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🏝️ Koh Larn Itinerary

Koh Larn Itinerary
2 Days 1 Night, Taken Slow

You can do Koh Larn as a day trip, but honestly the better move is to stay one night. Once the evening ferries have carried the day-trippers back to Pattaya, the island goes completely quiet — the beaches that were packed at midday are left to you and the people staying overnight. This is a 2-day, 1-night plan built so you're never rushing, hitting several beaches with real time to just sit and enjoy each one.

🏝️ One overnight stay🏍️ Motorbike around the island🌅 Quiet beaches after the ferries leave
Koh Larn Itinerary 2 Days 1 Night, Taken Slow

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Koh Larn sits right off Pattaya, just a short hop by boat from Bali Hai Pier, which is why it's so popular with people from Bangkok and Chonburi. The upside is that it's close and easy to reach. The downside is that on long weekends it gets seriously crowded, both on the boats and on the sand. Staying one night fixes most of that, because you don't have to fight for the last ferry and you get to see the island after the day-trippers have gone.

Before you go — the ferry and what to know

Boats to Koh Larn leave from Bali Hai Pier at the end of Pattaya's Walking Street. You've got two options. The big wooden ferry is cheap, around 30 THB per trip, and takes about 45 minutes. The speedboat is faster, around 15 minutes, but a lot more expensive — in the hundreds of THB per person or chartered. The big ferry runs limited trips per day and the last boat back usually leaves in the early evening. Check the current schedule on the day, since it shifts with the season and the weather.

  • Which pier you arrive at — most big ferries dock at Na Ban (the main community pier), but some trips go to Tawaen Pier instead. Check before buying your ticket, because they're on different sides of the island.
  • Overnight car parking — Bali Hai has overnight parking lots for around 250 THB, so if you drive in yourself you don't need to worry about where to leave the car.
  • Book your room ahead — especially on weekends. Accommodation on the island is limited and fills up fast, so showing up and hoping to find a room is a gamble.
  • Go early — on weekends the mid-morning ferries are packed and you'll have to queue. Leaving home a bit earlier makes the whole thing much smoother.

The honest stuff to know before you go

On long weekends Koh Larn really is crowded — long ferry queues, packed beaches. If you can avoid it, go on a weekday and you'll get an island that's several times calmer. And the water at Koh Larn isn't crystal clear every day; some days it's murky with the wind and rain. Don't expect a postcard every single time.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Koh Larn trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in Koh LarnHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Koh Larn attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Koh LarnOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Koh Larn activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Koh Larn tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — the popular beaches

Day 1

Cross over, do Tawaen Beach, then work your way to Samae and Nual

08:00
Leave home and head for Bali Hai PierAllow extra time for traffic and parking. On a long weekend you'll want to be at the pier before 9am to avoid the long ferry queue.
09:30
Board the ferry across to Koh LarnAbout 45 minutes on the big ferry, around 15 on the speedboat — pick based on your budget and time. The view of Pattaya from the middle of the bay along the way is great.
10:30
Check in, drop your bags, then rent a motorbikeRental shops are around the pier and the Na Ban area, roughly 250–350 THB per day. Check the bike and brakes before you take it, and photograph any existing scratches to avoid arguments when you return it.
11:00
Tawaen Beach — the island's most popular beachFine white sand, shallow water that's easy to swim in, deck chairs, umbrellas and a long row of restaurants. It's the most full-service beach on the island — and also the most crowded.
12:30
Seafood lunch on the beachThere are several places along Tawaen Beach. Order prawns, fish and crab however you like, but always check the price per kilo before ordering — seafood is charged by weight, and the bill can balloon if you don't ask.
14:00
Ride on to Samae BeachA smaller beach, about 300 m long, on the southwest side. Quieter than Tawaen and good for lazing around, with rocks and trees off to the side for photos.
15:30
Stop by Nual BeachAnother pretty beach, reached via a path through grassland, with deck chairs, restaurants and water sports on offer.
17:30
Back to the room, shower, rest before dinnerAround now the evening ferries start taking day-trippers back to the mainland, and the island begins to quiet down.
19:00
Dinner around Na Ban, stroll through the villageThe Na Ban area has restaurants, convenience stores and snacks. Prices on the island run a little higher than the mainland, which is normal — everything has to be shipped over by boat.

This is where the magic of staying over kicks in. Once the last ferry has left, Koh Larn switches modes instantly — from a busy daytime island into a small, peaceful community. You can wander along the shore in the evening with no one fighting you for space the way they did in the afternoon.

Day 2 — the quiet southern beaches + a viewpoint

Day 2

Up early for Tien Beach, the windmill viewpoint, then back to the mainland

07:00
Wake early, walk the beach by your room before everyone's upEarly morning is when the beach is quietest and the light is best — perfect for photos and an easy stroll.
08:00
Breakfast, then pack up and check outYou can leave your bags at the hotel or the rental shop and head out for the day travelling light.
09:00
Ride to Tien Beach — a quiet southern beach with clear waterAbout 700 m long, on the southwest side, with fewer people than the Tawaen side. There's shallow reef in spots where you can snorkel and watch the fish.
10:30
Swim or snorkel over the reefIf you're doing water sports, sort out the price and check the safety gear clearly before you agree. Wear a life jacket every time — don't be shy about it.
12:00
LunchEat at Tien Beach or ride back toward Na Ban — whatever fits your timing.
13:30
Head up to the windmill viewpointThe viewpoint is near Samae Beach, with high-up views over the island's beaches and across to Pattaya. The road up is a bit steep, so ride carefully if you're new to it.
15:00
Return the motorbike, pack up your trash, get ready for the boatCheck the return ferry schedule in advance. Don't wait for the very last boat — it gets crowded and you risk being left behind.
16:00
Take the ferry back to Bali Hai PierClose out the trip with afternoon views of Pattaya from the middle of the bay.

Help look after the island

Koh Larn struggles with waste because everything has to be hauled across by boat. The trash you leave behind becomes a burden for the community and the sea. If you can carry a bag of your rubbish back to the mainland, it helps the island a lot. The beaches stay beautiful for longer when visitors pitch in to look after them.

Tweak the plan to suit you

Pure relaxing

Don't want to move beaches

Just stay right on Tawaen or Nual Beach and spend the whole trip in one spot — lie on a deck chair, listen to the waves, and skip the riding entirely.

Keen riders

Want to tick off every beach

Rent a motorbike from day one and work through Tawaen, Samae, Nual, Tien and Thong Lang, with a stop at the windmill viewpoint — you can hit nearly all of them in two days.

Active

Here for the water sports

Tawaen and Nual have the most activities — banana boat, parasailing, jet ski. Check the price and the safety setup before every ride.

Rough budget per person

  • Round-trip ferry — about 60 THB on the big ferry (30 each way); speedboat is in the hundreds and up.
  • One night's accommodation — from the high hundreds up to a few thousand THB depending on the level, with prices rising on weekends.
  • Motorbike rental — around 250–350 THB per day, plus fuel.
  • Food — 80–250 THB per meal, with seafood charged by weight on top.
  • Deck chair / umbrella — a few tens of THB per beach, and some beaches roll it into your food order.

All in, a budget 2-day 1-night trip starts at around a thousand-something THB per person. Travel in a group and you can split the room and charter the boat to bring it down further. This budget doesn't include water sports, which are priced separately and clearly — always ask the price before you ride.

Wondering which beach to sleep on? See our handpicked Koh Larn stays.

See Koh Larn stays →

FAQ

Should you do Koh Larn as a day trip or stay overnight?

If you have the time, staying one night is the way to go. Once the evening ferries take the day-trippers back, the island is far quieter and calmer than it is during the day, and you can walk the beaches in the morning and evening without anyone fighting you for space. But if you're short on time or going on a weekday, a day trip will still cover the main beaches just fine.

Where do the ferries to Koh Larn leave from, and how much do they cost?

They leave from Bali Hai Pier at the end of Pattaya's Walking Street. The big ferry costs around 30 THB per trip and takes about 45 minutes. The speedboat is faster, around 15 minutes, but costs in the hundreds of THB per person or chartered. Schedules shift with the season and weather, so check the current timetable on the day.

How do you get around Koh Larn — do you need to rent a vehicle?

If you want to hit several beaches, rent a motorbike — around 250–350 THB per day, available near the pier and around Na Ban. You can also take the songthaew shared trucks and motorbike taxis, roughly 20–50 THB per trip depending on distance. If you're staying on one beach the whole time, you don't need to rent anything.

Which beach is the prettiest on Koh Larn?

Tawaen Beach is the most popular — white sand, shallow water, full service — but it's also the most crowded. If you prefer quiet, try Samae, Tien or Nual, which are less busy and have shallow reef in spots for snorkelling. How clear the water is depends on the day's weather, though; some days it's murky with the wind and rain.

When is Koh Larn least crowded?

Weekdays are far quieter than weekends. On long weekends the ferries are packed, the queues are long and the beaches fill up. If you can avoid the holidays, you'll get an island that's several times calmer — and go early to dodge the ferry queue.

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