Koh Larn, also known as the Coral Island, is a wonderful small island in the Gulf of Thailand, about 7 km west of Pattaya city. The island is about 4 km long and only 2 km wide. Koh Larn is famous for beautiful beaches with fine white sand, clear emerald water and a variety of coral and marine life.
Koh Larn Island is one of the most beautiful spots near Pattaya. Making a day trip to the island from Pattaya can be a good option if you are looking for more tranquility. Despite the fact that this tropical paradise is quite small, it has many services for tourists and about a thousand people living on the island. Koh Larn Island is quite mountainous and covered in greenery with extremely diverse and rich flora and fauna.
What to see and do in Koh Larn
There is something for everyone on Koh Larn Island.
Koh Larn Beaches
The main attraction of Koh Larn is the beaches. There are absolutely fascinating seven main white sand beaches and some smaller beaches to enjoy. Most touristy beaches have water spots experience areas, fresh water bathrooms along with great restaurants and beachside bars.
To get familiar with all the main stretches of sand around the Coral Island, explore our guide to Koh Larn beaches.
Swimming
Swimming in the clear waters of the beaches in Koh Larn is a very enjoyable experience for everyone. On the beach, there are normally rows of chairs making it an ideal place to rest and sunbathe.
Snorkeling / Scuba Diving
The sea water around the island is very warm, so you can dive to see corals and explore the vast ocean. Nearby Koh Larn, there are also 2 other islands, Koh Krok and Koh Sak, that are very famous among lovers of diving and snorkeling. However, you should take a scuba diving course before diving in.
Exploring the island
Koh Larn is not that big, so you can explore the whole Coral Island easily. Besides from discovering island’s best beaches, you can also visit the giant monk statue, and shop at the local market. We would recommend renting a scooter and exploring the island before settling on one of Koh Larn beaches for the rest of the day.
Playing water sports
On the main beaches of Koh Larn you can try a range of water sports such as banana boat, Jet Ski, kite surfing, windsurfing, and paragliding.
Enjoying freshly caught seafood
Koh Larn is a paradise for seafood lovers. The beachfront restaurants serve a variety of delicious seafood and other dishes. The seafood here is super fresh and absolutely delicious, but a bit expensive compared to the mainland.
Fishing on the boat
There are organized fishing tours and squid fishing at night you can join to experience.
Where to stay in Koh Larn
If a day trip to Koh Larn from Pattaya is not enough, you can also spend few nights on the island and explore it in peace. The island is completely relaxing and life is easy here. Koh Larn offers several accommodation options from simple guesthouses to comfortable resorts with decent services for the best relaxation. There are several beachfront resorts equipped with every comfort as well as a private terrace and a wonderful sea view.
The room prices on Koh Larn Island range from 500 THB to 3,000 THB. Many accommodations offer free breakfast, transfer from / to the port and in some cases the scooter rental. Most of the accommodations are located not far from Na Baan port and Tawaen port. On weekends and holidays, the island gets very crowded, so you should book early.
Our recommended accommodations on Koh Larn:
Where to stay in Pattaya
If you feel that a day trip to Koh Larn would be enough for you, a better option is to spend the night in Pattaya. Pattaya has a much greater variety of accommodations for tourists, especially for lovers of luxury and relaxation.
Some of the best rated accommodations in Pattaya:
Choosing one of Pattaya beachfront hotels is especially recommended!
How to get to Koh Larn
Getting to Koh Larn from Bangkok
The easiest way for getting to Koh Larn from Bangkok is to take a bus or van to Pattaya at Ekkamai Bus Station, which is located right next to Bangkok BTS Ekkamai station. The journey to the resort city usually lasts about 2 hours and costs about 120-140 THB.
Once in Pattaya, you will have to take a taxi, motorbike taxi or songtaew to the pier of Pattaya, from where the ferry and speedboats leave for Koh Larn.
Getting to Koh Larn from Pattaya
By Ferry
Ferries to Koh Larn depart regularly from Bali Hai Pier (the only port in Pattaya), which is located at the end of Pattaya Walking Street. There you will find several carriers operating on the following two routes:
- Bali Hai – Na Baan Beach: running from 7:00 to 18:30
- Bali Hai - Tawaen Beach: running from 8:00 to 17:00
As you can see, two piers allow disembarkation on the island. Tawaen Beach on the west coast is the main beach on Koh Larn, while Na Baan Beach is on the east coast of Koh Larn, where most of island’s residents live. Na Baan is the main village of the island with bars, restaurants, 7/11, Buddhist temple and schools.
Taking the ferry to Koh Larn is by far the cheapest option as the ferry ticket costs 30 THB for a one-way trip. You can buy tickets at a small kiosk next to where the ferry is docked.
The ferry ride is pleasant and only lasts about 40-45 minutes. You will see the lively Pattaya slowly moving away as you leave the coast and approach Koh Larn. The color of the water gradually changes from dark blue to turquoise.
By Speedboat
Another option for getting to the island is by speedboat. This is the fastest way for getting from central Pattaya to Koh Larn and is extremely comfortable. The journey takes only about 15–20 minutes.
However, speedboat fare is much more expensive than ferry as it costs around 200-300 THB per person for a one-way trip.
The cost of the speedboat to Koh Larn Island is between 1,500-3,000 THB for a group of 6 people. The price depends on the size of the boat, so you should select one of the smaller boats to pay less, if there are few people in your group. Most of these boats are well maintained and have safety equipment on board. All the crew have a lot of experience. You will find them along the beach road of Pattaya and Jomtien.
Tour to Koh Larn
Taking a tour to Koh Larn is the easiest and worry-free way for exploring the island. For just around 500-1,000 THB you can discover the beauty and waters of Thailand’s picturesque Coral Island while enjoying a fun organized day trip to Koh Larn.
The most popular day trips to Koh Larn are the following:
Pattaya to Koh Larn Half Day Tour
Koh Larn Speedboat Day Trip from Pattaya with Lunch
How to travel around Koh Larn
Once you arrive at the port on Koh Larn, you have several possibilities to explore the island as you can choose one of motorbike taxis, songtaew or rent a scooter to travel around the island.
If you are looking for the most economical way to get to some of the beaches, you can ride a 12-seat songtaew for 40-50 THB per person while the motorbike taxi price will range from 40 to 80 THB, depending on the beach you want to go. The motorbike taxi drivers and songtaews are waiting at the end of the pier. Nearby, you will see a tourist map with the fixed rates for each beach marked.
It is possible to move from beach to beach or take a complete tour of the island, at a cost of 400 THB, before choosing the place to stop.
For the most convenient transportation on Koh Larn, you should rent a motorbike for 300-400 THB per day as you can explore the whole island independently. As a deposit you must leave your passport. Before leaving, carefully inspect the vehicle with the owner and make sure to have a full tank of petrol.
Best time to visit Koh Larn
Koh Larn is located in the Gulf of Thailand and has a truly privileged climate. The tropical climate is dominant in Koh Larn so it is roughly divided into two seasons as the dry period and the rainy season. The average annual average temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees. Between November and February, it is certainly the best time to visit Koh Larn as very little rain is expected while the weather is not too hot.