If you are looking for a fun place to study the Thai language, where you also have the opportunity to laze around on some of the most stunning white sandy beaches you will ever see, do some world class diving and snorkeling, perhaps you want to learn how to cook some of your favourite Thai dishes, or who knows, maybe you would like to train to become a Muay Thai fighter, then maybe the Lanta International Language school on Koh Lanta Yai is the place for you.

Situated within an archipelago of around 52 islands, in the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, Koh Lanta Yai is a little slice of paradise set amidst the 15 surrounding islands that make up the Koh Lanta National Marine Park.

Only one and a half hours from Krabi international airport, or a short ferry ride from neighbouring Phuket and Phi Phi islands, Koh Lanta is one of the least tourist saturated islands in the South of Thailand. Upon arrival here, you will be greeted by the friendly locals, who, unlike some of the larger more commercial islands, will be genuinely happy to help you with anything you need to make your stay on this beautiful lush island so enjoyable that you may never want to leave.

Although Koh Lanta is quite a large island, stretching 30 km form north to south and 6 km wide, with a population of around 20,000 people, it actually feels quite intimate. Mainly due to the fact that the authorities and different organizations are making a conscious effort to limit the negative impact of tourism by restricting building permits, which means you wont find any ugly skyscrapers lining the beaches, instead you will find carefully thought out boutique resorts that offer much more privacy, with long stretches of sandy beach and best of all minimal beach chairs, so you can actually enjoy a nice stroll along the beach.

If you go early morning, you might be lucky enough to be the only foreigner on the beach, and this is also a good time to see the locals doing what they do in everyday life. One of the best things about these restrictions is that you can enjoy a day on the beach without being hassled by touts. It’s prohibited on Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta is also one of the last remaining islands that you can still rent a cheap bamboo bungalow on the beach, where you can drift off into a restful sleep (after partying at one of the local beach bars), to the subtle sound of the waves as they roll onto shore. Whatever your style or budget, you can find it here on “lovely Lanta,” as it has commonly become known as.