Koh Lanta sights
Long Beach (Phra Ae)
Koh Lanta's longest beach, a wide several-kilometre stretch of pale sand on the northwest coast, backed by relaxed bars, restaurants, and resorts. Good for long sunset walks and swimming, with a more sociable vibe than the quiet south.
About
Long Beach, known in Thai as Phra Ae, is the longest beach on Koh Lanta — a broad, several-kilometre sweep of soft, pale sand running down the island's northwest coast. Its length and the cluster of accommodation, beach bars, restaurants, and dive shops behind it make it the island's most popular base, especially for first-timers and those who want a bit of life in the evenings without the full-on party scene of busier Thai islands. The wide beach is backed by casuarina trees and gives plenty of room to spread out, and because it faces west it serves up Koh Lanta's signature sunsets, best enjoyed with a drink at one of the laid-back bars dotted along the sand. Swimming is good in the dry season (roughly November to April), when the Andaman Sea is calm and clear; during the monsoon the water can turn rough and the resorts quieten. It's central, well-connected, and a natural starting point for exploring the rest of the island.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.