Everybody has come for High Season

Manta Rays are here!

Well High Season has started on Koh Lanta with a bang! The weather conditions are wonderful and the diving is even better!

Many sightings of Whalesharks, Manta Rays, Leopard Sharks, Turtles and even Guitarfish in Koh Haa, Koh Bida and of course the amazing Hin Daeng/Muang. At the back of island 3 at Koh Haa there is the skeleton of a Whaleshark too.

Koh Haa

Even if you are not lucky enough to see some big stuff, the dive sites here are incredible, with great visibility and caves and caverns and swimthroughs to explore.

Cavern at Koh Haa

What is even better, is that most of these sites are suitable for beginners as well as experienced divers, so, if you are lucky, you could see a Whaleshark on your first ever dive.

Lunch Over The Sea!

Nick and I enjoying lunch today

One of the first things you will see when you arrive to the island, by passenger ferry or car (via the car ferry) is the many buildings on stilts, over the sea, in the main town of Saladan. Most of these building are dive centres or restaurants, which benefit from stunning views and a welcome cool breeze.

Fresh Seafood is on display at the entrance

One of these buildings, right in the heart of Saladan Town, is Sea View Lanta Restaurant & Bar. Julie the owner, started this business in August of this year, after many years of running a restaurant in Klong Kong, when she fell in love with the view and the location.

Large Menu of Thai and Western Food

Julie, the Owner

Daily Specials

Inside the Restaurant

Garlic & Pepper Prawns

Spicy Squid

The menu is quite extensive and whilst they focus on Fresh Seafood on their BBQ, they also offer lots of Western food. Me, I love my seafood and spice, so I enjoyed a delicious plate of garlic and peppered prawns, whilst my more picky husband wolfed down the Chicken Cordon Bleu. 

Many thanks Julie for a lovely lunch, hope to return soon to try out the BBQ in the evening.

Understanding Thailand

As you are no doubt aware the next few days are going to be very sad for most Thai people. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama 9) was a much loved, revered and treated as almost a God by Thai people. He died, 16th October 2017 and many Thai people told me it was like losing a member of their own family.

Over the next few days, TV programming will only be about the King and the funeral is on the 26th October. Please expect, at least for the afternoon of the 26th, that most businesses will be closed, there is an alcohol ban. Most Thai's will wear black or white and whilst it is not necessary for you to, please where sombre clothing in the towns, government offices and temples.

Our Staff off to Nakon Si Thammarat

Today our staff have gone to the temple in Nakon Si Thammarat to say their own personal respect to the king and on the 26th we have given all our staff the day off so that they can be with their families. We will still be open, but Nick will be in the kitchen for breakfast and our restaurant will be closed after 11am and there will be no bar that day.

Please plan ahead, please be respectful and watch something truly historic happening whilst you are here.

Lanta Noi just got a whole lot more interesting

Tiger ATV Lanta only 10 minutes drive from Mook Lanta

 Many people don't know that Koh Lanta is actually 2 islands, Koh Lanta Yai (where most tourists stay) and Koh Lanta Noi (where many Thai's actually live). Lanta Noi is now much more accessible with the new bridge so many new activities are opening up there.

Johann perfecting his 'Easy Rider' look!

Today Johann and Reijer tried out the new ATV company, Tiger ATV Lanta. Aek, the owner, already owns a successful ATV business in Nakon Si Thammarat and decided it would be a great addition to Lanta.

Test run on the track first

Before you are let loose, Aek gives you a helmet and shows you how to ride the bike, then they take you for a test drive along their in house track to ensure you know what you are doing. When you are looking confident, off you go for a hour trek to the jungle.

The boys looked kinda unsure before they got on the bikes, started smiling when they went round the track and came back whooping and cheering with the guys.

Safety was a Priority

But even on their return, the guys were focused on safety and they had a motorcyclist ride with them to ensure the guys could cross the road safely. We drove the car to them, but if you book it with your hotel, they will come to pick you up.

It was a bit muddy!

I think they liked it!

Congratulations guys and of course we wish you luck with your business, but judging by my customer's faces, you do not need luck!

Whalesharks at Koh Haa!

Whaleshark

 Koh Lanta Marine Park has been open for only 2 days and we have had our first sighting of a Whaleshark! Koh Lanta Diving Centre took their first trip to Koh Haa and before they had even returned to the island, we all knew they had seen one!

Whalesharks are large, but gentle creatures and any SCUBA diver will tell you it is a real honour to meet your first one. We have Whalesharks over the year around Koh Lanta, but they are a little unpredictable and you have to have a little luck to see one.

Koh Haa, our most popular dive location from Koh Lanta

 Koh Lanta is an excellent location for new and experienced SCUBA divers. Koh Haa has swimming pool like conditions and shallow waters, so it is easy for those diving for the first time, but it also has caverns, caves and swimthroughs for the more experienced. Also close by we have the famous Hin Daeng & Hin Muang (Red Rock & Purple Rock), named because of the colours of the coral on the reefs, a stunning dive, with deep waters and a good chance of the bigger animals (Whalesharks and Manta Rays). Koh Phi Phi is also closeby and most guides love the Bida Islands (part of the Koh Phi Phi islands) for the plethora of fish and aquatic life.

Ko Lanta Diving Center Located in the main town of Saladan

Koh Lanta also has excellent dive schools who offer small group courses and dive teams. In general dive classes/teams have 4 or less people in, meaning you will receive a lot of individual attention and your dives will be mainly diving, not watching others complete skills.

If you need any help or advice regarding Diving on Lanta or anywhere, Mellisa (one of our owners) is a dive instructor, has dived all over the world and used to own a dive centre on the island, so please feel free to email us for advice info@mooklanta.com.

Welcome to High Season!

After a long 6 months, Lanta is well and truly open!

Marine Park Opened for SCUBA Diving!

Koh Haa is Open!

All the dive centres are busy planning dive trips to our fantastic SCUBA diving locations within the Koh Lanta Marine Park. Koh Haa, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are fully open since the 15th October. Andaman Dive Adventures are finalising the completion of their brand new dive centre, complete with an in-house bar!

Andaman Dive Adventures Opening Soon!

Bars and Restaurants are busy updating their Menus and Service!

Every year we, at Mook Lanta Eco Resort, review our restaurant menus and try to improve and update our offering to our customers needs. This year we have added a new Vegan/Vegetarian Breakfast, that we designed over the Green Season with our wonderful Vegan guests. We have also added a snack menu for after 4pm and made the lunchtime menu healthier.

 Red Snapper have also been busy updating their menus and challenging themselves to produce new, exciting appetizers, mains and desserts that you will be unable to find to the same quality or price. Joyce is also exploring her vegan side with some exciting results.

The Table has also opened again for the high season. This innovative restaurant offers authentic thai home cooked food, created from locally sourced food, served in a beautiful jungle setting.

Bajen Pizzeria have opened the first fully online delivery service on the island.

And of course the new Harry's Bar is now fully opened and very busy when sporting events are on or they have their Taco buffet!

Harry's Bar in Klong Dao

New Exciting Activity Centres have Arrived!

Lanta Haven has opened near Old Town offering a wonderful waterpark and Crazy Golf for adults and kids alike. 

Lanta Paintball & Bouldering Cafe have now fully opened for the high season, with the addition of a beer garden, slackline and new bouldering wall routes and are looking forward to welcoming all the pre-booked groups for the season.

The Kitty City is nearly finished at Lanta Animal Welfare, so you will be able to enjoy a coffee and a cuddle whilst supporting this wonderful organisation.

And do not forget to book now to avoid disappointment, as we are filling up!

Work up a Hunger!

In less than 72 hours we are launching our brand new menu.

The sausage/bacon & egg McMuffin 

Of course the ever popular McMuffin is still on the breakfast menu, but the full English is even bigger and we have a new tasty and filling vegan/vegetarian breakfast. The Light English is still only 150 baht but even bigger!

Only 150 baht for the 'Not So' Light English!

Vegetarian breakfast 

Full English 

Lunchtime we will be offering some delicious new pitta bread meals (my favourite is the lamb, feta and tzaziki pita), but Nick's popular burger is still there.

Southern Fried Chicken Pita

Lamb, Feta & Tzaziki Pita

Early evening, we will be offering sharing platters and there will be a great curry option.

Indian Curry

Sharing Platter

Come and enjoy it with us from the 15th!

Long Beach

Our Resort above this note!

One of our friends, with their drone, too this awesome photo of Long Beach. Our resort can clearly be seen at the very bottom of the picture in the middle. As you can see we are just a short walk from the beach and the beach lives up to it's name! We are also close to the main road and village, so everything is just a short walk away.

Getting Ready for October 15th!

Deng our Chef

Nick and Deng have been very busy today, learning the new menu for our high season, which starts on October 15th, when we will be offering food from 7am to 7pm.

New Daytime Menu available from the 15th October

Nick has listened to feedback, revamped some current options and, believe it or not, now introduced some vegan and vegetarian meals!

New this year:
- We now offer a more healthy lunch, replacing the baguette and chips with Pita and Salad (with Vegetables, Cheese, Chicken or Lamb)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Farmhouse Breakfast (Fried Potatoes, Peppers, Spinach, Tomato, Onion, mushroom and with or without an egg)
- Sharing Platters, Appetizers and House Specials available until 7pm

Lamb, Feta and Tzatziki Pita

Indian Chicken Curry Special

Cajun Chicken Pita

All the breakfasts and the salads have also had a revamp and look bigger and even more inviting.

Nick and Deng were cooking so much, that we had to invite a few people over to try it and judging by the silence they enjoyed the new menu! But we had to stop because they were all so full!

Reducing our use of Plastics

In an effort to reduce our plastic use, we found some strong, reusable cloth laundry bags that we can use.

Trying to be a bit greener everyday at Mook Lanta Eco Resort