Koh Lanta Culture Travel Guide  Jump to: Culture Galleries
The Island of Lanta was known long ago as Pulau Satak, a name of Malayan origin meaning Long Beach Island. Today’s name is most probably a corrupted form of the Javanese word lantas, that means a fish grill, which is built of wood with a square grill on top where the fishes are set in a circle. This finally gave the island the name Koh Lantas. In 1917, the name was changed to today's Koh Lanta and the two main islands together with 51 smaller isles became a district of Krabi Province. [more]
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Festivals and Events
In a world where culture and religious differences often divide communities and countries, Koh Lanta provides idyllic proof that people of diverse and varied ethnic groups can live together in peace and harmony for hundreds of years and welcome foreign visitors with their arms open.... read more. |
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People of Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is home to three very distinct cultural groups – the Chao Ley (Sea Gypsies), Thai-Muslim people and the Thai-Chinese. All share the innate Thai warmth that is locally known as 'the Koh Lanta charm'. They have lived together in peace and harmony for hundreds of years in mixed commu... read more. |
Rong-Ngeng Dance
For a true local cultural experience, you might watch a Rong-Ngeng dance. The Rong-Ngeng dance is a folk dance of the Sea Gypsy people living on the islands of the Andaman Sea and on Koh Lanta. It borrows from western old style dance and the accompanying music is played with violins, the Arabian drum and Chines... read more. |
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Sea Gypsies
The nomadic Chao Lay (Sea Gypsies) arrived on Koh Lanta more than 500 years ago with their unique language, matriarchal social structure and animist belief system.... read more. |
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At this time Lanta island was of some importance, as the trade ships between Kantang and Phuket passed the island regularly. With the construction of road No 4 from Krabi southwards to Trang and Hat Yai, goods transportation changed to the road.
In the late 1980s, the first bungalows opened up the island to tourists. Resorts like Kaw Kwang, Lanta Villa, Lanta Sea House, Relax Bay Tropicana, Dream Team and Waterfall Bay Resort date back to this time.
Since 1996 the island is connected to the electric power supply of the mainland and can be reached by car ferry. The number of cars, that was around 15 pick-up trucks before the car ferries started their operation, increased rapidly due to the easier access to the island. Until 1998, the district office was located in Si Raya Village (Lanta Pier), but was then moved to a new building on Lanta Noi Island, opposite Saladan Village. The main street from Saladan to Lanta Pier and Sang Ga-U village on the east coast was paved in late 1998, other roads are still without surface.
In January 2001 the island received the first telephone lines from the mainland, the antenna for the mobile phones followed immediately. GSM phones are now working at most beaches along the west coast and in Si Raya on the east coast of Lanta.
In December 2001, the district of Koh Lanta turned 100 years, an event, that was celebrated with a street procession of decorated cars and trucks from Saladan Village to Si Raya, the releasing of prawns into the Andaman Sea, a sumptuous gala dinner attended by many high-ranking officials, and with different performances on the stage and nightly fireworks. Demonstrations of local customs like mat weaving and shadow play were shown, while sport competitions were running during the following days with participants coming from neighboring provinces.
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 "Everything you ever wanted to know about Koh Lanta culture"
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