Koh Phai

Koh Phai — also called Bamboo Island — is a small, undeveloped island off Pattaya, reached by speedboat or longtail from Bali Hai Pier in 45 minutes to an hour. The Royal Thai Navy administers the island, which is why it has stayed free of the resort development found on Koh Larn nearby: no accommodation, no permanent vendors, no restaurants, just a beach and a fringing reef.

That naval oversight also shapes how you visit. Overnight stays, camping and alcohol are all prohibited, and the Navy restricts private boats from anchoring — almost everyone arrives on an organised tour boat rather than chartering their own crossing, and visitors are expected back on the mainland by late afternoon. The upside of the restriction is a genuinely quiet island for a day: the main beach runs along the western shore, sheltered enough for swimming, with coral close enough to shore that snorkeling doesn’t require swimming far out. Parrotfish and clownfish are the regular sightings around the reef, and the island’s rocky, sparsely vegetated interior isn’t built out for walking trails — this is a beach stop, not a hiking one.

Watch out: No facilities exist on the island — no shop, no shade shelter beyond scattered coconut palms, no fresh water. Bring everything you need for the day, including sun protection, since there’s nowhere to buy it once you’re there.

Day-tour boats from Bali Hai Pier typically bundle Koh Phai with a stop at Koh Larn, Pattaya’s larger and more developed island neighbour — worth knowing if you want Koh Phai’s quieter beach without giving up a full day to reach it. Independent travel here is limited by the Navy’s anchoring restrictions, so booking a tour through one of the operators along Pattaya’s waterfront is the practical route rather than an inconvenience to work around.

Insider Tip: Ask specifically for a Koh Phai (Bamboo Island) departure rather than a general “island tour” — many Bali Hai Pier operators default to Koh Larn alone, and Koh Phai trips are sold separately or as an add-on.

For the neighbouring island most tour boats also stop at, see Koh Lan, or the wider Koh Larn destination guide for where to base yourself before a Koh Phai day trip.