Ko Lanta sits off the Krabi coast in the Andaman Sea, reached by boat from the mainland and the neighbouring islands. Almost every crossing lands at Saladan Pier, at the northern tip of Ko Lanta Yai — the island's main arrival point for both ferries and speedboats. Here is how the routes work, roughly how long they take, and when the sea season closes them down.
In high season a passenger ferry runs from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi Town to Saladan, typically departing around 11:30 (calling at Koh Jum about 12:30 and reaching Saladan about 13:45), with a second departure around 14:30. The fastest boats make the crossing in about one hour ten minutes.
Speedboats reach Saladan in about 45 minutes and typically leave around 09:30 and 13:30. The larger ferries take around an hour and a half, running through the day. Like the other sea routes, these run in the dry season when the seas are calm.
Speedboats and high-speed ferries link Ko Lanta with Phuket, Phi Phi and Ko Lipe, but generally only in the dry season, roughly November to April, when the Andaman is calm enough to run them. Times vary by operator and route, so check directly before planning a crossing.
When the sea boats stop, the island stays reachable overland: a minivan with a short vehicle-ferry crossing connects Lanta with the Krabi mainland all year. This is the route to take in the low season, or any time the weather closes the speedboats down.
| Krabi Town → Saladan | about 1h 10m on the fastest boats |
| Ko Phi Phi → Saladan | about 45m by speedboat, about 1h 30m by ferry |
| Phuket / Ko Lipe → Saladan | dry-season high-speed boats; varies by operator |
| Land route from Krabi | minivan plus a short vehicle ferry; runs all year |
Durations are typical high-season crossings and depend on sea conditions. Confirm with your operator.
The single most useful thing to know about reaching Ko Lanta is that the fast boats are seasonal. Speedboats and high-speed ferries from Phuket, Phi Phi and Ko Lipe generally run only from about November to April, when the Andaman seas are calm. In the low season the choice thins out: fewer boats, and some routes pause altogether. The land route is the constant — the minivan and vehicle-ferry crossing from Krabi keeps the island connected right through the monsoon.
Several companies run the ferry and speedboat routes to Saladan. Which one you travel with depends on the route and the season, so book with the operator that covers your crossing:
Routes and departure times shift by season, so check directly with the operator before you travel.
A live camera at the Saladan pier and an operator status feed are planned for this page. Until they land, this guide covers the routes that stay true season to season.