Koh Larn is a beautiful island located just half an hour boat ride from Pattaya. Lots of people visiting Pattaya taking day trips to Koh Larn to enjoy its beach beaches and water activities like swimming, jet skiing, and paragliding.
If you enjoy the quiet nightlife away from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya, you can consider staying overnight in Koh Larn. In this article, I will share with you some popular areas on Koh Larn to stay and some of the best hotels on the island.
This is a very small island within only 4 km long and 2 km wide, so you can easily explore all the beaches no matter where you choose to stay. It is possible to explore the island on foot (that is what I did), but you can also consider renting a motorbike or using a motorbike taxi to travel between places.
The Best Areas to Stay in Koh Larn
There are several beaches scattered all around Koh Larn. Most hotels and resorts on Koh Larn are concentrated on the main village, the main piers and popular beaches.
Major areas to stay in Koh Larns include Tawaen Beach, Na Baan Pier, Naban Village (Main Village), and Samae Beach. These areas also have lots of other amenities like restaurants, shops, and convenient stores.
You can find some nice beaches on the west and south coast of Koh Larn but there are not many accommodation options compared to the northeast and north coast of the island.
You can read more about Koh Larn (Coral island) in these articles:
- 16 Best Things to Do in Koh Larn
- How to Spend 2-3 Days In Pattaya Itinerary
- Should you visit in Koh Larn or Koh Samet?
The Best Places to Stay in Koh Larn
1. Tawaen Beach
Tawaen Beach is the most popular beach of Koh Larn, stretching approximately 700 meters. The beach is home to one of the two main piers on Koh Larn, making it easily accessible from the mainland Pattaya.
The beach has white sand and crystal clear water. It is lined with lots of restaurants, seafood places, massage shops, souvenir shops and amenities such as umbrellas and sunbeds. Prices for sun loungers are around 100 baht.
There is a 7-eleven store at the western end area of the beach. There are fire shows at night on the beach.
To the left of Tawaen Beach and Pier is the smaller and quieter beach called Hat Sangwan. It is connected with Tawaen Pier by a beautiful white wooden bridge. It is a good place to relax with several eateries and cafes.
Within around 10 minutes walk to the north of Tawaen Beach, you can get to the quieter Thong Lang Beach. This is a good spot to watch the sunset with a more relaxing atmosphere compared to other beaches.
You can have stunning views of Tawaen Beach at several viewpoints on the road to the Big Buddha. You can easily walk or drive a scooter to these viewpoints.
Hiking to the top of the Big Buddha Mountain behind the beach is also a must when visiting Koh Larn. Major highlights in the mountain are the Big Buddha, the Guanyin Temple, and the pagoda on the summit.
The area around the Big Buddha is a popular spot for paragliding. It is a good spot to watch people flying in the sky and the beautiful Big Buddha in the background at sunset.
Where to stay in Koh Larn in Tawaen Beach:
TC villa on beach
TC villa is one of the best places to stay on Tawaen Beach. It is a popular hotel in Tawaen Beach that has overall good reviews from the guests. The hotel is located right on the beach, offering free sunbeds and free shuttle services from/to the pier.
You can book a room that has a balcony and views of the ocean for the best experiences. Be mindful of the beach bar next to the hotel, it can have loud music until midnight.
2. Naban Village (Main Village)
Naban Village is the main village of Koh Larn, and has the highest concentration of guesthouses and hotels. It is located right next to Na Baan pier, one of the island’s two main piers, making it a convenient location to take the boat to the mainland.
The main village has lots of facilities such as restaurants, local super markets, and motorbike rental shops, as well as a night market, Buddhist temple, and 7-eleven. There are just a few main streets in the villages, and many other narrow streets connecting these main roads.
You can find everything at the main village while still being within a short distance away from the white sandy beaches.
Best Places to stay in Koh Larn in Naban Village:
Baan Macha Kohlarn (บ้านมัจฉา)
This is a nice place to stay in the main village of Koh Larn. It is located right next to the water, featuring a beautiful terrace with breaktaking views of the ocean and enjoying the sunrise.
The hotel has a good location in the local residential area, within easy walking distance to 7-Eleven, Na Wat Market, and Na Baan Pier. It can be a bit hard to navigate the hotel for the first time, but you can ask locals for directions.
Also take a note that like many other hotels in Thailand and Southeast Asia, the beds can be hard for some people.
rocco villa
This hotel is located around 1km away from the island’s main pier. Located next to the sea, it offers breathtaking views of the water. It is in a nice quiet spot but still easy access to all the amenities of the main village. It also offers a free motorbike for exploring the island.
BaanRabiangnam kohlarn
This hotel is located in the main village of Koh Larn, right next to the ocean. It is within walking distance to Wat Mai Samraan, the night market, and the Na Baan Pier. There are a range of local restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops near the hotels.
The hotel also has a beautiful wooden terrace area with umbrellas and sunbeds. You can relax here and enjoy stunning views of the ocean.
3. Near Na Baan Pier
Na Baan Pier is the main pier of the Coral Island and is the entrance to Naban Village. It is a lively and busy area with lots of boats full of tourists going in and out everyday.
Right at the pier is the 7-11, lots of motorbike rental shops, and travel agencies. There are also a good amount of guest houses and hotels around the pier. If you want to get close to the island’s main pier, it is a good choice to stay in one of those accommodations.
When you get off the piers, there will be lots of motorbike taxi drivers and local people approaching you offering motorbike rental services and tours around the island.
Where to stay in Koh Larn near Na Baan Pier:
Samanta By The Sea
This is a good hotel, located just 300m from Na Baan Pier. The hotel has comfortable rooms, free breakfast, beautiful garden, and a very welcoming owner. It is quiet at night, so you can have a good night’s sleep. All the tourist amenities like motorbike rentals, shops, and restaurants are within walking distance from the hotel.
Mantra Resort (ณดา เกาะล้าน รีสอร์ท)
This accommodation is located close to the island’s main pier, which is convenient for boats traveling to and from Pattaya. It is in a quiet area but still easy access to a range of tourist amenities.
Arthit Resort Koh larn
This is a good value for money accommodation located in a good location close to the main town and the main pier. The rooms have modern design, stylish, and beautiful views. The owners are also known for their friendliness and warm hospitality.
4. Samae Beach
Samae Beach is one of the several beautiful beaches on Coral Island. It is around 700m long beach located on the western coast of the island, between Windmill Viewpoint and Tien beach.
Like most beaches on Koh Larn, Samae Beach is lined with rows of umbrellas and bedchairs for rent. You can enjoy lots of watersport water activities like jet skiing, and parasailing. The beach has white sand and crystal clear water which is also ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
There is a floating pier in the southern area of the beach, which is convenient for speed boats to arrive. If you want a quieter spot for swimming and sunbathing, you can head to the south of the floating spot near a wooden path. There are no restaurants or bars in this part of the beach, which contributes to its quieter atmosphere.
From Samae Beach, you can hike to the Windmill Viewpoint, which is one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island. The hike from Xanadu Beach Restaurant to the viewpoint is around 20 minutes via a very steep, windy, and narrow road.
If you are confident and experience driving a scooter, you can try it, but take note that there are many accidents happening in this part of the island. If you want an easier drive to the Windmill, I recommend taking another route that passes the MYTH Koh Larn resort.
To the north of Samae Beach is the beautiful viewpoint where you can have the whole view of Samae Beach. From this viewpoint, you can follow the path and walk to Tien Beach for around 10 minutes.
Best Places to stay in Koh Larn in Samae Beach:
Xanadu Beach Resort
Xanadu is one of the best places to stay in Koh larn. It is located right on Samae Beach, right behind the rows of umbrellas and bed chairs. The resort has free sunbeds for its guests, and free shuttle service for those arriving or departing from Nabarn Pier.
It is a great spot to enjoy the sunset and all the beach activities during daytime. The downside is that it can be boring at night for some travelers as nothing much happens at night time in this area. If you just want a nice quiet place to chill, this is a good choice.
If you want to escape from the crazy nightlife of Pattaya, staying for a night or two in Koh Larn is a good choice. If you are on a short holiday, a day trip to Koh Larn is usually enough to cover all major sights on the island and to enjoy all water activities like swimming, and jet skiing.