Koh Larn Island is an island I daily looked at from the beaches of Pattaya, yet never visited.  Few people ever spoke about the island and I just assumed it was nothing special.   My goodness was I wrong.  It is special.

If you are in Pattaya you owe it to yourself to go to Koh Larn, especially since it is very easy to get to and is an inexpensive adventure.

There are 6 main beaches that visitors seem to spend time on.  The beaches have white soft sand and beautifully clear blue water.

Assuming you took the ferry from Pattaya, there is one main road that leads to all those beaches.  The ferry drop you off at 1 of 2 locations, depending on which ferry you take.  (Marked F1 of F2 on the map found towards the bottom of the page.)

Most visitors will get off and spend time at the first two beaches.  You do not want to do that.  Stay on the Bhat Bus and go to the third beach.  Tiennara Beach.  Simply ask the driver if he goes to Tiennara Beach. (I believe they all do.)

Tiennara Beach is a quiet, incredibly beautiful beach with few people and few boats.  It is a piece of paradise.  The sand is amazing.  The water is totally clear and stunning shades of blue or green. There are even a couple places at the beach you can get food and drinks.  The water is as warm as when you take a warm shower.  – This is the beach to go. 

The ferry to Koh Larn is taken from the Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya Thailand. (marked on the map lower on the page)  It is really easy to get to.  Proceed down walking street. (be aware during the day time cars and motor bikes will drive down this street).  At the end of Walking street is a long pier. 

The pier is hard to miss.  There will be large crowds of people on it every day.  (See the picture lower on the page for what the pier looks like.)

Do not be put off by the large crowds.  About half the people will move off to the left and right and take a speed boat to the island.  Speed boats cost 150 Bhat and take about 12 minutes to get to the island.  The ferry costs 30 Bhat and takes about 25 minutes.

One piece of advise.  The walk down Walking Street is about 10 minutes and you will spend around 15 minutes on the pier.  The day time heat will be brutal, seriously brutal. Assuming you took a Bhat Bus to get to Walking Street you will really be feeling the heat.

Half way down Walking Street there is a McDonalds.  Stop in for a few minutes of air conditioning.  Buy a soft serve ice cream cone for 25 Bhat. (this will allow you to use the bathroom in McDonalds.  Absolutely do that as bathrooms become a bit rare)

I took the speed boat on one day and the ferry on the next.  If you are short on time or will only every visit once, the speed boat is the way to go. 

Be aware though, it is a really bumpy ride.  They are making money on how many trips they can make in a day so they really go fast.  This is NOT a way to travel with very small kids.  (there was an infant on my speed boat – mistake).

The ferry is slow, smooth and likely to put you to sleep.  It is a peaceful way to go and perfect for families.  I took the speed boat once, and all other trips by ferry.

There is a ferry schedule.  It does not really mean much.  When a ferry  is full it departs.

You know you are the right beach (Tiennara Beach if I have not made that clear already)  when you see a fair number of people posing for pictures.   Of all the beaches on Koh Larn, Tiennara Beach is where people who need the best social media pictures go.

On any given day you will find lots of people endlessly posing in perfect bathing suits.  There is even a glass canoe that people pay money to just to lay in and have waves lap around the canoe while the Thai guy flies his drone overhead taking video and perfect pictures.

The real funny part is seeing all the girls and guys climb in and out of of the glass canoe, as they are as clumsy as a new born child trying to walk.   If you see any of these things, you know you are at the right beach.

I do not want to make it sound as if this distracts from your experience here.  It will not.  The water, sand, sun and quiet will sweep you away.  

Bhat Buses are just up the road from the ferry unloading area.  (follow the crowds – look for blue pickup trucks)  They cost 30 or 40 Bhat and will take you down what is really the only main road on the island.  It will stop at the first three beaches.  You want the third stop.

In Pattaya a Bhat bus ride will cost you either 10 or 20 Bhat. (10 Bhat is about equal to 0.25 USD.

You  can rent a motor bike, but really you don’t need one and are probably better off riding the Bhat Bus. (the blue pick up)

 You will not want a motor bike after spending a day at the beach in the sun.  

The pier feels like it is swarming with people.  People trying to get to a boat and people trying to sell you something.  I almost turned back when I first saw it.  It is not as bad as it will seem.  The crowd quickly clears out.

My first time at the pier I kept looking for a place to buy a ticket.  Let me save you time.  There is no place to buy a ticket.  Just walk up to a speed boat or the ferry and pay as you walk on.  (this is a cash society, credit cards are fairly useless here)

Speed boats are on the left and ride side of the pier.  At least one speed boat will take you directly do Tiernnara Beach. 

Visiting Koh Larn Island was one of the best things I ever did in Thailand.  

Life is a gift and every day an adventure.