The Islands around Pattaya offer a peaceful escape from the busy city. A number of these islands are quite big and the majority of them are isolated. Almost all of these are marked by stunning beaches and turquoise waters.
If you are fond of water sports, this is the best place for you to try an array of activities such as fishing, diving and snorkelling among others. However, if you aren’t much of a water person, the islands are perfect for spending some quality time with your family or that special someone. Have a look at the top 3 islands around Pattaya.
Koh Larn
Koh Larn, which translates as Coral Island, is the largest of all the islands in the archipelago that are accessible from Bali Hai Pier. There are just a few hotels, in the village situated near the main pier, called Na Ban. Hotels are also situated in the larger beaches around the island. The island consists of 6 main beaches, namely Samai, Tawaen, Tien, Tayaiy, Tonglang and Naul. Different beaches have different facilities. For instance, Samai, Tien and Tawaen have hotels. Similarly, some of the beaches also have facilities for adventure sports such as banana boat rides and jet skiing.
Koh Phai
Koh Phai or Bamboo Island is the largest among the chain of small islands. Situated around 20 kilometres from Pattaya, it can be reached in roughly 2 hours. As the island is under the administration of the Royal Thai Navy, tourists are not allowed to stay overnight. Surrounded by gorgeous coral reefs, it is one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago. Sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling are permitted.
Koh Sak
Koh Sak was once a private resort, exclusively visited by the rich and the famous. However, now the whole island has become a tourist hotspot complete with a number of cosy restaurants. The U-shaped island has a pristine beach at each if its ends. The beach on the northern part of the island is popular for swimming and sunbathing. You can also take diving tours to reach an artificial shipwreck. A major highlight of the island is the footprints of eminent personalities on concrete. One such personality was Neil Armstrong, who came here just a few months after the Apollo XI expedition.
