Koh Sak & Koh Phai — Pattaya’s Outer Islands

Koh Sak lies just off the northern tip of Koh Larn, a horseshoe of rock around a sandy neck with a beach on each side. The water is shallow and clear over sand and patches of coral, which makes it the standard first snorkelling stop on the three-island speedboat tours and a good place for first-timers. There are a few loungers and simple restaurants, nothing more. Koh Krok, a few minutes away, is a rocky islet with a small beach used purely as a swim and snorkel stop. You can reach Koh Sak independently by chartering a long-tail or speedboat from Tawaen Beach on Koh Larn, which operators quote at roughly 800–1,000 THB per boat round trip, or from Bali Hai Pier for about 2,000–2,500 THB; for one or two people a tour is cheaper.

Koh Phai is the largest of a small group about 20 km west of Pattaya that includes Koh Rin, Koh Man Wichai and some rocks. The islands belong to the Royal Thai Navy, which keeps them undeveloped: there are no hotels, no overnight stays and only basic facilities, and a small conservation fee of around 150 THB per person is collected, usually inside the tour price. That protection is why the water is the clearest in the Pattaya area and why the full-day catamaran and sailing-yacht trips head here rather than to Koh Larn. Expect a long swim-and-snorkel stop at Koh Rin, lunch on board and a beach landing on Koh Phai when conditions allow.

The three-island speedboat tours from Bali Hai cover Koh Krok, Koh Sak and Koh Larn in a day with snorkelling gear and lunch included, from about 1,500 THB with hotel transfer. The catamaran and yacht day trips sail to Koh Phai and Koh Rin with a buffet on board, from roughly 2,400 THB, and are calmer and roomier than any speedboat; private yacht charters cover the same route for groups. Our tour pages compare the current operators and prices. Whichever you choose, book for November to February if you can: visibility drops and seas get choppy in the rainy season.