Koh Lan Island: Pattaya’s Reachable Hideaway
This morning, I packed my bag without haste and got ready for my weekend destination. It’s not too far, only 150 kilometers from Bangkok, and takes no more than 2 hours to arrive at Balihai Cape in Pattaya. Even late morning like this, Pattaya City is still in its groggy state after another long night of entertaining people. Some other Asian tourists and I are here and waiting to board our boat to our destination, Koh Lan.
Koh Lan is looming larger in my eyes. On the 7.5-kilometer boat trip from Balihai Pier, I could feel myself gradually being surrounded by the fresh air while the distance to the mainland behind is slowly growing further and further. For a speedier alternative tourists can take a speedboat which takes only about 10 minutes, but for the more economic fare, a public boat ride costs only 20-150 Baht, and takes about 40 minutes.
People on Koh Lan have been living on this island for generations, earning from products in farms, orchards, and fisheries. Names of many places on the island today are evidence of these occupations – Tha Ban Thuk (Loading Pier), Tha Rai (Farm Pier), Tha Taling Chan (High Shore Pier) – which once were used for loading products and shipping them to markets on the mainland. In the past, the residents of Koh Lan were rich and well-to-do people. Pirates once raided the island and got many valuables at the time. However, with the long distance from the mainland and the inconvenience of transportation, the government decided to abolish its sub-district status. With only one village left on the island, it was later transferred to the administration of Pattaya City.
I arrive on Koh Lan at Tha Na Ban (Na Ban Pier). Being the first passenger to hop off the boat, I turn back and take some photos of the other tourists who are mostly foreigners. Not far from the point where I’m standing on the left is Lareena Resort, the place where I would stay during the trip. After leaving my baggage there, I began to explore the island.
To wander around Koh Lan is easy with several choices. A minibus costs from 20-30 Baht, motorcycle-taxi charges from 20-50 Baht, depending on the distance, or you could find a motorcycle rental at 300-400 Baht a day. Some tourists may bring along their own mountain bike to the island if the wish.
I started from the highest point on Koh Lan where a Buddhist’s abbey is located. From this point, the view of Ta Waen Beach below is scenic. On top of the hill, there is a replica of Buddha’s footprint. The legend said that on there used to be a big hole located nearby, many villagers went down to explore but none of them returned. I even went to the point mentioned in the story and found the vice-abbot there and he said this point is the passage of the Naga. Nowadays, the hole has been closed with some spells and a pile of stones.
Down from the abbey, I turn left to Ta Waen Beach. With its white soft sand shore, the beach is probably the most popular one on the island. The curved beach lines 750 meters and is the longest beach on the island. The whiteness of the sand sharply contrasts with the color of the clear blue sky above sea. The water is clear enough to see fish swimming underneath. Besides swimming, there are plenty of water activities like banana boats. What impresses me is that with the zoning of the area, some tourists can enjoy swimming while some others can drive a jet ski within the reserved area. Swimmers and divers can enjoy their activities whilst jet ski drivers can have their enjoyment without worry that they will harm other holiday makers on the beach.
Next from Ta Waen Beach is Thong Lang Beach. This beach is suitable for those who seek a calm and private environment. The main activity on this beach is snorkeling. A good spot for viewing the coral is at the end of beach, connecting to the preceding Ta Waen Beach.
After resting at Thong Lang Beach for a while, I ride my motorcycle up on the steep hill to Samae Beach. I am thankful that all the roads on the island are well paved with bricks. Riding a motorcycle or driving an ATV car are both good alternatives to feeling the breeze and having plenty of fun.
Right before I reach Samae Beach, I find a small passage that does not catch other tourist’s attention much. My bike climbed up the hill and found the wind farm at the other end. These windmills are used for generating power and they are especially suited to the wind’s speed in Thailand. This hill is another good spot to view the sunset on Koh Lan. From here, you can see beach umbrellas in various colors and multinational tourists enjoying themselves on Samae Beach below.
Samae Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, and is very popular among tourists from many countries as you can see from the signboards written in Russian and Mandarin along the 300-meter long beach. Samae Beach is convenient with many facilities. It’s the location of the tourist’s service center and also the local government offices. You can also see the sunset on this beach.
Just next to Samae is Thien Beach. This 500-meter long beach is located on the west side of the island. Its unique character is its long bridge lying along the cliff to the white sand beach which is a popular spot where many tourists love to take their pictures. Thien Beach is equipped with water activities just like Ta Waen Beach but with a more peaceful environment. Besides swimming and sunbathing, tourists on this beach may love to try Thai massage, nail-painting, or hair weaving.
Moreover, Koh Lan still has a small and quiet beach like Ta Yai Beach for tourists who prefer a more quiet and private environment, or Nuan Beach where many choices of activities await visitors.
Most foreigners usually have only a day trip on Koh Lan as it’s not so far away from Pattaya, while many Thai tourists loves to spend a night on the island which would give them a totally different experience from the nightlife in Pattaya.
After an exhausting week at work, many may dream of crystal clear water and white sand beaches on the Andaman’s islands but only a few people would know that the dream is well within reach. With the same driving hours as from your home to the office, Koh Lan would be a perfect place to recharge your batteries with its scenic seascape, plenty of fun land and water activities, on an inexpensive budget. For the above reasons, I would confidently say that Koh Lan is one of the very best weekend destinations for the urbanite.
How to get to Koh Lan from Bangkok
Koh Lan is located in Pattaya City, Chonburi, 150 kilometers from Bangkok. Tourists can get there by;
1. Car; driving along Bangna-Trat Road takes about 2 hours, or to avoid traffic congestion, the other alternative is Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway.
There are 2 car parking services
- At Balihai Pier, free of charge, some space available for personal cars, but mostly for coaches and buses.
- Private parking service, opposite side of the pier. Look for the entrance on the side this blue building. 40 Baht for a day and 80 Baht for overnight.
2. Public bus; at 2 stations in Bangkok
- Northern/Northeastern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit/Chatuchak). The bus departs every 2 hours. The first bus leaves at 05.45, and the last bus leaves at 20.00. The fare is approximately 97 Baht.
- Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai). Another point where you can get the bus, located on Sukhumvit Road. The fare is approximately 97 Baht.
3. Public Van; from Victory Monument to Balihai Pier, depart every 2-3 hours. Fare is 150 Baht.
How to get to the island
1. Speed boat; taking 15-20 minutes with lifesaving jackets for your safety. The fare is between 1,500-2,000 Baht
2. Public boat; The first boat departs from Pattaya at 07.00, while the first boat departs from Koh Lan at 06.30. The trip takes about 45 minutes. The last boat leaves from Pattaya at 18.30, but the last boat departs from Koh Lan at 18.00.
- From Pattaya to Koh Lan at 07.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 15.30, 17.00 and 18.30.
- From Koh Lan to Pattaya at 06.30, 07.30, 09.30, 12.00, 14.00, 17.00 and 18.00.
3. Coral tour boat; this boat will take you to Thong Lang Beach. There is no pier but tourists can see the coral through the glass bottom boat while it takes you to the island. The fare is 150 Baht including a beach chair. The boat departs 4 times a day at 08.30, 09.30, 11.00 and 13.00.
How to get around on Koh Lan
- Motorcycle taxi; Fares range from 20 to 50 Baht. Ta Waen Beach 20 Baht, Ta Yai Beach 30 Baht, Nuan Beach and Samae Beach 50 Baht.
- Minibus; Fare range from 20 to 30 Baht.
- Rental Motorcycle; Normal gear at 200-300 Baht. Automatic geat at 300-400 Baht. The fee includes a full tank of gasoline.
Accommodation on Koh Lan
Na Ban Pier Area
- Baan Fah Sai Tel. 083 762 6226 Fax: 038-434049 www.baanfahsai.com
- Lareena Resort Tel. 087 913 6442 ,081 765 7840 www.lareenaresort.com
- Choosri Resort Tel. 08 1945 8824, 08 5085 4760 www.choosriresortkohlarn.com
- Lom Talay Resort Tel. 081 762 8488 www.lomtalayresort.com
- Paywadi Resort Tel. 081-0043464 085-2813869 www.paywadee.com
- Ban Chaliang Lom Resort Tel. 089 213 6653 Fax: 038-434049 www.chalianglomkohlarn.com
- Hong Pak Si Muang (Purple Room) Tel. 08 1781 1166 no. of room 2, room rate 900 Baht
Ta Waen Beach Area
- Sukkhee Resort Tel. 087-611-5217 or 038-434-090 www.sukkheeresort.com
- Beach Club Tel. 08 5094 4147, room rate between 1500 - 2800 Baht
- Bungalow Q-Thong 081 66 40876, 089 831 1329 www.q-thongbungalowkohlarn.com
Thong Lang Beach Area
- Sin Urai Resort Tel. 08 1744 2926, 08 1861 6707, 08 6000 6864 www.kohlarnsinurairesort.com
Samae Beach Area
- Chom Talay Resort Tel. 08 1803 4555, 08 6151 0062 13 room rate between 500 - 800 Baht
Nuan Beach Area
- Koh Larn Resort Tel. 0 3843 4167, 08 9248 4844, 08 1572 8602 www.kohlarnrimtalayresort.com
Thien Beach Area
- Had Thien Resort room rate start from 600 Baht Tel. 038-421-375 or 081-218-2599
Ta Yai Beach Area
- Boon Cheun Resort 08 6849 4935,08 1435 2697 www.kohlarnbooncheunresort.com
- Rim Talay Resort Tel. 0 3843 4167, 08 9248 4844,08 1572 8602 www.kohlarnrimtalayresort.com
- Home Beach Resort Tel. 081-781-9887 www.homebeachresort.com
- Sin Urai Resort Tel. 081 744 2926, 081-8616707,086 000 6864 www.kohlarnsinurairesort.com
Facilities
- Restaurants on the beaches are quite expensive. Tourists can buy seafood at Balihai Pier which would be cheaper and bring to Koh Lan.
- Public locker, toilet, and bathroom services are available on the beach.
- A convenient store (7-eleven) is at Na Ban Pier.
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Hi there
Thank you for the wealth of information on Koh Lan! Would you happen to know if we can bring a luggage (about 50×80x30cm) onto the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya and then onto the public ferry to Koh Lan? We’re planning a 2 weeks trip in Thailand, hence the huge luggage.
Cheers,
Trish
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