The choice at a glance
- Public ferry fare
- ฿40 one way Effective 10 April 2026 after more than 16 years at ฿30
- Published shared speedboat fare
- ฿150–200 one way · ฿300 return The 2023 city agreement varies the one-way fare by landing point
- Current private listing
- From US$94.93 return Trip.com advertises a 15–20-minute private crossing
On this page
The island of Koh Larn is Pattaya’s best beach escape, and almost everyone gets there from the same place: Bali Hai Pier at the south end of the city. The only real decision is how you cross — the cheap public ferry, or a faster speedboat.
The 30-second answer: Take the public ferry (฿40 each way) if you’re on a budget, flexible on timing and happy with the main beaches — it’s slow, social and easy. Published shared-speedboat rates are ฿150–200 one way or ฿300 return; private charters cost more and vary by boat. Choose one when you want speed, a departure on your schedule and a direct drop at a selected beach. Budget and easygoing → ferry. Speed and a specific beach → speedboat.
The public ferry — cheapest and most relaxed
The scheduled ferry is the classic Koh Larn crossing: buy a ticket at the Bali Hai Pier booth (now around ฿40 each way, up from ฿30 during 2026 as fuel costs rose), then settle in for a 30–45 minute chug across the bay. Most departures land at Na Baan pier in the main village; some runs go to Tawaen Beach instead. From the village you hop on a songthaew or rent a scooter to reach the beaches.
It’s cheap, it’s part of the fun, and the licensed ferries are the local way to travel. The trade-off is the timetable: departures are spaced out, and the last boat back leaves around 17:30–18:00 — miss it and you’re either staying overnight or paying for a speedboat home.
- What you get: the lowest price by far, a relaxed local experience, licensed scheduled boats.
- What to watch: slower crossing, fixed timetable, lands mainly at the village (not your chosen beach), and a firm last-return time to plan around.
The speedboat — fast and flexible
A speedboat turns the crossing into 15–20 minutes and, crucially, can offer a more flexible departure or beach drop — including Samae, Tien and Tawaen. Pattaya’s published pier standard lists ฿150 to Na Baan or ฿200 to Tawaen one way, and ฿300 return. Its 2023 charter standard was ฿2,800 for a single-engine boat carrying up to 12 or ฿4,500 for a twin-engine boat; a current Trip.com private round trip starts at US$94.93, showing why the exact boat and booking channel matter.
For families with young children, larger groups, or anyone on a tight schedule, a charter can justify its premium by skipping the timetable, cutting the crossing time and reducing the transfer at the island end. It is not close to the ferry on price, especially for four people. Agree the price and return pickup time up front, ideally with the operator’s name and number.
- What you get: fast crossing, departures on your schedule, a direct drop at any beach, good value split across a group.
- What to watch: much pricier per head solo, quality of operators varies, and you must lock in the return arrangement clearly.
Safety and choosing well
- Use the licensed operators at Bali Hai Pier and avoid pushy touts quoting inflated “private” fares on the spot.
- Check for life jackets on speedboats and don’t board anything that looks overloaded.
- Watch the weather — crossings can get choppy in the rainy season; if the sea looks rough, the slower ferry is the steadier ride.
- For a charter, confirm price and return time in writing (or a photo of the agreement) before you pay.
Who should pick which
- Backpackers, couples and budget days: the ferry — cheap, relaxed, sociable.
- Families with young children: a speedboat charter — faster, less waiting, a direct beach drop.
- Larger groups prioritising time over price: consider a charter, but compare the whole-boat quote against the ฿80 ferry return before paying.
- Chasing a specific quiet beach (Samae, Nual, Tien): speedboat, since the ferry mostly serves the village.
- A late-finishing day: speedboat, so you’re not tied to the last ferry.
For the full island rundown — beaches, getting around on Koh Larn, and where to eat — see our complete Koh Larn guide.
A quick tip on timing
Whatever you pick, go early. Morning crossings mean calmer seas, first pick of the sunbeds, and no last-minute scramble for the return boat. If you’re on the public ferry, note the day’s return times the moment you land so the afternoon doesn’t catch you out — and leave a comfortable buffer, because that final departure waits for no one.
Fares are approximate for 2026 and change with fuel costs and season — confirm the day’s ferry schedule and any speedboat price at the pier before you commit.