Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [593]
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
If you’re looking to try something new underwater, why not enrol in an underwater photography or videography course? The colourful reefs at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are the perfect spots to click a camera, and the friendly staff at Liquid Lense (www.liquidlense.co.uk) can show you how. This digital-imaging academy runs a slew of hands-on courses from one-day, two-dive seminars (7100B) to six-day, nine-dive videography tutorials (32,900B). The Tips & Tricks course (2700B) is a popular option for those who already have a bit of photo experience.
Tours
Boat tours are a popular way to discover the quieter islands orbiting Ko Lanta. Highly recommended operators:
Freedom Adventures (08 4910 9132; www.freedom-adventures.net; Hat Khlong Nin) This family-run company focuses on day trips to the Trang Islands ( Click here). Day trips cost 1400B to 1700B. Overnight camping trips to Ko Ngai, Ko Kradan and Ko Rok cost 2300B to 2800B.
Scubafish (0 7566 5095; www.scuba-fish.com; Baan Lanta Resort, Ao Kantiang) This professional and friendly dive operator offers an interesting array of marine-life classes and site visits through its Aqualogy program.
Sun Island Tours (08 7891 6619; www.lantalongtail.com; Ban Lanta) Run by a husband-and-wife team, these high-quality tours meander around the Trang Islands or the eastern islands in the Ko Lanta archipelago. A full-day trip costs 1500B per person and includes a traditional Thai meal. Overnight camping trips to Ko Nui are also available upon request.
Courses
Time for Lime (0 7568 4590; www.timeforlime.net), on Hat Khlong Dao, has a huge, professional kitchen with plenty of room to run amok. It offers cooking courses with a slightly more exciting selection of dishes than most cookery schools in Thailand; half-day courses cost from 1400B to 1800B.
Sleeping
Ko Lanta has some of the best accommodation in southern Thailand. The prices are reasonable, the quality is high and there’s an excellent range of lodging to suit any wallet size. Expect 50% discounts in low season
HAT KHLONG DAO
With perfect white sand stretching for over 2km, it’s no wonder this was one of the first beaches to attract tourists and developers.
Golden Bay Cottages (0 7568 4161; www.goldenbaylanta.com; bungalows 1200-2800B; ) Bungalows surrounding a leafy courtyard. The air-con rooms offer the best bang for your baht.
Southern Lanta Resort (0 7568 4174-7; www.southernlanta.com; bungalows incl breakfast 1800-5000B; ) Loads of shade in the tropical garden and a good-sized beachfront. The pool has a water slide and the bungalows come with TVs, hot showers and minibars. The resort is family friendly and you can organise horse riding from here for 600B per hour.
Twin Lotus (0 7560 7000; www.twinlotusresort.com; bungalows 5100-21,300B; ) Although not as avant-garde as Costa Lanta next door, Twin Lotus is a stunning resort that features Balinese-style architecture with a modern twist. Interiors are lavished with lacquered dark-wood panels and roofs have towering, canvas-coloured thatch that looks a bit like Marge Simpson’s hair. The angular infinity-edge pool features panels of concrete and marble – a perfect centrepiece to this intriguing retreat.
Costa Lanta (0 2662 3550; www.costalanta.com; r 6050-9460B; ) You’ll either adore or abhor this attempt at cutting-edge design. The spartan grounds and near-militant security further add to the austerity of these minimalist concrete bungalows plunked in the middle of the beach-facing forest. The cabin walls can unhinge, offering unobstructed views of the sea (and other cabins).
HAT PHRA AE
The beach at Hat Phra Ae (Long Beach) is only mediocre, but the ambience is lively. A large travellers’ village has set up camp and there are loads of fa·ràng-oriented restaurants, beach bars, internet cafes and tour offices.
Sanctuary