Lanta Old Town
A village of Chinese stilt houses over the water, on the east coast.
Duration
1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs 30 min
Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Lanta Old Town, on the east coast, was the island's main port and a stop on the trade route between China and Singapore, long before the west coast beaches existed for tourism.
The houses are Chinese, in timber, built on stilts over the water: the front opens onto the street, the back terrace onto the sea. Many still belong to the same families across generations. The chao ley community, the sea gypsies, occupy the neighbouring village of Sangka-U.
Getting there
East coast of Koh Lanta Yai, twenty-five minutes by scooter from Long Beach.
What to bring
- Board
- International driving permit
Rules on site
Many businesses close in low season, May to October, and the village is then almost deserted. The timber jetties are old and some boards give way: stay on the used sections.