Klong Dao Beach isn’t a straight line; it’s more of a crescent shape with curved edges. The right side curves sharply, creating a deep indentation where the land meets the sea.
There’s little point in staying on the far right end, as this section is more suited for walking along the shore rather than swimming. There aren’t many tourists here, and most people come to relax, stroll, and sunbathe.
It’s common to see Thai families having picnics on the beach. A couple of high-end resorts add charm to the area, but if you want to swim, you’ll need to head closer to the center. The rest of the beach is stunning but quite shallow.
Beach Overview
After visiting all the beaches on Koh Lanta, I can say that Klong Dao is a calm, beautiful, family-friendly beach. While it’s not as long as Long Beach, it still stretches a good 1.7 miles (2.7 km), which I’d say is quite long.
I even had to pick three different spots for photos, so I’ve divided them into sections. Visually, the area is pretty flat, much like Long Beach. In terms of beauty, it’s not as tropical or picturesque compared to smaller islands like Koh Phangan.
The landscape is more basic, with typical Thai-style buildings, and instead of palm trees, the beach is lined with leafy trees, giving it a simple, understated look.
The sand here has a yellowish tint, but once it dries, it becomes much lighter in color.
Swimming
The depth at Klong Dao increases gradually, much like Long Beach. After about 30 feet (10 meters), the water will be shoulder-deep, assuming you’re swimming during high tide.
Low tide, however, significantly changes the beach for the worse—it becomes unswimmable as the sea recedes 330–490 feet (100–150 meters), and you’ll have to walk quite a bit to reach deeper water.
So, the typical way to swim here is to wade in until it’s about waist-deep, then just splash around. After all, you don’t need 6 feet (2 meters) of depth to enjoy the water. Waves come in with the breeze, but with the shallow depth, it usually stays quite calm.
Sunbeds and Shade
There’s less shade at Klong Dao compared to other beaches. While there are trees, they’re mostly on private property, lined up neatly, offering free shade primarily in the morning when the sun is lower, casting longer shadows.
By the afternoon, you’ll need to move under the trees themselves, which are often on private grounds, and access may not be guaranteed. Many cafés offer sunbeds, so some tourists set up near a bar and, by ordering drinks, earn the right to lounge on a sunbed like a true beachgoer. The beach isn’t crowded, which is a plus—it feels less busy here compared to Long Beach.
Beach Photos
The left side
The central part
The right side
Amenities
The setup of the Klong Dao area is pretty standard: the island’s main road runs along the coast, and between the road and the sea, the entire beachfront is lined with resorts and bungalow complexes.
To get to the beach, you either walk through a resort or use one of the small paths between the resorts that lead directly to the shore. The distance between the road and the beach (the width of the first row of buildings) varies.
On the right side, it’s wider, fitting not just one row of hotels, but two or three. On the left side, it’s so narrow that you can almost see the beach from the road.
Klong Dao offers all the essential beach infrastructure: cafés, restaurants, bars, massage parlors, a small clinic, several 7-Eleven convenience stores, and even a full-service gas station. At the very start of Klong Dao, on the right side, there’s practically a mini town (by Koh Lanta standards, of course).
Overall, Klong Dao gives the impression of a resort village that’s just starting to develop. Everything is low-rise—mostly one- or two-story buildings—there’s a lot of open space between structures, the roads are wide, and you’ll often see construction sites or empty lots.
Klong Dao is one of the most developed areas on the island, and in my opinion, it’s just as good as Long Beach, which is often considered the best beach here. Both Klong Dao and Long Beach are quite similar and perfect for family-friendly beach holidays.
Accommodation
Thanks to the great infrastructure and wide range of accommodation options, the area around Klong Dao Beach is considered one of the best on the island. Before my trip, I carefully checked reviews of the hotels and made a list in case I decided to stay at Klong Dao. Due to the beach’s length, I’ve split my recommendations into three parts, just like the photos.
Right side of the beach:
- Costa Lanta – Adult Only
Central part of the beach:
- My Home Lantawadee Resort
- Laguna Beach Club Resort
- D.R. Lanta Bay Resort
- Khlong Dao Sunset Villa
- Lanta Summer House
Left side of the beach:
- Lanta Bee Garden
- Lemonade Boutique Inn
For a quieter stay, it’s best to avoid the main road in the right part of Klong Dao (it can get noisy). Instead, opt for one of the side streets leading to the sea. There are plenty of hotels, and it’s much more peaceful.
How to Find the Beach
You won’t have to search for it—Klong Dao Beach is the very first beach you’ll encounter when arriving on the island, right after crossing the bridge between Lanta Yai and Lanta Noi.
At the T-junction after the bridge, you’ll see a sign pointing to Klong Dao, which is just 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away. For convenience, you can print the map below or save the markers on your smartphone.
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