Koh Larn, before the crowd arrives
Fifteen minutes by speedboat from Bali Hai pier is an island with six beaches, no airport, and a ferry queue that runs down the street by ten in the morning. We leave at eight.
Which beach, and when
Koh Larn has six beaches and they are not interchangeable. Tawaen is the one the ferries unload onto: fine sand, jet skis, and by 11:00 about four thousand people. Tien is quieter and has the better snorkelling. Samae is the local beach with the cheapest food. Nual is small and pretty and gets crowded by noon.
We land at Tawaen at 08:20, walk ten minutes over the headland to Tien while it is still empty, and stay until lunch. Then Samae for food, Tawaen for the last hour if people want the water toys. You will be back at the pier by 15:00, which is when the return ferry queue starts.
What the water is actually like
Good, not spectacular. Koh Larn is 15 minutes from a city of half a million — the visibility is 3–6 metres, the coral is mostly dead, and the fish are the ones that have learned to wait for bread. If you have dived in the Andaman, adjust expectations. If this is your first Thai island and you are in Pattaya anyway, it is a very good day.
Boats
The scheduled ferry is 30 baht and takes 45 minutes. A shared speedboat is 150 baht and takes 15. A private speedboat — which is what this page quotes — leaves when you want and stays where you want, which in practice is the difference between seeing Tien empty and seeing it full.
| Stop | Time | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bali Hai pier | 08:00 | Private speedboat |
| Tawaen landing | 08:20 | 10-min walk to Tien |
| Tien beach | 08:35 | Snorkel, empty sand |
| Samae beach | 12:00 | Lunch, local prices |
| Tawaen | 13:45 | Water toys, last swim |
| Return | 15:00 | Back at hotel by 15:45 |
Private speedboat and crew, hotel transfer both ways, beach loungers and umbrella, snorkel gear, drinking water. Not included: lunch, water toys, tips.
Before you book
Is Koh Larn worth it compared with Phi Phi?
They are different products. Phi Phi is a two-hour boat from Phuket and world-class scenery; Koh Larn is fifteen minutes from Pattaya with decent water. If you are already in Pattaya, yes. If you are choosing a coast, choose the Andaman.
Can we go without a private boat?
Yes. The ferry from Bali Hai is 30 baht and takes 45 minutes, and shared speedboats are 150 baht. The difference is departure time and beach choice, not comfort — the private boat is about being on Tien before nine.
Is it suitable for young children?
The Tawaen side is. Shelving sand, lifeguards in high season, and a shallow shelf for 30 metres. Tien has a steeper entry and more coral rubble; bring reef shoes, which we carry in child sizes.
What happens if the sea is rough?
The crossing is sheltered and cancellations are rare, but in a September squall the marine police close the pier. We then switch to the Sanctuary of Truth and Nong Nooch and refund the boat difference.
Check the sea.
Tell us the day and how many of you — we confirm the boat and the marine forecast the day before.
Written and checked by the Travel Thailand Tour team, Bangkok · Last updated · Prices are per person and were correct at the time of writing.