just a second

You can take the minibus straight through from Penang to Koh Lanta. You have to change busses but it is all arranged so you don’t have to walk anywhere.

Normally on a visa run you get your visa back (from Parvez) about 2pm and can catch the 3pm minibus to Hat Yai. By that time it’s too late to get to Koh Lanta the last bus has gone so get the bus next morning.

At Hat Yai there are many travel shops round the railway station any of them will get you a ticket to Koh Lanta. Try K.S.T Travel used to be opposite The Kings hotel, but have moved recently, the minibus from Penang will drop you off at their office.

At Trang a company specializing in Koh Lanta is K.K. Travel they are right opposite the Trang railway station.

Koh Lanta is an island but has a car ferry service. The distance is no more than river wide. There are two Lantas so two ferry crossings.

You do not have to go to Krabi if you want to go by road. The Lanta turn off is on the road several miles before you get to Krabi.

As mentioned the minibus will drop you off almost anywhere on Lanta but you will have to know where you want to stay.

Good Luck.

Thanks a lot. I've never traveled back from Penang this way before, so it's nice to hear ahead of time how it can be done. Very helpful answer.

Just for reference, I found an answer to my question.

"There are no scheduled boats available for the distance from Lanta Island to Ngai, Muuk or Kradan Island. However, it is possible to rent a long-tail boat either in Saladan or in Hua Laem Village. There is also the possibility to join in a snorkelling excursion from Lanta Island to these southern islands and get off the boat on one of them. Please make sure, that they will drop you off at the island of your choice before booking."

http://andaman-island-hopping.com/traffic/...al.htm#jumlanta

In response to this, I've decided to go somewhere closer. I've heard of Ko Bubu and Ko Jum (sometimes called Ko Pu). Anyone have any opinions on either of these places?

Thanks.

There are a host of smaller islands south of Ko Lanta that are usually accessed from Trang and ports in that area of the mainland.

Just wondering if anyone has hired boats from Ko Lanta to accomplish this. It would sure be a lot easier than going back to land, traveling down the coast, and then going back out to sea.

I guess I'm thinking of that little Ko Hai, Ko Mook, Ko Cheuak, Ko Kradan cluster. Is it a long trip? Expensive? Doable?

(Also, if you've done this in reverse--i.e., Ko Hai to Ko Lanta--I'd be interested in hearing about that, too.)

Any answers very much appreciated.

Thanks. And in these jumping off points (Trang, Krabi) are minibuses usually found at the bus station? Or are they just sort of hanging around some tourist area like some towns?

I guess I'd prefer the former.

Get a minibus all the way Penang – Hat Yai – Trang - Koh Lanta.

Get a minibus to Hat Yai then another to Trang then another to Koh Lanta.

Get a minibus to Krabi then the boat to Koh Lanta.

Get a minibus to Hat Yai get them to drop you at the bus station get the big bus to Krabi bus station then local taxi to jetty boat to Koh Lanta.

In Penang you can get minibus from Parvez Book Store Chulia Street on the left at the entrance to Swiss Hotel.

You can also go via Lankawi to Trang but I never tried that

Thanks. Still a bit confused, though: are you recommending one of these routes over another? Which is fastest/easiest? Are these minibuses cramped and unbearable like the Khao San variety?

Also, can a minibus really drive from Trang to Lanta? From the map I'm looking at, it would seem that it would need to go all the way back up to Krabi to do this.

Thanks again for your help.

Hi there,

I need to make a visa run prior to a bit of Songkran R&R, and am thinking of going to Penang. I want to go to Ko Lanta from there.

What's the best way to do this? Do people go to Trang and then on from there?

All the way back up to Krabi?

Use some lesser known port and get a boat to Lanta from there?

Another way?

I'm not looking to spend a fortune on obscure transport, yet would be willing to exchange a few hard-earned baht for time and hassle. Just wondering how people recommend doing it, whether train/bus/boat etc.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi there,

I need to make a visa run prior to a bit of Songkran R&R, and am thinking of going to Penang. I want to go to Ko Lanta from there.

What's the best way to do this? Do people go to Trang and then on from there?

All the way back up to Krabi?

Use some lesser known port and get a boat to Lanta from there?

Another way?

I'm not looking to spend a fortune on obscure transport, yet would be willing to exchange a few hard-earned baht for time and hassle.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Thanks. And do you know of any bars in Chiang Mai that wouldn't gasp at the idea of watching baseball on the lone communal television?

Hi, I'm new and ignorant, but I was wondering if people know of a place where I can watch baseball games here in Chiangmai. I used to have the Chiangmai cable package, but found it fairly worthless for sports anyway, so I dropped it.

The World Baseball Classic games on are on this weekend, and I'd like to watch one ("but why do they call it the world series when it's just Americans?" people love to ask. Ok, now, well, here's the WBC and America is already knocked out.). Anyone know of a bar that's sympathetic to American sporting interests? I doubt it will conflict with Chelsea or whoever anyhow...

Thanks in advance.