The good news: you can now reach Koh Lanta by road all year, crossing two bridges from Krabi in about 2–2.5 hours (the old car ferries are long gone). Ferries and speedboats run in the high season only, November to April. Here's every way to reach the island, with real times, costs and the low-season catch.
The first thing to clear up is a common misconception: that you can only reach Koh Lanta by boat. In fact you can now drive there year-round, because two bridges link the Krabi mainland across Koh Lanta Noi to Koh Lanta Yai, the main tourist island. The Koh Lanta Noi bridge opened around 2016, which is why the old vehicle car ferries are gone. The classic route is a shared minivan or a private car from Krabi, taking about 2–2.5 hours to Saladan in the north of the island. Ferries and speedboats still run too, and they're great if you're island-hopping — but you need to know that the boats only operate in the high season, roughly November to April. In the low season most of them stop, leaving the road as the main way in.
From Krabi you head down the coast, cross the bridge onto Koh Lanta Noi, then a second bridge onto Koh Lanta Yai, arriving at Saladan in the north. No waiting for a boat, no car ferry to catch.
From November to April there are ferries and speedboats from Krabi (Klong Jilad pier), Ao Nang, Ko Phi Phi and Phuket to Saladan. Ideal if you're coming on from Phi Phi or want to link several islands — but in the low season most boats stop running.
Koh Lanta has no airport on the island and no train; the nearest airport is Krabi (KBV). The road works all year, the boats are best in the high season — read this before you book.
Shared minivans and the boats mostly arrive in the north around Saladan; the beaches run south along the west-coast road.
Minivans and boats arrive at Saladan, at the northern end of Koh Lanta Yai — the island's main hub of shops, the pier and transport, but not the resort beaches themselves. The main beaches — Klong Dao, Phra Ae / Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin and Kantiang Bay — run south along the single west-coast road, so you'll travel another 10–40 minutes depending on the beach (Saladan down to Kantiang Bay in the far south is about 40 minutes). There are only a few ways to make that final hop; pick the one that matches how you arrived.
If your shared-minivan ticket includes a hotel drop-off, the van continues from the bridges straight to your beach or hotel — no transfer to arrange on the island. Check at purchase which beach it covers. It's the simplest for first-timers.
If you arrive by boat at Saladan pier, or the van only drops you in Saladan, local songthaews and taxis run on to the beaches, charging by distance — the further south, the more it costs. Tell the driver your beach or hotel name clearly and agree the fare before you get in.
Renting a scooter is hugely popular on Koh Lanta, because a single west-coast road runs the length of the island. It's not difficult riding and is flatter than Koh Tao, but there are still a few hills and bends — wear a helmet, ride slowly and check the brakes first.
Koh Lanta is an island: there's no train, no metro, no public bus network, and Grab is essentially unavailable. Getting around mainly means songthaews, local taxis and rented cars or scooters, so plan your island transport ahead.
Koh Lanta isn't hard to reach, but the classic slip-up is arriving in the rainy months expecting a boat that has already stopped for the season. Sort these four things before you leave and the whole trip runs far more smoothly.
Ferries and speedboats to Lanta run November to April only. If you're visiting in the low season (May–October), plan the road / minivan from Krabi as your main route — it works all year anyway. Don't book a trip that depends on a boat in the rainy months.
From November to April and on long weekends (Songkran, New Year), flights into Krabi, shared minivans and the boats sell out fast and prices climb. Book ahead, and a minivan with a hotel drop-off is usually better value and less hassle.
The island has no train, metro or public bus, and Grab is essentially unavailable; the beaches are spread out down the coast. If you'll rent a scooter, the west-coast road is easy enough but has the odd hill — check the brakes, wear a helmet and ride slowly.
Sort a SIM or eSIM for maps, booking transport and contacting your hotel, and be clear which beach you're staying on — the songthaew fare from Saladan varies by distance, so it helps you budget.