A Guide To Klong Dao Beach & Saladan Koh Lanta | Thailand

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If you’re wondering where to stay in Koh Lanta, here’s what to expect from Klong Dao Beach and Saladan in the north of Koh Lanta Yai (Big Island). This is where I stayed during my time in Koh Lanta. I loved this area as along with the Klong Dao Beach things to do, I was also close enough to wander into Saladan Village!

In This Guide

Klong Dao Beach Koh Lanta

Klong Dao Beach is a bay-like stretch of beach that is lined with bars, restaurants and hotels. The sea is clear, calm and shallow, making it perfect for swimming (especially for those with kids) and cooling down.

I really liked Koh Lanta. Despite it being slightly more expensive compared to Ao Nang, it was very peaceful and quiet. It seemed to be mostly families that were on holidays, rather than it being on the backpacker trail.

One of my favourite things to do was walk up and down the beach, but I’m not going to lie, the sand felt a little strange underfoot! Almost like it was a mix of mud or clay!

Sand Bubbler Crabs

At low tide, the section near the water line always had circular shape patterns on the sand. These are created by tiny Sand Bubbler Crabs that filter the sand through their bodies and create ‘sand balls’. Atlas Obscura even has a time-lapse video of Sand Bubbler Crabs on the beach in Koh Lanta.

Sand Bubbler Crab patterns at sunset Koh Lanta Thailand — Sand Bubbler Crab patterns on Klong Dao Beach Koh Lanta

The patterns they make are actually pretty cool. But walking across the area to get to the sea was a bit creepy because the beach is literally ALIVE. The crabs are harmless and super fast but I was still worried about stepping on them!

Bars and Restaurants on Klong Dao Beach

One of the best things to do is relax at one of the many Klong Dao Beach restaurants and bars. Most have chairs, tables, bean bags etc right on the sand.

Klong Dao Beach Restaurants Koh Lanta — Beach bar in Koh Lanta

There’s also a lovely atmosphere at night. As Klong Dao Beach faces the west, it has great sunsets. So many people will go to these beachfront bars for a drink as the sun is going down.

Almost every single restaurant offers some sort of ‘Happy Hour‘, often with a selection of cocktails for 100baht and beer for 80baht. Most start from around 5pm, but others have theirs around late afternoon. Plus you’ll find live music and fire shows (see below).

Klong Dao Beach nightlife — Klong Dao Beach at Night

As a solo female traveller I felt safe wandering along the beach by myself at night, which isn’t always the case in a lot of countries.

Some of my favourites include:

Majestic Bar

A great place to watch the sunset is from one of the deck chairs outside Majestic Bar. I had a Bao Wao cocktail for 100baht during happy hour and a coconut milkshake for 80baht. They also serve food (I had vegetable noodles for 120baht), if it’s too hard to eat from one of the reclining deckchairs, they do have a restaurant area with proper tables and chairs.

Jasmine Nui

Just up from Majestic Bar is Jasmine Nui. They mostly have chairs and tables right on the beach. Out of all the shakes I had in Thailand, the 80baht Coconut Shake from Jasmine Nui was my favourite. It was served in the coconut and made with the ‘meat’ inside.

I also ate chicken fried rice (140baht) and spring rolls (120baht). All the food tasted so good and the staff were lovely.

Koala Bar & Restaurant

Further down the south end of Klong Dao Beach is Koala Bar & Restaurant. For 170baht I recommend the pineapple and chicken rice served in a pineapple. The presentation was incredible and the portion size was absolutely giant. I washed it down with an 80baht Chang beer.

Pineapple rice at Koala Bar Klong Dao Beach Koh Lanta — Koala Bar & Restaurant Koh Lanta

Klong Dao Beach Fire Shows

After sunset and dinner, make sure to catch one of the many Fire Shows. You’ll find these all over Thailand and Klong Dao Beach is a great place to see them! The finales often involve giant circular fire rings which are huge.

Klong Dao Beach Fire Show Koh Lanta — Klong Dao Beach Fire Show

They are easy to spot where they’ll take place, many of the restaurants will have the time listed on the Happy Hour board. Most started at 7.30pm during my visit to Krabi in November. Then, once it gets closer to the start time there’ll be a little fire alight on the beach.

I ended up seeing 5 during my time in Thailand (3 in Koh Lanta and 2 in Ao Nang) and the one outside Breeze in Koh Lanta was my favourite. During my visit, it was performed by a guy wearing a white face mask and he was amazing! The soundtrack to the show was awesome too.

Yoga

For those looking for something relaxing to do, Oasis Yoga Bungalows offer a range of different morning and afternoon classes in their tree house studio. Classes are drop-in and cost 400baht. Once a week they have a free meditation class.

Where To Stay on Klong Dao Beach

Golden Bay Cottage

A great budget-friendly place to stay on Klong Dao Beach is Golden Bay Cottage. It’s right on the beachfront and has a buffet breakfast was included in my room rate.

I had a private room with a large bathroom and an outside terrace area. The room has tea and coffee and 2 bottles of free drinking water each day.

There’s a large pool with sun loungers (including sun shades) and a handful of sun loungers that overlook the beach. The ones next to the beach don’t have a lot shade, but it’s a great place to sit and people watch.

Golden Bay Cottage beach bar Klong Dao Beach Koh Lanta — Gold Bay Cottage beach bar in Koh Lanta

There is also a beach bar with food and drink, and happy hour that starts at 5pm.

Check Rates & Availability here

Saladan Koh Lanta

Approximately a 30 minute walk from Klong Dao Beach is Saladan village (Ban Saladan). You can reach it by walking along the main road where there is a path most of the way.

The main road, which connects to the south of the island has a range of restaurants and businesses. Many were popular with locals rather than the beachfront ones which were more tourist focused.

Here you’ll find 7-Eleven which is great for snacks or any medical/toiletries that you may need. Two Scoops gelato shop does great ice cream too. A short walk away is the outdoor Lanta Cinema.

Once you reach Saladan village, most of it is pedestrianised.

Seren Lanta Massage & Spa

A must do to while in Thailand is to have a traditional Thai massage. Seren Lanta Massage & Spa in Saladan village is a little more expensive compared to other locations, but the service received is great. A 60 minute traditional Thai Massage was 350baht.

Compared to Western-style massages, with traditional Thai massages, you keep your clothes on. Most massage tables are side by side, next to other customers and are just separated by a curtain. At Seren Lanta, I was given a shirt and cropped trousers to change into.

Seren Lanta Massage and Spa Saladan Koh Lanta

I thought the massage was great and my massage therapist was lovely. I was given water on arrival and at the end I was able to relax on their back terrace with water and watermelon.

Most of the buildings in Saladan village that line the Lat Bo Nae River are wooden and extend into the water on stilts. It’s a nice place to sit and watch the boats passing by and the Siri Lanta Bridge which connects Koh Lanta Yai to Koh Lanta Noi.

Sala Cafe

After my massage, I stopped at the Sala Cafe for a Thai iced coffee. They have a large drinks menu along with breakfast and lunch items.

Lanta Plaza

Lanta Plaza is an undercover market with sellers that mostly have clothes and souvenirs for sale. I found that most of the vendors were quoting higher prices than those selling similar items in Ao Nang and Railay.

Whenever I visit markets while travelling, I often go in having a price I would be happy to pay for an item. Because I was always quoted less than the number I was given, I didn’t bother haggling for a lower price while in Thailand. I wasn’t going to bother trying to knock off an extra 50p.

Lanta Plaza market in Saladan Koh Lanta — Lanta Plaza Koh Lanta

The food stalls along the Walking Street open later in the evening.

Day Trips From Klong Dao Beach

Koh Lanta is part of the Krabi Province. Many of the day trips on offer are the same as those you can get from Ao Nang too. I decided to do the 4-Islands tour while I was in Koh Lanta (as it’s closer) and then the Phi Phi Islands while in Ao Nang. But both can be done from either location.

4 Islands Tour

Some of the day tour speed boats pick up right on the north end of Klong Dao Beach. You have to wade into the water and then climb on board.

The 4 Islands Tour via long tail boat departs from Lanta Old Town. I was picked up from my hotel in a pick-up truck and taken to the other side of the island.

Long Tail Boats Koh Ngai Thailand — Koh Ngai ơn the 4-island long boat tour

The tour stops at you guessed it, 4 islands: Ko Chueak, Morakot Cave (Emerald Cave) on Ko Muk, Ko Waen and my favourite, Koh Ngai. I loved Koh Ngai, honestly, I wish I had spent a night or 2 there. Another highlight was the 80m swim through the Emerald Cave to a beach area surrounded by limestone cliffs.

It includes 2 snorkel stops, however, in my opinion, the snorkelling was not that good. The visibility was not great (although that can’t always be helped), but there wasn’t really any marine life or coral to look at anyway. I just used it as a way to cool down.

Book the 4 Islands Long Boat Tour here

How To Get From Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta

I booked a shared minibus transfer from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta using 12Go. This takes you from the airport to your accommodation. Buses leave approximately every hour.

During the booking process, none of the hotels that appear in the drop down list are located in Klong Dao Beach or Saladan. Most shown are either in Long Beach or Klong Khong Beach, the next 2 beaches down.

This wasn’t a problem though, just pick any from the list and the driver asks for specific hotels once you are closer to Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta Car Ferry — Koh Lanta car ferry

Koh Lanta isn’t connected to the mainland. The journey cost through 12Go includes the car ferry fare too. The crossing takes less than 15 minutes to reach Koh Lanta Noi, then Koh Lanta Yai is reached by crossing over the Siri Lanta Bridge.

Journey time from Krabi Airport to Klong Dao Beach and Saladan is approximately 2hr30. As it’s in the north of the island, hotels here are dropped off first.

Book a Krabi to Koh Lanta transfer here

Saladan Pier

Alternatively, the Saladan Pier has several passenger ferries that go to locations such as Koh Ngai, Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang and Railay.