Kan Tiang Beach / Bay - Koh Lanta, Thailand

The beach at Kan Tiang Beach in the South West of Koh Lanta is regarded by many as the finest on the island, and we could not agree more.

The beach is home to what is also arguably the finest five star hotel on the island, the Pimalai, and four other very small hotels, the unique, new and fun Phra Nang Lanta, the Baan Lanta, the hippiesque Lanta Marine Park View Resort, and the basic Kantiang Bayview Resort.

While some beaches on Koh Lanta are party central, Kan Tiang is as relaxed and laid back as you could hope for. There are a few bars, and the Shroom Bar at the Lanta Marine Park View Resort does seem to like rocking the (entire) night away but only on big occasions such as Christmas, New Year etc. At other times, this popular setting is thankfully far more subdued. One far more enjoyable venue, and a must-visit bar, is the Why Not? Bar, located at the Kantiang Bayview Resort. This bar is open most of the day and plays some very chilled out music, while the colourful characters running it are sure to amuse and entertain. Another must-visit establishment, is the relaxed Same Same But Different Restaurant, at the south end of the beach. Eating with your feet in the sand is popular the world over, and thanks to numerous great reviews, this little place fills up quickly so do try and reserve if you can. You may want to remember to take your video camera when venturing out for the evening, as fire-dancing is extremely popular here and a bar such as the Why Not? has nightly shows that you will not want to miss.

As for the beach itself, it is near perfect. The sand is extremely fine and clean, and there is so much space you could almost kid yourself into believing you were on a desert island. Kan Tiang is all about relaxation, there are not really any shops close by (do all that in Bangkok), just a local convenience store selling the bare essentials, a couple of ATM machines, a travel agents or two, and on the beach your peace will not be disturbed by hawkers, because there aren't any.

In high season (Nov - May) the water clarity off Kan Tiang Bay is extremely good but for obvious reasons it does depend on the weather conditions. Swimming and snorkelling is safe for the whole family, but for the best snorkelling or diving you may want to consider taking a diving or day trip.

It needs to be noted that the road from the north of the island (which is where you will be arriving from) all the way to the furthest southern point of this beach, is modern and is not at all the pot hole, bone jarring experience you might have read about elsewhere.