This data sheet has been a slow train coming. I’ve been reluctant to post this data because Koh Lanta is a true hidden gem that has barely seen mention on the board. Yet it is one of those few possy paradises that we so often bemoan are becoming all the more elusive in the globalized world. Still I get more enjoyment from spreading the wealth than keeping it to myself in the event that I might possibly, maybe return some day.
All photos in the thread are taken from random Swedish/Norwegian (SweNors) girls blogs who have travelled to the island. Pure amateur pictures and just the type of talent you can expect en locale.
Island Overview:
Koh Lanta (KL) is a small island (actually two, but the southern one is the one were all the action is) just south of the Krabi Region in Southwest Thailand. It lies in close proximity to the more known Koh Phi Phi islands and is usually a popular stop for island hopping backpackers. The western side of the island is dotted with long sandy beaches that in turn are dotted with smaller resorts. No major hotel chain has yet made it to this place which still makes the area fairly genuine. Go to the east side of the island and the main settlement (which is appropriately just called “old town”) has life going on just like it has for the last 70-80 years or so.
There’s trouble on the horizon though. A bridge is in plans to be built from the main land out to the island and once that’s completed you can expect the charter companies and major hotel chains come steam rolling, turning the place to the next Phuket. GO THERE NOW.
Getting There:
Koh Lanta being an island takes some time to get to. The easiest way is to fly to Krabi Airport from Bangkok and from the airport get a private minivan to KL(2500 thb) or use the public minivan service (180thb/person). The ride will take about two hours and includes two car ferry rides. The public minivan service is also fairly popular with just two vehicles running so you might be stuck for two hours waiting for the next one in case it’s packed. You could also take ferry from Krabi City but it only runs early in the day and is a hassle, so nothing I recommend. You could also be coming to KL by taking the ferry from Koh Phi Phi. The crazy party life of the latter is actually well paired with the tranquillity of KL.
Lodging:
There are dozens and dozens of small bungalow style lodging dotted along the islands western beaches. If you’re not dedicated to just relaxing and having game as an afterthought during your stay (which is a perfect plan for KL) your lodging needs to adjust to where you will find talent however. It’s been said that 50% of Koh Lantas population is Swedish/Norwegian . During the months of Dec-Feb that’s not even an exaggeration. Scores of SweNor charter and travel agencies have been pitching the Island as their go-to spot in Thailand. The secluded feel of the place mixed with the many modern conveniences has hit the sweet spot for what SweNors are drawn to for a vacation.
Thus, you will have to go online to SweNor charter agencies and see what places they offer up for the season. You then proceed to book a spot in one of these places that is less geared toward families with a regular OTA such as Expedia or directly with the hotel/resort. This is generally a good strategy for meeting SweNors ANYWHERE in the world. I’m giving away gold for anyone hoping to snag easy Scandi-snatch. Links at the bottom of this sheet.
The concentration of bungalow hotels along the two northern most beaches - Long Beach and Khong Dao
The talent:
Apart from the families visiting the Island there are also a lot of girl groups visiting to soak in the sun and relax. Since there is very little nightlife available and the logistics are choppy (you need a motorbike to get around) daygame is where you need to make your mark.
The girls you find here will be a bit different than the straight-up party types or backpackers going to Phuket or Kho Phi Phi. They will not be any less DTF because they are in vacation mode but you will need a more mellow approach due to the entire tranquillity of the island. Dial down the high energy party attitude and they are generally extra open to all encounters during the daytime. Approaching them with a situational opener asking if they are Scandinavian, and if the island is a Scandinavian colony or something serves the dual purpose of differentiating yourself and giving themselves an opportunity to explain Scandinavian cultures/behaviour. Which is something Scandinavians are absolutely addicted to when meeting outsiders.
You really don’t need a canned line however. As long as you open with something non-sexual and don’t come up in their faces you will do fine. Early touching will kill you. On the beach and in other day setting I would directly advise against coming on strong, just be the chill cool guy. In fact just talking to them for a few minutes first then excuse yourself for whatever reason for a while and reapproach them later is far more effective than a long intense dialogue where you try to pitch for a meet-up later. The reapproach can even be you just going up and asking if they want to join you in whatever you’re doing at the moment. This is surprisingly effective and will at worst net you a polite refusal which you can still gently. This is a Scandinavian quirk, you have to give them that moment to talk among themselves and come to some kind of consensus on what they felt about your initial approach. Make the pitch when they have not gauged internally how they feel about you and they are extremely likely to just snub you even though an individual in the group might be very interested.
To many of you this “considerate” approach might sound blue pill. But within this context this is exactly what you want to be doing. This area does not facilitate the full moon party hook up vibe anywhere near as well as the idea of the tropical island romantic encounter. While in the end the outcome is just the same, you should follow the theme that whatever you’re doing together is an adventure and experience. In general if you’re doing everything right these girls will give you feedback on it. Sure some will shit test you or act coy but in general they are likely to let you know subtly but fast when they want you to escalate. Not saying that you should always wait for their approval but don’t be surprised or feel that your manliness is taken away from you because they are calling the game.
I’m assuming that you’ll be approaching groups as this is the way most girls travel here. Should you come across a girl that’s by herself you should be careful about asking her where her friends are. In Scandinavia being without a social circle is still somewhat of an oddity and in the event that’s she’s actually travelling alone bringing this up might put her on the defensive. Treat it like it’s the world’s most natural thing. Chances are that she came here just hoping to have that storybook chance encounter that became something more.
Activities
When you don’t feel like chasing tail there’s lots to do on the island that still conjures bliss.
The Scuba diving is world class with many of the reefs not as devastated as the ones around Koh Phi Phi.
The nature on the island and its surrounding islands is truly amazing. You’ll be encountering lots of nosy monkeys that can be a pest or great entertainment provided that you can keep them away from your loose valuables. Trying to take a picture of them with your mobile is NOT the smart way to go about it.
There are a bunch of Muay Thai schools around and I can't imagine a better setting to do serious Muay Thai since the partying is fairly low key.
Cooking classes. No really, thai cuisine is delicious and quite easy to replicate the general tastes of back home if you just know how the basic produce and preparation used. There are a number of cooking school in latitude with Long and Khong Dao Beach.
Bars
The island is truly littered with small bars, many nothing more than a small bartop and a half-sized fridge for keeping bottled beer. Just as many are mostly dead however so here’s a small collection of the ones where you will actually be finding people.
Swedish charter companies:
http://www.ving.se
http://www.apollo.se
http://www.solresor.se
Their Norwegian versions:
http://www.ving.no
http://www.apollo.no
http://www.solresor.no
All photos in the thread are taken from random Swedish/Norwegian (SweNors) girls blogs who have travelled to the island. Pure amateur pictures and just the type of talent you can expect en locale.
Island Overview:
Koh Lanta (KL) is a small island (actually two, but the southern one is the one were all the action is) just south of the Krabi Region in Southwest Thailand. It lies in close proximity to the more known Koh Phi Phi islands and is usually a popular stop for island hopping backpackers. The western side of the island is dotted with long sandy beaches that in turn are dotted with smaller resorts. No major hotel chain has yet made it to this place which still makes the area fairly genuine. Go to the east side of the island and the main settlement (which is appropriately just called “old town”) has life going on just like it has for the last 70-80 years or so.
There’s trouble on the horizon though. A bridge is in plans to be built from the main land out to the island and once that’s completed you can expect the charter companies and major hotel chains come steam rolling, turning the place to the next Phuket. GO THERE NOW.
Getting There:
Koh Lanta being an island takes some time to get to. The easiest way is to fly to Krabi Airport from Bangkok and from the airport get a private minivan to KL(2500 thb) or use the public minivan service (180thb/person). The ride will take about two hours and includes two car ferry rides. The public minivan service is also fairly popular with just two vehicles running so you might be stuck for two hours waiting for the next one in case it’s packed. You could also take ferry from Krabi City but it only runs early in the day and is a hassle, so nothing I recommend. You could also be coming to KL by taking the ferry from Koh Phi Phi. The crazy party life of the latter is actually well paired with the tranquillity of KL.
Lodging:
There are dozens and dozens of small bungalow style lodging dotted along the islands western beaches. If you’re not dedicated to just relaxing and having game as an afterthought during your stay (which is a perfect plan for KL) your lodging needs to adjust to where you will find talent however. It’s been said that 50% of Koh Lantas population is Swedish/Norwegian . During the months of Dec-Feb that’s not even an exaggeration. Scores of SweNor charter and travel agencies have been pitching the Island as their go-to spot in Thailand. The secluded feel of the place mixed with the many modern conveniences has hit the sweet spot for what SweNors are drawn to for a vacation.
Thus, you will have to go online to SweNor charter agencies and see what places they offer up for the season. You then proceed to book a spot in one of these places that is less geared toward families with a regular OTA such as Expedia or directly with the hotel/resort. This is generally a good strategy for meeting SweNors ANYWHERE in the world. I’m giving away gold for anyone hoping to snag easy Scandi-snatch. Links at the bottom of this sheet.
The concentration of bungalow hotels along the two northern most beaches - Long Beach and Khong Dao
The talent:
Apart from the families visiting the Island there are also a lot of girl groups visiting to soak in the sun and relax. Since there is very little nightlife available and the logistics are choppy (you need a motorbike to get around) daygame is where you need to make your mark.
The girls you find here will be a bit different than the straight-up party types or backpackers going to Phuket or Kho Phi Phi. They will not be any less DTF because they are in vacation mode but you will need a more mellow approach due to the entire tranquillity of the island. Dial down the high energy party attitude and they are generally extra open to all encounters during the daytime. Approaching them with a situational opener asking if they are Scandinavian, and if the island is a Scandinavian colony or something serves the dual purpose of differentiating yourself and giving themselves an opportunity to explain Scandinavian cultures/behaviour. Which is something Scandinavians are absolutely addicted to when meeting outsiders.
You really don’t need a canned line however. As long as you open with something non-sexual and don’t come up in their faces you will do fine. Early touching will kill you. On the beach and in other day setting I would directly advise against coming on strong, just be the chill cool guy. In fact just talking to them for a few minutes first then excuse yourself for whatever reason for a while and reapproach them later is far more effective than a long intense dialogue where you try to pitch for a meet-up later. The reapproach can even be you just going up and asking if they want to join you in whatever you’re doing at the moment. This is surprisingly effective and will at worst net you a polite refusal which you can still gently. This is a Scandinavian quirk, you have to give them that moment to talk among themselves and come to some kind of consensus on what they felt about your initial approach. Make the pitch when they have not gauged internally how they feel about you and they are extremely likely to just snub you even though an individual in the group might be very interested.
To many of you this “considerate” approach might sound blue pill. But within this context this is exactly what you want to be doing. This area does not facilitate the full moon party hook up vibe anywhere near as well as the idea of the tropical island romantic encounter. While in the end the outcome is just the same, you should follow the theme that whatever you’re doing together is an adventure and experience. In general if you’re doing everything right these girls will give you feedback on it. Sure some will shit test you or act coy but in general they are likely to let you know subtly but fast when they want you to escalate. Not saying that you should always wait for their approval but don’t be surprised or feel that your manliness is taken away from you because they are calling the game.
I’m assuming that you’ll be approaching groups as this is the way most girls travel here. Should you come across a girl that’s by herself you should be careful about asking her where her friends are. In Scandinavia being without a social circle is still somewhat of an oddity and in the event that’s she’s actually travelling alone bringing this up might put her on the defensive. Treat it like it’s the world’s most natural thing. Chances are that she came here just hoping to have that storybook chance encounter that became something more.
Activities
When you don’t feel like chasing tail there’s lots to do on the island that still conjures bliss.
The Scuba diving is world class with many of the reefs not as devastated as the ones around Koh Phi Phi.
The nature on the island and its surrounding islands is truly amazing. You’ll be encountering lots of nosy monkeys that can be a pest or great entertainment provided that you can keep them away from your loose valuables. Trying to take a picture of them with your mobile is NOT the smart way to go about it.
There are a bunch of Muay Thai schools around and I can't imagine a better setting to do serious Muay Thai since the partying is fairly low key.
Cooking classes. No really, thai cuisine is delicious and quite easy to replicate the general tastes of back home if you just know how the basic produce and preparation used. There are a number of cooking school in latitude with Long and Khong Dao Beach.
Bars
The island is truly littered with small bars, many nothing more than a small bartop and a half-sized fridge for keeping bottled beer. Just as many are mostly dead however so here’s a small collection of the ones where you will actually be finding people.
- The Why not? Bar
Located on Kantiang Bay Beach this area is actually the only one where you’ll encounter less SweNors than other nationalities. This cool place plays chill reggae and has a DJ from the afternoons and into the evenings. By Lanta standards the bar is quite large along and gives you good logistics since it’s located right on the beach you can easily transition any talent you’ve picked up into sitting down and drinking or get any drinking companions down into the water. - Hammock Bar
Another Bar located right by the beach and thus having the same good logistics as in the above example. The bar gets its name from all the hammocks placed inside and outside on the veranda. Very chill, almost to the degree that it can be a bit too chill especially as the place serves you with hookahs for a negligible cost. I didn’t try it myself but by the smell I have no doubt the staff will supply you with some hashish in your tobacco should you request it. The place also has a real espresso machine which is a rarity for Koh Lanta. - Cheeky Monkey Bar
The largest bar on the island with two floors and plenty of pool tables. Both floors are missing a wall which makes it feel very open and chill (starting to see a pattern here). Located in latitude with Long Beach the place is the only real bar that’s popping in the high season akin to what you’d find in Phuket for example. It is most likely very dead in the low season though as it felt almost a tad empty in the weekdays of the high season. Everyone arrives here on scooters or taxi which gives you a good upper hand should you stay close when it’s time to seal the deal. - Mong Bar
Only including this for the novelty. This bar lies in the middle of the island a good deal away from the beach and other establishments. It actually looks somewhat odd sitting by the roadside in the middle of nowhere. This weird location is very fitting given the place’s specialities, which they call “extrasensory experiences”. This is where you want to go of you if you want a shroom daiquiri, something they advertise openly. There’s no doubt in my mind you can get even heavier stuff should you desire it. Koh Lanta doesn’t seem to have a standing police force, or locals that care what farangs choose to smoke or drink. Make sure you pre-arrange a taxi to pick you up before coming here though.
Word of caution, SweNors are generally very suspicious of drugs, even marijuana. Keep this in mind when talking about any drug experiences.
Swedish charter companies:
http://www.ving.se
http://www.apollo.se
http://www.solresor.se
Their Norwegian versions:
http://www.ving.no
http://www.apollo.no
http://www.solresor.no