Koh Larn

เกาะล้าน

A coral island seven kilometres off Pattaya Bay, with six or seven white-sand beaches including Tawaen and Samae, plus snorkelling and parasailing; the classic Pattaya island-hopping day trip.

Koh Larn, or Coral Island, lies about 7 km west of Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand, covering roughly 4 square kilometres. It is Pattaya's main island resort, reached by ferry from Bali Hai Pier in 45 minutes or by speedboat in 15 minutes. The island has six or seven beaches. On the north shore, Tawaen Beach is the largest and busiest, reached directly by ferry, with beach chairs, seafood restaurants, banana boats and jet skis. It is where Chinese tour groups are most numerous. On the west shore, Samae Beach has clearer water and calmer waves, making it well suited to swimming and snorkelling. The small and pretty Tien Beach and Nual Beach, where you can see monkeys, are quiet and less crowded. There is also a hilltop viewpoint and a large Buddha statue.

Water activities: parasailing costs about 500–800 baht, a banana boat 300 baht per person, and sea walking and snorkelling tours 1,000–1,500 baht. Book on the island or at Pattaya pier, agree on the price beforehand, and confirm that insurance is included.

Getting there and costs: the ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn costs 30 baht per person and runs about every 1–2 hours from 07:00 to 18:30, arriving at Tawaen or Naban Pier. The last return boat leaves around 18:00. A chartered speedboat costs 2,000–3,000 baht return, or you can join an island-hopping tour with snorkelling and lunch for about 800–1,500 baht per person. On the island, move between beaches by motorbike taxi (30–50 baht per trip) or rent a scooter (about 300 baht per day). From Naban Pier to Samae Beach takes about 15 minutes.

Tips: take the 8–9 am ferry to Naban Pier, swim and snorkel at Samae first, have seafood lunch at Tawaen around noon, and leave before 3 pm to avoid the tour group rush.

Notes: Tawaen Beach is packed with tour groups at midday. Beach chair rental costs 50–100 baht. In rough seas the speedboat bounces, so take seasickness medication if needed. Don't stand on coral or feed the fish. Bring enough cash, as there are few ATMs on the island.

Koh Larn

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Places to eat nearby