Our Trip to Koh Larn Island

Hello everyone. Our visit to Koh Larn Island began at Bali Hai Pier. We were running a bit late and rushing to catch the ferry, which costs 30 baht per person. If we missed it, we would have taken a speedboat, which costs 150 baht per person. Ferries leave every hour, but sometimes they depart 10 minutes early, so you need to be careful. Most tourists head out after breakfast, so arriving around 8-9 am is a good idea. After 6 pm, only speedboats operate as the ferries stop running.

We reached Koh Larn Island in 35 minutes, docking at the main pier called Naa Baan. The island is inhabited, with locals living there. Taking a tuk-tuk to other beaches is a good option. If you're considering renting a motorbike, the rental price at the pier is 300 baht, but if you walk a bit further, you can find cheaper options for around 200 baht. They may ask you to leave your passport as a deposit, but we don't recommend it. Leaving a cash deposit is a better choice. There’s no police on the island, so they don’t require a license. Then we stopped at a 7-Eleven to grab some snacks.

At the tuk-tuk parking area, they have a station where you tell them which beach you want to go to. We were heading to Ta Yai Beach. Tuk-tuks usually don’t go there unless they fill up with 10 passengers. You can buy fruit here, including sliced fruits and milkshakes for 40 baht. We tried fried bananas, something we hadn’t had before. They’re different from what you find in the city. Then we continued our journey by tuk-tuk.

There’s some roadwork happening on the island, but the roads were fine. A new sidewalk and road are being built, but no workers were present at the time. Getting to Ta Yai Beach by tuk-tuk is nearly impossible because they usually don’t go there. We had walked there before, which takes about 25-30 minutes, even with kids. It’s a beautiful beach with amazing water. There are a few more people here, but since the beach is small, tuk-tuks don’t typically come. The water depth is great, though it might not be ideal for kids. If you know how to swim, it’s wonderful.

This beach is fantastic for snorkeling, especially near the edges where there are fish. However, you need to be cautious of sea urchins, particularly during low tide. On the right side, there are rocks and a walking path. You can walk to a cactus forest from there. There’s also another beach nearby, but it’s a bit rocky. Most people sit under shaded areas.

You can cross over the rocks to reach another beach with a direct view of the sea, but the rocks can be slippery, so it might be challenging.

At Ta Yai Beach, we decided to eat the fried bananas we bought at the pier. These bananas were grilled and different from what we’d seen before. In the city, they’re usually coated in batter, but these were more caramelized. They had a unique flavor: interesting, though a bit dry, but still enjoyable.

Koh Larn has beautiful beaches compared to other islands. However, it is very crowded, which disrupts the tranquility of the beach. The constant movement of speedboats is also bothersome. The continuous flow of people coming and going affects the atmosphere of the island. It is hard to find a peaceful island vibe here. Still it is worth visiting because the beaches are stunning. However, islands like Samet and Chang offer a more relaxed atmosphere, making them better for unwinding.

We then headed to a beach called Nual, also known as Monkey Beach because monkeys live there. This beach is busier, but its biggest advantage is the beautiful fish you can observe after a bit of swimming. However, there are many water sports here, which some people enjoy. Personally I prefer relaxing in a quiet setting by the shore. Activities like jet skiing and parasailing are abundant here. Koh Larn is easy to access and attracts more visitors, but the beauty of the beach remains impressive.

I am not sure why so many people gather in one spot, as the beach does not seem too small. Swimming is only possible near the edges. They say there are monkeys farther away and there is another beach in that area. The advantage of this beach is the nearby rocks and a rocky strip, which makes it easy to snorkel and see fish.

Another nice feature of this beach is the comfortable sunbeds in the front rows. They are soft and low enough that you could easily fall asleep on them. We checked the menu, which included seafood combos priced at around 2000-3000 baht, though there were more affordable options like fried rice for 170 baht, or even 120 baht. The prices are similar to Ta Yai Beach, but the menu here is more extensive.

We then decided to head to Samae Beach by motorbike. We descended a slope without checking the brakes first and they did not work well. If you are not confident in riding a motorbike or have no prior experience, it is better to take a tuk-tuk. Koh Larn in particular, has steep roads that can be challenging for beginners. Starting with a tuk-tuk might be a safer choice.

Samae Beach is also crowded, but it is more spacious, allowing everyone to spread out more comfortably. The water here is clear and turquoise. Since speedboats and jet skis are not close by, there is a designated area for water activities. Sunbeds are available for 100 baht and you can also rent kayaks and canoes. The beach has good infrastructure. Samae Beach has almost no waves, making it a better option if you dislike them. During the off-season, the water level at Samae Beach tends to be higher. Currently, there are many people and the sunbeds are mostly occupied. Shade is limited, so getting a sunbed is important.

This beach also features an interesting site, an abandoned solar power plant. The solar panels are still there, but the project seems to have failed. You can climb up to see abandoned hotels with a great view from the top. We skipped it today because we wanted to explore other places.

If you do not want to wait for a tuk-tuk, you can take a motorbike taxi for 50 baht per person. This place is stunning, with amazing water. To reach Tiên Beach, you first need to cross a bridge. However, the bridge lacks safety rails, making it tricky to walk across. The view is so beautiful that it might distract you, increasing the risk of falling. The wooden bridge creaks and it felt as if the planks beneath us might break.

Speedboats are not allowed to approach this area. They can only drop off tourists in designated zones, where swimming is prohibited. Tiên Beach is known for its glass-bottom boats. The water is incredible and smells as fresh as watermelon, offering an amazing sense of refreshment. You can also rent equipment like SUP boards and canoes. The view of the sea here is mesmerizing and I feel like I could never get used to it.

These boats also offer photo and video services. Someone takes pictures and videos and within a few minutes, they provide you with the footage. This service is available on this beach.

There is a tree here where we always want to sit but never manage to. Tiên Beach has plenty of trees, offering shaded spots for relaxation. I think this is the only beach with so many trees. People comfortably settle under the shade, so you do not need a sunbed. You can simply lay down a mat and relax.

Another unique feature of this beach is a goose farm. At certain times, the geese are released and interact with people. You can feed them cabbage and they even swim in the turquoise sea. Watching geese swim in such clear water is a unique sight. There is also a café near the hotel.

The menu is quite elegant, offering sandwiches for 100 baht, breakfasts for 150-180 baht, salads for 100 baht, fried chicken for 300 baht, fried noodles for 130 baht, seafood fried rice for 180 baht, Tom Yum soup for 200 baht and curry for 180 baht.

We swam here and the atmosphere was incredibly refreshing. The waves were slightly bigger, but the water was fantastic: not too warm, just perfectly refreshing. I saw about 15 medium-sized fish swimming close to the shore, along with some small, shiny silver fish. I did not see any sea urchins, so everything was great. Tiên and Samae Beaches are ideal for families with children because the sandy areas are wide and make it easy to enter the water. Spending time with kids here is very enjoyable.

We then approached Tavaen Beach, which has a viewpoint. Surprisingly, there seemed to be fewer people here compared to Tiên and Samae, especially toward the far end of the beach. It was around 4 pm and many tour groups were arriving. I do not like this beach much because it is directly accessible by ferry and multiple ferries operate here at the same time. The atmosphere is not very relaxing, with all the water sports activities and the constant movement of people.

Near the pier, there are many paddle boats and inflatable rafts. It is quite crowded. Some friends of ours stayed at one of the hotels along the first coastline here and said the atmosphere changes dramatically in the evenings when most tourists leave.

This beach is beautiful, with fine white sand and a long stretch of shoreline. The water is easy to access and stunning. This makes it a popular spot, as it is an amazing beach on its own. If it were not so crowded, it would be even better.

If you are at Tavaen Beach, you do not have to stick to the main beach. You can cross a bridge on the right to reach a smaller, less popular beach. This beach is also lovely, with beautiful water and white sand, though it has slightly more waves. Samae Beach tends to be calmer, but if it is windy, waves can form here. Still the beach is beautiful and we love it. If you do not want to take a ferry, you can come here by tuk-tuk and enjoy a nice swim.

We visited another beach after Tavaen, called Thong Lang. It is a bit far, so it is best to go by motorbike, though walking is also an option. Many tour groups had left by then, so it was quieter. Most tourists had come in the morning and left by midday.

We headed back to Naa Baan because we needed to return the motorbike we had rented. Tuk-tuks operate in the evenings, so if you arrived at Naa Baan in the morning, they can take you from Tiên or Samae back to the pier, but they only pick up from the beaches.

Tourists usually want to take a ferry back from the beaches. During the high season, ferries run every 30 minutes. However, we were late. So we decided to take a speedboat. Tickets can be purchased from a central location, which is very convenient. The cost is 150 baht and we waited about 10 minutes.

We had never taken a speedboat before because we usually prefer ferries for their calmness, stability in waves and lower cost. A ferry ride costs 30 baht, while a speedboat costs 150 baht. But since we wanted to get back quickly, we chose the speedboat this time.

The waiting time depends on the number of passengers. Speedboats are much faster. While a ferry ride takes about 30 minutes, the speedboat took only 15 minutes. However, the waves were a bit rough and at one point, we were launched into the air.

Sspeedboats are very fast, but ferries are calmer and cheaper. If you have time, ferries are a good option.

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