Holidays to Koh Lanta
Many people in Koh Lanta take holidays there to get away from the day to day stresses of life. It is a perfect island location for the family to enjoy; it has plenty to do and many friendly ex-pats who like to hear news from home. Many divers come to Koh Lanta, giving the island a diverse demographic. There is plenty to see and do in Koh Lanta.
Lanta Old Town is a prominently visited location on Koh Lanta holidays. It is extremely diverse; many Thai fishing families live traditionally along with an ancient, remote Sea Gypsy community, a group that has their own language, beliefs and traditions. They live in stilted houses between the high and low water marks. The Buddhist and Chinese temples are very charming, and the town is peaceful, making it a wonderful place to spend a few nights. The small town has excellent restaurants and plenty of interesting shops that are worth visiting during Koh Lanta holidays. The town art gallery is renowned for its great collection also.
Ban Saladan is very much a location for tourists taking their holidays in Koh Lanta. There are plenty of diving facilities and more traditional shops. Ban Saladan is typically where the majority of Koh Lanta holidays are based, owing to the number of resorts on the island.
Holidays to Koh Lanta are also famed for the impressive Khao Mai Kaew Caves that are located directly in the centre of the island. There are huge stalactites, stalagmites and pools to visit inside the caves. The rubber fields are also worth visiting and provide a view of what is typically an unknown plant in the western world. Elephant rides are available at affordable rates, typically around £10.
Whilst enjoying your holidays in Koh Lanta, you may wish to experience one of the local renditions of the regionally popular adapted play, Likae Pa. The story is often performed in the region and is typically performed prior to other more modern plays. This is definitely something to see whilst in the area, along with the shadow plays, which are heavily influenced by Indian culture.
Diving is one of the most popular sports to take part in whilst on Koh Lanta holidays; Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are closest to the island and are renowned as being the best dive sites in Thailand. These two sites rank in the top ten diving spots in the world and display a very impressive array of marine life and hard corals. The violet coral in Hin Muang is particularly noteworthy. If diving is not something that floats your boat, kayaking is available in the mangrove forests with routes that provide both exhilarating and relaxing experiences. Finally, fishing is popular on Ko Lanta and private boats can be chartered for half-day or full-day excursions.