Day Trips from Pattaya: Islands, National Parks, and Ancient Towns

Pattaya’s position on the Eastern Seaboard puts it within range of a surprisingly varied set of day trips - from offshore islands you can reach in under an hour to ancient trading towns and one of Thailand’s best national parks. Here is what is worth the journey and how to get there.

Koh Larn (Coral Island)

Koh Larn is the obvious first day trip from Pattaya and genuinely lives up to the hype. The island sits 7.5km offshore - about 45 minutes on the public ferry from Bali Hai Pier at the south end of Beach Road. The ฿30 public boat runs several times daily and is perfectly manageable.

Koh Larn has six beaches; Tawaen is the most popular and most developed (sun loungers, food stalls, watersports rental). Samae Beach on the west side is quieter and better for swimming. Hat Nual at the south end is the most secluded and worth the short motorbike taxi ride from the pier (฿50–80).

Snorkelling gear rents for ฿100–150 at most beach vendors. Glass-bottom boat tours circuit the island’s reef sections for around ฿200–300 per person. Day-trip packages through tour operators in Pattaya typically include the boat transfer, snorkelling, and a beach lunch for ฿600–900 per person - reasonable value if you want everything arranged. Book through Pattaya tours and activities for guided options.

Getting there: Public ferry from Bali Hai Pier, ฿30 each way. Last boat back around 5pm. Speedboat charter from the pier approximately ฿1,000–1,500 for a group.

Duration: Half day to full day.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo

Thailand’s largest open zoo sits 28km north of central Pattaya - a 30-minute drive. Khao Kheow covers 800 hectares with over 8,000 animals in spacious open enclosures. It is particularly good for large mammals: white rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and Thailand’s largest collection of African ungulates.

The night zoo (Khao Kheow Night Safari) runs separately from 6pm; the evening lighting and nocturnal animal enclosures make it a different experience from the daytime visit. Entry to the day zoo is approximately ฿150 for foreigners; the night zoo costs around ฿300.

Getting there: Best by hired car or motorbike - no direct public transport. Taxi from Pattaya around ฿400–600 each way. Organised day tours from Pattaya include Khao Kheow for approximately ฿800–1,200 with transport.

Duration: 3–5 hours.

Samae San Islands

The Samae San Archipelago near Sattahip, 50km south of Pattaya, offers some of the best diving and snorkelling within day-trip range. The main islands - Koh Samae San, Koh Chuang, and Koh Kham - are in a Thai Navy-controlled zone; access is permitted but organised through local dive operators.

The reefs here are healthier than anything around Koh Larn, with visibility regularly reaching 10–15 metres. Dive trips depart from Sattahip pier or occasionally from Bang Saray (35km south of Pattaya). A two-dive trip runs approximately ฿2,500–3,500 including equipment and transfer.

Getting there: Hire a car or join an organised dive tour. Bang Saray is reachable by baht bus (฿30–50) from Pattaya’s south end, then taxi to the pier.

Duration: Full day.

Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi is 110km southeast of Pattaya - about 90 minutes by bus or car - and is one of the most undervisited day trips in the region. The town is the gem-trading capital of Southeast Asia; the gem market on Sri Chan Road operates Friday through Sunday with traders from across the region.

The old town district (Chanthaboon Waterfront) has some of the best-preserved Sino-Portuguese shophouse architecture outside Phuket and Penang, with a French cathedral (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) that has been standing since 1711. Several jungle waterfalls are within 20–30 minutes’ drive of town - Krathing Waterfall in Namtok Phlio National Park is the most accessible (฿200 entry).

This trip works best as a self-guided drive. There is no organised tour infrastructure from Pattaya.

Getting there: Minivan from Pattaya Bus Terminal (North Road) to Chanthaburi approximately ฿150–180 each way, 90 minutes. Hired car is more flexible - around ฿1,800–2,500 for the day.

Duration: Full day (6–8 hours).

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai is 180km northwest of Pattaya - closer than it is from Bangkok, and a reasonable day trip if you leave early. The park covers over 2,000 sq km of UNESCO-listed forest and holds Thailand’s best wildlife-viewing odds: elephants, gibbons, hornbills, and wild boar are commonly seen. The Haew Narok waterfall (150 metres) is one of the most dramatic in mainland Thailand.

Organised tours from Pattaya to Khao Yai run approximately ฿1,800–2,800 per person and typically include guided wildlife walks, transport, and park fees (foreigners ฿400 entry). Going independently requires a car and an early start - aim to arrive at the park gate by 8am.

Book through Pattaya day trips and tours to find current operator options and group tour schedules.

Getting there: Hired car (฿3,000–4,500 for a day vehicle) or organised tour. No direct public transport.

Duration: Full day (10–12 hours including travel).

Rayong and Koh Samet

Koh Samet sits 35km south of Rayong - about 2.5 hours from Pattaya. The island’s white sand beaches (Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Phutsa) are some of the finest in the Gulf of Thailand, and the sea is swimmable year-round because the island sits in a rain shadow that keeps it drier than the mainland.

The trip works best as an overnight, but a day trip is possible if you take the first bus from Pattaya to Rayong (departing around 7am, ฿80–100), then a songthaew to Ban Phe pier (฿40), then the ferry to Koh Samet (฿50–70). You will have around 5–6 hours on the island before the return journey. Park entry fee is ฿200 for foreigners.

Getting there: Bus to Rayong then ferry. Or hire a car for flexibility - approximately ฿2,500–3,500 for the day.

Duration: Full day (10+ hours); overnight recommended.

Booking Organised Tours

Most tour operators in Pattaya can arrange the above trips with pickup from your hotel. Booking through Pattaya tours and activities gives access to verified operators with current pricing and availability. For Koh Larn and Khao Kheow, the organised tour route is the easiest unless you have your own transport. For Chanthaburi, Khao Yai, and Koh Samet, a hired driver for the day often works out to similar cost with much more flexibility.

Baht bus (songthaew) routes cover central Pattaya thoroughly for ฿10–20 per ride - useful for reaching Bali Hai Pier for the Koh Larn ferry and the North Pattaya transport hub.