Kantiang Bay is widely considered the most beautiful beach on Koh Lanta. A wide crescent of white sand backed by jungle-covered hills, with the headlands curving around to enclose it on both sides, it feels more remote than it is — about 30 km south of the ferry pier. The water is calm and clear, the beach rarely crowded, and the sunsets from here are exceptional.
The bay has a small cluster of resorts and restaurants at the northern end; the southern half of the beach stays empty most of the day. Swimming is good year-round at the northern end, and there's decent snorkelling around the southern headland. One of the best reasons to have transport of your own on this island.