Koh Lan: A Heavenly Escape Just a Few Kilometers from Pattaya
While Pattaya offers a wealth of entertainment and affordable dining options, it lacks one essential ingredient—crystal-clear seawater and immaculate beaches. However, just a few kilometers away lies the magnificent Koh Lan Island, which will be discussed in this article.
- General information about Koh Lan Island
- Koh Lan beaches in Pattaya
- The most popular Koh Lan beach – Ta Waen
- No less popular Koh Lan beach – Samae
- Tien – a bit more freedom on Koh Lan Island
- Sangwan – Thai-style business on Koh Lan Island
- Thonglang – Koh Lan beach
- Ta Yai – romance on Koh Lan
- Nual – the beach where local monkeys often make an appearance.
- Infrastructure of Koh Lan Island
- Hotels on Koh Lan Island
- Transport on Koh Lan Island
- How to get to Koh Lan Island
General information about Koh Lan Island
No beach in the Pattaya area can compare to Koh Lan (also known as Koh Lang) when it comes to pristine water and well-maintained shores—a quality that many urban resorts simply cannot offer. Even compared to renowned resorts in Europe, such as those in Anapa or Sochi, Pattaya’s beaches pale in comparison. Pattaya stands out favorably in this regard compared to European resorts because for just 50 THB and about 40 minutes of travel you can immerse yourself in a whole day of heavenly relaxation.
Thailand and Koh Lan (Ko Lan Island Pattaya), in particular, are famous for their gentle sea and beach vacations, and indeed, if you have no desire to spend several hours traveling to remote islands (plus an overnight stay), Koh Lan is exactly what you need.
Koh Lan is easily accessible from Pattaya by ferry. We recommend booking your tickets via the 12GoAsia service (see the search window below).
This slice of paradise is located just 9 kilometers from the resort capital and is intended exclusively for beach recreation.
Why is that? Well, simply because the island’s main attraction is its beaches, and there’s hardly anything else to do here besides simply lounging and soaking up the sun. Although no, let’s be honest, there are three sights here after all:
- Buddhist temple.
- Observation deck.
- Buddha statue.
Frankly, visiting these spots on their own isn’t the main draw of Koh Lan. Pattaya itself boasts many fascinating temples, and the Buddha statues here are rather ordinary compared to the sheer beauty of the beaches.
The observation deck—yes, there is something to see here, and it offers interesting views of the island itself and Pattaya. You can take a couple of photos and shoot a video for memory. The deck is located on Ta Waen Beach.
Exploring the island’s varied beaches, immersing yourself in the local way of life, and unwinding after the urban hustle is an experience worth repeating.
By the way, many tourists, as well as long-stayers, do exactly that. If they plan on spending the day enjoying the sea and the sun, they head to this island and spend the entire day there.
Long-stayer—a tourist who stays in Thailand for a long time. They come for the winter or just to live there for a few months.
Koh Lan’s reviews are good, which means it’s time to study it more closely…
Koh Lan beaches in Pattaya
When talking about “Koh Lan Pattaya Beach,” you have to clarify which particular beach because there are seven of them here, each one good in its own way.
- Monkey Beach (Nual Beach).
- Samae.
- Tien.
- Sangwan.
- Ta Waen (Tawaen).
- Thonglang.
- Ta Yai.
The most popular Koh Lan beach – Ta Waen
Beach information
Length (m): 400
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 8
Crowdedness (1-10): 4
Infrastructure: Limited amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Ta Waen Beach is the most popular, serving as the main ferry dock and the primary hub for tourists. What can we say about it? It’s not the worst place if you compare it with any Pattaya beach, but the main drawback is the large number of tourists.
The beach has a wide shoreline, about 1 kilometer, and a developed infrastructure. Naturally, this is quite relative—compared to other beaches on the island, its infrastructure is more advanced, but compared to Pattaya, it’s less developed.
If you want to combine beach relaxation with a bustling atmosphere, this is the place for you. There are many cafés, souvenir shops, and small stores here (there’s even a 7-Eleven).
The swimming area is cordoned off by buoys, and this is one of those cases where we recommend staying within those boundaries because various watercraft zip around outside the buoys, mostly jet skis.
The beach is sandy, as is the sea bottom. The entry is shallow, and it only gets deeper about 20–30 meters out, which means this place is great for families with children and people who don’t feel very confident in the water.
If you don’t feel like going inland for solitude, you can spend a few minutes walking to the far end of the beach, where there are fewer people but also little infrastructure—in fact, there’s none at all. Even sun loungers are absent here.
Speaking of sunbeds, things are somewhat complicated. According to Thai law, there shouldn’t be anything superfluous on beaches that would spoil their natural look, so it was decided to remove all sun loungers. However, they weren’t moved far, and they are located right at the edge of the sandy part of the beach.
It’s somewhat cleaner there than in the central area. You might spot monkeys on Ta Waen, though that would be quite lucky.
Ta Waen has the standard set of water activities you can find on almost any beach, including:
- parasailing,
- jet ski rental,
- water skiing,
- snorkeling or diving equipment rental,
- banana boat or water tube rides,
- kayaking.
No less popular Koh Lan beach – Samae
Beach information
Length (m): 300
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 3
Infrastructure: Minimal amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Samae Beach, favored by European visitors, is easily recognizable by the numerous English signs. Apparently, for the locals on this beach, visitors from Europe are the main source of income.
You can recognize Samae by its distinctive feature: there is a huge solar panel here, which serves as a backup power source for the island. It’s a large white building located on a hill.
The beach infrastructure here is practically the same as on the previous one, so it’s comfortable and slightly calmer at Samae.
The beach stretches 600 meters in length and about 100 meters wide at low tide.
The sand is white, the entry into the water is shallow, and the bottom is sandy.
Tien – a bit more freedom on Koh Lan Island
Beach information
Length (m): 250
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 2
Infrastructure: Minimal amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Tien Beach is located not far from Samae Beach; you could say they border each other, but in fact, there are some rocks in between. Its relative seclusion has done its job, and there aren’t as many people here as on the first two beaches.
The coastline is only 400 meters long, but the clarity of the water is astonishing. Some even claim that its crystal-clear water surpasses that of Samui – renowned for having some of the cleanest beaches worldwide.
The sand here is snow-white and somewhat resembles slightly darkened flour.
The water is shallow near the shore, deepening about 20–30 meters out – ideal for families and those less confident in deep water. We recommend staying within the marked buoy area, as jet skis and other watercraft often operate just beyond these limits.
If you get bored with beach relaxation, you can move to the very edge of Tien, where there are handmade swings right over the water. Photos and videos here turn out magical.
Sun loungers, as everywhere else, are not on the beach itself, and prices start from 100 THB and up.
During the low season (May, June, July, August, September) there aren’t many people; naturally, there are more in the peak season.
The best time to visit is in the morning, when the beach has only just woken up and there are no tourists yet.
Sangwan – Thai-style business on Koh Lan Island
Beach information
Length (m): 200
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 6
Crowdedness (1-10): 2
Infrastructure: Very basic
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
The beach next to Ta Waen is Sangwan. It’s not very popular, largely due to Thai-style business practices. At Sangwan Beach, you are required to rent a sun lounger for 100 THB—a rule that, while longstanding, still deters some visitors.
Given that this requirement hasn’t changed for a long time, there must still be visitors.
The shoreline is only 100 meters long; there are rocks on both sides on the shore and also in the water. The beach is narrow, so this rule is probably set to avoid overcrowding—after all, the pier is nearby, and most tourists might rush here in search of solitude…
The swimming area is enclosed by buoys like everywhere else. Sunbathing on the sand with your own towel is impossible—you can only use the rented loungers.
You can reach Sangwan on foot. There’s a wooden walkway from Ta Waen Beach, and walking on it could be considered an extreme activity on Koh Lan because it doesn’t inspire confidence.
Thonglang – Koh Lan beach
Beach information
Length (m): 300
Cover Type: Sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 3
Infrastructure: Basic amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
If the distance you need to travel after arriving at Koh Lan is critical for you, choose Thonglang Beach, located almost next to Ta Waen but on the opposite side from Sangwan.
This beach is shorter and narrower than Ta Waen, which affects its appearance. It’s unlikely you’ll get a picturesque photo with the island in the background—only with the sea behind you. In all other respects, there are only pluses: fewer tourists, cleaner water, and deeper water. The entry is rather steep, and depth sets in quickly. That’s why speedboats dock at the far end.
We recommend swimming in the central area and closer to Ta Waen, where there are no boats.
It’s best to get to Thonglang by speedboat, but keep in mind that the cost of such a trip is several times higher than the ferry crossing (150–400 THB vs. 50 THB).
Ta Yai – romance on Koh Lan
Beach information
Length (m): 500
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 3
Infrastructure: Basic amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Ta Yai isn’t a traditional beach but rather a small bay known for its romantic ambiance. Its limited infrastructure and infrequent waves make it an ideal secluded getaway for couples. However, be cautious of the rocky bottom and sea urchins – water shoes are recommended.
While there isn’t such a variety of cafés and souvenir shops as on Samae or Ta Waen, you’ll enjoy gorgeous scenery and solitude here.
The entry into the water is steep, and it gets deep quickly. One downside is the waves, which occur quite often at Ta Yai.
Another considerable drawback is the rocky bottom and the presence of sea urchins, which won’t do your foot any favors if you meet them. So it’s best to swim at Ta Yai wearing special water shoes.
Nual – the beach where local monkeys often make an appearance.
Beach information
Length (m): 600
Cover Type: White sand
Water Temp (°C): 28
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 4
Infrastructure: Basic amenities
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Low
Lifeguards Available? no
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Finally, the monkey beach, Nual. Located in the farthest part of Koh Lan, it’s the least popular among visitors. And it’s precisely the lack of tourist crowds that doesn’t scare off the monkeys living nearby, but rather piques their curiosity.
The 350-meter-long beach has grayish sand and relatively clear water.
The downside is the lack of well-developed infrastructure, which is not profitable to build here due to the low popularity. The main establishments are in the central part of Nual, but even if you’re relaxing on the edge, you can order takeout.
The prices are not very budget-friendly compared to Pattaya (two rice-and-meat dishes plus drinks will cost about 500 THB). For 2025, prices vary, but budget around 500 THB or slightly more for such a lunch.
Life hack—since the road to the beach passes through the village of Naban, where there is a 7-Eleven, buy something to eat there and save a decent amount.
Regarding the monkeys—they don’t roam the beach, so you’ll need to head toward the rocks on the left side of the beach to see them. If you’re serious about meeting the monkeys, it’s best to come in the morning when it’s cooler and they’re more active.
Infrastructure of Koh Lan Island
Island life on Koh Lan is well developed. There is a large amount of beach, souvenir, and food infrastructure. In the village of Naban, there are several small stores with moderate prices and its own market. Each beach has the standard set of tourist must-haves (depending on the beach’s popularity, this set may increase or decrease).
This set includes:
- several cafés,
- souvenir shops,
- grocery stores,
- street food stalls,
- water activities agencies.
So the infrastructure is quite developed, and tourists won’t experience any hardships or deprivations after Pattaya.
Hotels on Koh Lan Island
There are even a few hotels on Koh Lan in Pattaya, and if you wish, you can spend the night here (though we don’t really recommend staying on Koh Lan for a long time; it’s better to stay in Pattaya and travel from there).
All the hotels are built in the eastern part of the island; here are some options:
The cost of single occupancy ranges from about $40–$100 per night (as of 2025). If you consider the virtually complete absence of evening entertainment on the island, the reason for a long stay on Koh Lan quickly fades.
If you do need to choose among these hotels, we would recommend the first option.
Transport on Koh Lan Island
Transport on Koh Lan is quite well developed, and tourists can choose from the following options:
- a self-guided trip around the island by renting a motorbike (200 THB per day if you rent at the pier, up to 300 THB if you rent on the beach);
- tuk-tuk (a fixed price of 40 THB for any ride around the island, regardless of destination);
- motorcycle taxi (30–50 THB, depending on distance).
Since many routes between the beaches are winding and potentially risky, a tuk-tuk—offering both affordability and safety—is often the best option.
How to get to Koh Lan Island
So, Koh Lan—how to get from Pattaya to this island?
There are three ways:
- book a tour at an agency,
- transfer to the island by speedboat,
- take the ferry.
It’s possible—and advisable—to get to Koh Lan on your own, since it would be silly to overpay 1,000 THB for nothing.
The cheapest option is the ferry crossing, which costs 50 THB one way. The ferry departs from Bali Hai Pier, and all you need is to figure out where this famous Bali Hai is.
It’s located at the junction between Jomtien and Central Pattaya (considered the very center of the city). You can see on the map where the pier is.
It’s best to take public transportation to Walking Street, and from there it’s not that far on foot to the ferry crossing.
Tickets for the ferry are sold at the ticket office, and it’s better to buy a round trip right away, as there are no ticket offices on Koh Lan.
The ferry arrives at Ta Waen Beach and the village of Naban, depending on which ferry you board.
Ferry schedule to Koh Lan:
- to Ta Waen: 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00;
- to Naban: 7:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00, 18:30;
- from Ta Waen: 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.
It’s better, of course, to go to Ta Waen, because from Naban you’ll have to get to the beach by public transportation in any case.
And keep in mind the Thai habit of suddenly changing schedules or canceling trips altogether. Don’t put off your departure until the last ferry—there is a risk of having to stay overnight…
The second option is more expensive but faster—a speedboat.
The obvious advantages of this type of transport are not being tied to a schedule, speed, and convenient arrival (you can cut down on travel time to the beach since you can be taken to any beach you agree upon).
The fare for a speedboat is higher, ranging from 150 to 300 THB if you depart from Bali Hai Pier, and up to about 2,500 THB if you catch a private ride from any central beach.
Traveling on your own offers a clear advantage: you pay 2,500 THB for the round trip, with waiting included, and you can land at any beach that’s accessible by boat (this is discussed with the boat owner on the spot).
It doesn’t matter which beach (Jomtien, Naklua, etc.)—speedboats are everywhere, but it’s cheaper from the pier.
Finally, the tour to Koh Lan is terribly overpriced and unnecessary. Seriously, what’s the point of paying for something that costs way less if you just take a little time to study the city map? Folks, this is Thailand—you need to walk around and admire the scenery. This isn’t Egypt with its package tours. A couple of blisters is nothing compared to the impressions you get from strolling around the city and its surroundings on your own.
By the way, the guide will offer you an unforgettable trip to Coral Island—don’t believe it: Coral Island is actually Koh Lan.
You can vacation on Koh Lan year-round, even in the low season ferries keep running (though they cancel them in severe storms).
If you’re wondering how to get to Koh Lan from Bangkok, check out our article on traveling from Bangkok to Pattaya. It describes all possible travel options in detail. Once you’re in Pattaya, just follow the instructions above. There’s no direct Bangkok–Koh Lan route.
Koh Lan Island near Pattaya offers an ideal escape from the urban bustle, inviting you to reconnect with nature and enjoy a truly authentic seaside experience. If anyone tells you that a genuine sea vacation isn’t possible in Pattaya, feel free to smile—and then head straight for Koh Lan!
Don’t forget to share your impressions of the trip in the comments; they’re needed by those who haven’t yet decided where to spend their vacation.
