Koh Larn is a small island just off the coast of Pattaya city. It’s only 2 hours from Bangkok, a perfect city getaway. Koh larn is one of the best tropical islands this close to Bangkok. It has white sandy beaches with clear blue water. Even though some beaches on the island can get very busy from day trip tours, there are many different beaches spread all over the island. Here is our Koh Larn Travel guide for you:
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How to get to Koh Larn Island.
There are two ways to get to Koh Larn: by speedboat or by ferry from Bali Hai Pier. The speedboat ride takes about 15 minutes and costs 150 baht per person. The ferry takes about 35 minutes and costs 30 baht per person.
Below you can find the timetable for the speedboats and ferries from Pattaya to Koh Larn and from Koh Larn to Pattaya. On Koh Larn Island, there are two piers where you can be dropped off: Na Baan Pier and Tawaen Beach Pier. These two piers are only 15 minutes away from each other.
Most of the time, the ferry drops off all passengers at Na Baan Pier and you may have to ask to be dropped off at Tawaen Beach Pier. Otherwise, just take a songthaew/motorbike taxi from Na Baan Pier, but most hotels offer a pick-up service from the pier.
You can also take a speedboat from Pattaya beach, but it will cost 1500 to 2500 baht as you have to rent the whole boat.
There are also many day trips to Koh Larn from Pattaya. These excursions offer a variety of activities such as underwater walks, parasailing, snorkelling and much more. You can easily book these excursions at any travel agency in Pattaya.
Things to do at Koh Larn
As you may suspect, the only thing there really is to do on an island is beaches and viewpoints and there are so many different beaches on Koh Larn; Tien beach, Samae beach, Nual beach, Tawaen Beach, Tong Lang Beach and Ta Yai beach.
For this article, we will focus on our favourite and the most popular beaches on the island. However, they are all absolutely beautiful and we will encourage you to explore if you have the time.
1. Samae Beach
Samae beach is a soft, white sandy beach that stretches for almost 1 kilometre. Its clear blue waters are ideal for swimming or kayaking. There are many sun loungers under umbrellas on the beach, which you can rent for 50 baht per day.
There are also jet skis, kayaks and other water sports activities that you can do at this beach. This is one of the busiest beaches on the island, but that does not detract from its beauty. There are also some bars and restaurants on this beach, making it the perfect place to relax for a day.
2. Nual Beach (Monkey Beach)
Nual Beach is also known as Monkey Beach because many monkeys live on the hillside nearby. This beach is located in a small bay protected by cliffs, so there are no waves and the water is crystal clear.
On the beach, you can rent a sun lounger for 50 baht for the day. There are a few places where you can buy drinks and a restaurant where you can eat. This beach is much quieter than many other beaches on the island, which makes it a perfect place to relax.
3. Tawaen Beach
Tawaen beach is the main beach on the island and the most visited. However, this does not mean that this beach is not good. It is one of the best beaches on the island.
The beach has soft white sand and clear blue water. It is ideal for swimming. There are many sun loungers under umbrellas that you can rent for 50 baht per day.
There are jet skis and other water sports that you can part take in at this beach. Along the beach, there are also restaurants, bars and cafes to eat and drink at. This beach is also visited by many day-trippers from Pattaya.
4. Viewpoint
Koh Larn has a few viewpoints spread over the island and we recommend that you visit them. They offer breathtaking views of the island, Pattaya city and the beaches. From these viewpoints, the beaches look like something out of a magazine. Our favourite was the Tawaen Beach viewpoint.
5. Temples
There are also a few temples and shrines scattered around the island that you can visit. We recommend the ones on the mountain tops as you can see the temple and enjoy the view from up there. Always remember to dress and behave appropriately when visiting a temple, as they are spiritual places.
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Where to stay on Koh Larn.
Bee Orchid Pool Villa
This resort is a 3-minute walk from Na Baan Pier. It is in a perfect location with many restaurants and bars nearby. Room prices start at 1,090 Baht per night. This is a good price for the island, especially considering it has a pool and includes breakfast. Rooms sell out fast so make sure you book in advance.
Suntosa Resort
This Beautiful resort is located right by the pier and is built over the water. It’s a very picturesque resort with rooms starting at 1,300 Baht per night but this resort sells out fast so book well in advance to get a good price. Breakfast is also included.
The Castello Resort
This resort is a very popular place to stay on the island. Prices start at 900 Baht a night but the cheap rooms sell out fast. Breakfast is also included in every room. If you want to book here, book in advance, otherwise it will cost well over a thousand Baht a night. It’s located in a quiet part of the island but you may need a scooter to get around.
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Where to eat at Koh Larn
PooKai Cafe and Restuarant
This restaurant is in a perfect location right by the Na Baan pier. They offer a wide variety of food, from french fries to Pad Thai. They also have many desserts and smoothies to choose from. Overall, the food is good and the prices aren’t expensive.
Nong Riaw Restuarant
This restaurant serves some of the best Thai food on the island. Its located next to the sea and has a deck that overlooks the sea, you can even see Pattaya in the distance. The portions of food are generous and the prices are very good. They mainly sell Thai food.
Fat Submarine Cafe
This beautiful cafe is within walking distance of the Na Baan pier. It is one of the best cafes on the island with delicious food and a great atmosphere. It’s worth a visit if you just want a nice place to relax or get out of the sun.
Pizza and Coffee @ Koh Larn
If you feel like pizza or pasta then this is the place for you. Located close to Na Baan pier, this small restaurant serves the best pizza and coffee on the island. This is the perfect place to dine if you need a break from Thai food and want more western food.
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Getting around Koh Larn
Rent a scooter
The best way to explore the island is by renting a scooter. Scooters will cost you around 300 Baht a day, if you rent for more than 1 day, the price will go down ie. 500 Baht for 2 days. Renting a scooter is easy and can be done at most resorts or hotels, as well as Na Baan pier.
Songtaew
This is also a great way to get around the island for bigger groups or those who don’t want to rent a scooter. It is very affordable but can get crowded.
Motorbike taxi
There aren’t taxis here as the roads are thin and there are almost no cars on the island. This makes motorbike taxis very popular. They have a sidecar attached to them which makes them more comfortable. They charge different prices depending on where you want to go but they are very affordable. You can find them at Na Baan pier or any popular attraction.
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How to get to Koh Larn from Bangkok?
To get to Koh Larn you have to get to Pattaya first. It will take you about 2 hours to get from Bangkok to Pattaya. There are 3 main ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Larn:
1. Bus and Minivans from Bangkok to Koh Larn
The best way to get to Koh larn from Bangkok is by Minivan. You can take a bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal to Pattaya’s bus terminal. The Eastern Bus Terminal is located by Ekkamai BTS Station.
These are air-conditioned buses that leave every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 23:30. You can also take a bus from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit) from 05:30 to 20:0. If you are close to Khao San Road you can take a bus from the Southern Bus Terminal to Pattaya.
At this Bus Terminal, the buses only leave at specific times 05:30, 08:30, 10:00, 14:00 and 18:30. Once you are at Pattaya’s bus terminal you can take a taxi to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya where you catch the ferry to Koh Larn
2. Train from Bangkok to Koh Larn
To get to Koh Larn from Bangkok you can take the train to Pattaya. This is a slow way to travel to Pattaya since the train stops at lots of small stations along the way. It is however the cheapest way to get to Pattaya, only 31 baht.
The train leaves from Bangkok Railway Station at 06:45 and 06:55 and it will take at least two and a half hours to three hours to get to Pattaya. From the Train Station in Pattaya, you can take a taxi to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya where you catch the ferry to Koh Larn.
3. Take a Private Taxi From Bangkok to Koh Larn
This is the most expensive way to get from Bangkok to Koh Larn. Take a private taxi from Bangkok directly to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. It will take about an hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on where you are in Bangkok. These taxis cost anything from 1000 baht to 1500 baht. Book a Private taxi here.
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