This part of the site is still under construction, photos and more information coming soon…

There are lots of islands east of Ko Lanta and many of them have good things to do and see. The waters around here are calm all year round and safe anchorages can be found around most of the islands.

‘Old Town’ (07° 32N 099° 06E)

The area that has been designated for the moorings is also a no anchoring zone, however this is not really necessary until there are more yachts moored here. If you are going to anchor here, please keep a sensible distance away from the moorings and make sure your anchor will hold your boat if a squall comes through. The holding is very good on a sticky mud bottom in 4-5 metres.

In the SW monsoon it is very rare to get waves more than 30cm unless the wind comes from NNE or occasionally (once this season) South, when you can experience 1 m around the anchorage. Close in shore is always calm, making dinghy access safe and comfortable at HW. At other states of the tide access to the town is best via the pier.

In the NE monsoon the anchorage remains calm in winds up to 10 kts and does not normally get above 1m in higher winds. The waves tend to be fairly short and rarely give rise to rolling, and the ever-present ground swell doesn’t make it to this side of the island. If the anchorage does become uncomfortable it is a very quick move over to the lee of Ko Por.

The pier.

The town pier extends far out from the coast offering all tide access. The end of the pier has a floating pontoon during the SW season but this goes elsewhere in the NE. The pontoon belongs to a resort and is kept busy with their ferry service and other users, so is only suitable for landing. The dinghy is best tied between a stern anchor and the railing on the pier. We are planning to provide a ‘dinghy dock’ in the coming months as traffic increases.

There is another access point further along the pier which can be used in the same way but beware that this can dry out at LWS. On the north side of the pier the remains of the old pier extend 50m further north and is only visible at LWS.

Ko Por. (07° 32N 099° 07E)

Ko Por is only a few hundred metres from the anchorage in Old Town and offers good protection if the wind gets strong from the NE. Anchor on the west side of the island near the pier (either side). Ko Por has a registered population of around 450 but many people have migrated to Lanta or elsewhere to seek employment, leaving around 250 full time residents. There are roads and tracks that can take you across and around the island and there are lots of deserted beaches to relax on or have a BBQ. There is a colony of ‘flying foxes’ that frequent the island and the friendly locals will be happy to show you the way, or take you on a tour of the island.  Ko Por is a Muslim island so please ensure that you are appropriately dressed when visiting the island and be ready to ‘cover up’ if you’re on the beach and someone comes. Alcohol is not allowed on the island.

Beware when sailing around the island as there are some submerged rocks both North and South,  stand off at least 300m to avoid these.

Ko Bubu. (07° 33.5N 099° 08.5E)

This is a  privately owned island with a small and rustic resort and restaurant. There is a lovely beach on the west coast making this an ideal lunch stop while you’re cruising the eastern isles. If you don’t use the resort’s restaurant you may be asked to pay 50baht /head to use the beach. On Bubu you can often find Southern Pied Horn-bills flying around.

Ko Kam Noi. (07° 34.6N 099° 08.3E)

This is another privately owned island and I am told the owners discourage visitors to the beach, however I have visited a few times and nothing has been said. To the northern end of the island you will see a beach that goes across to the other side and nearly divides the island in 2 at HWS. There is good holding here in 3-5m.

Do not attempt passage between Ko Kam Noi and Kam Yai as there are submerged rocks in this channel.

Ko Kam Yai. (07° 35.4N 099° 08.4E)

There used to be a resort here some years ago but all that remains are the concrete pads and the swimming pool. Anchor on the west coast at the North end of the island where you can see the beach in 4-5 metres with good holding. There is a large sand spit extending west from the North end of the beach which makes a good basin and offers potential for careening. When you approach to anchor, it is advisable to check the depth within the whole of your swinging circle as the sea bed shoals rapidly to three sides of the basin.

The beach is fringed with palm trees and is an excellent location for a BBQ and overnight stay, and only an hour away from Old Town.

Ko Talebeng (Cave 07° 36.5N 099° 08.8E)

The 2 Talebeng islands offer very good protection in both seasons and anchoring is possible anywhere around the islands. These are truly beautiful limestone islands, similar to those found in Phang Nga bay and are great for dinghy exploration in flat calm waters. The smaller island has a very large cave on the west side and some secluded tidal beaches. The cave can be accessed by dinghy at all states of tide and has a beach in the entrance to leave your dinghy while you explore. The first chamber is enormous and you can climb to the top quite easily as there is a rope to assist you. This stage is possible for most people and you’ll be rewarded with a great view back down to the twin entrance. For the more adventurous, the next climb (also with a rope) is more vertical but with good footholds and takes you to the ‘gallery’ formed by stalactites and stalagmites, giving you a ‘framed’ view of the cavern below. Beyond this you’ll need strong flashlights and better footwear to continue. What lies beyond are more big caverns, with freshwater pools, and another exit cave high on the island, but not for the feint hearted!

Common sense should prevail, don’t attempt to go further than you feel comfortably able and don’t go on your own, this would be a bad place to have an accident!

Next door to the cave is a small beach to relax on or have lunch and, for the adventurous, it is possible to climb high into the interior of the island.

I have not passed in the channel between the 2 islands (other than with the dinghy) but all indications suggest that is should be navigable.

Further North there are more of these PhangNga bay style islands all the way to the top of Ko Lanta Noi. So far I have not had time to explore them in great detail but the whole area is protected and navigable as far as Ko Rapu. Please let me know what you find! (thanks to Ollie & Claude, S/Y L’attitude for Cave photos)

Ko Lanta Noi. (entrance to Mangroves 07° 35.6N 099° 05E)

The mangrove forests that divide Lanta Yai and Noi can be navigated by dinghy at any time and with your yacht at HWS all the way to Saladan.  Beware of the overhead cables at Saladan, as we do not have accurate information about their height.