Once you're on the island, getting around Ko Lanta comes down to a few simple choices. Most visitors rent a scooter; the rest lean on taxis and shared songthaew pick-ups. There is one thing worth knowing up front: Grab does not work here, so you can't fall back on the app the way you would in Bangkok or Phuket. Here's how each option works and roughly what it costs.
Renting a scooter is the most common way visitors get around Ko Lanta, and the cheapest for exploring on your own schedule. A standard scooter runs about 200 to 300 THB a day, less if you rent by the week. Two things to know before you ride: an international driving permit is recommended, because police run checkpoint stops on the main road, and a helmet is required by law.
Taxis here are usually pick-up trucks or minivans, and they are not metered. Fares are set locally rather than by a meter — roughly 200 to 500 THB depending on distance — and are generally higher than taxi fares on the Thai mainland. Because there is no meter, agree the price with the driver before you set off.
A songthaew is an open-back pick-up truck fitted with bench seating, shared with other passengers. Fares run roughly 100 to 400 THB depending on distance. They come by less often than a taxi, and for a short hop between neighbouring beaches they are not always cheaper than simply taking a private taxi.
Grab does not operate on Ko Lanta. The ride-hailing app works in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi town on the mainland, but not on the island. Don't plan around it: to get around Lanta you'll be using a scooter, a taxi or a shared songthaew.
For most people the answer is a scooter: it's the cheapest way to get around and it puts every beach on the island within easy reach — as long as you're comfortable riding, carry the recommended permit, and wear a helmet. If you'd rather not ride, a taxi will take you door to door, and a shared songthaew works for longer trips where you don't mind sharing the ride. For a short hop between neighbouring beaches, a songthaew isn't always cheaper than a private taxi, so it's worth checking both. What you can't do is open Grab — it simply isn't an option on Ko Lanta.
If you're arriving by air, the usual way onto the island is a door-to-door minivan transfer from Krabi Airport, with the ferry crossing included. It runs roughly 2,000 to 3,000 THB and is typically a shared vehicle. That covers the trip onto Lanta; the boat routes themselves — ferries, speedboats and the land route — are in the ferry guide.
Planning the rest of the trip? Getting around pairs with getting here, where to go once you can, and when to come — the set covers most of the pre-trip research.