Southern Lanta Resort — a family resort on Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta, closest to the pier
If you want to bring the family to Koh Lanta without driving deep into the island — Southern Lanta Resort sits right on Klong Dao Beach, the northernmost and most convenient beach on Koh Lanta Yai, just minutes from Saladan Pier and the village. It's one of the island's long-established family resorts, with over 100 air-conditioned bungalows in a shady garden along roughly 100 metres of beachfront. There are several swimming pools including a kids' pool and slide, a tennis court and a playground. From about ฿1,100/night, it scores 8.5 from 144 reviews on Booking.com — a good-value beachfront pick for families on Koh Lanta.
The first thing to understand before booking a stay on Koh Lanta is to match the beach to your kind of trip, because each beach has a completely different mood. Klong Dao Beach, where Southern Lanta sits, is the northernmost beach — quiet and family-friendly, with fine sand and a gentle, shallow slope that's safe for kids to paddle in, and crucially it's the closest to Saladan Pier and the village. That's different from Klong Nin/Klong Toab on the west side, which are quiet and good for sunsets, or Kantiang Bay, which is upscale but far, or Klong Jark, which is the quietest of all — so if you want convenience, an easy walk to a convenience store, pharmacy and restaurants, Klong Dao is the most well-rounded answer on the island.
Getting to Koh Lanta takes a bit of planning. From Krabi town or Krabi Airport it's roughly a 2–2.5 hour minivan ride, crossing onto Koh Lanta Noi near the end before continuing to Koh Lanta Yai. It used to mean waiting for a car ferry, but there's now a bridge linking the islands, which makes it far easier. The advantage here is that Klong Dao Beach is at the head of the island, only about 5 minutes from Saladan Pier, and the resort runs a free round-trip pier shuttle — meaning you can arrive without renting a motorbike yourself, unlike the southern/western beaches that are far and need a private vehicle or taxi. The Klong Dao area is flat, so it's easy to get around on foot.
The resort itself is an established family bungalow-style property, with over 100 air-conditioned bungalows and apartments spread through a shady garden, most of them only about 30–50 metres from the beach. The point reviews praise most often is how genuinely family-oriented it is — several swimming pools including a kids' pool and slide, a playground, a tennis court, and family bungalows with bunk beds for the children. Many parents who bring their kids say they can let them play with peace of mind here, thanks to the wide grounds and the shallow water right by the beach.
"It's just a few steps from the bungalow to Klong Dao Beach, the water's shallow enough for the kids to play all day, and in the evening you can take a long stroll along the sand — for a Koh Lanta trip with children, this ticks the convenience box."
Breakfast is another point that draws praise. Many reviews say the breakfast buffet has plenty of choice, with a made-to-order egg/omelette station, fresh fruit and good coffee. For other meals there are two on-site restaurants, both a Thai place and a beachfront/poolside one. But to be straight with you, the beachfront restaurant is fairly slow and pricier than places outside, the sun loungers are limited and the atmosphere is on the quiet side — the upside of the location is that it's easy to walk out and eat at the restaurants around Saladan, which are cheaper and offer more choice.
The full list of things to know before booking. First, rooms are not all the same — the older standard bungalows look dated and are due for a refresh, unlike the upgraded deluxe rooms, which are clearly in better shape; if your budget stretches, moving up to a renovated room will be more comfortable. Second, some reviews complain about insects from time to time — ants, mosquitoes and occasionally cockroaches — which usually come through gaps in the window and door screens; bringing mosquito repellent and keeping doors shut tight helps.
Another thing to plan around is the season. The resort is open year-round, but Koh Lanta during the green season (roughly May–October) goes very quiet, with many surrounding shops and beach bars closed for the season and some sea rubbish washing up on the sand at times. The upside is that prices drop a lot and there are fewer people, which suits anyone after peace and a smaller budget. During high season (November–April) the sea is clear, the weather is good and everything is open, best for swimming and island tours — but prices rise accordingly.
In short, Southern Lanta Resort suits families who want a convenient beachfront stay on Koh Lanta without driving deep into the island, on a modest budget. The selling point is the Klong Dao beachfront location close to the pier, a free shuttle, and a kids' pool and garden for the children to play in, at a starting price in the low thousands of baht. But if you're expecting a brand-new luxury resort, or want a quiet private beach on the west side for sunsets, this may not be the way — look instead at Klong Nin Beach or Kantiang Bay.
A tip from following the reviews here: when booking, ask for a renovated deluxe room or state that you'd like a room in good condition, because the old and new bungalows differ clearly. Use the resort's free pier shuttle instead of renting a vehicle if you plan to base yourself around Klong Dao. And if you're coming in the green season, check first whether the shops and island tours you want are open, since many close for the season.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ On Klong Dao Beach, fine sand, shallow water, safe for kids, a few steps to the sea
- ✓ Several pools with a kids' pool and slide, genuinely family-friendly
- ✓ Near Saladan Pier and the village, free pier shuttle, no need to rent a vehicle
- ✓ Varied breakfast buffet with a made-to-order egg station, fruit and good coffee
- ! Older standard bungalows look dated, rooms are not all the same condition
- ! Some reviews complain about insects (ants, mosquitoes, occasionally cockroaches) through screen gaps
- ! The beachfront restaurant is slow and pricier than outside, with limited sun loungers
- ✓ Beachfront location near the pier, convenient for families who don't want to drive deep into the island
- ✓ Wide, shady garden with a kids' pool and playground, so children can play all day
- ✓ Good value — a beachfront stay for a starting price in the low thousands of baht
- ✓ Friendly staff, and the pier shuttle helps with getting around
- ! Older rooms need a refresh, choosing a deluxe is the better bet
- ! Quiet in green season, some surrounding shops closed, occasional sea rubbish
- ! Food and drinks in the resort cost more than walking out to eat
- 💡If you're expecting a new luxury resort — this is an established family bungalow property, and the older standard rooms look dated and aren't all the same condition → choose a renovated deluxe room, or look at a Kantiang Bay resort if luxury is the priority.
- 💡If you want a quiet private beach for sunsets — Klong Dao is the convenient northernmost beach but has people and shops around it → look at Klong Nin/Klong Toab on the west side, or the quieter Klong Jark.
- 💡If you come during green season (May–Oct) — Koh Lanta is quiet then, with some surrounding shops and bars closed and occasional sea rubbish washing up → check first whether the shops and island tours you want are open.