Sonya Guesthouse, Koh Lanta, Thailand (150 Baht/night)
On the bumpy sea voyage from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta, I hummed “Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing’s gonna be alright.” As the boat navigated across the choppy waters, I took pleasure in observing the wind blowing through my hair and admired the scenery as islands passed in the distance. On the journey, I met two other solo travelers, Sophie from the Netherlands and Pauline from Switzerland. We shared a hostel style room in Sonya Guesthouse for 150 baht per bed just 3 minutes walk from beach. A sign in the lobby reads, “We’re just friends who haven’t met yet, not strangers.” For the next several days, I met many new friends at the guesthouse from all around Europe and had a blast exploring the many wonders and fun activities around Koh Lanta.
Top 5 things to do/see while in Koh Lanta
1. Rent a scooter bike and explore
The best possible way to experience Koh Lanta is via scooter bike. On the first full day in Koh Lanta, I took a scooter bike around Koh Lanta and ran out of gas, twice. Both times a local kindly picked me up and brought me to the nearest ‘gas station’ to fetch a bottle. Scooter bikes allow you to feel much more connected with nature. Cars isolate the spirit of living.
2. Kayaking around the Thung Yee Pheng Mangrove Forest
For a unique island activity, rent a kayak (500 baht) and check out the Thung Yee Pheng Mangrove Forest. We spent several hours on a self-guided tour of the mangroves venturing into inlets and observing monkey behavior. The experience was peaceful and serene, surrounded by lush greenery and the sound of birds chirping.
3. Body-surf the waves on Bamboo Beach.
There are a bunch of fabulous beaches on Koh Lanta, but Bamboo Beach takes the cake. The views are spectacular and the big waves are fun to body-surf. However, I found out the hard way that some of the beaches on Koh Lanta are quite rocky and can be more of a chore to swim in rather than a relaxing day at the beach, especially at low tide. I hovered over coral in shallow water just waiting to step on a prickly sea urchin.
4. Spelunking in the Khao Mai Kaew Cave
The cave tour (300 baht) takes about two hours and involves a trek through the jungle and a few steep climbs up the waterfall before arriving. The tour requires a guide, sensible footwear, and a tolerance for bats and massive cave spiders. The cave system was massive and offered unique rock formations and crystal clear water.
5. Walk around Lanta Old Town
Lanta Old Town features souvenir shops, restaurants, and neat-looking traditional Thai wooden buildings. It’s a great place to get a sense of the local culture and history. The streets were charming and offered a glimpse into the lives of the locals.
Random thoughts for the day…
It seems ‘easier’ to run and manage one’s own business here in Thailand vs. the USA, with much fewer regulatory hurdles. You can never experience too much of living life in the moment. How often do you meet someone who insists on hugging you goodbye? The rate of learning is far faster while traveling.
