Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Kayaking Koh Lanta: Sunrise Tour & Travel Guide

Tung Yee Peng is a small Muslim fishing village on Koh Lanta's quiet east coast, surrounded by thick mangrove forest. The village runs its own community-based tourism project, so your entry fee and tour money support the people who look after the forest.

You can paddle a kayak through narrow green channels, walk the wooden boardwalk or join a sunrise boat trip as the sky turns gold over the water. This guide covers prices, tours, tides and tips.

Quick facts

What you'll see

Tung Yee Peng, Koh Lanta: crabs, mudskippers and waterbirds

The mangroves are home to crabs, mudskippers, river snails, blood cockles and waterbirds. One guide also mentions monkeys. One Tripadvisor reviewer even wrote that "2 monkeys swam onto the boat!!"

Villagers raise fish in floating baskets that you can see up close. Bring binoculars if you love birds.

Option 1: rent a kayak and paddle yourself

Tung Yee Peng jetty, Koh Lanta: rent a kayak and paddle at your own pace

How to do it:

1. Ride or drive to Tung Yee Peng village on the east coast.
2. Pay the entrance fee at the gate.
3. Ask at the gate for the day's tide times.
4. Rent a kayak and paddle the channels at high tide.
5. Finish with a walk along the boardwalk.

Option 2: join a guided mangrove kayak tour

Tung Yee Peng, Koh Lanta: guided tours include gear, lunch and transfers

The GetYourGuide half-day kayaking tour scores 4.7 out of 5 from 1,093 reviews. The tour with hotel transfer picks up at about 8am to 8:40am or 12pm to 12:40pm. It includes kayaking gear, a local guide, a life vest, lunch or dinner, fruit and water.

One May 2026 reviewer said their guide was "so patient and knowledgeable." Koh Lanta Tours notes that its ฿40 village fee is usually extra.

How to do it:

1. Book online and choose a morning or afternoon slot.
2. Wait at your hotel for pickup, about 30 minutes' drive to the village.
3. Walk briefly through the mangroves, then kayak with your guide.
4. Look for birds, mudskippers and monitor lizards.
5. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before the drive back.

Option 3: sunrise boat trip

Tung Yee Peng, Koh Lanta: sunrise trips run on traditional boats

The village's community tourism programme offers sunrise trips on traditional boats. GetYourGuide lists two private sunrise boat rides:

A February 2026 Tripadvisor review was titled "Lovely excursion with sunrise!" Community tours run Monday to Friday from 5:30am and must be booked ahead. Bring insect repellent, since mosquitoes are most active at dawn.

Option 4: walk the boardwalk

Tung Yee Peng boardwalk, Koh Lanta: about 20 minutes through the mangroves

The wooden boardwalk takes about 20 minutes and is the easiest way to see the mangroves. You'll spot colourful crabs along the way.

One older review mentioned some rotting boards and signs. Another guide notes there are no handrails, so watch young children closely.

Best time to visit

Tung Yee Peng, Koh Lanta: floating fish baskets in the village

• Tide: go at high tide, when the channels are deep enough for kayaks. Ask at the gate for tide times.
• Time of day: early morning or late afternoon, to avoid the midday heat.
• Season: November to April for the best weather.

Getting there

Tung Yee Peng is on the east coast of Koh Lanta Yai, not far from Lanta Old Town. Most guided tours include hotel pickup, about 30 minutes each way. To go on your own, rent a scooter or car, or hire a tuk-tuk for the round trip.

Combine it with Lanta Old Town

Lanta Old Town, Koh Lanta: lunch over the water after the mangroves

Lanta Old Town is nearby, so it's easy to pair the two. Kayak the mangroves in the morning, then have lunch at a stilt-house restaurant in Old Town. Koh Lanta Tours sells a combined Old Town and mangroves trip from ฿1,095.

What to bring

• Insect repellent, especially at sunrise and sunset.
• Sun protection, since there's little shade on the water.
• Water and a hat.
• A dry bag for your phone.
• Binoculars for birdwatching.
• Clothes you don't mind getting wet.

Tips

• The entrance fee is the same for Thai and foreign visitors, which one reviewer noted is "rare in Thailand."
• Book community tours in advance. Walk-ins aren't guaranteed.
• Dress modestly in the village. It's a Muslim community.
• Keep your distance from monkeys and don't feed them.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Arriving at low tide and finding the channels too shallow to paddle.
• Forgetting insect repellent for a sunrise trip.
• Expecting a sunrise kayak tour. Sunrise trips are by boat.
• Letting young kids run on the boardwalk without handrails.
• Wearing revealing clothes in the village.

Sourced from Koh Lanta Tours Thung Yee Peng Mangroves, Thai Holiday Guide, Tripadvisor reviews, Tourism Cares Tung Yee Peng Community-Based Tourism, GetYourGuide's Tung Yee Peng tours and Mangrove Kayaking with Lunch and Hotel Transfer and Voyage Tips. Prices checked in October 2026.