More than 6 million international tourists visited Thailand in the first two months of 2024, and with good reason. Thailand offers delicious food, warm hospitality, and affordability. It's well-known for its stunning beaches.
Pattaya is one of many popular destinations. The city has something for everyone.
The islands in Pattaya are one of the highlights. You can sunbathe on white sand beaches, see spectacular coral reefs, and feed monkeys.
Learn more about seven of the islands near Pattaya you can't miss on your Thailand vacation.
Koh Larn (Coral Island)
Koh Larn or Coral Island is the largest inhabited island near Pattaya.
Koh Larn, Thailand, Photo: piqsels.com
Koh Larn is a popular day-trip destination for residents of Pattaya. It's also a popular weekend location for people who live in Bangkok. You'll find Koh Larn less crowded on weekdays.
Koh Larn is a top pick for the white, sandy shoreline you expect from a Thailand beach. You can stay overnight in a hotel at the Samae, Tien, and Tawaen beaches. Koh Larn is ideal for snorkeling, swimming, and water sports like jet skiing.
You can get to Koh Larn in around 45 minutes on the ferry boat from Bali Hai pier. The ferry costs around 200 THB round trip. You can also charter a speedboat, which costs around 2,000 THB.
Koh Sak
Koh Sak and Koh Krok are small uninhabited islands near Koh Larn. They offer a quieter alternative to Koh Larn. The Royal Thai Navy oversees the uninhabited islands around Pattaya, which has helped the islands keep their untouched character.
Koh Sak. Photo: A satan incarnate (Flickr)
Koh Sak has a unique crescent shape with two pristine beaches. You can walk from one beach to the other on a pathway that features footprints of celebrities including Neil Armstrong.
Koh Sak is an excellent choice for observing beautiful marine life. You can visit the nearby coral reefs on a diving tour. You can also visit an artificial shipwreck, the HTMS Kut. The HTMS Kut is a WWII ship that the Thai navy sank in 2006 in honor of the King of Thailand's 60th year on the throne.
To visit Koh Sak, you can take an island-hopping cruise or charter a speedboat from Bali Hai pier. The cost of a tour depends on the operator and factors like the length of the cruise. A speedboat charter costs 2,000-3,500 THB.
Koh Krok
Koh Krok is one of the smallest islands near Pattaya. It's only 100 meters long, with a sandy beach on the eastern side and a rocky shore on the western side.
Koh Krok. Photo: Jonathanfv
Like Koh Sak, the coral reefs around Koh Krok are excellent for snorkeling and diving. The conditions make for calm diving without strong currents or choppy water. Koh Krok is suitable for drift diving.
You can visit Koh Krok on a multi-island cruise or by chartering a speedboat. Pricing is similar to Koh Sak.
Koh Phai (Bamboo Island)
Koh Phai (Bamboo Island) gets its name from the dense bamboo forest in the center of the island. It's part of the Far Islands. This island chain is around two hours from Pattaya.
Koh Phai. Photo: Christophe95
Koh Phai has beautiful white sand beaches as well as excellent snorkeling and diving. The HTMS Khram is one of the best diving sites near Pattaya.
You can reach Koh Phai with a chartered speedboat or on a snorkeling or diving tour. Koh Phai is farther away than Koh Sak or Koh Krok, so the charter price will be higher.
Koh Rin (Gnat Island)
Koh Rin is a tiny, pristine island to the southwest of Pattaya. The width of the beach changes dramatically with high and low tide. You can be swimming with tropical fish in a few steps, and at low tide you can see the fish as you sit on the beach.
Koh Rin has excellent snorkeling and diving. Many people call Koh Rin the best island around Pattaya for viewing marine life. You'll find more diversity in the sea than some of the other islands in Pattaya.
Koh Rin is part of the Far Islands. You can reach it by chartering a speedboat or as part of one of the island tours that leaves from the Ocean Marina Yacht Club. The price of a tour depends on factors such as the tour company, the type of boat, and the number of islands visited.
Koh Si Chang
Koh Si Chang is close to Bangkok. It was a favorite retreat for three of Thailand's former kings. As such, you can visit several fascinating historical and religious sites.
Koh Si Chang. Photo: ekeidar
The Phra Chudhadhuj Palace Museum was the summer residence of King Rama IV. Wat Tham Chakkapong has an immense yellow Buddha at the mouth of Chakkapong Cave. The area was the site of King Rama V's residential pavilion.
Hiking in the mountains leads to spectacular views. Koh Si Chang has a large number of elephants in the jungle. For a unique experience, take an elephant trek.
Koh Si Chang is easy to reach on the boat ferry or public speedboat from Sri Racha. The ferry takes about 45 minutes, and the speedboat takes 15-20 minutes each way.
Ferry tickets are around 50 THB.
Koh Klet Kaew (Monkey Island)
Koh Klet Kaew is also known as Koh Ped or Monkey Island. The island has more long-tailed macaques than people.
The monkeys are very accustomed to humans and will come running when they hear a boat. Most tour operators will give you seeds, fruit, or nuts to feed the macaques. The monkeys may pose for pictures in exchange for a snack.
You can reach Koh Klet Kaew by chartered speedboat, which takes around 30 minutes. The island is also included in many island-hopping tours.
Explore the Breathtaking Islands in Pattaya
Of the many beautiful islands in Pattaya, you don't want to miss these. You can relax on a white sand beach, ride an elephant, or see tropical sea life in the coral reefs. The islands are easy to access with a chartered boat or as part of a tour.
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Cover photo: Galleon01
