I had a bit of a mix-up with Klong Toab Beach. The complexity of the coastline, which changes there from hills to flatland, gets interrupted by a river and rocky formations, plus a tricky road and a poorly drawn tourist map – all of this combined led to me only seeing half the beach. The worse half at that, and I was completely convinced that this was the entire Klong Toab.
When writing this post, I discovered the inconsistency and initially even decided to scrap the draft until my next trip. But then I thought there’s a positive message for readers in my mistake – don’t repeat it. Plus I didn’t want to miss a brilliant opportunity for proper engagement with my followers, especially those who’ve already been to those parts and might suggest something useful for my return visit.
Beach Overview
The main feature of Klong Toab Beach is its location relative to Road 4245, the main route on Koh Lanta island. The beach stretches north to south for nearly a mile (1.5 kilometres), though you can only see the first half from the road. Starting from Lanta Corner Resort, where the road hugs the shore closely, and up to the Coconut Grove restaurant, where the road turns inland, you’re treated to a rather depressing view of the sea.
The shore is encased in concrete and tiles, which the waves wash away each rainy season, so don’t be surprised when you see parts of the promenade riddled with holes and gullies. If you only rely on the tourist paper map, you’ll end up, like I did, on this promenade and wonder where on earth the beach is. Just rocks everywhere.
However, after Coconut Grove Restaurant, the road makes a loop, leaving a 1,300×1,300 feet (400×400 metres) patch inside it, which accommodates about a dozen hotels and resorts, and even this dozen only takes up half the territory. The rest is wasteland and jungle, plus a fairly large river by local standards with a wide estuary.
Klong Toab Beach here is often interrupted by rocks, so sandy swimming areas only exist opposite certain hotels, which are listed below.
Swimming
There’s no water access from the promenade, and it’s not needed anyway – I doubt anyone would fancy a swim here. The depth over 330 feet (100 metres) isn’t particularly deep, and at low tide a lunar landscape is revealed with piles of rocks on the bottom. Closer to the centre underwater there’s an approach channel for longtails and boats.
The small sandy strips on the second half of Klong Toab look much more appealing, where the main beach infrastructure and accommodation are concentrated. Judging by the state of the promenade shore – there are waves, but most likely during the off-season.
I didn’t personally inspect the beaches of the second half of Klong Toab, sadly. So photos will only be from the Klong Toab promenade.
Sunbeds and Shade
In the second half of Klong Toab Beach, which I didn’t reach, there’s everything needed for a proper tourist holiday. But since I don’t have photos of this half, I’ll leave the descriptive part for better times. Based on what I saw at neighbouring beaches, I dare suggest that on Klong Toab’s sandy beaches there are umbrellas and loungers, but natural shade is a bit tight – the beaches are very wide, especially at low tide.
Beach Photos
Amenities
There’s no infrastructure on the first half of Klong Toab. There are literally just two purely Thai cafés and that’s it. In the left section, where Moonlight Exotic Bay Resort stands at the beach edge, or its restaurant, or both… in any case, in my opinion: whether it’s the restaurant or the resort with such a “magnificent” view of rocks – it’s questionable pleasure.
After Moonlight, the built-up patch with hotels begins, where the infrastructure is mainly hotel-based, minimal: bar, restaurant, pool, massage, equipment rental. That’s if we’re talking about the first line.
Driving along the main road, I saw petrol stations, loads of cafés, a couple of serious restaurants, many Thai shops, a mosque, equipment rental and repair, and even a lawyer’s office, not to mention street travel agencies. I didn’t spot any major attractions nearby.
Accommodation
On the deserted part of Klong Toab there are no houses, except for the resort right at the beginning – Lanta Corner Resort.
But on the patch to the south there’s plenty to choose from. Pay attention to these options first:
- Moonlight Exotic Bay Resort
- Lanta Palace Resort And Beach Club
- Rawi Warin Resort and SPA
- Lanta Sand Resort & SPA
I didn’t see any private accommodation that might interest winter visitors and long-stayers. The infrastructure of the area around Klong Toab is such that you wouldn’t really fancy staying here long-term.
How to Find the Beach
From Saladan (where ferries from Krabi arrive) to Klong Toab is roughly 20-25 minutes’ drive. If you’re travelling independently and heading straight here, you can buy a minibus ticket at the pier.
Minibus fare is around 500 baht.
If you arrived on Koh Lanta with your own transport, drive along Route 4245 until you emerge into open space where the sea will be lapping 30-50 feet (10-15 metres) from the road – such a stretch on Lanta’s western shore is unique, hard to miss. This will be the beginning of Klong Toab Beach.
