Koh Larn Island Near Pattaya – Crystal Clear Beaches & Tropical Escape
Koh Larn is a lovely island just off the coast of Pattaya, known for its blue waters and white sandy beaches. With colorful beach umbrellas, a lively tourist village and green, hilly backdrops, it’s a popular day‑trip destination. Beaches like Tawaen, Tien and Nual vary in how busy they get, But to be honest, none of them are truly quiet. — some are a bit less crowded than others, yet during the day you’ll find a lot of visitors everywhere. But With a short ferry or speedboat ride from Pattaya, Koh Larn is ideal for a quick beach day or weekend without a long journey from Bangkok
Beaches
Koh Larn feels like a tropical paradise: powder‑white sand, crystal‑clear turquoise water, and beaches that look straight out of a postcard — all just a short distance from Pattaya. During the day, the island fills up with day‑trippers drawn by sun, sea, and fast boat rides; the beaches become crowded with umbrellas, and along the shore you’ll find restaurants, shops, massage services, and rentals for jet skis and banana boats. The most popular beaches are Tawaen Beach, Tien Beach, and Samae Beach. Tien Beach is also popular, but is usually a bit quieter.
Samae Beach
Koh Larn
Tien Beach
Koh Larn
Sang Wan Beach
Koh Larn
Nual Beach
Koh Larn
Tawaen Beach
Koh Larn
Tong Lang Beach
Koh Larn
Ta Yai Beach
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Accommodations
Koh Larn has a surprising number of new, modern resorts. Stay for a night and you’ll see a different side of the island: calm sunsets and quiet mornings on the beach, before the day-trippers arrive. Spending the night turns a busy beach day into a more relaxed experience.
Koh Larn
Suntosa Resort
Koh Larn
Lareena Resort Koh Larn Pattaya
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Samanta by the Sea
See & Do
Koh Larn is more than just sun and sand. Rent a jetski, hop on a banana boat or go parasailing — there’s plenty of action on the water. Visit several beaches; each has its own vibe. Head to Wat Phra Yai (the Big Buddha temple) for wide views over the island and the sea. Most people rent a scooter and drive around the island; it’s small enough to see a lot in one day. But stay overnight if you want peace — then you can enjoy quiet sunsets and empty roads and beaches.
Koh Larn
Tawaen Beach viewpoint
View Ta Waen Beach from a nearby lookout on Koh Larn. Ideal for a short visit, photography, watching parasailers, and catching the sunset over the sea toward Pattaya.
Koh Larn
Windmill Viewpoint
Windmill Viewpoint is the highest point of Koh Larn. From there you have a stunning, almost 360-degree view over the island and the surrounding sea, and in the distance you can als […]
Koh Larn
Koh Larn Village
Discover Koh Larn Village, the island’s lively hub with shops, restaurants, scooter rentals, and easy access to white sandy beaches.
Koh Larn
Big Buddha Viewpoint
Big Buddha Viewpoint offers stunning panoramic views and a peaceful temple on Koh Larn, easily accessible by scooter or songthaew.
Eat & Drink
On Koh Larn, enjoy fresh seafood, beachside bars, tropical fruit shakes, local Thai dishes, and great cafés with ocean views.
Koh Larn
Mae Nok’s Kitchen
Mae Nok’s Kitchen on Koh Larn serves fresh, cheap Thai food with roomy seating and fast, friendly service—great for lunch or dinner.
Koh Larn
Kra Ta Koh Larn
Curious where to eat great local food on Koh Larn, Thailand? Kra Ta Koh Larn is a relaxed, family-run spot known for fresh Thai cooking, warm hospitality, and fair prices. A simple […]
Transportation
Travel to Koh Larn
Getting around on Koh Larn
Getting around Koh Larn is easy and well organised. You’ll find motorbike taxis and songthaews (open shared trucks) across the island. A motorbike taxi leaves immediately without waiting; songthaews often wait until they’re full but are a bit cheaper. Expect roughly 40–50 THB per person for a songthaew and about 100 THB for a motorbike taxi — these fares are fairly standard.
There’s usually transport available at the popular beaches for the return trip. From Na Ban pier you can walk to the nearby junction to arrange a ride, although you’ll often be approached on the pier itself.
Want to drive yourself? You can rent scooters easily at the pier or in the village, typically around 350 THB per day. At some beaches you can rent by the hour, but hourly rates are often nearly as high as a 24‑hour rental. The roads are surprisingly good and wide in places; the routes to the temple and the windmill viewpoint are narrow and steep. It can get quite busy with other tourists on scooters, especially around the main beaches, which can make driving a bit hectic and less relaxing.
Tip
Avoid the weekend if you can—it gets even busier then. Once you’re on the island, explore the “quieter” beaches by rented scooter, songthaew, or motorcycle taxi.
Getting to Koh Larn from Bangkok
From Bangkok it’s easy and affordable to get to Koh Larn. The fastest way is a taxi to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya (about 2 hours, 1,500–2,000 THB per ride). From there you can take the ferry (≈30 THB) or a speedboat (≈300 THB) to the island. A cheaper alternative is to book a minibus via 12Go.
Cheaper: take the bus from Bangkok’s Ekkamai Station (around 160 THB per person, ~3 hours) to Pattaya’s Northern Bus Terminal. From there it’s a 15‑minute taxi or baht bus ride to the pier.
Getting to Koh Larn from Pattaya & Jomtien
At Bali Hai Pier, located at the end of Walking Street, ferries and speedboats depart throughout the day.
- Ferry: 30 baht per person for a one-way trip, about a 30-minute boat ride. You pay on site at the boat; no reservation is needed. Just make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance, because if the boat fills up, it may depart earlier.
- Speedboat: 300 baht per person, 15 minutes, more adventurous and bumpy.
Join a Koh Larn Speedboat Tour
Organized speedboat tours are a popular option. Prices start around 700 baht per person and include hotel pickup, lunch, drinks, and optional activities like jet skiing, snorkeling, or underwater walking. These can be booked throughout Pattaya.
Which pier to choose on Koh Larn?
- Na Ban Pier: Arrives in Koh Larn Village—great for shops, restaurants, and accommodations.
- Tawaen Pier: Drops you right on Tawaen Beach—ideal if you want to start your day beachside.
Koh Larn ferry schedule
Bali Hai Pier Pattaya → Na Ban Pier (Koh Larn Village)
07:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 15:30 | 17:00 | 18:30
Na Ban Pier (Koh Larn Village) → Bali Hai Pier Pattaya
06:30 | 07:30 | 09:30 | 12:00 | 14:00 | 15:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 | 18:00
Bali Hai Pier Pattaya → Tawaen Pier (Tawaen Beach)
08:00 | 09:00 | 11:00 | 13:00
Tawaen Pier (Tawaen Beach) → Bali Hai Pier Pattaya
13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00