Thailand is filled with gorgeous islands, but Ko Lan Island might just be the best of them all. Here are the reasons Ko Lan Island is Thailand’s best-kept secret.
If you’re planning your next trip to Thailand, no trip is complete without visiting Ko Lan. I was absolutely blown away when I visited Ko Lan Island and you will be too.
You’ll learn about all the gorgeous beaches, aesthetically pleasing cafes and beach-side bars that this little slice of heaven has to offer. It’s a miracle this place isn’t crowded with tourists.
After learning about Ko Lan, this island will be at the top of your bucket list.
This post is all about Ko Lan Island and why it’s Thailand’s best-kept secret!
Ko Lan Island
Ko Lan, also known by locals as “Koh Larn”, is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand. This island is just 7km off the coast of Pattaya and accessible by ferry or speedboat. Ko Lan is also known as “The Coral Island” and features white sand beaches, crystal clear water and vibrant marine life. Despite its proximity to mainland Pattaya, Ko Lan has managed to not be overrun by tourists. While it is quite common for travelers to take the ferry over to the island for the day, not as many people choose to stay overnight, which is a big loss on their part. I spent a week on this island and never wanted to leave. Let me walk you through what makes the island of Ko Lan one of the most special islands in all of Thailand.
Beaches
Ko Lan is made up of seven beaches that surround the island. Each beach differs from the other with some of them being more swimmable, offering lounge chairs, featuring restaurants or being more secluded. No matter what your style, Ko Lan has a beach fit for you.
Tawaen Beach
Tawaen Beach is the most popular beach on the island and is featured in the opening photo of this post. Its white powdery sand and crystal clear waters make it the ideal place to spend your day. This is one of the two drop-off locations for the ferry from Pattaya. This beach tends to be most crowded between the hours of 10am and 5pm. 5pm is when the last ferry leaves back to Pattaya and this beach almost empties out. One of the nice things about staying overnight on the island is that you get to experience this beach nearly empty before and after the ferries arrive and leave. There are loads of restaurants along this beach, with many of them offering lounge chairs for rent or free of charge with a minimum purchase. Jet skis are also available to rent, along with other water sports activities.
Sang Wan Beach
Sang Wan Beach or San Wan Beach, as some of the locals call it, is a fairly small beach just to the left of Tawaen Beach. This beach features a single restaurant and a bar. Separating the two is a hotel that features dome-shaped yurts. Lounge chairs with umbrellas are available for rent along the beach.
Thonglang Beach
Thonglang Beach is a small beach located to the right of Tawaen Beach. A few of the island’s nicer hotels happen to line this beach. There are a few restaurants and lounge chairs are also available for rent. This is a good beach to walk to if you want to escape Tawaen Beach during the peak ferry times of the day. The walk from Tawaen Beach to Thonglang Beach is about 15 minutes all along the shoreline.
Ta Yai Beach
Ta Yai Beach is the smallest of the seven beaches and one of the more secluded. It is impeccably clean and not as traveled to as some of the other beaches. Despite it being off the beaten path, there is a restaurant on the beach. Lounge chairs are also available and can be rented through the restaurant.
Tien Beach
Tien Beach is another extremely secluded beach, but surprisingly large. Trees line parts of the beach close to the shore and provide a natural shade structure. It contains a few restaurants that also offer lounge chair seating. At the end of the beach are two old boats that have been raised onto stands and refurbished into two Airbnbs.
Nual Beach
Nual Beach is a great beach to go for a swim. There are little to no waves and the water is crystal clear. A couple of restaurants are situated right on the beach and offer full service at their corresponding lounge chairs. A handful of stray dogs inhabit this beach, but they were all friendly and playful. Rafts and tubes are available for purchase and jet skis are available to rent.
Samae Beach
Samae Beach is another one of the more populated beaches. It’s lined with beach chairs and umbrellas for rent and offers a good assortment of restaurants. There are a couple of hotels on this beach as well. Unfortunately, I found this beach to be rockier than the others and only went once.
Restaurants
For being such a small island, you will be shocked to find the never-ending amount of cafes and restaurants to try. Almost anywhere you go to dine will have a spectacular view of the ocean and equally spectacular food and drinks to match.
Matata Bay Cafe
If you’re looking for a picture-perfect cafe, look no further. Matata Bay Cafe quickly stole my heart and became my go-to afternoon spot. It is one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants I have been to and the vibe here was immaculate. This cafe overlooks the ocean and with stadium-style seating, every table has a gorgeous view. The menu features Thai cuisine and some American fare. They offer a range of homemade pastries and desserts, with the cheesecake being a must-try item. The drinks list ranges from coffee-style drinks to creative mocktails to classic cocktails. Be sure to stop by between 5pm to 7pm for their buy one, get one happy hour.
Sea Space
If you’re looking to get a picture for your Instagram feed, this is THE spot. Sea Space is up there for the most aesthetic cafe on Ko Lan. It sits right on the coast, overlooking the ocean and features stadium-style seating, so every table has a great view of the sea. The food is delicious, but the drinks really steal the show here. The garnish game is top-tier, so every drink comes out looking photo ready. No trip to Ko Lan is complete without a stop at Sea Space.
DuLay
DuLay Cafe is simplicity at its finest. Located on Tawaen Beach, just steps from the sand sits this little cafe serving up Thai cuisine. The price point is unbeatable and may be one of the cheapest spots on all of Tawaen Beach. It’s also a great place to grab your morning coffee and enjoy the beach before the afternoon crowds roll in.
Mare
Another favorite on Tawaen Beach is Mare. Mare serves up Thai cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. It’s located just steps away from the sand and is the perfect place to grab a laidback lunch or a dolled-up dinner. At night, Mare transforms itself into a beach bar and restaurant on the sand underneath string lights. Local musicians play as you enjoy a cocktail with your toes in the sand.
Seafood Markets
There are a handful of seafood markets on the island that offer all you can eat seafood. You’ll be given a basket that you can fill with fresh seafood, which you’ll then take to cook table side. All tables come with hotpots and grills, so you can choose the way you prefer to cook your food. There is also an array of side dishes and sauces to accompany your food. We found the most popular spot to be the one located next to Paplern Station. Unfortunately, this restaurant only has a Thai name, so for that sake, I won’t be attempting to spell it out. This is a great option if you enjoy fresh seafood and don’t mind getting a little messy.
Bars
The beauty about staying overnight on Ko Lan, is that you get to enjoy the nightlife. While the nightlife is pretty mellow compared to most places in Thailand, there are a handful of bars that are guaranteed to show you a good time.
Klom Klom
I can not say enough good things about Klom Klom Bar! In fact, it was one of my favorite bars in all of Thailand. The decorations and decor of the bar are one of my favorite things about the space. It’s as if you’ve stepped back in time and into an artist’s workshop with paintings, gadgets and old memorabilia covering every inch of the bar. To stick with the artist vibe, they have local musicians performing acoustic sets every evening. The scene here is very mellow with a touch of eclecticism. Not to mention, the staff/ owners of the bar are the sweetest couple that really make you feel at home.
Tawaen Beach Bar
Once the sun begins to set, Tawaen Beach is the place to be. All the hotels/ restaurants remove their lounge chairs from the day and swap them out for string lights and musicians. The beach is filled with beach bars that come to life at night and Tawean Beach Bar is a prime example. Take a seat at one of the tables on the sand and enjoy some cocktails and dinner while you’re serenaded by the band of the evening. On alternating nights, fire dancers put on a spectacular show and love for their performance to be an immersive one with the guests.
SUK SA MER
Another stunning Tawaen Beach bar is Suk Sa Mer. They really pull out all the stops transforming this into one of the best-looking spots on the beach. They even have special seating close to the shore for the best view of the fire dancers. I highly recommend putting your name down in the afternoon, so you can snag one of these exclusive tables. Pricing here is a little higher than other bars/ restaurants on this beach, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
Pause
If you’re looking for something a little more lively, there is a cluster of bars on the other side of the island and Pause is the one I would recommend. They have local musicians with a pop/ rock sound that play nightly. This place draws a good crowd, so make sure to snag your seat before the sets about to begin.
Paplern Station
Situated directly across from Pause is another music venue bar called Paplern Station. It features live music, pool and cheap drinks. This bar is definitely geared towards backpackers or hostel-type travelers. Let your ears be warned, they favor aggressively loud music here. As long as the band doesn’t have the amp turned too high, this a fun hangout spot and a great place to meet other travelers.
Hotels
The beauty of Ko Lan being such a small island is that there aren’t any big brand hotels here and anywhere you stay feels very authentic. No matter if you’re a budget traveler or want a little more luxury, this island has the accommodations for you.
Tawaean Beach Resort
This hotel is the ideal place to stay for your time on Ko Lan! Located towards the end of Tawaen Beach sits Tawaen Beach Resort. From the lobby to the ocean is no more than fifteen steps, providing you with the most seamless beach access possible. They have lounge chairs with tables and umbrellas set up on the sand directly in front of the hotel, where they offer full service of their restaurant and bar. The rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mini-fridges and WIFI. Also included in your stay is complimentary breakfast and free daily snorkeling. The hotel has its own speedboat that takes you to the nearby Ko Sak Island for your snorkeling expedition. The staff here is incredibly friendly and you can’t beat the price point. A night at this hotel will run you anywhere from $45-$65 US dollars.
Koh Larn Grand View
Located on Thonglang Beach is the brand-new Koh Larn Grand View Hotel. This hotel features a restaurant, bar and a swimming pool. This is one of the few hotels on the island that offers unobstructed ocean views from the rooms. Being located on Thonglang Beach gives you a bit more privacy, but allows you to be close to the hustle and bustle of Tawaen Beach, just a fifteen-minute walk away. With this hotel being new, it is one of the nicer hotels on the island and does cost more than the average. A night at this hotel will cost you anywhere from $85-$175 US dollars a night, with ocean view rooms starting at $145 a night.
Enkai Beachfront Resort
Enkai Beachfront Resort is another brand-new hotel located on Thonglang Beach. It’s situated right next to Koh Larn Grand View and gives it a run for being the nicest hotel on the island. This hotel also offers unobstructed ocean views from its rooms and a swimming pool. The pool at this hotel is located in the front of the property allowing guests to enjoy a view of the ocean while taking a dip in the pool. It may be hard to acquire a reservation here, as most booking sites show that it is sold out for the foreseeable future. It may be worth it to pay this hotel a visit in person, as most hotels in Thailand tend to save a few rooms for walk-in guests to book directly with the hotel.
Wyn
If you prefer to have your own space away from others, Wyn is a private villa available to rent. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom villa has its own swimming pool, WIFI and private parking. It’s located near Naban Pier and only a five-minute scooter ride to Tawaen Beach. The villa has a modern feel mixed with a beach vibe and is ideal for a couple that enjoys their privacy or wants an extended stay with a homey feel. This villa will cost you around $200 US dollars a night.
Transportation
Ferry
There are two different ferries that you can take to get to Ko Lan from Pattaya. Both ferries leave from Bali Hai Pier but go to different sides of the island. The first ferry takes you to Naban Port, also know as the main village. Ferries leave from Pattaya starting at 7am and going till 6:30pm and leave from Naban starting at 6:30am till 6pm. After you exit the ferry, there are loads of scooters for rent. The second ferry takes you to Tawaen Beach and leaves from Pattaya starting at 8am and going till 1pm, with returns to Pattaya from 1pm till 5pm. The ferry rides will be around 45 minutes and will cost you 30 Baht (not even a dollar).
Speedboat
If you want to arrive to Ko Lan even quicker, you can take a speedboat from Pattaya. There’s no need to book one ahead of time, as there will be many speedboats waiting at Bali Hai Pier to take you over to the island. This allows you to have more freedom on when you want to head over to the island. A speedboat ride to Ko Lan will take about 15-20 minutes from Pattaya and will cost you around 150-200 Baht ($4-$6) per person. Be warned that the speedboat rides can be a bit choppy and you might get wet along the way.
Scooters
Once you’re on the island, scooters are the best way to get around. If you’re planning to rent a scooter, the best place to do so is near Naban Port. There are lots of shops trying to rent out scooters, but you want to walk a little bit away from the pier and to the actual storefronts to get the best price. If you’re staying overnight on the island, most hotels will pick you up from the ferry with a cart to carry your luggage. The hotels will also have scooters available to rent directly from them. The hotel prices are usually pretty good and it’s less hassle than walking around trying to bargain for a better deal.
While I can’t fully encompass all the beauty this island has to offer in just one blog post, I hope you now have a better understanding of Koh Lan Island and why it’s Thailand’s best-kept secret!
