Koh Lanta, Thailand with kids: snorkeling, beaches, and community
- Vimal Fernandez
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Three weeks in a 2-room apartment with three kids will make you realize that 'community' is just a fancy word for 'someone else's turn to watch them.' 🛑👶💰
Koh Lanta is the "Goldilocks" of Thai islands. It’s not a full-blown rave like Koh Phangan, and it’s not so remote that you’re pooping in the ocean. For a family with young kids, it’s a good balance: enough infrastructure to make most things easy, but the right amount of chaos to remind you you’re on an adventure.
The lay of the land
Koh Lanta is a sleepy, sprawling island about two hours from Krabi airport. It’s essentially one major street and one long, beautiful stretch of coastline.
Historically, Lanta was a safe haven for sea nomads and merchants from China and Arabia. It became an expat hub because it offers a classic Thailand feel without the soul-crushing crowds of Phuket. It’s a place where the pace is slow, the locals are genuinely friendly, and nature is beautiful.
We arrived in January, and the weather was perfect: mostly sunny, 70° to 85°F, and no rain. The water’s warms as well.
Living the high life
If you’re coming to meet people, you want to stay around Long Beach or Khlong Dao Beach. These are the hubs for meetups and where most of the family-friendly action happens.
We decided to ball out a bit and stayed at Malee Highlands. This place has it all: a waterpark, 2 pools, a gym, padel, game room, restaurant, and an on-site kids’ center. They offer a kids' club for $6/hr and in-room babysitting for $10/hr.
But, it was expensive—about $2,500 for 3 weeks. On top of that, they kinda nickel and dime you. We got hit with an additional $400 for utilities, cleaning, and bed linens. The units are modern and Western, but truthfully, you can find great spots for less. Just don’t go too cheap—we heard some horror stories about bungalows that were basically just overpriced mosquito nets. Malee is up in the hills, so while you need a shuttle or scooter to get to the sand, the ocean views are top-tier.
We rented two scooters for about $4/day from Sawasdee Motorbike Rental. The lady running it is fantastic and gave us a fair price. She even hooked us up with five helmets so everyone stayed safe. The driving is busier than a mountain town like Pai, but the roads are well-lit and well-kept. But, if you aren’t comfortable, there are tuk tuks and taxis, but the costs will start adding up (most rides are like $6).
Paying for friends and a lil help
Taking action on a recent learning, we were intentional about building community. We rejoined the Bliss Hub ($35/month), and it was worth it this time. It’s a WhatsApp-driven community that connects you to paid and free activities instantly. We met some great families here—it’s the fastest way to turn a solo trip into a social one.
We also used Lanta Trinity Playgroup, owned by a British expat. It’s well-run, though it is mostly indoors and not as Montessori as they claim.
Ages: Up to 6 years old.
Hours: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
Cost: $50/day (or a 10-day pass for $445 that you can use whenever). We did this a few days a week just to get a break and reclaim some adult sanity.
Lastly, we worked in the Malee Highland kids club, which the kids liked a lot. Leveraging these 3 avenues we were able to get some away time from the kids on most days.
The hit list
Beaches:
Long Beach: A massive stretch of golden sand with a steep drop-off. Perfect for sunset walks and swims. Water temp was mint.
Khlong Dao Beach: The shallow "kiddie pool" of the island. You can walk out for 50 yards and still be at waist height.
Bamboo Beach: The rugged, "End of the World" spot at the south. Quiet, stunning, and worth the trek.
Beach Snorkeling: Head to the rocky points at either end of the main beaches at mid-tide. Just watch out for the local fishermen’s lines and the occasionally rough currents.
Thai Cat: A fairly priced restaurant on the beach that offers a lot: toys, basketball, park, and even a gym so you can lift while they play.
The Backyard: A great cafe with a dedicated kids area.
Saladan Markets: The best spot for local food and shopping.
Long Boat Tour ($94 for 5): We hit the Thung Yee Peng Mangroves, fed monkeys from the boat, explored Koh Bubu, and kayaked through caves.
Koh Rok Snorkel ($85 per adult/kid combo): It's pretty average, but great for beginners/kids, and the views are fantastic. You hit 3 islands: Koh Haa, Koh Rok Nok, and Koh Rok Nai.
Shark Snorkel Phi Phi ($85/adult): This was through Shark Guardian and it was a 100% must-do. Fantastic experience seeing sharks and learning about conservation.
Cooking with Mon ($50/pp): A 4-hour session making 3 dishes. Great fun for adults and 5+ yr old kids.
Lyms Bar: Great in the mornings when the shade covers the beach. They also have a pool you can sneak into. The fire show starts at 7 PM, highly recommend.
A realization: we need a little separation
Three weeks in Koh Lanta taught us something: we def need help with the kids. There was a hint of guilt at first—we retired to spend time with our kids, right? But the truth is, everyone needs space. When the kids go to school for 4 hours, they make friends and have their own adventures. Meanwhile, it gives us the space to explore and recharge as adults.
It’s a win-win.
We are learning that the FI life is about finding the right balance of togetherness and separation. We’re building a new life, and part of that is acknowledging that while we love each other, a little "me time" makes the love stronger. ❤️
This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.
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