Coral Island (Koh Larn), Pattaya: Complete Travel Guide 2026

Coral Island Pattaya at a glance

What TravelTriangle booking data shows

• Most travellers pair a Coral Island day trip with a wider Bangkok and Pattaya holiday rather than visiting the island on its own.

• The half-day speedboat tour with lunch is the most-booked format, usually as day two or three of a Pattaya itinerary.

• November to February is the busiest window for our Pattaya departures.

Coral Island (Koh Larn), Pattaya: the overview

Koh Larn is a small island, only about 4 km long, yet it packs in more than half a dozen beaches and a hilly green interior. Thailand's tourism board turned it into Pattaya's easy escape from the mainland crowds, and on a clear day the water off the west-coast beaches is the pale blue that most people picture when they think of the Andaman, even though this is the Gulf side. The reef that gives the island its English name, Coral Island, still fringes several of the bays, which is why snorkelling and diving are the headline activities here.

It works as a half-day or full-day trip. A half day is enough to swim, try one water sport and have lunch; a full day lets you ride between two or three beaches and climb to the Tawaen viewpoint for the island panorama. If you would rather stay the night, Samae and Tawaen both have simple bungalows and small resorts, and the island is far quieter once the last day-trip boats leave.

How to reach Coral Island from Pattaya

Every boat leaves from Bali Hai Pier at the southern end of Pattaya, a short walk from Walking Street or a quick songthaew or tuk-tuk ride from most hotels. You have two ways across.

The public ferry docks at Na Baan Pier (the main village) or at Tawaen Beach, depending on the departure, so check which beach your boat serves before you buy the ticket. Ferry fares crept up in 2026 as fuel costs rose, so carry small notes and confirm the rate at the counter. Coming from Bangkok, take a bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya, then a songthaew down to Bali Hai Pier. For the full timetable and pier directions, see our Coral Island how-to-reach guide.

Best beaches on Koh Larn

Koh Larn has six beaches worth knowing, spread across the island. Here is what each one is like and who it suits.

Tawaen Beach

The biggest and busiest beach, and where most day trips land. It has the widest choice of water sports, sun-loungers for hire, and a strip of restaurants, so it is the easy default for a first visit. It also gets a daily crowd in the thousands, so come early if you want space.

Samae Beach

A softer, quieter curve on the west coast, popular for swimming and sunset, with the Khao Nam viewpoint on the hill above it. There are bungalows here if you want to stay over.

Tien Beach

A calm 400-metre stretch with beach shacks and restaurants, and one of the better spots to watch the sun drop into the sea.

Nual Beach (Monkey Beach)

The one to pick if you want fewer people. A small, sheltered cove with a tropical backdrop, good for a slow swim away from the tour groups.

Thong Lang Beach

Reached only by boat or a short trek and just 200 metres long, this is the most secluded beach on the island. Bring your own water and snacks.

Ta Yai and Sangwan beaches

Two smaller northern beaches that stay quiet even in high season, worth the songthaew ride if you have a full day and want to see beyond the main bays.

Things to do and water sports on Coral Island

The reef is the reason most people come. Dive and snorkelling operators line the main beaches, renting gear and running short guided sessions, and once you are in the water you get coral, sea anemones and shoals of fish in clear, warm shallows. For something different, try the undersea walk, where you walk the seabed in an air-fed helmet while fish circle you.

Beyond the reef, the usual line-up runs along Tawaen and Samae:

• Snorkelling and scuba over the reef from a rented mask and fins, or a guided beginner session.

• Parasailing strapped behind a speedboat for a few minutes of airtime and a view down the coast.

• Jet-skiing solo or tandem across the bay.

• Banana boat and kayaking classic group rides for kids and non-swimmers.

• Glass-bottom boat to see the marine life without getting wet, good for grandparents and small children.

Non-swimmers are not left out. Ride up to the Tawaen viewpoint for a 360-degree look over the island, or visit the hilltop Buddha and the small temples inland. Activity prices vary by operator and season; see the full breakdown on our Coral Island entry fees and ticket cost guide.

What to pack for the day

Swimwear and a sarong, quick-dry cottons and flip-flops, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a refillable water bottle, a dry bag or ziplock for your phone, a power bank, and small cash in baht for the ferry, songthaews and beach vendors. Card machines are rare on the island.

Best time to visit Coral Island Pattaya

The best months are November to February, when the air is cooler, the sea is calm and rain is minimal. The wider dry season stretches to April, so the whole November to April window is reliable for water sports. Seas turn choppier and some operators pause during the May to October monsoon, though you still get plenty of sunny days and thinner crowds then. Whatever the month, go on a weekday morning if you can. The first boats beat the tour groups, and the beaches are calmest before midday.

Getting around the island

Shared songthaews (pickup trucks) run between the main beaches for about 30 to 50 THB per person; you will find them a short walk from Na Baan Pier. To roam at your own pace, rent a scooter for roughly 300 THB a day, or a bicycle for less. The roads over the hills are steep and narrow in places, so ride carefully and only if you are confident. The closer beaches are also walkable if you are not in a hurry.

Coral Island day trip cost and what is included

The island itself is free to enter. There is no national-park fee. Your real costs are the boat across and whatever activities you choose. A rough guide for a self-planned day:

• Getting there: ~40 THB each way on the public ferry, or 150 to 300 THB per person by shared speedboat.

• On the island: 30 to 50 THB per songthaew hop; sun-lounger hire is usually 50 to 100 THB.

• Water sports: parasailing, jet-ski, banana boat and sea walking are each charged per ride and vary by operator.

Most visitors instead book a packaged half-day or full-day speedboat tour, which bundles the transfer, a couple of beaches, lunch and one or two activities into a single price. For the current per-person and per-activity prices in THB and INR, see our Coral Island entry fees and ticket price guide. Operating hours and tour timings are on the Coral Island timings page.

Coral Island tours and packages with TravelTriangle

For most Indian travellers, Coral Island is one day of a larger Bangkok and Pattaya holiday, not a standalone trip. That is where a package helps: instead of haggling for a boat and each ride at the pier, the Coral Island day is built into your itinerary with a private transfer from your Pattaya hotel, a speedboat to the island, lunch (Indian meal options included), and your choice of water sports. You pay in rupees, know the cost upfront, and skip the on-the-spot bargaining.

Every Thailand tour package on TravelTriangle is customisable, so you can add or drop the Coral Island day, extend to a full-day tour, or combine it with Coral Island's neighbours. Browse more of what Pattaya offers on our Pattaya travel guide, or start with a Thailand holiday package and tell us how you want the island day to look.

Why trust this guide

The prices and boat details on this page are checked by our Thailand desk against Bali Hai Pier operator notices and current ferry fares (last verified July 2026).

Coral Island page rated 4.40 / 5 by 6,532 travellers (from TravelTriangle reviews).