Islands near Pattaya
In short
The islands near Pattaya start with Koh Larn, a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier.
- Nearest island to Pattaya
- Koh Larn (Coral Island), a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier
- Further out
- Koh Phai, in the Royal Thai Navy's care, and Monkey Island
- Whitest sand, longer trip
- Koh Samet, about 60 minutes' drive to Ban Phe pier, then a boat
- Quiet and local
- Koh Si Chang, about 45 minutes by ferry from Sri Racha
- Our boat
- From ฿49,000 for 8 hours, up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top
The best island near Pattaya for your group
The best island near Pattaya for a day is Koh Larn: it's the closest, the water is clear, and on your own boat you go on your own times. For the whitest sand and a night away, go to Koh Samet. For a quiet, local island with no crowds, Koh Si Chang.
Tanner's pick for a group of 10 to 16: our boat day to Koh Larn and its smaller neighbours, out in the morning, lunch on board, back for sunset. Ask Tanner which island fits your day.
Tanner sends the VIP van for the pickup.
Koh Larn (Coral Island)
Koh Larn is the nearest island to Pattaya, the low green island you see across the bay from Pattaya Beach. It's a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier, at the end of Walking Street. The public ferry has cost ฿40 per person per trip since 10 April 2026, Prachachat reported, and goes to Na Ban village and Tawaen Beach.
The Koh Larn beaches each suit a different day: Tawaen has the buzz, with restaurants, sunbeds and water sports; Samae is long and quieter; Nual has the best snorkelling.
There's no high-end resort on Koh Larn, so stay at a mainland hotel or villa and go across for the day. Insider tip: on a private boat you anchor off whichever beach is quietest that day. The full guide: Koh Larn; Koh Larn from Pattaya by ferry and speedboat: Pattaya to Koh Larn; and the day on your own boat: Koh Larn yacht day.
Koh Sak
Koh Sak is the small island right next to Koh Larn, and it's the easy second stop on a private boat day: Koh Larn for the beach and lunch, Koh Sak for a quieter swim on the way home. There's no ferry of its own, so a private boat is the way to see it.
Koh Phai and Monkey Island
Koh Phai is the island further out from Pattaya beyond Koh Larn, and it's in the Royal Thai Navy's care, the Navy's own page says. Go by private boat, and Tanner checks what the Navy allows on the day before the route is set.
Monkey Island is the name visitors use for Koh Ped, also called Koh Klet Kaew, a small island off Bang Saray known for its wild monkeys. Watch them from the boat and don't feed them: they're wild animals.
These are the islands around Pattaya that the ferries don't go to, which is why a private boat is the way to see them. A speedboat makes the run quicker than a slow boat.
Koh Samet
Koh Samet is the island for white sand and a night away. To get there from Pattaya, drive about 60 minutes south to Ban Phe pier in Rayong (Google Maps, checked November 2026), then take the ferry or a speedboat across. Koh Samet is in the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, and the Department of National Parks charges foreign adults ฿200 and children ฿100, collected when you arrive.
It's a long day trip from Pattaya, so most groups stay a night. This is the island near Pattaya with hotels on it. Inside national parks, reef-harmful sunscreen is banned, the Department of National Parks says, so pack a reef-safe one.
Koh Si Chang
Koh Si Chang is the quiet one: a lived-in island, not a beach-party island, north of Pattaya off Sri Racha. The ferry from Ko Loi pier in Sri Racha takes about 45 minutes and runs about hourly, the Chonburi Provincial Government says; check the first and last boats on the day.
It's the island for a slow, local day, with lunch in Sri Racha on the way back.
The islands of Pattaya, side by side
Each island near Pattaya suits a different day, so the right pick comes down to how far you want to go. Koh Larn and Koh Sak are the easy pair; Koh Samet needs a night; Koh Si Chang is for a slow day.
- Koh Larn: a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier. Clear water, beaches, a boat day. The easiest day trip.
- Koh Sak: private boat only, next to Koh Larn. A quiet swim and a second stop, paired with Koh Larn.
- Koh Phai and Monkey Island: private boat only. The far islands, a day trip by speedboat.
- Koh Samet: about 60 minutes' drive to Ban Phe, then a boat. White sand and a night away. Better overnight.
- Koh Si Chang: about 45 minutes by ferry from Sri Racha. A slow, local island. A day trip.
Koh Larn (Coral Island)
- How you get there:
- A short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier
- Best for:
- Beaches and an easy day trip
Koh Sak
- How you get there:
- Private boat only, next to Koh Larn
- Best for:
- A quiet second stop
Koh Phai and Monkey Island
- How you get there:
- Private boat; Koh Phai is in the Royal Thai Navy's care
- Best for:
- A longer boat day
Koh Samet
- How you get there:
- About 60 minutes' drive to Ban Phe pier, then a boat
- Best for:
- The whitest sand; stay a night
Koh Si Chang
- How you get there:
- About 45 minutes by ferry from Sri Racha
- Best for:
- A slow, local day
Our boat
- How you get there:
- From Ocean Marina, Jomtien
- Best for:
- From ฿49,000 for 8 hours, up to 16, with the DJ and the bar on top
Snorkelling, diving and jet skis
The coral round the islands is protected: every hard coral is protected wildlife under Thailand's Wildlife Preservation Act, so look, don't touch, and never stand on it.
For a proper dive, go with a licensed centre: PADI lists Pattaya Dive Centre and Seafari as PADI 5 Star centres. Tanner fits a snorkel stop into your boat day.
We arrange licensed jet skis as part of the boat day, with a safety briefing first.
The islands on your own boat
The best way to see the islands near Pattaya is your own boat: one pickup, one boat, the beach you want, and back when you want. Our boat day is from ฿49,000 for 8 hours for up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top, from Ocean Marina in Na Jomtien. Every other boat's price depends on the boat, and Tanner quotes to your plan.
Under the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, a boat carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger vessel and may not carry more than its licence states, so bigger groups take a second boat.
Alcohol is banned at public piers and on public passenger boats since 12 May 2026; the rule names public boats, not private charters. Add a private chef for lunch on board and a DJ at ฿8,000 a day. See yachts in Pattaya.
Back on land, the night is at the Pattaya nightclubs. Plan it with Tanner.
Islands near Pattaya: the short version
- Closest: Koh Larn, a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier; ferry ฿40 a trip since 10 April 2026.
- Second stop: Koh Sak, next to Koh Larn, by private boat.
- Further out: Koh Phai, in the Navy's care, and Monkey Island, by private boat.
- White sand: Koh Samet, about 60 minutes' drive to Ban Phe, then a boat; park fee ฿200 for foreign adults.
- Quiet: Koh Si Chang, about 45 minutes by ferry from Sri Racha.
- Our boat: from ฿49,000 for 8 hours, up to 16, with the DJ and the bar on top.
Checked November 2026
Written by Tanner Altman · Updated
Questions
Before you book
What are the best islands near Pattaya?
The best islands near Pattaya are Koh Larn for an easy beach day, Koh Samet for white sand and a night away, and Koh Si Chang for a quiet, local island. Koh Sak is a second stop by private boat.
What is the nearest island to Pattaya?
Koh Larn, or Coral Island, is the nearest island to Pattaya: you can see it from Pattaya Beach. It's a short boat ride from Bali Hai Pier, and the public ferry has been ฿40 a trip since 10 April 2026.
What are the best Koh Larn beaches?
Tawaen has the restaurants, sunbeds and water sports; Samae is long and quieter; and Nual has the best snorkelling. On a private boat, you anchor off whichever Koh Larn beach is quietest that day.
Can you visit Koh Phai from Pattaya?
Koh Phai is in the Royal Thai Navy's care, its own page says, and the ferries don't go there. Go by private boat, and Tanner checks what the Navy allows on the day before the route is set.
Which is better, Koh Samet or Koh Larn?
For a day trip, Koh Larn: it's a short boat ride away. For white sand and a night away, Koh Samet, about 60 minutes' drive to Ban Phe pier and then a boat across, with hotels on the island.
How do you get to Koh Si Chang from Pattaya?
Drive north to Sri Racha and take the ferry from Ko Loi pier: about 45 minutes, about hourly, the Chonburi Provincial Government says. Check the last boat back on the day before you go.
How much is a private boat to the islands near Pattaya?
Our boat day is from ฿49,000 for 8 hours for up to 16 guests, with the DJ and the bar on top, from Ocean Marina. Every other boat's price depends on the boat, and Tanner quotes to your plan.
Is there a luxury resort on Koh Larn?
No high-end resort on Koh Larn was found in November 2026. Stay at a mainland hotel or villa and take your own boat across for the day, then come back for dinner.
Plan it
Plan it with Tanner
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