5 More Gulf of Thailand Islands to Visit: Koh Larn, Koh Kood, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Mak and Koh Sichang Part 2
5 More Gulf of Thailand Islands to Visit: Koh Larn, Koh Kood, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Mak and Koh Sichang In Part 1, we covered Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Chang and Koh Samet.
Part 2 is a little different.
Some of these islands are perfect for a one-day escape from Bangkok or Pattaya. Others are better for travellers who genuinely want peace, fewer crowds and a slower few days by the sea.
The five islands in this part are:
Koh Larn • Koh Kood • Koh Nang Yuan • Koh Mak • Koh Sichang
As always, there is no single “best island” for everyone.
If you are trying to decide which Gulf of Thailand island to visit, start with how much time you have and what kind of trip you actually want.
If you have 1 day → Koh Larn or Koh Sichang
If you have 2–3 days → Koh Kood or Koh Mak become much more worthwhile
If you are already visiting Koh Tao, Koh Samui or Koh Phangan → Koh Nang Yuan is easy to add to your itinerary
6. Koh Larn An Easy Island Day Trip From Pattaya
Province: Chonburi
Best time to visit: Around November–April
Best for: Day trips / First-time island travellers / Families / Budget travellers
If you only have one day and want to see the sea, Koh Larn is one of the easiest options near Bangkok. The crossing from Pattaya is short, you do not need to carry much luggage, and you do not have to book a hotel unless you want to stay overnight. That also makes Koh Larn a good first island trip for anyone who has never taken a passenger boat before. One thing that surprises many visitors is how different the water can look from Pattaya Beach when the sea conditions are good.
Before going, though, decide which beach you actually want to visit.
Tawaen Beach
One of the busiest beaches on the island.
There are restaurants, water activities, beach chairs and plenty of visitors.
It suits travellers who want convenience and do not mind crowds.
Samae Beach
A little more relaxed and spacious.
A good choice if you still want facilities but prefer something less hectic than Tawaen.
Nual Beach and Smaller Beaches
Better for travellers looking for a quieter atmosphere.
The important thing to remember is that the beaches are spread around different sides of the island.
If your boat arrives on the opposite side from the beach you want, you will still need to take local transport across the island. For a day trip, planning your beach + arrival point + transport on the island before leaving Pattaya can save a surprising amount of time.
How to Get to Koh Larn
The main starting point is Pattaya.
You can choose between regular passenger boats and speedboats, with different prices, travel times and arrival points.
On Koh Larn, boats may arrive at places such as Na Baan Pier or the Tawaen Beach area.
Check where you want to spend the day before choosing your boat.
If you are returning to Pattaya the same day, avoid relying on the very last departure without allowing extra time, especially on weekends when many visitors leave the island at once.
Book this route: Pattaya → Koh Larn
7. Koh Kood For Travellers Who Really Want Peace and Quiet
Province: Trat
Best time to visit: Around November–April
Best for: Couples / Families / Nature / Quiet beach holidays
If your idea of an island holiday is: clear water, uncrowded beaches, no loud nightlife and no need to fill every hour with activities Koh Kood is an excellent choice. The island is larger than many first-time visitors expect, but development remains much less dense than on Thailand’s major resort islands. Hotels and resorts are spread along different beaches, and the island offers more than just the sea, with waterfalls, forest and local communities inland. A Koh Kood trip is therefore quite different from staying somewhere where you can simply walk out of your hotel and find a long street of restaurants. Choosing your accommodation carefully matters. Distances between beaches can be significant, and transport options are more limited than on larger tourist islands. Areas around Klong Chao are convenient for travellers who want easier access to restaurants and services, while resorts in more remote bays are better suited to people who expect to spend most of their time around the beach and hotel. Klong Chao Waterfall and the island’s inland nature also give you something to do when you want a break from the beach.
If you only have one night or a very short two-day trip from Bangkok, Koh Kood may not be worth the travel time.
At least 3 days and 2 nights is better, while 3 nights gives you a much more relaxed trip.
How to Get to Koh Kood
The main route is to travel to Trat Province, continue to the mainland ferry pier and take a boat to Koh Kood.
Another option is to continue from Koh Chang or Koh Mak during the season when inter-island services are operating.
That makes routes such as:
Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood
very attractive for travellers who have enough time.
Ferry frequency decreases during the rainy season, and some services operate seasonally, so always check the actual schedule before confirming your hotel and onward travel.
Book this route: Trat → Koh Kood
8. Koh Nang Yuan The Perfect Addition to a Koh Tao Trip
Province: Surat Thani
Best time to visit: Around February–September
Best for: Snorkelling / Couples / Photography / Day trips
The image of three tiny islands connected by a sandbar is what made Koh Nang Yuan famous. The island itself is small, and most travellers do not need several days here. The best way to visit is usually as a day trip from Koh Tao. The main activities are climbing to the viewpoint, swimming and snorkelling around the island. The viewpoint is one of the classic images associated with Thailand’s islands, but timing matters. Because the island is small, it can feel crowded when several tour boats arrive at the same time. Koh Nang Yuan is managed differently from a typical public island and has its own entrance rules and visitor regulations, so check the latest details before travelling.
How to Get to Koh Nang Yuan
If you are already staying on Koh Tao, this is by far the easiest option.
The boat ride is short and works well as either a half-day or full-day trip.
Travellers staying on Koh Samui or Koh Phangan may also visit as part of organised boat trips that include several stops.
If you are coming from Bangkok or the mainland, it does not make much sense to travel all the way south just for Koh Nang Yuan alone.
Think of it as an addition to:
Koh Tao + Koh Nang Yuan
rather than a standalone island holiday.
And because it is generally a day trip, check your return boat arrangements at the beginning of the day rather than leaving it until the afternoon.
9. Koh Mak The Island for Travellers Who Want to Slow Down
Province: Trat
Best time to visit: Around November–April
Best for: Couples / Quiet trips / Cycling / Slow travel
If Koh Kood is quiet, Koh Mak feels even slower. The island is relatively flat, roads are calm, and getting around by bicycle or motorbike is easier than on Thailand’s steeper islands. There is no feeling of a major tourist town.
No long nightlife strip, no huge entertainment areas, and evenings are generally peaceful. A typical day here might be: cycling, swimming, sitting at a beach café, watching the sunset and heading back to your accommodation If that sounds boring, Koh Mak may not be the right island for you. If that sounds perfect, you will probably love it. Koh Mak has also become known for its focus on lower-impact and low-carbon tourism, with efforts to reduce waste and encourage more sustainable travel around the island. That gives it a noticeably different atmosphere from islands built around large visitor numbers and constant activities.
How to Get to Koh Mak
You can travel directly from the Trat mainland to Koh Mak.
Another good option is to continue from Koh Chang or Koh Kood.
Because these islands are in the same group, Koh Mak works particularly well in a multi-island itinerary.
For example:
Koh Chang 2 nights → Koh Mak 2 nights → Koh Kood 3 nights
gives you three different island experiences without returning to the mainland between each stop, as long as seasonal inter-island boats are operating.
During the monsoon season, services may become less frequent, so check the current ferry schedule before locking in your accommodation.
Book this route: Trat → Koh Mak
10. Koh Sichang More Than Just a Beach Day
Province: Chonburi
Best for: Day trips / History / Photography / Travellers who want more than resorts
If you compare Koh Sichang with Koh Samui, Koh Kood or other famous Thai beach islands and ask:
“Which one has the most beautiful beaches?”
Koh Sichang probably will not win.
But if the question is:
“Which island near Bangkok can I visit in one day and still do more than sit on a beach?”
Koh Sichang becomes much more interesting.
Its character comes from the mix of sea, local life and history.
The island has strong historical connections to the reign of King Rama V and includes attractions such as Phra Chudadhuj Ratchasthan Palace, Atsadang Bridge, Wat Atsadang Nimit and Chong Khao Khat.
A Koh Sichang trip therefore feels different from a typical resort-island holiday.
You can arrive in the morning, hire local transport to explore the island, visit historical sites, stop for sea views and return to the mainland in the evening.
If you want to swim, Tham Phang Beach is the island’s main beach area.
Koh Sichang is therefore particularly good for travellers with limited time who want both the sea and something else to explore during the day.
How to Get to Koh Sichang
Unlike Koh Larn, which is reached from Pattaya, the main route to Koh Sichang starts from Si Racha.
From Bangkok, travel to Si Racha and take a passenger boat across to the island.
Boats arrive near Tha Thewawong, the island’s main community area.
Once there, local transport can take you around the main attractions.
If you are visiting as a day trip, check the last return boat when you arrive rather than waiting until the end of the day.
Koh Sichang is a good option for travellers who want to turn:
“a day at the beach”
into:
“a one-day island trip with sea views, history and local atmosphere.”
