After our trekking in Laos (and all the transportation it took to get there), we were ready for some beach time. Instead of saving the Thai islands for last we decided to move it up in our itinerary. First we spent 4 nights in Ko Lanta, chosen because of its relatively smaller crowds.
Getting there was interesting. We had planned to take a ferry from Krabi, but a travel agent convinced us to save a few dollars (literally, $4) and take a minivan, which had more departures and meant we wouldn't have to wait several hours for one of the two ferries that day. Though we were the first to board a spacious air-conditioned van, it did not stay spacious or cool for long. Over the next hour we picked up more passengers and luggage than I thought was possible to fit. When it seemed we were full, we pulled up at the airport arrival curb where a jet-lagged backpacker couple stared into the van wondering if there was a mistake. Those of us already inside glared back, but somehow two more seats materialized.
We spent our first night at a pleasantly rustic hotel on the beach and enjoyed the best sunset of the whole trip here. The beach was rocky though and the hotel in a noisier, party scene area (we saw signs for body painting, mushroom shakes and buckets of liquor), so we decided to explore the island to find a quieter, more serene beach.
The best way to get around Ko Lanta is by motorbike. Our hotel rented one to us for the day and we zipped around the island in search of our perfect spot. (Kyle drove, I rode on the back and we were relieved at the end of the day to have stayed upright and on the correct side of the road.) Towards the south end of the island we found a quiet, sandy beach and after inquiring at a couple hotels, booked a lovely cabana for 3 nights that we would never be able to afford in most other parts of the world.
We signed up for a boat trip that would take us to two snorkeling sites and a hidden beach that we would have to swim 50 meters through a cave to get to. The water was clear and warm, we saw some colorful schools of fish, and we were treated to a delicious Thai buffet lunch on the beach.
