Going to Pattaya? Make sure to go to Koh Lan Island – it is very close! This beautiful place is in great demand among modern tourists coming to Thailand. We’ll take a look there, too.
General information
Koh Lan, whose name translates as “coral island”, is a large island formation located 8 km from Pattaya. Despite the fact that it is not considered a separate resort in Thailand, it is here that hundreds of travelers flock who want to enjoy nature and a great beach holiday. Usually they go here in the early morning, and return back in the late afternoon, but if you want, you can stay here for a few days.
On a note! Koh Lan Island in Thailand is not only visited by tourists from Pattaya. It is often visited by residents of Bangkok, which is only 2.5 hours away from the island, as well as Thai students and people from the village of Chonburi. Because of this, on weekends and holidays, local beaches can be quite crowded.
If you look closely at the photo of Koh Lan Island in Pattaya (Thailand), you can see that it has a winding coastline stretching for almost 4.5 km. At the same time, most of the coastal strip is covered with snow-white sand and dotted with green spaces. The highest point of the island is a two-hundred-meter hill, the top of which is crowned with a Buddhist temple and a viewing platform.
The main attractions of Koh Lan can be called Buddhist Wat, which has several religious buildings (including a gilded sculpture of a sitting Buddha), as well as a solar power station built on Samae Beach and similar to a sprawling sea stingray.
On a note! Anyone can enter the Buddhist temple. However, you should not forget about the rules of conduct adopted in such places. So, the temple can not be visited in too open clothes-this is a strict taboo. In addition, in any case, do not stand with your back to the images of the Buddha – this is considered a sign of disrespect.
Tourist infrastructure
Koh Lan Island in Thailand has a fairly developed infrastructure.
Most retail outlets, including the local market, are located in Naban. In addition, near each beach of the island there are cafes, massage parlors and beauty salons, makashnitsa and grocery stores, souvenir shops and entertainment agencies (snorkeling, diving, banana riding, kayaking and aquabike riding, skydiving, etc.).
The main means of transportation around the island are motorbikes, motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks. Local residents ‘ homes and main hotels are concentrated on the north-eastern coast of the island. A few more hotels and villages of bungalows can be found in the south. Unpaved and paved roads are laid between them, along which public transport runs. As for the mainland, the island is connected with it by a regular ferry service.
Accommodation
Koh Lan Island in Pattaya (Thailand) offers a large selection of accommodation for every taste and budget. There are both modest guest houses and comfortable resort hotels. Among them, it is worth noting:
- Lareena Resort Koh Larn Pattaya 3* is a resort hotel located 30 m from Naa Ban Marina and offers guests a traditional set of services (free internet access, hair dryer, air conditioning, cable TV, refrigerator, private parking, food and drink delivery, etc.). Each room has a private balcony and a panoramic window that offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area of the island. From here, you can easily reach the main beaches of Koh Lana – Samae and Ta Waen (both a 5-minute drive away). The price of a daily stay in a double room is 1700 TNV;
- Xanadu Beach Resort 3* is a colorful hotel built right on the beach (Samae Beach). Its main distinguishing features include modern air-conditioned rooms with a refrigerator, TV, mini-bar, safe, coffee maker and other useful items, as well as a free shuttle service to Naa Ban Marina. The hotel also has its own tour desk. The cost of a daily stay in a double room is 2100 TNV;
- Blue sky Koh larn Resort is a comfortable hotel located just over 1 km from Tai Yai Beach. Free Wi-Fi is available on site, an American breakfast is served daily at the local restaurant, free parking is available, and a shuttle service is provided. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, LCD TVs, toiletries, mini-bars, etc. The price of a daily stay in a double room is 1160 TNV.
On a note! Accommodation on Koh Lan is 1.5-2 times more expensive than in Pattaya.
Beaches of the island
Koh Lan Island in Thailand has 5 well-groomed beaches, among which there are both crowded areas with a large selection of water activities, and secluded corners that have a quiet and peaceful idleness. Let’s look at each of them.
Ta Vaen
- Length-700 m
- Width – from 50 to 150 m (depending on the tides)
Being the largest beach on Koh Lan, Ta Waen will surprise you not only with clean sand and clear warm water (which you will not see in Pattaya), but also with a huge crowd of tourists. This popularity is explained by 2 factors at once. Firstly, it is the easiest place to get here, and secondly, it is here that the only pier of the resort is located. In addition, Ta Waen has the most developed infrastructure. In addition to umbrellas and sun loungers placed along the entire coastline, it has a shooting gallery, a medical center and a whole avenue consisting of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and stalls with beach accessories.
But perhaps the main advantage of Tawaen beach is the gentle entrance to the water and a huge number of shallow areas that families with small children will surely appreciate.
Samae
- Length-600 m
- Width – from 20 to 100 m
Samae Beach, located at the western tip of Koh Lan and surrounded by high cliffs, rightfully bears the title of the cleanest and most beautiful. This is due not only to the lack of a large number of people, but also to the fast currents characteristic of this part of the Gulf of Thailand.
The main distinguishing features of Samae beach are the clear sea, soft white sand and a wide range of beach amenities. In addition to traditional umbrellas, sun loungers and showers, there is a taxi rank, several shops offering not only food, but also various souvenir products, restaurants and cafes. Water activities include banana rides and jet skis. The entrance to the water is also gentle. In addition, there are practically no stones on the coast.
Tai Yai
- Length-100 m
- Width-8 m
Among all the beaches of Koh Lan Island in Thailand, Tai Yai, which many tourists do not even know exists, is considered the quietest, most modest and secluded. It is perfect for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city or arrange a romantic date for their other half. Its main advantages include clean white sand, warm waters of the bay and a beautiful bay. However, you can swim here only during high tides, as the rest of the time you can stumble on rocks.
Tong Lang
- Length-200 m
- Width-10 m
Tong Lang is a great option for a relaxing beach holiday. Despite its small size, this Koh Lan beach in Pattaya has everything that a modern tourist might need – sun lounger rentals, bamboo cafes, a ferry, speedboats, and a gift shop. True, all this works only during the holiday season, but in the rest of the period, life on Tong Lang subsides.
It should also be noted that the sand on this beach is white, but quite large, and the entrance to the water is steep. In addition, along the entire coastline there is a strip of sharp stones, which, fortunately, ends in the widest part of the beach.
Tien
- Length-400 m
- Width-100 m
This Koh Lan beach in Pattaya is considered by many to be the best. Of course, due to its small size, it can hardly accommodate all vacationers on its territory, but this does not affect its popularity in any way. The main feature of this place can be called a developed infrastructure, the presence of restaurants and a slight influence of low tides, so that the sand here always remains clean, and the water is absolutely clear. It is also important that the edges of Tien are surrounded by picturesque coral reefs, where you can dive with a mask and observe the life of underwater inhabitants.
Weather and climate
Another characteristic feature of Koh Lan Island in Thailand is the favorable climatic conditions. While most of the resorts on the Andaman coast are closed due to the strong monsoon, which lasts almost six months (from June to November), this paradise continues to receive tourists from all over the world. And all because in this part of the Gulf of Thailand, wind, storms and rain are extremely rare. However, even then they do not spoil the overall impression of this island.
As for the air and water temperatures, they do not fall below 30°C and 27°C, respectively. In this regard, holidays on the island are available all year round, so it all depends only on your preferences. So, those who want to enjoy the hot rays of the sun properly, it is better to go to Koh Lan from the beginning of December to the middle of May. If you prefer more comfortable temperatures, then plan your vacation from June to October – at this time it is a little cooler here.
How to get to Koh Lan from Pattaya?
If you don’t know how to get to Koh Lan from Pattaya, please use one of the following methods.
Method 1. With a tourist tour
Traditional excursions offered by travel agencies cost around 1000 THB. At the same time, the price includes not only a transfer from the hotel to the boat and back, but also travel in both directions, use of beach umbrellas and sun beds, as well as lunch in one of the local cafes.
Method 2. By speedboat
For those who plan to get to Koh Lan from Pattaya on their own, we recommend using high-speed boats that depart from almost all the beaches of the city. But it is better to land at the central pier of Bali Hai. In this case, you will not have to pay for all the seats in the boat at once, because a whole group of tourists (from 12 to 15 people) gather at the pier.
Ticket price: from the beaches-2000 THB, from the central pier – from 150 to 300 THB (regardless of the calmness of the sea and the season).
Travel time: 15-20 minutes.
Method 3. By ferry
Are you interested in getting to Koh Lan from Pattaya a little slower, but cheaper? For this purpose, there are wooden ferries designed for 100-120 people. They depart from the central pier and arrive either at Tawaen Beach or Naban village (depending on which ferry you take). From there, you can get to other tourist spots on the island by tuk-tuk, motorbike and on foot.
Ticket price: 30 THB.
Travel time: 40-50 minutes.
Schedule:
- to Tawaen-08.00, 09.00, 11.00, 13.00;
- up to Naban– 07.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 15.30, 17.00, 18.30;
- from Tawaen– 13.00,14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00;
- from Naban– 6.30, 7.30, 9.30, 12.00, 14.00, 15.30, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00.
Ferry tickets are sold at the ticket office located directly on the pier. You need to buy them in advance – at least 30 minutes before departure. But on Koh Lan Island there are no such ticket offices – here tickets are sold right at the entrance to the ship.
Useful tips
If you decide to visit Koh Lan Beach in Pattaya (Thailand), take note of these useful tips:
- Motorbike rental points are located near the Tawaen beach and Naban port berths (here the most affordable rental), as well as on Samae Beach. To rent this vehicle, you must present your passport and pay a cash deposit;
- Taking picnic food just doesn’t make sense – you can buy it at the local market, in small beach shops, or at the 7-11 supermarket located near the Naban port pier. By the way, in the same village there are about a dozen vending machines selling filtered water (1 l — 1 TNV);
- If you are planning to drive around the island on your own, please note that almost all paved roads pass through the central part of Koh Lan;
- The terrain on the island is quite hilly, and steep serpentines are very common, so you need to drive very carefully;
- The road from one beach to another takes no more than 10 minutes, so if you didn’t like something in one place, feel free to go further;
- When renting a vehicle, do not forget to take photos of the damage and scratches, as well as indicate them to the landlord in advance;
- The cost of sun loungers on the island is higher than in Pattaya (50 TNV-for sitting places and 100 TNV – for recumbent ones), so if you want to save money, take a towel and a rug with you;
- Do not walk on Koh Lan until the last ferry – there are always a lot of people there.
Koh Lan Island in Thailand is a place that every tourist who comes to Pattaya must visit. We wish you a successful holiday and pleasant impressions!
