Koh Lanta sights
Sangka-U Sea Gypsy Village
A traditional village of the Urak Lawoi 'sea gypsies', the indigenous seafaring people of the Andaman, near the island's southern tip. A window onto Koh Lanta's older culture, its fishing life, and the annual boat-floating ceremonies.
About
Sangka-U (Sangkah-U) is a traditional village of the Urak Lawoi, the indigenous 'sea gypsies' or Chao Ley who are among the original inhabitants of Koh Lanta and the Andaman coast, near the island's southern tip on the way to the national park. A seafaring people who for generations lived semi-nomadically by fishing and free-diving, the Urak Lawoi have a distinct language, animist-influenced beliefs, and customs quite separate from mainstream Thai culture, and the village offers a glimpse into this older island life that long predates tourism. It remains a working fishing community rather than a staged attraction, so it's a place to visit thoughtfully and respectfully — observing daily life, the boats, and the setting rather than treating residents as a spectacle. The community is best known for its twice-yearly Loy Rua (boat-floating) ceremony, when miniature boats are set adrift to carry away bad luck and honour the ancestors. It adds cultural depth to the scenic drive through southern Lanta.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.