Short answer
Choose Tawaen Beach on Koh Larn for facilities and the easiest arrival, Tien for a calmer day, Samae for wide sand and sunsets, and Nual for swimming and snorkelling at the south end. Wikipedia counts eight beaches, most on the west side, and Tawaen is the most visited. Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide calls Tawaen the busiest and most developed, and says beach chairs cost about 100 to 200 baht. The island is 7.5 km from Pattaya, so any beach is a short ride from the pier.
Which Koh Larn beach is best?
There is no single best beach, and the sources describe each one differently. Wikipedia says Ko Lan has eight beaches, most on the west side, and that Tawaen is the most visited, with a small harbour and a strip of tourist shops and restaurants. Pattaya Mail's guide of 15 August 2026 adds the character of the others: Tien is more relaxed, Nual is popular for swimming and snorkelling, and Samae has a wide sandy shoreline and sunset views.
The simple rule is this. Go to Tawaen for facilities and the shortest transfer from some boats, to Samae for space and the evening light, to Tien for a quieter day, and to Nual for the water. The sources are not perfectly consistent, because they are travel journalism and not surveys, so treat these as descriptions, not rankings. The sections below set out what each source actually says about each beach.
Tawaen Beach: the busiest and best equipped
Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide calls Tawaen the island's busiest and most developed beach, popular with tour groups and with visitors who want water activities, seafood restaurants and beachside facilities. Wikipedia agrees that it is the most visited beach and says it is lined with small tourist shops and restaurants. It is also the beach with a harbour: Wikivoyage notes that some public ferries land at Tawaen pier, while others go to Na Baan pier.
Tawaen suits you if you want everything within a few steps: lunch, a chair and water activities. It does not suit you if you want empty sand. Our own programme warns that the beaches of Koh Larn are busy at weekends and on Thai holidays, and Tawaen, as the busiest beach, is the one to avoid on those days. If you can choose, go on a weekday.
Samae Beach: wide sand and sunsets
Samae is described as the spacious beach. Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide says it has a wide sandy shoreline and is popular for sunset views, and its September 2025 piece mentions a picturesque pier, sweeping views and the island's signature pig. In February 2025 the paper called Samae a tranquil spot favoured by people who want to relax, with clear water suitable for swimming.
Wikivoyage adds one unusual detail: arriving at Samae you see the large solar array building and the wind farm that generate energy for the island. That is a reminder that this is a working island, not only a beach. The sunset view comes with a catch for day visitors, because the last public ferries run in the early evening, according to Pattaya Mail's 2026 guide. If sunsets are your aim, check the return boat before you settle in.
Tien Beach: a calmer day and a wooden walkway
Tien is the beach the sources use for a quieter day. Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide describes a more relaxed atmosphere, attractive scenery, clear water and a distinctive wooden walkway. The paper's February 2025 article calls it a more secluded experience, surrounded by natural beauty and fewer crowds, and its September 2025 article says Tien suits families and content creators, with soft sand, playful swans and a range of water activities.
Those descriptions are consistent, which makes Tien the safest pick for a family or a couple who want less noise than Tawaen. We found no dated figure for how many people visit each beach, so we cannot say how much quieter Tien is. Wikipedia's only visitor count is for the whole island: about 3,000 people a day in low season and as many as 10,000 in high season, against a maximum daily capacity of 6,410.
Nual Beach: monkeys, rocks and the water
Nual lies at the southern end of the island. Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide says it is sometimes known as Monkey Beach, is popular with visitors who like swimming and snorkelling, and may be visited by monkeys. Wikivoyage says monkeys come from a nearby hillside. The paper's September 2025 article calls Nual a dream for photographers, with rocky outcrops overlooking Pattaya city and the Red Cave as a natural frame.
Treat the monkeys as wild animals. Do not feed them or leave food bags open; the sources describe them as occasional visitors, not as a show. Nual is the beach to choose if the water matters more to you than the restaurants, but bring your own snorkel mask if you plan to swim from the shore. On our tour the snorkelling is at Koh Sak, and the snorkelling equipment is included in the price.
What about Ta Yai and Tonglang?
The beaches most visitors skip are worth a line. Wikipedia names six of the island's eight beaches: Tawaen, Tonglang, Tien, Samae, Ta Yai and Nual. Pattaya Mail's September 2025 article says early risers will enjoy Ta Yai, with flowers, dramatic rock formations and a calm sunrise backdrop. Wikivoyage lists Ta Yai and Tonglang among the island's six popular beaches.
For a day trip from Pattaya, Ta Yai is a sunrise idea rather than a daytime one: our tour meets at about 9:00 am, long after sunrise. We found no price list or opening hours for anything on these beaches. Ask the vendor before you sit down: Pattaya Mail's 2026 guide says chairs and sunbeds generally cost about 100 to 200 baht, and that some restaurants waive the charge if you order food or drinks.
How do you move between the beaches?
Songthaews connect all the main beaches with Na Baan pier, and Wikivoyage gives the ride as 20 to 30 baht per person. Pattaya Mail's 2026 guide says songthaews are readily available around Na Ban Pier, and that motorbike taxis are another option. Wikivoyage's guide, whose figures are undated on this point, gives a rented scooter as about 300 baht a day, which may be bargained down to 200.
Be careful with scooters. Pattaya Mail warns that Koh Larn has narrow, steep and winding roads, and asks riders to carry the right licence, wear a helmet and follow local traffic rules. Bring cash: the same guide says ATMs near Na Ban cannot be relied on at busy times, and that many beach businesses work mainly in cash. If you take the public ferry, it says not to leave the return to the last minute.
Which beach do you get on our Koh Larn tour?
Our Koh Larn Coral Island tour is from $25 per person and lasts about 6 hours. The speedboat goes first to Koh Sak for about two hours of swimming, snorkelling and the paddle board, then to Koh Larn for about three hours on the beach. Lunch is at a beach restaurant of your own choice and is not included. Our programme does not name one beach for the Koh Larn stop, so ask us which beach your date uses.
If you want a beach that is not Tawaen, tell us when you book and we will ask the operator, though we cannot promise a choice. The sea matters too: Pattaya Mail's 2026 guide says rough seas from May to October can suspend speedboat services, and our operator moves the trip to another date or refunds it if the sea is unsafe. For the route see our travel guide, and for the crossing options see our ferry and speedboat comparison.
Practical checklist
- Decide what matters most: facilities (Tawaen), space and sunsets (Samae), calm (Tien) or swimming (Nual).
- Choose a weekday if you can, because the beaches are busy at weekends and on Thai holidays.
- Carry cash for chairs (about 100 to 200 baht), songthaews (20 to 30 baht) and lunch.
- Keep your distance from the monkeys at Nual and never feed them.
- If you use public boats, plan the return before the early-evening last departures.
Questions and answers
How many beaches does Koh Larn have?
Wikipedia says eight, most on the west side, and names six: Tawaen, Tonglang, Tien, Samae, Ta Yai and Nual. Wikivoyage lists six popular ones. Tawaen is the most visited.
Which Koh Larn beach is best for families?
Pattaya Mail's September 2025 article describes Tien as suiting families, with soft sand, clear water and water activities. Tawaen has the most facilities but is the busiest.
Is Samae Beach good for sunset?
Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide says Samae is popular for sunset views. Public ferries stop running in the early evening, so check the last boat back to Pattaya first.
Are there monkeys on Koh Larn?
Yes, at Nual Beach at the southern end, according to Wikivoyage and Pattaya Mail, which says monkeys may occasionally be seen. Do not feed them.
How much is a beach chair?
Pattaya Mail's August 2026 guide says about 100 to 200 baht, and that some restaurants waive the charge if you order food or drinks. Agree the price first.
Can you walk between the beaches?
Wikipedia gives the island as about four kilometres long and two wide, covered in hills. Wikivoyage gives songthaews as 20 to 30 baht per person between the main beaches and Na Baan pier.