On Koh Lanta, there are days when one can see forever on the long stretches of beach. Unlike more popular islands scattered with the hustle of people and activities, the visual wonder of these beaches on Koh Lanta exude soothing calm and an immediate sense of relaxation. All the thirteen stretches of beach on Koh Lanta are endowed with different varieties of sand, water and visual wonder. Here, nudity is prohibited as Thailand is a Buddhist country and the local residents are mainly Muslims.

        The beaches are all made for walking although some of them may require a few detours to complete a stretch. From the north end of the island, paradise starts at Kor Kwang Beach. Tanod marks 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
        Getting to this beach requires getting off the main road and on to a dirt road but don’t despair because the reward is soft white sand and warm water; with only a smattering of small resorts. This beach’s natural beauty is intact since larger hotel developments have given their attention to build on the more popular shores of Klong Dao and Pra Ae. It makes Kaw Kwang all the more alluring, since few people bother to wander around its shores as much. Guests from nearby hotels on Klong Dao may walk around here occasionally but tend not to wander 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
       Considered one of the most popular beaches in Koh Lanta, Klong Dao Beach was a virgin paradise ten years ago. While it’s the main beach on everyone’s mind, there’s always a spot on the beach where you can bask in some solitude. Klong Dao Beach is child-friendly beach; thanks to its shallow water, low tides and spotless sand and is perfect for swimming. When the water is at a lower level, the stretch of beach widens and becomes great for beach side sports such as volleyball—it also forms a great natural morning running track. The 3 km 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. During the peak season, the vibe changes and brings on more restaurants, bars and beach activities.

Pra Ae Beach (Long Beach)
        Next to Klong Dao is Pra Ae, considered by many tourists to be their favorite. It’s commonly known by foreigners as ‘Long Beach’ as Pra Ae is at least 5 kms long. The breezy and silky feel of the beach has medium grain sand. The shallow water makes Pra Ae great for swimming. Many resorts have settled down on Pra Ae Beach for quite some time, while 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 to be at and it can get crowded sometimes, but the coastline is one of the most attractive 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. Nevertheless, 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 upmarket 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. Here, the hip factor isn’t high and the crowd likes it that way.

Klong Toab Beach
        This smaller beach next to Klong Khong has the features of a golden sandy beach. Some parts are rocky, but it is set to become more exclusive as a luxurious resort has just moved in. The beach is also lined by other budget and middle-range hotels and resorts, but they are few in number. 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.

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