The Gulf of Thailand is home to some of the world’s most beautiful islands, and Koh Larn is one of them. Located not far from Pattaya, the Coral Island boasts its wonderful landscape created by clear blue water and white sand combined with lush mountains. Koh Larn beaches are the best getaway from Pattaya. Let's check, what is the best beach in Koh Larn.
Koh Larn Beaches
Koh Larn has 7 main beaches and several smaller ones to enjoy some time relaxing on the sand. In this article, you will discover the wonderful Koh Larn beaches that you should visit to admire the magical beauty of this island.
1. Tawaen Beach
Tawaen Beach in the northern part of the island is the most bustling Koh Larn beach. This 700-meter long beach welcomes thousands of visitors a day, mainly Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, and is even more crowded on weekends when many Thais come here from Bangkok. Reaching this beach is very easy as you can walk directly from the ferry, which comes from Pattaya to Tawaen Beach Pier, the main port in Koh Larn.
The white sand beach boasts crystal clear shallow waters that make Tawaen Beach very suitable for families with small children. It’s the most crowded beach on the island but you can expect more tranquility in the evening once most of day-trippers return to Pattaya. If you are lucky, you might find a quiet spot here.
There is a complete set of fun on Tawaen Beach with water activities such as Jet Ski, banana boat and others. Along the beach, you will find plenty of restaurants, some specializing in different types of international cuisine, numerous souvenir shops, massages, pedicures and beach vendors who selling various snacks, drinks and other goods on the beach. Not far from the beach, you can find motorbike rentals and the public songtaew that can bring you to visit other Koh Larn beaches.
Tawaen Beach Resort offers beachfront accommodation a few steps from Tawaen Beach and various facilities, such as a restaurant, garden and terrace.
2. Thong Lang Beach
Thong Lang Beach is just under 150-meter long and is one of the smaller beaches on Koh Larn Island. This beach is located in the northern part of the island, close to Tawaen Beach. Thong Lang Beach is similar to the main beach of the island because it almost borders Tawaen Beach and there is only a small path separating the two beaches from each other. Just off the beach you can find beautiful coral reefs where you can snorkel.
There is only one restaurant along Thong Lang Beach.
3. Sangwan Beach
Sangwan Beach is another small beach section located next to Tawaen Beach and the pier. It is famous for its fine sand and the spectacular view that can be enjoyed from the beach. Sangwan Beach is always well attended due to the crystal clear water and being a good alternative to Tawaen Beach.
On the beach you can rent loungers that cost about 100 THB. At this Koh Larn beach, there is also a cafeteria and some fun in the water such as Jet Ski and banana boat.
4. Samae Beach
Samae Beach is the second largest Koh Larn beach in terms of size and popularity. The beach, measuring just over 500 meters in length, is located on the western side of Koh Larn, just before Tien Beach. Samae Beach is connected to Na Baan, the main town of the island, with a good road that can be covered by scooter in 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a motorbike taxi or songtaew for 50 THB from the pier.
The atmosphere of Samae Beach is similar to that of Tawaen Beach. You will find many speedboats and excursions taking tourists there to enjoy the water. So if you are looking for a peaceful and quiet place in Koh Larn, this beach will hardly be suitable for you. The water here is very clean, the beach is sandy, almost no stones, and without natural shade of trees. This Koh Larn Beach has good areas for swimming and playing water sports as well as hundreds of deck chairs lined up. There are many restaurants along the beach where you can sit comfortably and get almost anything you ask for.
Samae Beach is a perfect place to enjoy a spectacular panorama of the beach as you can reach the Khao Nom viewpoint on foot or by motorbike and admire the view or the sunset there. A visit is definitely worth it! In addition, in the northern part of Samae Beach, there is a very particular building that acts as a solar power plant. Next to the beach, there are constantly taxi drivers ready to bring you to everywhere else.
Xanadu Beach Resort is the only resort on Samae Beach, so it is very secluded and exclusive. The rooms are very clean and comfortable. The resort is offering free shuttle between the pier and resort.
5. Tien Beach
Tien Beach is definitely one of the best beaches in Koh Larn. If you visit the island with the desire to sunbathe on a beautiful beach and play water sports, Tien Beach is your best choice. From the parking lot, where the road ends, a long concrete walkway leads to the beach. Since the beach is a bit far from the center of the island, it is not so overcrowded. However, there are always motorbike taxis and songtaew ready to serve those who haven't rented a scooter.
Tien Beach, a medium-sized beach in Koh Larn, has a length of 400 meters. The beach boasts the blue sea, white sand and the trees growing close to the waterline to offer natural shade. The atmosphere at this Koh Larn beach is very relaxed and peaceful. You will always find a lounger with some privacy. At the edge of the beach, there are coral reefs, where you can snorkel and discover underwater life. Depending on the moon phase and wind, the waves can get a little high here.
Tien Beach has many restaurants and souvenir shops that are even more affordable than you would find on other Koh Larn beaches.
6. Nual Beach
Nual Beach is located in the southernmost part of Koh Larn. This beach is also known as the Monkey Beach because there is a small group of monkeys living on the nearby hills. Many visitors love to see monkeys on the hillside above the eastern end. If you will be lucky, you might have a chance to see monkeys, especially if you will be coming in the morning, when it is not hot yet.
Nual Beach is a bit different beach on the island and it has undergone some changes in recent years. The beach is not as crowded as the two main Koh Larn beaches. Nual Beach is a very beautiful stretch of sand extending for less than 300 meters with large coconut trees lining up. Here you will also find powder-fine white sand and crystal clear water, making the beach an excellent area for snorkeling and admiring the coral reef. You can discover the colorful fish, corals and starfish by snorkeling or taking a trip with the glass bottom boat that allows you to see through the crystal clear water the beauty of the seabed on the coast of Koh Larn. If you walk along the beach to the left end, you will have the entire beach to yourself as no one settles there.
You can stay on this Koh Larn beach during the day, as there is a restaurant and bar on the beach. However, there is no accommodation available on Nual Beach for overnight.
Nual Beach is easy to reach from Na Baan Pier. To get there by a scooter, just turn left, pass the 7/11 and the temple, and continue straight until the end of the road.
7. Tayai Beach
Tayai Beach is the smallest and most peaceful Koh Larn beach, lying in the far north of the island. Tayai is a very small beach with a length of only 100 meters, so you can walk from one end to the other just in a couple of minutes. The beach is fairly quiet with a fantastic atmosphere because it is rarely visited.
Tayai Beach is suitable for swimming only at high tide. The low tide strips the rocky bottom at the end of the beach where you can climb around. There are also water sports for you to experience. On Tayai Beach, there is only one restaurant to relax and you can order your food in the restaurant or directly from the deckchair on the beach. There is no accommodation available.
Tayai Beach is also easily accessible from the town and it takes about 15-20 minutes by scooter. There is almost no infrastructure, other than hammocks.
The most beautiful moment of the day on Tayai Beach is that of sunset and sunrise, when you have a chance to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the colors reflected on the surface of the sea. However, if you will only take a day trip to Koh Larn from Pattaya, unfortunately, you won’t be able to enjoy it.
8. Na Baan Pier Beach
Na Baan Pier Beach does not appear on any map because it is actually not the real beach. The seaside located right next to Na Baan Pier has no sand but many stones, so it is not really suitable for lying in the sun and swimming. However, here you can spend time at the restaurant and enjoy the tranquility of the island.
Some of the best rated accommodations in Na Baan:
Lareena Resort Koh Larn Pattaya
Tips
Read our travel guide to Koh Larn to get familiar with the island before getting there.
If you are staying in Pattaya, Koh Larn beaches can be easily visited by just getting on one of the regular ferries or speedboat. However, even if you have no plans to stay in Pattaya, you can still visit Koh Larn beaches by joining a day trip to Pattaya City & Koh Larn Island from Bangkok.
