Koh Lanta

Your first major stop on the way south — natural sulfuric hot spring water mixing with a freshwater river in Klong Thom. The water is hot but not scalding; the further downstream you go, the cooler it gets.

This is a national park, so budget around 200 baht entry and bring cash. It is one of the most famous hot springs in the region, which means it can get busy from about 10:00–11:00 when tour groups arrive.

A perfect halfway break on the long ride south — soak your legs, have lunch at the on-site restaurant, and push on toward the ferry feeling refreshed. Arrive earlier if you want fewer people in the main pools.

The car ferry terminal at Saladan is where you cross from the mainland to Koh Lanta with your bike. Boats carry cars, trucks and motorcycles — no advance booking required; turn up, queue, and roll on.

Budget around 100 baht per bike for the crossing. Ferries operate daily from 6:00 to 22:00 (6am–10pm), so you have a wide window — but do not cut it too close if you still want time for Old Town and the national park on the island.

The crossing itself is part of the experience — watch the coastline change as you leave the mainland and arrive on Lanta’s quieter roads.

Koh Lanta Old Town sits on the eastern side of the island — a strip of wooden houses on stilts with a historical, quiet feel that contrasts with the busier west-coast beaches.

Restaurants line the waterfront; handicraft sellers offer souvenirs including driftwood pieces and local crafts. It is a gentle place to wander, eat, and reset before the final leg south.

Facing east, Old Town catches sunrise and morning light beautifully — worth a stop even if you are not staying overnight on the island.

At the southern tip of Koh Lanta, Mu Koh Lanta National Park combines a lighthouse viewpoint, rocky western coastline and calmer **white-sand beaches on the eastern side.

A walking path threads through coconut trees — look up as you go: hornbills, fish eagles and ospreys are often spotted overhead. The park feels wild and far from the resort strips.

Allow time to explore both sides — the western beach is more exposed and rocky; the eastern side is calmer with softer sand. A fitting end to the ride down south before you settle in for the night on Lanta.