Coral Island, known locally as Koh Larn, is a small island about 7.5 km off Pattaya, best known for its white-sand beaches, clear water and water sports, and it is reached only by boat, either a cheap public ferry or a faster speedboat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier. It is the most popular day trip from Pattaya and an easy add-on to any east-coast Thailand trip. This guide covers its beaches, how to get there, the water sports and a few safety notes, before you sort the other pre-trip essential, travel insurance for Thailand .
This page is maintained by Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered general insurer in India and part of the Zurich Insurance Group. Last reviewed: 2026-07-21. Thailand’s visa rules for Indians are mid-transition in 2026 (see our Thailand visa for Indians guide); confirm the current route before booking.
Coral Island in one paragraph
Coral Island (Koh Larn) is a compact island of clear water and several small beaches, close enough to Pattaya for a half-day or full-day trip and clean enough that its water beats the mainland’s. It is not a resort island in the way Phuket or Phu Quoc are; most visitors come for a beach day and a few water sports, then head back to Pattaya by evening, though a handful of simple guesthouses allow an overnight stay. For how Coral Island fits into a Pattaya trip, see our Pattaya guide , and for where it sits among Thailand’s islands, our pillar guide to places to visit in Thailand .
The beaches of Koh Larn
Koh Larn has six main beaches, each with a slightly different character, from the busy and well-serviced Tawaen to the quieter Samae, Tien and Nual. Tawaen Beach is the largest and liveliest, with sunloungers, restaurants and every water sport on tap, which makes it the default for first-timers (I Am Koh Chang, accessed 2026-07-21). Samae Beach and Tien Beach are smaller and calmer, better for a relaxed swim and lunch, while Nual (sometimes called Monkey Beach) is quieter still. If you want the facilities and activity, aim for Tawaen; if you want space and quiet, the ferry drops at Na Baan and you can reach the smaller beaches by songthaew (shared pickup) or scooter.
How to get to Coral Island
The only way to reach Coral Island is by boat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier: a public passenger ferry (about 45 minutes, roughly THB 30 one way) or a private speedboat (about 15 to 20 minutes, more expensive but faster and flexible). The ferry runs to either Tawaen Beach or Na Baan pier and is the budget choice; the speedboat can drop you at any beach, including the quieter Samae and Tien, which the ferry does not serve (Renown Travel, accessed 2026-07-21).
Option | Time | Cost (indicative) | Best for |
Public ferry | About 45 minutes | About THB 30 one way (roughly INR 75 at 1 THB = INR 2.5 on 2026-07-21) | Budget trips; lands at Tawaen or Na Baan |
Private speedboat | About 15-20 minutes | Higher, price varies; often booked as a tour | Reaching quieter beaches; groups; time-savers |
Ferry timings are limited and the last boat back leaves in the late afternoon, so check the return schedule before you set out or you may be stuck paying speedboat rates to get home. Many visitors book Coral Island as a guided speedboat tour from Pattaya that bundles the transfer, lunch and a couple of water sports.
Water sports on Coral Island
Coral Island is the main water-sports base near Pattaya, offering snorkelling, parasailing, jet-skiing, banana-boat rides and sea walking, each paid separately on the beach, typically in a band of about THB 100 to THB 1,500 per activity (Ticket2Attraction, accessed 2026-07-21). Tawaen Beach has the fullest choice. Two safety notes matter for Indian travellers. First, the jet-ski scam that operates on the mainland reaches the islands too: operators may allege pre-existing damage after a rental and demand large sums, so photograph any craft before you ride, use registered operators, and call the tourist police on 1155 if you are pressured (Pattaya Mail, accessed 2026-07-21). Second, always insist on the life jacket and follow the operator’s briefing, because parasailing and jet-ski accidents are the most common cause of serious tourist injury on these day trips.
Day-trip tips for Indian travellers
Treat Coral Island as a half-day-to-full-day trip: go early, carry cash for the ferry and activities, and plan your return boat before the last one leaves. A few practical points make the day smoother.
· Carry small baht notes: the ferry, beach loungers, food and water sports are all cash, and there are few ATMs on the island.
· Rent a scooter or take a songthaew only if you want to hop between beaches; Tawaen alone is enough for most day-trippers.
· Reef-safe sunscreen, water and a hat matter; shade is limited on the smaller beaches.
· Check the weather: rough seas in the wet months can cancel ferries and water sports at short notice.
· If you plan to ride a scooter on the island, carry a valid international driving permit and always wear a helmet (see the cover note below).
Coral Island, water sports and cover
A day of boat transfers and water sports is exactly the kind of trip travel insurance is built for: a jet-ski or parasailing mishap, a slip on a boat, or a snorkelling incident can mean a medical bill far from a good hospital. Emergency medical cover for recreational water activities applies where you follow trained supervision and the operator’s safety guidelines, and an optional Adventure Sports add-on extends it. If you rent a two-wheeler on the island, note the conditions: a two-wheeler accident claim requires a valid international driving licence and a helmet where mandated, and the rental-excess benefit does not extend to motorcycles, mopeds or motorbikes. Thailand recognises the international driving permit that India issues, so the licence condition is one an Indian traveller with a valid IDP and a helmet can meet.
A Zurich Kotak Smart Travel policy covers emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation with a sum insured of up to USD 100,000 on the Excel tier or up to USD 500,000 on the Prime tier for the Asia geography, along with trip-delay and baggage cover, with claims handled cashless or by reimbursement through Europ Assistance India on a 24x7 helpline (+91 22 6734 7863) and backed by the Zurich Insurance Group’s global network. Sorting it takes minutes and belongs on the same checklist as your ferry ticket.
Travelling to Thailand? Get covered before you fly. travel insurance for Thailand covers emergency medical care, water-activity mishaps and trip delays for your Pattaya and Coral Island trip, with a quote in minutes.
FAQ
Q: How do you get to Coral Island (Koh Larn)?
A: Coral Island is reached only by boat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier. A public ferry takes about 45 minutes and costs around THB 30 one way, landing at Tawaen Beach or Na Baan pier; a private speedboat takes about 15 to 20 minutes, costs more, and can drop you at any beach including the quieter Samae and Tien.
Q: What is there to do on Coral Island?
A: Coral Island is a beach-and-water-sports day trip. You can swim and sunbathe on its beaches (Tawaen is the busiest, Samae and Tien are quieter), and try snorkelling, parasailing, jet-skiing, banana-boat rides and sea walking, each paid separately on the beach, typically in a band of about THB 100 to THB 1,500 per activity.
Q: Is Coral Island worth visiting from Pattaya?
A: Yes, Coral Island is worth a day trip from Pattaya. Its water is clearer and its beaches cleaner than the mainland’s, and it is the main base for water sports, all a short ferry or speedboat ride away. Go early and check the last return boat time before you set out.
Q: Are the water sports on Coral Island safe?
A: Coral Island’s water sports are generally safe when you use registered operators, wear the life jacket and follow the briefing. Watch out for the jet-ski scam: photograph any craft before you ride and call the tourist police on 1155 if an operator alleges damage and demands money. Travel insurance with cover for recreational water activities is a sensible backstop.
