The route in seven stages
| Stage | What it is like |
|---|---|
| 1. Airport to the bridge | North on Highway 402 to the Sarasin Bridge. |
| 2. Phang Nga province | Across the bridge you join Highway 4, which heads east and south through the province. |
| 3. Krabi province | Highway 4 carries on into Krabi province, the longest part of the drive. |
| 4. Route 4206 | The car turns off Highway 4 onto Route 4206 and follows it to the Ban Hua Hin pier. |
| 5. Car ferry | A crossing to Ko Lanta Noi. Guides give about 20 minutes, plus any queue. |
| 6. Lanta Noi and the bridge | A short drive across the smaller island, then the bridge to Ko Lanta Yai. |
| 7. The island road | From Ban Saladan at the northern tip, the road runs south to the beaches. |
Check the current ferry schedule before you plan around a particular crossing.
Where the 3 hours go
Stages 1 to 4 are road driving with no water to cross. The ferry is a different kind of time. It has a crossing, and it can have a queue, which guides say builds at busy hours in the high season. Treat it as a margin.
The island adds its own minutes. Ko Lanta Yai is about 25 km long, so a resort at the south end is a longer final drive than a hotel near Ban Saladan. The 3 hours is a route estimate. It does not include immigration or baggage at the airport.
Planning around the ferry hours
- Morning flight: you reach the pier in daylight, with the longest margin before the last crossing.
- Afternoon flight: still fine, but add queue time at the pier.
- Evening flight: compare your landing time plus about 3 hours with the last ferry departure. Guides describe the service as running until around 10 pm, but check the current hours.
Koh Lanta against the other long trips
Koh Lanta is 40 km farther than Krabi and takes 20 minutes longer, and it is the only one of these with a ferry crossing on the route.
| From the airport to | Distance | Time by road |
|---|---|---|
| Khao Sok | 135 km | 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Krabi | 165 km | 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Koh Lanta | 205 km | 3 hours |
| Donsak Pier | 260 km | 3 hours 30 minutes |
The fixed price for Koh Lanta starts at 5,299 THB per car, and the car ferry is paid separately. See the Koh Lanta price page.
Questions about this transfer
How many kilometres is it from Phuket airport to Koh Lanta?
205 km by road, including the drive across Ko Lanta Noi and the bridge to Ko Lanta Yai.
How long does it take to get from Phuket airport to Koh Lanta?
About 3 hours of driving. A queue at the ferry pier comes on top and varies by day and hour.
Which road leads to the ferry?
Highway 4 to Krabi province, then Route 4206 to the Ban Hua Hin pier, where the car ferry crosses to Ko Lanta Noi.
Is there still a second ferry between the Lanta islands?
No. A bridge now connects Ko Lanta Noi with Ko Lanta Yai. Some older travel pages still mention two ferries.
Does the distance change if my hotel is in the south of the island?
The island is about 25 km long, so a hotel in the south adds drive time after the ferry. Give the hotel name and a map pin when you book.