Koh Larn vs Koh Samui
Both are Gulf-of-Thailand islands, but that’s where it ends. One’s a multi-day resort island in the far south; the other’s a beach day off Pattaya. Here’s how to choose.
Updated 16 June 2026 · We visit. We don't sell placement.
Koh Samui is Thailand’s second-largest island — a developed Gulf resort destination in the deep south with its own airport, big beaches at Chaweng and Lamai, and neighbours like Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Larn is a small island off Pattaya you visit for a beach day on a 40฿ ferry. They’re both in the Gulf but close to 800 km apart, so it’s fly-or-ferry to Samui and a quick crossing to Koh Larn. Samui for a beach week; Koh Larn for a beach day.
- Koh Samui
- ≈229 km² · 2nd-largest island
- Koh Larn
- ≈4.6 km long · day-trip island
- Getting to Samui
- Fly (USM) or ferry from Surat Thani
- Best for
- Samui = week · Koh Larn = day
Koh Samui in brief
Koh Samui is Thailand’s second-largest island, about 229 km² in the Gulf off Surat Thani in the deep south. It’s a full resort island — its own airport, the busy beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, spas and beach clubs, and easy boat links to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the Ang Thong Marine Park.
เกาะสมุย · Gulf resort island · Deep-south Gulf · ≈229 km² · ~800 km from Pattaya (fly/ferry)
From Koh Samui to Koh Larn
Koh Samui and Koh Larn are both Gulf islands, but Samui is roughly 800 km south — a different region entirely. You reach Samui by plane or a mainland ferry; you reach Koh Larn by a short hop from Pattaya.
- Getting to Samui
- Fly into Samui Airport (USM), about an hour from Bangkok, or take the cheaper route: a flight or train/bus to Surat Thani, then a car-ferry from the Donsak piers (around 1½ hours) to the island.
- Samui → Koh Larn
- There’s no direct link — fly or travel back up to Bangkok, continue to Pattaya, then take the 40฿ ferry from Bali Hai. It’s a full travel day, so the two rarely share a single trip.
- The easy call
- If you’re anywhere near Pattaya, Koh Larn is the beach day that needs no planning. Keep Samui for a trip where the southern Gulf is the destination in its own right.
Koh Samui vs Koh Larn
Two Gulf islands, two completely different trips:
| Compare | Koh Samui | Koh Larn |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Thailand’s second-largest island; a resort destination | A small day-trip island off Pattaya |
| Sea & region | Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani (deep south) | Gulf of Thailand, Chon Buri (eastern seaboard) |
| Size | ≈229 km² | ≈4.6 km long |
| Getting there | Fly to Samui (USM, ~1 hr from Bangkok) or ferry from Surat Thani | 40฿ ferry from Pattaya, 30–45 min |
| Time you need | 4–7 days, often with Phangan or Tao | Half a day to a full day |
| Beaches | Chaweng, Lamai and quieter northern bays | Eight small ones, Tawaen the main |
| Vibe | Developed resort island — spas, beach clubs, nightlife | Low-key beach day, hilly, a few restaurants |
| Day trips | Ang Thong Marine Park, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao | The island itself is the day trip |
| Cost | Higher — flights/ferry plus multi-night hotels | Cheap — ferry and lunch, no hotel needed |
| Best for | A southern-Thailand beach week | A quick beach day from Pattaya |
Distances, fares and times are approximate and verified mid-2026 — they change, so confirm on the day. The Koh Larn ferry figure is the public boat from Bali Hai Pier; see Getting There for the detail.
A few landmarks in Koh Samui
Which one, and when
A multi-day southern-Gulf beach holiday, often paired with Phangan or Tao
An easy, cheap beach day while you’re on the Pattaya side
Samui and Koh Larn don’t naturally share a trip — one’s in the deep south, the other on the eastern seaboard, and linking them means flying back through Bangkok. If you’re heading south for beaches, give Samui the whole stay. If your trip is Bangkok-and-Pattaya, let Koh Larn be your beach day and save Samui for another time.
The verdict: Koh Samui is a beach holiday in its own right; Koh Larn is a beach day. If the southern Gulf is your destination, fly down and give Samui several days. If you’re up around Pattaya, there’s no need to travel south for sand — Koh Larn is the 40฿-ferry beach day right there.
Koh Samui & Koh Larn — common questions
Koh Larn or Koh Samui — which should I visit?
It depends on the trip you’re taking. Koh Samui is a developed resort island in the deep south, worth several days and easily paired with Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Koh Larn is a small island off Pattaya for a single beach day, reached on a 40฿ ferry. Go to Samui if the south is your destination; choose Koh Larn if you’re already near Pattaya and want an easy beach day.
Can you combine Koh Samui with Pattaya or Koh Larn?
Not easily — they’re close to 800 km apart, so you’d fly (usually via Bangkok) between the two regions. It’s doable on a longer trip but rarely worth the back-and-forth; most people choose one coast for their beach time.
How do you get to Koh Samui?
The quickest way is to fly into Samui Airport (USM), roughly an hour from Bangkok. The cheaper way is to reach Surat Thani by flight, train or bus and take a car-ferry from the Donsak piers — about 1½ hours across to the island.
Is Koh Larn like Koh Samui?
No. Samui is a large, developed resort island with an airport, multi-day stays and its own nightlife. Koh Larn is a small island you visit for the day from Pattaya — a few beaches, a village and a 40฿ ferry. They share the Gulf of Thailand and very little else.
Compare more, or start the island day
Gateway city Koh Larn vs Phuket
Andaman resort island Koh Larn vs Ko Samet vs Ko Si Chang
The islands you can actually reach from Pattaya Getting to Koh Larn
The ferry from Bali Hai Pier Which airport for Pattaya
Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang or U-Tapao Koh Larn’s 8 beaches
Ranked, with the honest take