Match the beach to your style and make a full day of it
Ko Larn has several beaches and they differ a lot — here's an honest note on which is busy and has everything, which is quiet for lounging, and what you can do.
1
Tawaen is the biggest and most popular beach on Ko Larn, on the north of the island — a long stretch of white sand with shallow, easy swimming water. The beachfront is lined with seafood restaurants, deckchair-and-umbrella rentals, gear-hire stalls and watersport operators.
If it's your first time on Ko Larn and you want one spot that does everything — swim, eat, hire a lounger, try an activity — Tawaen covers it. Be honest with yourself about timing, though: from mid-morning to midday the big tour groups land here in numbers. For a beach that's still quiet, come early, or head to one of the others instead.
2
If you want clearer water and a calmer mood than Tawaen, Samae is the answer. On the west of the island, it's a pretty curved bay with clear water and fine sand, and fewer people — ideal if you'd rather hire a lounger, read, sip a coconut and drift in and out of the sea all day.
Samae still has restaurants and gear hire, but on a smaller, friendlier scale. Plenty of people who've been to Ko Larn once choose this beach on their next visit because it feels more relaxed. Honestly, if you lean towards calm over buzz, Samae is worth the short hop across the island.
Nual is a small beach on the south of the island, sometimes called Monkey Beach because monkeys used to be seen nearby. It's short but the water is clear and quiet, and it suits anyone wanting to slip away from the bustle of Tawaen. There are a few restaurants and loungers, though not many.
Honestly, Nual is tight on space, so on a busy day it can feel crowded — but come on a weekday or in the early morning and you'll get a genuinely private feel. It works well if you're hopping between several beaches in a day and want a quieter one to pause at for a while.
Ko Larn still has a few snorkelling spots with fish and recovering coral, especially around Samae and the points the tour boats visit — clear enough to see shoals of fish, and fine for beginners. Off Tawaen, the popular activities are jet-skis, parasailing, banana boats and sea-walking (a helmeted walk on the seabed).
Prices are negotiable rather than fixed, so agree the cost clearly and photograph the price board before you start. The important thing to know is that watersports here have a history of scams — read the warning box below for how to protect yourself, and don't skip it.
Ko Larn has plenty of beachfront seafood — prawns, fish, squid, blue crab, stir-fried morning glory and fried rice. Prices run a little above downtown Pattaya, as you'd expect on a tourist island, and if you order seafood by weight, ask the price per kilo and check the scale before you commit, so there are no surprises at the till.
Na Ban (the main village by the pier) is a small community with convenience stores, cafés and vehicle hire. If you want to see several beaches in a day you can rent a motorbike or scooter (a few hundred baht a day) — but honestly, the island roads are steep and narrow in places, so if you're not a confident rider, a songthaew or motorbike taxi is the safer call. For more on eating, see our Pattaya seafood guide.
The simple plan is out in the morning, back in the evening. Leave your hotel for Bali Hai Pier early, catch one of the first ferries, and once on the island pick a main beach to swim, lounge and have lunch by the water. In the afternoon, hop to another beach if you fancy a change of scene, then take an afternoon ferry back before the last one.
The key thing is to check the time of the last ferry back (usually in the evening) and not lose track of it — miss it and you'll have to charter an expensive speedboat. Pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water shoes or strap-on sandals, cash (many small island shops take cash only) and a waterproof pouch for your phone.