Most visitors on a day trip walk straight past the cheapest island ferry in Thailand and pay a tour operator ten times more to cross the same water. The public Pattaya City ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn trades the Pattaya Beach crowds for clear island water in under 20 minutes, and it costs THB 40 (about $1.20) per person. The one number that decides your whole day is the last boat back. Miss the 18:00 from Naban Pier and you are on the island until morning.
This guide tests the day-out math, the speedboat alternative for travelers who want more than the fixed timetable of 7 sailings, and the Koh Larn beach choice that defines most arrivals.
Pattaya to Koh Larn at a glance
- Scheduled ferry duration: 15 to 17 minutes
- Speedboat duration: 5 to 8 minutes
- Scheduled ferry fare: THB 40 (about $1.20) per person, the cheapest island ferry in Thailand
- Speedboat fare: THB 200 to 400 per person shared
- Private speedboat charter: THB 1,500 to 3,000 per boat
- Daily sailings: 7 scheduled departures from Bali Hai Pier
- First sailing: 07:00 from Bali Hai Pier
- Last sailing: 18:30 from Bali Hai Pier
- Last return: 18:00 from Naban Pier (last ferry of the day, hard cutoff)
- Origin pier: Bali Hai Pier, south end of Pattaya Beach
- Destination pier: Naban Pier on Koh Larn (most services) or Tawaen Pier
Photographer: calflier001. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 2.0.The cheapest island ferry in Thailand and why it matters
The Pattaya City scheduled ferry from Bali Hai to Naban Pier costs THB 40 per person one way. That is roughly $1.20. No other island ferry in Thailand operates at this price tier. The closest cost-equivalent is the Donsak car ferry to Koh Samui at THB 200 to 300, which is 5 to 7 times more expensive per crossing.
The price held at THB 30 for years and increased to THB 40 in April 2026. The increase covered fuel costs and pier maintenance fees imposed by Pattaya City municipality. Speedboat tour operators at the pier charge 5 to 10 times the scheduled ferry rate for the same crossing on faster boats.
For a budget day trip, the scheduled ferry is the only sensible choice. Two travelers spending a day on Koh Larn pay THB 160 in ferry fees round trip. The same trip on speedboats runs THB 800 to 1,600 round trip per pair.
Seven daily departures and the day-out math
The Pattaya City scheduled ferry runs from Bali Hai Pier on a 7-departure timetable. The schedule structure favors travelers who arrive at Bali Hai before 12:00 and return before 17:00. Late afternoon arrivals get fewer options.
- 07:00 first ferry: for travelers wanting a full day on Koh Larn before crowds
- 10:00 morning ferry: the most-booked midday option
- 12:00 midday ferry: half-day visitors
- 14:00 afternoon ferry: sunset-only travelers
- 15:30 late afternoon: overnight stays only
- 17:00 and 18:30 evening: overnight Koh Larn accommodation guests
The return ferry runs 06:30 first to 18:00 last. The 18:00 last return is a hard cutoff, and it is the trap most day visitors walk into. Travelers who miss the 18:00 are stranded overnight unless they charter a speedboat at THB 1,500 to 3,000 for the 7.5 km crossing back. Plan the return one boat earlier than you think you need. The pier queue on a busy afternoon can swallow a buffer of 30 minutes.
For a day trip without overnight gear, take the 07:00, 10:00, or 12:00 ferry out and the 16:30, 17:00, or 18:00 ferry back. The 7 to 8 hour day is enough for one beach plus lunch plus snorkeling.
Photographer: iMahesh. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.The speedboat alternative for tour travelers
Speedboat tour operators at Bali Hai Pier offer scheduled departures and private charters. The scheduled speedboat tours bundle the crossing with Koral Island circuit stops, snorkeling gear, and a beach lunch. Fares run THB 600 to 1,500 per person for the bundled day tour.
- Scheduled speedboat shared: THB 200 to 400 per person, departures throughout the day
- Bundled day-tour with snorkel + lunch: THB 600 to 1,500 per person
- Private speedboat charter: THB 1,500 to 3,000 per boat for 6 to 10 passengers
- Crossing time: 5 to 8 minutes one way on the speedboat
The speedboat tour is worth booking if you want gear and food handled. The shared speedboat is worth booking if you want the speed but bring your own gear. The scheduled THB 40 ferry is worth booking if budget is the priority. The trade is timetable freedom. The public ferry only leaves at its 7 fixed times, while a speedboat goes when its seats fill, so the public boat suits a planned day and the speedboat suits travelers who want to leave on their own clock.
One practical note for either boat. The public ferry takes day-bags and beach gear without fuss, but it has no dedicated luggage hold, so a wheeled suitcase rides on the open deck. If you are crossing to stay overnight with bags, the calmer morning sailings ride easier than the choppier afternoon ones.
Naban or Tawaen, the Koh Larn pier choice
Koh Larn has multiple piers but the scheduled ferry from Bali Hai lands at Naban Pier on the east side of the island. Some speedboat tours land at Tawaen Pier on the north side, closer to the most-visited Tawaen Beach. The choice is built into your ticket. The public ferry is a Naban Pier service, so if a sand-at-your-feet arrival at Tawaen matters more than the THB 40 fare, that is the case for the speedboat.
The choice matters for the beach you target:
- Tawaen Beach (north): the most popular beach, 30 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi from Naban Pier, direct from Tawaen Pier on speedboat
- Tien Beach (south): quieter west side, 15 minutes by motorbike taxi from Naban
- Samae Beach (west): family-friendly, 20 minutes by motorbike taxi from Naban
- Nual Beach (south): remote, 25 minutes by motorbike taxi, quietest option
Naban Pier sits in the village. Motorbike taxis and songthaews wait at the pier for ferry arrivals. The standard cross-island taxi runs THB 50 to 150 per person depending on beach. Some visitors mention disputes over jet-ski and beach-gear rental deposits, so agree the price and the return terms in writing before you hand over any cash.
Best booking window and the weekend crowd reality
The route does not require advance booking on weekdays. The scheduled ferry has high capacity and rarely sells out. Weekends and Thai public holidays change the picture. Saturday and Sunday morning ferries (10:00 and 12:00) run at capacity with Bangkok weekenders flooding Pattaya. The pier queue can stretch 20 to 30 minutes at peak.
Songkran week (mid-April), Chinese New Year, and the December holiday week see the strongest crowds. The THB 40 fare does not change with season. Only the queue length does.
Monsoon impact is minimal on this short crossing. The Gulf of Thailand eastern seaboard sees rough afternoon seas in October and November storms. Morning sailings cancel less than 3 percent of the time year round. Check current Pattaya Koh Larn ferry schedules for any weekend or holiday changes.
Photographer: WPPilot. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.Frequently asked questions about Pattaya to Koh Larn
How long does the Pattaya to Koh Larn ferry take?
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Where to stay in Pattaya for the Koh Larn trip
Three SHA-certified picks in Pattaya within walking distance of Bali Hai Pier or short taxi access. For the full list, see where to stay in Koh Larn and the Pattaya coast. Our 3 days in Pattaya itinerary then maps the beaches and the day trips.
For all 27 Thailand ferry routes plus operator reliability, seasonal cancellation patterns, and booking strategy, see our complete Thailand ferry guide.
