Krabi to Koh Lanta Van and car ferry, or boat.
The short answer: most people go by minivan. It picks you up in Krabi Town, Ao Nang or at the airport, drives onto a short car ferry to the island and drops you at your hotel, in about two to three hours. From November to April you can also go by boat, which lands at Saladan Pier at the north end of Lanta.
Below: both ways compared with fares from 12Go on 6 November 2026, the boat season, what to do if you land late at Krabi Airport, and the car-ferry queues in peak season.
Krabi to Koh Lanta at a glance
Prices are the cheapest one-way fares 12Go listed on 6 November 2026, and they can include 12Go's booking fee. Times are from pickup to drop-off.
| Option | How long | Leaves from | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan + car ferry | About 2 – 3 hours | Your hotel in Krabi Town or Ao Nang, or Krabi Airport | From about US$8 | Any time of year, door to door |
| Speedboat | About 1h10 – 1h50 | Klong Jilad (Krabi Town), Ao Nang or Railay | From about US$20 | A faster, more scenic trip in high season |
| Slower ferry | About 2h15 – 2h45 | Klong Jilad or Ao Nang | Around 520–670 baht | Lots of luggage, a calmer ride |
| Private car | About 2 hours | Krabi Airport, Ao Nang or your hotel | Around 2,100–3,300 baht per car | Groups, late arrivals |
Compare live times and prices: all Krabi to Koh Lanta options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Take the minivan if you want the simple option. It runs all year, it is the cheapest, and it takes you to your hotel rather than to a pier.
Take a boat between November and April if you are staying near Saladan or just prefer the sea to the road. Speedboats are quick but bumpy when there is wind.
Book a private car if you land at Krabi Airport in the evening. The last shared vans leave the airport around 20:30.
How the van gets to the island
There is no bridge to Koh Lanta yet. The van drives south from Krabi to Hua Hin Pier (Ban Hua Hin, not the Hua Hin beach town on the Gulf), rolls onto a car ferry for the short crossing to Koh Lanta Noi, then drives over the Siri Lanta Bridge to Koh Lanta Yai, where the beaches and hotels are. The ferry is part of your ticket and you stay with the van.
In December and January the queue for the car ferry can be very long. Khaosod English reported waits of hours in the 2025 high season, so allow extra time if you have a flight or a boat to catch on the way back.
A road bridge from the mainland to Lanta Noi is finally on the way: the construction contract was signed on 31 August 2026, and it is due to open in 2029. Until then, every car and van uses the ferry.
From Krabi Town, Ao Nang or the airport
Krabi Town: vans with hotel pickup leave roughly every hour until late afternoon.
Ao Nang: vans leave from about 07:00, take around three hours with the pickups, and drop at the main beaches on Lanta.
Krabi Airport: shared vans meet flights from about 08:00 until around 20:30 and take two to two and a half hours. If you land later than that, book a private car before you fly.
Boats and the season
Most boats to Lanta sail only in the high season, roughly November to April. Boats from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town stop completely in the low season; a few speedboats from Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara Pier) and Railay keep going all year.
In the high season there are speedboats from Klong Jilad and Ao Nang in the morning, plus slower ferries such as the Ao Nang Princess (from mid-November) and Lanta Super Concord. All of them arrive at Saladan Pier. On 6 November 2026, 12Go listed a Satun Pakbara speedboat from Klong Jilad at 08:50, arriving at 10:00.
Rough seas can cancel sailings, even in the high season. If the boat is cancelled, the van still runs.
Booking Krabi to Koh Lanta on 12Go
12Go lists the vans from Jijie Tour, Black Tiger Tour, At Lanta Vacation and other companies, the boats that are running on your date, and private cars, so you can compare the pickup times and prices in one place.
When you book a van, check that your hotel is inside the pickup and drop-off area. One traveller on 12Go wrote that they were dropped in Krabi Town instead of at their hotel and had to pay for a taxi. Prices on 12Go can include a booking fee.
Krabi to Koh Lanta FAQ
How long does it take from Krabi to Koh Lanta?
About two to three hours by minivan, including the car ferry, or about 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes by boat in the high season.
Is there a bridge to Koh Lanta?
Not yet. Vans and cars cross on a short car ferry from Hua Hin Pier. A bridge from the mainland is under contract and due to open in 2029.
Do ferries run to Koh Lanta all year?
Not many. Most boats run from about November to April. Out of season, use the minivan, which runs all year.
Where do boats arrive on Koh Lanta?
At Saladan Pier, in the village at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai.
Can I go straight from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta?
Yes. Shared vans leave the airport from about 08:00 to 20:30. After the last van, the option is a private car.
Last checked: 6 November 2026. Van and boat times and fares from 12Go; boat season, piers and airport van hours from Visit Thailand Today (October 2026), cross-checked with 12Go and Ferryscanner; car-ferry queues from Khaosod English (November 2025); bridge contract from Nation Thailand (31 August 2026). Timetables change with the season, so check before you travel.