🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Larn sits right off Pattaya, a short boat ride away. Tawaen Beach is where the ferries from Bali Hai Pier dock, which makes it the busiest beach on the island and the one with the widest choice of water sports. If you've come to Koh Larn for an adrenaline activity or to walk along the seabed and look at coral, this is usually where you'll land.
This article rounds up the main activities you'll actually find at Tawaen Beach, along with the ballpark prices you see most often. But a heads-up first: water sport prices on Koh Larn aren't fixed or posted — they depend on the day, how busy it is, and which operator you're talking to. The numbers below are a frame of reference to compare against, not advertised rates. Always ask and agree on a clear price before you get in the water.
What activities are there at Tawaen Beach?
Parasailing
You're strapped into a harness and towed behind a speedboat while a parachute lifts you up over the sea, with a high-angle view of the whole island. Each go is short — just a few minutes — but it's the shot a lot of people come specifically to get. There's a crew member working the rope on the boat, so you don't need to swim to do it.
Jet Ski
Ride one yourself around the bay — fast and fun, ideal if you like speed. Before you rent, take photos and video of the whole machine from every angle, because the problem that's made the news in Thailand is operators claiming scratches when you return it. Reviews on Koh Larn say it's generally fine here, but better safe than sorry.
Banana Boat
Sit on a banana-shaped inflatable that gets towed by a speedboat, whipping side to side until half the group ends up in the water. It's a group activity, fun for kids too, and the cheapest per head of all the options here. Everyone wears a life jacket.
Sea Walker
You wear a helmet fed with breathing air, then walk along the seabed looking at coral and fish without needing to know how to swim. The real spots are usually around nearby Koh Sak, where the water's clearer, and a guide dives down with you. Good if you want to see underwater but you're nervous about water.
Snorkeling
If you're on a tight budget, snorkeling is the lightest option. Rent a mask and snorkel, or go with a boat tour out to the coral spots around the island. Whether the water's clear or murky depends on the day and the wind — on windy days the sea gets cloudy and you won't see much.
Where the real prices land
The numbers above are the range you see often on the beach, not fixed prices. If you buy a speedboat package from the Pattaya side that bundles several activities plus lunch, it usually runs around ฿1,500–3,500 per person — better value if you plan to do a lot. But if you only want one thing, buying activity-by-activity on the beach makes it easier to control your budget.
Want more out of Koh Larn? Book tours & activities
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.
Agree on the price and the rules before every go
The thing I want to stress most is to ask for the full price before you start — what's included, how many minutes, how many rounds, and the total you'll pay. Some operators quote a price that's really just for one short go, then add charges once you're already playing. Photograph the price board (if there is one) or get a clear number before you pay.
- Ask for the all-in total before you start — what it comes to with nothing added on later.
- Check the time/number of rounds — how many minutes of parasailing, how many on the jet ski, how many banana boat rounds — and make sure it matches what you agreed.
- Photograph the jet ski all around before renting, every angle including existing scratches, to head off damage claims when you return it.
- Check the life jackets and harnesses are actually fitted and strapped tight, especially for kids and non-swimmers.
- Deposit vs. final payment — some activities take a deposit up front, so make it clear how much is left to pay.
Straight talk on safety
Sea walking has made the news for lacking clear regulatory standards, so anyone with heart conditions, blood pressure issues, or ear/sinus problems should avoid it or check with a doctor first. For parasailing and jet skis, look over the condition of the gear and the life jackets — and if the sea is rough or the wind is strong, it's safer to put it off. There's no need to push it.
When to go, and what the beach is like
Tawaen Beach is busiest from late morning into the afternoon, especially weekends and long holidays, when the ferries from Pattaya are packed and the queues are long both ways. If you want to do water sports without a long wait, going early is your best bet — you get an emptier beach and the sea is usually calmer than in the afternoon once the wind picks up.
- Go early — emptier boats, an emptier beach, and the sea is usually calmer than afternoon.
- Long holidays get very crowded — ferries are packed, so allow extra time for the queue both ways.
- The sea is murky some days depending on the wind and weather — if you're set on snorkeling for coral, check the wind first.
- On windy days some activities may be cancelled or postponed for safety — don't push it.
How to get to Tawaen Beach
From Pattaya you can take the ferry from Bali Hai Pier straight to Tawaen Beach — cheap, but slower and with limited departures. Or charter a speedboat, which is faster and can hit several beaches. Once you reach the island, the water sports zone is a short walk from the pier, or you can take a songthaew or rent a motorbike to head to the other beaches.
Ferry from Bali Hai Pier
The cheapest option, landing right at Tawaen Beach — but with limited departures and big crowds on holidays. Check the return schedule carefully.
Charter a speedboat
Fast and flexible, hitting several beaches — ideal for a group or if you bought a bundled activity package from the mainland.
Help keep the beach clean
Koh Larn takes in heavy crowds every day, and the trash on the beach comes from the visitors themselves — water bottles, bags, food scraps. Carry it back out and bin it properly, don't throw it in the sea. That way the coral and the pretty beaches we come here to enjoy are still around for the next generation to see.
Plan a full day on Koh Larn — which beaches are good for swimming, where to eat
See the Koh Larn travel guide →