Phuket to Koh Lanta 2026: Ferry ฿820+, Minivan Year-Round

Phuket to Koh Lanta: Ferry, Speedboat or Minivan (2026)

Last updated 2026-07-28

Key takeaways

High-season boats leave Phuket's Rassada Pier for Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta Yai, taking about 1.5 hours for ฿820-1,500 (US$25-45).

First departure is around 08:30 and the last around 14:30 — there's no evening boat, so a late arrival in Phuket means waiting for the next day.

Operators on the route include Bundhaya Speed Boat, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, Tigerline Travel, Andaman Wave Master and Phi Phi Cruiser.

From roughly May to October the sea routes are weather-dependent and often suspended; the year-round alternative is by road through Krabi.

The road option involves one short car-ferry hop from Koh Klang to Koh Lanta Noi, then a bridge onto Koh Lanta Yai — about 2.5-3 hours from Krabi alone, so 5-6 hours from Phuket.

Some boats route via Koh Phi Phi, which adds time but lets you break the trip — Phi Phi to Lanta alone is only 30-45 minutes.

Phuket to Koh Lanta is a straightforward 90-minute boat ride for half the year and a five-hour road trip for the other half. Which one applies to you depends entirely on the month, and that’s the single most important thing to sort out before booking anything.

Prices are in Thai baht (THB) with US dollars in parentheses at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026). Sources are linked at the bottom.

Quick comparison

Mode	Duration	Rough price	Season
Speedboat / ferry (direct)	~1.5 hours	฿820-1,500 (US$25-45)	High season, ~Nov-Apr
Boat via Koh Phi Phi	2.5-3 hours + stop	฿820-1,500 total	High season
Road via Krabi (minivan + car ferry)	5-6 hours	Varies by leg	Year-round
Private car via Krabi	4.5-5 hours	Premium	Year-round

High season: take the boat

From roughly November to April, boats run Rassada Pier (Phuket’s east coast, just outside Phuket Town) to Saladan Pier at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai. The crossing takes about 1.5 hours and costs roughly ฿820-1,500 (US$25-45) depending on operator and boat type.

Several companies work the route — Bundhaya Speed Boat, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, Tigerline Travel, Andaman Wave Master, and Phi Phi Cruiser — with a handful of sailings a day between them.

The schedule is the constraint. The first boat leaves around 08:30 and the last around 14:30. There is no evening departure. If you’re flying into Phuket in the afternoon, you are almost certainly spending the night there and leaving the next morning, so book accordingly rather than assuming you can connect the same day.

Allow 45-60 minutes to reach Rassada Pier from Patong, Kata or Karon, and check in 30-45 minutes before departure.

Low season: take the road

From roughly May to October, the Andaman monsoon makes these crossings unreliable. Services thin out, and speedboats in particular get cancelled when the sea turns. Don’t build a low-season itinerary around a boat that may not sail.

The year-round alternative goes by road through Krabi: a minivan or private car south, then a short vehicular ferry from Koh Klang to Koh Lanta Noi, then the bridge onto Koh Lanta Yai. The Krabi-to-Lanta portion alone is 2.5-3 hours, so from Phuket expect 5-6 hours in total. High-season minivan services also run direct from Phuket — Good Luck Lanta Tour operates twice daily at 11:00 and 12:00 — but the road route is what keeps working when the weather doesn’t.

A bridge replacing that last car ferry has cabinet approval and is targeting a 2029 opening. Until then, the crossing stays part of the trip.

The Phi Phi detour

Some services route Phuket-Phi Phi-Lanta, and if your schedule has any give, it’s the best version of this journey. Phuket to Phi Phi is about an hour, and Phi Phi to Lanta is only 30-45 minutes. Stopping for a night or two costs you almost nothing in extra travel time and turns a transfer into part of the trip.

Which should you pick?

November to April: the direct morning boat. Book the 08:30 or a mid-morning departure, get to Rassada with time to spare, and you’re on Lanta for lunch.

May to October: the road via Krabi. Slower, but it runs.

Any season with a spare night: route through Phi Phi.

Once you’re on the island, outthailand.com’s things to do in Koh Lanta covers the beaches and the old town, and best time to visit Koh Lanta explains how much the season changes the island. Coming from or continuing to Krabi, see Krabi to Koh Lanta and how to get to Koh Lanta for every approach in one place. Island-hopping onward, Koh Lanta to Phi Phi covers the short northern hop. Still in Phuket, things to do in Phuket and the events hub cover the rest of your stay.

Sources

Direct Ferries: Phuket (Rassada Pier) to Koh Lanta: operators, sailing counts and crossing times
Ferryscanner: Rassada Pier to Koh Lanta: schedules and first/last departure times
Backpackers Wanderlust: Phuket to Koh Lanta: operator names, minivan services and seasonal notes
Dive and Relax: How to get to Koh Lanta: ferry, speedboat and minibus options, car ferry crossing
Ferryhopper: Ferries to Koh Lanta 2026: route network and seasonal service pattern

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get from Phuket to Koh Lanta?

About 1.5 hours on a direct high-season speedboat or ferry from Rassada Pier to Saladan. By road via Krabi it's roughly 5-6 hours in total, including the short car-ferry crossing onto Koh Lanta Noi.

How much is the ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta?

Roughly ฿820-1,500 (US$25-45) depending on operator and whether you're on a standard ferry or a speedboat. Booking through an agent or platform rather than at the pier usually lands in the middle of that range.

Do ferries from Phuket to Koh Lanta run all year?

No. The sea routes are high-season services, running roughly November to April. From May to October they thin out and are frequently suspended in rough weather. If you're traveling in low season, plan on the road route via Krabi and treat any boat you find as a bonus.

What time do boats leave Phuket for Koh Lanta?

The first departure is around 08:30 and the last around 14:30. There is no evening service, so if you land in Phuket in the afternoon you'll likely be staying the night before continuing.

Which pier do I leave from and arrive at?

You leave from Rassada Pier, on Phuket's east coast just outside Phuket Town, and arrive at Saladan Pier at the northern tip of Koh Lanta Yai. Saladan is where most of the island's ferry connections and onward transfers start.

How do I get to Koh Lanta from Phuket in low season?

By road through Krabi: a minivan or private car south, then a short vehicular ferry from Koh Klang to Koh Lanta Noi and a bridge to Koh Lanta Yai. Budget 5-6 hours total. It's slower but it runs year-round and doesn't care about the weather.

Can I stop at Koh Phi Phi on the way?

Yes, and it's a good use of the route. Some services run Phuket-Phi Phi-Lanta, and the Phi Phi to Lanta leg alone is only 30-45 minutes. Breaking the journey with a night or two on Phi Phi costs you very little travel time.

Is there a bridge to Koh Lanta?

Partly. A bridge already links Koh Lanta Noi to Koh Lanta Yai, but reaching Koh Lanta Noi from the mainland still needs a short car ferry. A cabinet-approved bridge targeting a 2029 opening will eventually remove that last crossing.

Out Thailand Team

Based in Chiang Mai

The Out Thailand team lives in and around Chiang Mai and writes practical, on-the-ground guides to events, cost of living, and daily life in Thailand.