If you're based in or near Pattaya and weighing up an island escape, the two names that come up are Koh Larn and Koh Samet. They're often lumped together, but they make for genuinely different days out. We cover Koh Larn in obsessive detail; here's an honest, like-for-like comparison to help you choose — with no pretence that we're neutral about the island we love.

Access & effort

This is the biggest practical difference. Koh Larn is right off Pattaya: a short taxi or baht bus to Bali Hai Pier, then a 30–45 minute public ferry (about 40฿) or a 15–20 minute speedboat. You can be on the sand within an hour of leaving your hotel. Koh Samet sits further down the coast near Ban Phe, around 1.5–2 hours' drive from Pattaya before you even reach the pier and ferry, plus a national-park entry fee on arrival. For a Pattaya base, Koh Larn is dramatically easier and cheaper to reach.

Beaches & water

Koh Samet generally edges it on raw beach quality — its white-sand beaches and water are, on a good day, a notch above. But Koh Larn is no slouch, especially at Samae, Tien and Nual, and the gap is smaller than island snobs claim. If pristine sand is your single priority and you don't mind the journey and the fee, Samet has the edge. If you want very good water with minimal effort, Koh Larn wins on the trade-off.

Crowds & vibe

Both get busy. Koh Larn's day-trip crowds concentrate at Tawaen and thin out fast at the quieter beaches and after the last ferry. Koh Samet, being an overnight destination with national-park status, has a more 'holiday island' feel and a livelier evening scene. Day-trip Koh Larn is the more frenetic by day; stay-over Samet is the more resort-like by night.

Cost

Koh Larn is clearly cheaper for a day trip: a 40-baht ferry and no entry fee versus Samet's longer transport and a national-park charge. For a quick, low-cost beach hit, Koh Larn is hard to beat in this region.

The bottom line

  • Based in Pattaya, short on time, want a cheap great-value beach day → Koh Larn.
  • Happy to travel further, paying a fee, chasing slightly better sand and an island-stay vibe → Koh Samet.
  • Want clear water within an hour of your Pattaya hotel → Koh Larn, every time.

Whichever you choose, the same rules apply: go early, bring cash, mind the last boat, and respect the marked swim zones.

For everything you need to do Koh Larn properly — the ranked beaches, the ferry, and a day plan — start with our guides below.