Koh Larn - The Small Island near Pattaya

Pattaya is best known for its vivid and vibrant nightlife – but it can be different! Off the coast of Pattaya there is a real small beach paradise called Koh Larn.

Koh Larn (also called Coral Island) is a small island off Pattaya’s coast and one of the must-see places in Pattaya. Anyone who has ever been to Pattaya City knows that Pattaya Beach is anything but beautiful. I would even go so far as to say that the beach in Pattaya is one of the worst in Thailand. Unfortunately, that’s what the reality looks like.

Day trip from Pattaya to Koh Larn

If you still want to spend a relaxing day on the beach and go swimming or snorkeling, Koh Larn is the best choice. Because as you will learn in this article, Koh Larn is a little paradise. There are a few other islands in the area like Koh Pai, Koh Krok and Koh Sak, which are not that easy (and cheap) to reach. For example, to get to Koh Pai, you will have to pay prices of up to 8000 baht (!). That’s not really recommended.

How to Get To Pattaya

To travel from overseas, the best option is a flight to Bangkok and then continue by bus or taxi to Pattaya. From a few international destinations, e.g., from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, you can also fly directly to U-Tapao Airport, which serves Pattaya. Within Thailand, of course, there are many other connections. You can find more information at Skyscanner.

Furthermore, there are various ways to reach Pattaya, whether from Isaan, eastern Thailand, or Bangkok. Large coaches, minivans, or taxis regularly go to Pattaya. Whether you want to go from Khao San Road, directly from the airport, or your hotel in Bangkok to Pattaya, there are many options. Everything you need to know about times, tickets, and prices can be found at 12go.asia.

Accommodation on Koh Larn – our hotel tip

If a day trip from Pattaya to Koh Larn is not enough for you, you can even spend a few nights on the island and explore it in peace. Especially if the day trippers are not yet on the island or have left, it is a little more relaxed. Our accommodation recommendation for this is the Chill Days, which is only a few minutes away from the pier. With simple but beautifully designed rooms, it is the ideal base for your Koh Larn tour.

More accommodations on the island can be found here.

From Pattaya to Koh Larn

The island is just over 7 km off the coast of Pattaya and can only be reached by boat. From Bali Hai Pier ferries to Koh Larn depart every hour from 7.00 A.M. to 6.30 P.M. daily. The crossing takes almost 40 minutes and costs only 30 baht.

There are two different locations, the Naban Pier and the Tawaen Beach. Actually, it does not matter which pier you choose, because scooters can be rented in both places. If you do not want to go by scooter yourself, you can also use one of the existing Songthaews or motorbike taxis.

Things to do on Koh Larn

Koh Larn has something for every taste. Whether you like parasailing, swimming, snorkeling, romping on a shooting range, jet skiing & banana boat riding, or just want to spend a relaxing day at the beach. The offer on Koh Larn is great.

I recommend renting a scooter (200-300 baht/day) and exploring the island first, before settling at one of the beaches for the rest of the day.

The beaches on Koh Larn

Naban Pier Beach

The Naban Pier Beach does not appear on any map, as it is not really a beach at all. It is right next to the Naban Pier and has no sandy beach. The beach is not necessarily good for swimming or lying in the sun, because there are many stones. However, you can eat well in the existing restaurant and enjoy the tranquility of the island.

Tawaen Beach

Tawaen Beach is the main beach of Koh Larn. The powdery fine sand on the beach is white and the turquoise water is crystal clear. In good weather, however, the beach is mostly overcrowded and far away from tranquil. Also, the many tourists who visit the beach daily, leave their marks. So it may well happen that you will find garbage while swimming, which is not really enjoyable.

A little further west of the Tawaen Beach is another small beach section. The name is unfortunately only in Thai and therefore can not be deciphered. The beach is always well visited due to the crystal clear water and a good alternative to Tawaen Beach.

On the beach itself are countless restaurants and small souvenir shops. The food is not exactly the best, but maybe the chef just had a bad day.

Tonglang Beach

The Tonglang Beach is similar to the Tawaen Beach, as it is almost adjacent to the Tawaen Beach. Only a small path separates the two beaches from each other. You can reach Tonglang Beach on foot from Tawaen Beach, along the path at the bottom of the beach, as well as following the road from the Naban Village. Also this beach is always relatively much visited.

Tayai Beach

Tayai Beach is definitely my favorite among the Koh Larn beaches! It’s a bit hard to find because a signpost board has been mislaid and refers to Tawaen Beach. If you follow the right-hand road to the end at Naban Pier, you’ll find the beach easily.

The beach is not the biggest but offers a fantastic atmosphere. Especially at sunset the Tayai Beach is a real highlight! However, if you only make a day trip to Koh Larn, you will not be able to enjoy the sunset.

With enough accommodation available on Koh Larn, you can settle down for a few days on the island. Prices for a basic room start at 800 baht.

Nual Beach

The Nual Beach is also known as “Monkey Beach” and is located in the very south of the island. Again, you will find powdery white sand and nice clear water. In addition, the beach is not quite as overrun as the Tawaen Beach and you can really relax and unwind.

If you follow the beach to the left end, you will have the entire beach for you alone, as nobody settles here. In addition, with the rocks that protrude from the water, you will have a really cool photo opportunity.

Samae Beach

The Samae Beach is located in the west of Koh Larn, just before the next coming Tien Beach. The beach is similar to Nual Beach and has a great beach with clear water. The beach is always quite busy. If you are looking for peace, this beach is less suitable for you.

There is also a small viewpoint, from which you have a really great overview of the beach section. A visit is definitely worth it!

Tien Beach

The Tien Beach may first deter you, because there are only stones instead of sand on the beach. But that is deceptive, because the actual Tien Beach is a bit further back and can only be reached via the existing wooden bridge.

Once arrived, a really nice stretch of beach awaits you, where you can relax. The beach is always relatively busy, but you will surely find a beach chair with some privacy. Again, the further you follow the end of the beach, the quieter and deserted it becomes.

Attractions on Koh Larn

Since Koh Larn is a very small island, you will not find many sights. However, there are a couple of very cool viewpoints that give you a good view of the island.

Laem Tong Viewpoint

As mentioned above, the Samae Beach has a small viewpoint, from which you have a nice view of Samae Beach. In the other direction you only see the vastness of the ocean, otherwise there is not really much to see. If you are already at Samae Beach, you should definitely visit the viewpoint as well.

No Name Viewpoint

Brand new and not yet finished is a viewpoint in the middle of the island. You will reach this viewpoint by following the road to Samae/Tien Beach (from Naban Pier). On the right side there is a small driveway leading to the viewpoint. From here you have a great view of the island and in the background you also see the skyline of Pattaya and Jomtien.

Kuan Yin Viewpoint

Undoubtedly, Kuan Yin Viewpoint, also known as Big Buddha Viewpoint, is the most beautiful on Koh Larn. Here stands a statue of Kuan Yin and you have a fantastic view of the entire north of the island, including the Tawaen Beach. When visiting Koh Larn this viewpoint is mandatory!

If you want to do the climb over the 250 steps, you will reach a small pagoda, which can be seen from afar. Since this is the highest point of Koh Larn, one would like to believe that you will have a great overview of the island. Unfortunately, this is not the case, since everything is overgrown here and actually the view is therefore very limited.

Temples

There are a total of 3 temples on Koh Larn, but they are nothing really special and hardly worth mentioning. Right next to the Naban Pier is a new temple currently under construction. It is not quite ready at the moment, but already makes a very nice impression. Until the time the temple is completed, it will certainly take a few more weeks or months. On the opposite side is also a temple, which is actually not worth mentioning.

A very small temple, where also a monk lives, can be found just before reaching the Kuan Yin Viewpoint. Here you can also see a large statue of a monk and you have a view of the Tawaen beach, too.

Unfortunately, the island does not have much more to offer, but for a relaxing day on the beach you are definitely right here. If you are in Pattaya or nearby, do not miss the island! Surely worth a visit!

Koh Larn: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Koh Larn in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Pattaya and Koh Larn.

Photos: Photo 1 (Hotel photo): Courtesy of the Chill Days Hotel