Koh Loi Si Racha

Ko Loi is a small islet on Si Racha’s waterfront in Chonburi province, connected to the mainland by a roughly 500-metre causeway — no boat required to reach it. It’s not part of Koh Sichang, the island 12km offshore; Ko Loi is actually the mainland pier where the Koh Sichang ferry departs, which is why the two names get confused.

The islet itself covers only about 3 rai (roughly half a hectare), most of it taken up by Wat Ko Loi on a low hill. The temple’s centrepiece is a 4-metre white jade statue of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, carved in the style of Chinese palace workshops and installed in the mid-2000s; a Buddha’s footprint shrine sits nearby, reflecting the Sino-Thai blend common to Gulf-coast temples built by Chinese trading communities. Rocky shoreline wraps the base of the hill, with a few small landings where locals fish or collect shellfish at low tide, and the elevated temple grounds give an open view across the Gulf of Thailand toward the shipping lanes and, on a clear day, Koh Sichang itself.

Ko Loi Pier, at the base of the causeway, is the departure point for Koh Sichang ferries — boats run roughly every hour through the day, take 40–45 minutes to cross, and cost around 50 THB one-way. That makes Ko Loi a natural stop either just before or after an island day trip, rather than a full excursion on its own. Most visitors spend 20–30 minutes here: enough for the temple, the viewpoint, and a look at the fishing boats before catching the ferry or heading back into town.

Early morning or late afternoon avoid the worst of the midday sun and give better light for photos, particularly around sunset over the Gulf. No special transport is needed — walk or drive across the causeway from central Si Racha. Space Inspirium and Chan Ta Then Waterfall, both also in Si Racha district, are easy add-ons if you want to fill out a half-day around the ferry crossing.

Insider Tip: Time your visit for the hour before a Koh Sichang ferry departure — you’ll see the temple and viewpoint without wasting a separate trip out to the pier.

Watch out: the causeway and temple grounds have no shade for long stretches; sun protection matters more than the short distance suggests, especially around midday.