Andaman coast at a slower pace
Southern Thailand: Phuket, Ko Lanta and Krabi in 10 Days
A ten-day Andaman trip with Phuket Old Town, Ko Lanta Yai’s west-coast beach and east-coast old town, then an Ao Nang base for a conditional Railay visit. There are nine nights, two protected base-change days and a mainland finish for Krabi Airport.
10 days 3 destinations Reviewed November 2026
Use this itinerary
Maintained by Thailand Navigator ยท Practical planning notes and official sources
Day by day
Your itinerary
Arrive in Phuket without an onward boat connection
Morning
Arrival at Phuket International Airport (HKT)
Allow for arrival formalities, baggage and the road journey. This itinerary starts with a Phuket overnight and does not depend on catching the last boat after a flight.Afternoon
Check in and rest
Choose Old Town for the shortest town sightseeing pattern, or a beach base if that matters more to your group. Check the exact address and keep your first afternoon flexible.Evening
Dinner and transfer planning
Confirm the day-three Phuket–Lanta service, departure point, luggage and hotel collection with the actual operator. Choose a through land transfer if the sea service is unsuitable or unavailable.Phuket Old Town and its historic streets
Morning
Phuket Old Town
Phuket Old Town is the island’s historic urban quarter, with Sino-Portuguese shophouses, local food and streets reflecting its trading and tin-mining history.
Use the cooler part of the day for a compact walk among the historic shophouses. TAT highlights the quarter’s architectural and food heritage. Include shade and drinks rather than treating every facade as a required photo stop.Afternoon
Krabi Road and an optional Thai-Hua Museum visit
TAT identifies the Thai-Hua Museum on Krabi Road as a place to learn about Phuket’s Chinese heritage. Check the museum’s own current opening and admission before choosing it; otherwise make this lunch and an indoor break.Evening
Return to your chosen Phuket base
Arrange the return if staying at a beach. Do not promise a Sunday walking street on an arbitrary travel date; visit only if the actual weekday and current programme fit.Transfer from Phuket to Ko Lanta Yai
Morning
Check the actual operating transfer
For a booked sea service, verify the ticketed pier and arrival point; many services use Rassada and Saladan, but the booking governs. Check the marine forecast and operator messages. Do not copy an undated timetable.Afternoon
Phuket–Lanta travel block
Reserve the whole day for hotel pickup, check-in, the crossing and the onward hotel journey. A road transfer via the mainland and the vehicle-ferry connection is a different itinerary, not a short speedboat substitute.Evening
Check in and eat near your Lanta accommodation
Stay on Ko Lanta Yai. Confirm the exact beach and pickup address; Saladan, the west-coast beaches and Lanta Old Town are separate places.Khlong Dao: a slow island day
Morning
Khlong Dao Beach (Ko Lanta)
Khlong Dao is a beach on the northwestern coast of Ko Lanta Yai, within reach of the island’s northern visitor services.
Spend the morning on the northern west-coast beach, or use your own nearby beach if the extra transfer would add little. Check sea conditions and keep swimming optional.Afternoon
Lunch, shade and a free afternoon
Protect the rest break rather than arranging a second island circuit. Agree a return vehicle if your accommodation is elsewhere; do not assume that every coastal road makes a comfortable walk.Evening
Dinner close to your base
Choose dinner near your accommodation and enjoy an easy island evening. Confirm tomorrow’s return transport across the island if visiting the old town.Lanta Old Town on the east coast
Morning
Lanta Old Town (Si Raya)
Lanta Old Town, also known as Si Raya, is the east-coast settlement on Ko Lanta Yai, separate from the island’s main west-coast beach areas.
Arrange a return road transfer for a short visit to the east-coast settlement. Browse the waterfront streets and community shops; this is a different place from Saladan. Ask before close photographs of residents.Afternoon
Lunch and return to your west-coast base
Allow roughly half a day for the outing, including transfers and lunch, as a planning estimate. Do not assume all waterfront premises share one opening schedule.Evening
Unscheduled island evening
Use the evening for a meal and rest. If the weather is deteriorating, review the next mainland transfer with the operator now rather than waiting until departure morning.Lanta buffer day before the mainland transfer
Morning
Revisit a beach or enjoy a genuine free morning
Use the spare day to absorb a delay or revisit Khlong Dao. Offshore excursions require a separate booking, suitable conditions and any current park permissions; they are not included in this plan.Afternoon
Rest and confirm Ko Lanta–Ao Nang transport
Confirm hotel pickup, vehicle or boat arrangements, baggage and the actual Ao Nang drop-off. A through road transfer can be a practical choice; mainland ferry queues and weather can still affect timing.Evening
Prepare for a travel day
Keep dinner near your accommodation and have the booking and pickup details ready. Do not make a late excursion essential before moving bases.Transfer from Ko Lanta to an Ao Nang mainland base
Morning
Depart Ko Lanta on the confirmed service
Allow for hotel pickup and the chosen road or sea route. For a road transfer, confirm the vehicle-ferry leg and mainland continuation. Use the actual operator’s timing rather than a generic island-to-island estimate.Afternoon
Check in at Ao Nang
Choose a mainland Ao Nang accommodation address for nights seven to nine. This protects the Krabi Airport departure from requiring a Railay boat crossing on the final morning.Evening
Dinner and a Railay conditions check
Confirm tomorrow’s boat service, landing beach and return arrangement if conditions suit. Keep the Noppharat Thara mainland alternative available.Railay West, if the crossing is suitable
Morning
Railay West Beach
Railay West is a beach on Krabi’s Railay peninsula, reached by boat because cliffs separate the visitor area from the road network.
Railay is a peninsula reached by boat, not a road-connected island stop. Confirm the actual landing and return point, marine conditions and boarding arrangements before leaving Ao Nang. Wet boarding may be involved.Afternoon
A short Railay visit and an agreed return
Enjoy a beach walk and a meal if conditions allow. Do not add a steep viewpoint scramble or climbing session to this general itinerary. Return with time to spare before the service’s last practical departure.Evening
Return to your Ao Nang accommodation
Stay on the mainland tonight. If the boat day is cancelled, use a suitable mainland activity or rest; cancellation does not create a need to find a riskier crossing.Noppharat Thara and a mainland weather buffer
Morning
Noppharat Thara Beach
Noppharat Thara is a mainland beach near Ao Nang in Krabi, useful for a shoreline visit without arranging a Railay boat crossing.
Use a modest mainland beach walk near Ao Nang if conditions permit. This is a real land-based alternative to another island tour, although severe weather can also make a beach visit unsuitable.