Koh Larn: the coral island in front of the city

Forty-five minutes by slow ferry from the city and you are on an island with clear water, hilly roads and six different beaches.

Area

Islands

Start from

Bali Hai Pier

Distance

about 7–8 km by sea

Time needed

1 day (or a night)

Best season

November – April for the calmest sea

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Public ferry or speedboat from Bali Hai Pier; motorbike taxis and songthaews on the island

Tickets & rules

None; small pier or beach fees may apply

Why go

Koh Larn, the 'coral island', is the easiest escape from Pattaya. The public ferry is cheap and slow, full of families with cool boxes and locals going to work, and it arrives at Na Ban pier in the island's only village.

From there you choose a beach. Tawaen is the busiest, with watersports and restaurants; Samae is wide and lovely; Tien and Nual are smaller; Ta Yai is quieter. The water is much clearer than in Pattaya Bay, and on weekdays some beaches are almost peaceful.

Up on the island's hills there are viewpoints over the Gulf, a small temple and a pagoda, and roads that are fun to explore by scooter if you are confident riding.

The story

For generations Koh Larn was a fishing island, and Na Ban village still has the feel of a small community where everyone knows each other. Tourism arrived with Pattaya's growth from the 1960s onwards, and many families now run guesthouses, cafés and transport.

The island has had to deal with the side effects of mass tourism, from rubbish to water supply. Local efforts to clean beaches and limit plastic are visible, and every visitor who takes their rubbish back to the mainland helps.

Getting there

Ferries leave Bali Hai Pier at the southern end of Walking Street several times a day to Na Ban pier and Tawaen beach; check the current schedule at the pier. Speedboats are faster but more expensive and bumpier.

On the island, shared songthaews and motorbike taxis wait at the pier with fixed prices to each beach.

A suggested plan

1. MorningCatch an early ferry to Na Ban; breakfast in the village.
2. BeachSongthaew to Samae or Tien beach, swim and snorkel.
3. AfternoonVisit the viewpoint above Samae, then return to Na Ban.
4. EveningTake the last ferry back, or stay the night for a quiet sunset.

Where to stay

A few guesthouses and small resorts in Na Ban village and near the beaches; book ahead for weekends.

Good to know

• Check the last ferry time as soon as you arrive.
• Bring cash; card payment is limited on the island.
• Weekdays are much calmer than Saturdays and Sundays.
• Reef shoes help on rocky stretches.