars to go around all make this a fantastic spot to meet other travellers.
Pull up a cushion and relax.
Peacock sits around the corner from the ferry dock in Baan Saladan, so no beach to lounge on, but it’s worth considering even if you don’t have an early departure. Some of the best and cheapest seafood on the island is served by the neighbours, and a little-known white-sand beach is only a five-minute stroll away.
Horizon Bungalows
One of the best places to stay on Khlong Nin, which we feel is Lanta’s best overall beach, Horizon’s youthful Thai-European crew might convince you to settle in for longer than planned. The scene is fun and non-pretentious, with great music, terrific food and a cocktail-master bartender who lives in a bungalow perched directly over his beach bar. This is Lanta as it was meant to be.
Live-aboard bar.
While the fan-cooled budget rooms with shared bathrooms are comfy, it’s the people that set Horizon apart. So many travellers stay long-term that, at first glance, it’s tough to figure out who’s working and who’s just casually lending a hand. If the cheap rooms are full, head across the street to The Hut, another fine option for backpackers.
The Old Times B&B
Opened in early 2014 by a group of Bangkokians who sought a quieter lifestyle, The Old Times is spread over a pair of wooden heritage buildings in Lanta’s historic Old Town. Though the best rooms fetch over 1,000 baht per night, a few quality fan rooms allow budget travellers to stay at what we feel is the island’s most intriguing guesthouse.
Who needs a beach?
Offering communal breakfasts and morning yoga on a seaside deck, staff are among the most welcoming we’ve come across anywhere in Southern Thailand. The nearest beach is on the other side of the island, but the Old Town charms visitors with its well-preserved architecture, Chinese shrines and views of fishing boats bobbing offshore.
Klong Jark Bungalows
Remote Khlong Jak beach’s flagship bungalow joint is ideal for those who want to leave the world behind. The islander-owned establishment has simple bungalows perched just off the sand, but once again, it’s the atmosphere that makes the place special. Food is tasty, service friendly and reasonably priced sundowners segue into fire-spinning shows.
Plus free coconuts if you can climb.
Located way down in the far south of Lanta, Khlong Jak is a taste of what most of the island would have felt like 20 years ago. Nearby jungle trails and the national park will keep the adventurous happy, though many choose to melt into a puddle of relaxation on this gorgeous and usually empty stretch of sand.