How to get from Pattaya to Koh Lan. Ferry schedule and price.

Holidaymakers in the resort city of Pattaya notice that the sea is not always as clean as they would like. If you want to enjoy clear water and a cozy beach, you can certainly take a sea excursion, but it is easier and cheaper to go to the nearest island of Koh Larn on your own.

How to get to the island from Pattaya

Koh Larn, translated from Thai, means “bald island”. Locals named it so when no one lived on it yet. Thais also have several legends associated with spirits on Koh Larn. The name once reflected reality, but now it is a quite green and inhabited piece of land with decent beaches and developed infrastructure. There are not many attractions on the island.

There are cafes on every beach. They serve Thai and European cuisine. Prices are about 1.5 times higher than in Pattaya.

Those who wish can stay on the island overnight.

You can get to the island in 4 ways:

• by ferry;
• by cruise boat;
• by speed boat;
• with an excursion.

By ferry from Bali Hai Pier

In the central part of Pattaya, next to Walking Street, is the Bali Hai Pier.

Many excursions to nearby islands depart from it, as well as ferries to Koh Larn.

This is the most budget-friendly way to reach the clear sea. To find the ferry, walk straight to the very end of the pier. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office on the shore or right before boarding. The ship’s departure schedule is also posted there.

On the way back from the island to Pattaya, there are no ticket offices on the piers. The ticket is bought right before boarding.

The ferry is a large wooden ship, quite slow. The journey time is 45-60 minutes. People with seasickness should be cautious about this method of getting to the island during high waves and winds. You can easily feel sick on the long journey. With a calm sea, the probability of unpleasant sensations is practically non-existent.

Tip! Choose seats in the middle; waves often splash over the sides.

Attention! There are two piers on Koh Larn – at Ta Waen Beach and in the mini-village of Na Ban.

Had Ta Waen is not the best place to relax. The sand and water here are not very clean. For full enjoyment of the place, it is better to get to a neighboring beach.

Near Na Ban pier, there are many small shops with food, souvenirs, and clothes. There is also a 7-11 and a Tesco Lotus here. However, you need to get to the beach. The walk will take a long time. If you exit the pier and turn left, you can see where the tuk-tuks (songthaews) are parked. For a price of 40 ( 1.23 USD)-50 Baht ( 1.54 USD) per person, they take tourists to any of the beaches on the island.

The one most loved by locals – Tien (Tien) is located next to Samae. You cannot reach the beach by vehicle. Tuk-tuks stop before the bridge. After walking about 100 meters, tourists reach a calm beach with white sand. Another plus of this place is the almost always calm sea. Waves are rare in the bay, which is convenient for family holidays with children.

Attention! When choosing a ferry as your transport to the island, do not forget to keep track of time. Since you still need to get to the pier, plan the end of your holiday in advance. If you are late, you can stay at a hotel on the island. However, during high season and especially on weekends and holidays, rooms may be occupied by locals.

Ferry schedule and price

The ferry ride costs 30 Baht ( 0.92 USD) per person one way. (The price remains consistently low.)

By cruise boat from Bali Hai Pier

A convenient way to get to Samae Beach. The boat departs from Bali Hai Pier. The cost is 150 Baht ( 4.62 USD) per person round trip.

It would seem, why is it needed if there is a ferry? However, it has certain advantages:

1. Brings you straight to the beach. No need to spend money on a tuk-tuk.
2. Faster than the ferry. The journey will take 30-35 minutes.

By Speed Boat

Another way to get to Koh Larn is by speed boat. This method has several undeniable advantages:

1. The travel time is minimal. The boat takes 15-20 minutes to reach the island.
2. You won’t have to get to the beach from the piers. The boat will take you directly to the desired location.
3. Departure time does not depend on a schedule.

Where there are pros, there are definitely cons. In this case – the price. It depends on the boarding location for the boat:

1. Bali Hai Pier. From this point, the cost of a one-way trip is approximately 150-300 Baht ( 4.62 USD) per person (often sold as 300 Baht round trip now). You will have to wait until a group of 10-12 people gathers. This happens quite quickly. From 8 to 10 am there are always people on the pier who want to use this method of travel.
2. Pattaya beaches. This option is convenient for a large group. The rental cost of a boat with round-trip travel and waiting time ranges from 2000 ( 61.56 USD) to 3000 Baht ( 92.34 USD) depending on the owner’s greed and the tourists’ bargaining skills. The capacity of such a boat is usually up to 16 people. If you arrange with friends, choose a day, and go all together, the cost per person will not be high. You can also leave practically from your hotel and return to the same spot. The same applies on the island – you are brought directly to the beach. In this case, costs for land transport are completely excluded.

Interesting! When renting a boat, it is possible to arrange with the owner for additional fishing from the vessel in the open sea.

Excursion

The cost of such a trip starts from 800 Baht ( 24.62 USD) per person. Pros of buying an excursion:

• free transfer from the hotel and back;
• sun loungers are included;
• brings you directly to the beach;
• lunch and/or drinks are included in the price.

More expensive tours include stops for snorkeling at nearby small islands and beach activities, such as banana boat rides or parasailing.

Cons of buying a tour:

• time limitation;
• high price;
• it is impossible to change the departure and arrival schedule.

As you can see, getting to Koh Larn Island on your own is quite possible. And in many ways, it is cheaper and more comfortable than with an excursion. All that remains is to choose the most suitable way to enjoy a beach holiday.