Beaches and Beyond: Along the west coast of Koh Lanta Yai lie the most unspoilt beaches in the Andaman Sea. by Kohlantaresorts.com

Beaches and Beyond: Klong Dao Beach at Andaman Lanta Kohlantaresorts.com

          Along the west coast of Koh Lanta Yai lie the most unspoilt beaches in the Andaman Sea. The rhythm of the day spent in Koh Lanta is marked by the beach life. There are 13 beaches on Koh Lanta Yai, mostly endowed with pristine white sand. Few are crowded, even in peak season. Nudism is prohibited as Thailand is a Buddhist country and the local residents are mainly Muslims.

          Each of these beaches has its own appeal and touch. Some of them are accessible by foot; some of them need hard work but are fun to get to. Every minute is worth your while. As we mentioned earlier, if it’s not beach hopping you plan to do, it’s unlikely that you will be able to visit them all in one trip to Koh Lanta. From the north end of the island, paradise starts at Kor Kwang Beach. Tanod is the final beach at the southern strip in the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. They are also conveniently divided into three parts: northern beaches, southern beaches and far south beaches.

NORTHERN BEACHES
Kor (or Kaw) Kwang Beach
          The first beach on Koh Lanta Yai is often overlooked. It’s true that the dirt road from the main road not far from Saladan Village is not encouraging but it’s worth the try. Soft white sand and warm water are bordered by small resorts. Despite its natural beauty, it seems that big hotel developments tend to skip this beach to other popular shores such as Klong Dao and Pra Ae. Hence, the lack of commercialism keeps this beach special. Guests from neighboring hip hotels on Klong Dao may walk around here occasionally but mostly they don’t move that far so Kor Kwang is another spot to keep on the quiet beach list.’ It is also one of the best beaches in Koh Lanta to watch the sunset.

Klong Dao Beach
          One of the most popular beaches in Koh Lanta, Klong Dao Beach was a virgin paradise ten years ago. Even more people know about this beach, you can actually find yourself doing some thinking alone on the beach if you care enough to blot out the crowd. Klong Dao Beach is a children-friendly beach thanks to its shallow water, low tides and spotless wide brown sand. It is perfect for swimming. When the water is low, the wide beach is great for beach side sports such as volley ball—it is also a great natural morning running track. The three-kilometer beach is currently one of the most developed beaches on the island now—the number of high-end resorts has increased in recent years, joining the family owned bungalows and other middle-range and budget hotels. The vibe is higher during the peak season and brings along more restaurants, bars and beach activities.

Pra Ae Beach (Long Beach)
          Next to Klong Dao is the tourists’ favorite beach Pra Ae. It’s commonly known by foreigners as ‘Long Beach’ as Pra Ae is at least five-kilometers long. The breezy and silky beach has medium grain sands. The shallow water makes Pra Ae great for swimming. Because of its length, the property development still has room to grow. Many resorts have settled down on Pra Ae Beach for quite some time, vacant lands are still visible as tropical forests spread down to the beach. A few high-end resorts have moved in and it appears many more are set to come. But Pra Ae Beach has something for everyone—middle-range resorts and budget bungalows are in abundance. During the high season, Pra Ae is backed by more food and drink establishments along the beach. It has become ‘the’ beach and it can get crowded sometimes but the coastline is one of the most attractive ones in Koh Lanta.

Klong Khong Beach
          Slightly more low-key than the two previous beaches, rocks lurk in the middle of the beach in some areas, but some parts of Klong Khong are sandy as well. But the landscape is no less beautiful. Coconut trees and tropical greenery stretch along the shoreline, offering tiny charming corners for picnics and sunbathing. It’s true swimming is not possible everywhere but there are enough points for swimmers to easily dip into the warm and clear water or even snorkel for small discoveries of marine life. The progress into an up-market leisure life is still slow around the beach, that’s why people seeking tranquility choose this beach to lay back in the small resorts and bungalows which are cheaper in price than the two previous beaches. The chi-chi types haven’t arrived yet. And the crowd likes it that way.

Klong Toab Beach
          The small beach next to Klong Khong has golden sandy beach. Some parts are rocky. But it is set to become more exclusive as a very luxurious resort has just moved in. The beach is also lined by other budget and middle-range hotels and resorts, but there are still little of them and it doesn’t ooze the touristy feel. It’s now the time to take advantage of its natural beauty before it becomes too famous and overrated. Klong Toab Beach is quite wide with good shade and it’s good for swimming in some areas. Klong Toab is the last beach on the main road before you have to decide to turn right or to keep going on the west coast in the direction of Mu Ko Lanta National Park or you can continue on the road in the direction of the east coast.