Boat To Outer Islands And Koh Chang?

[westbounder]

I am going to Pattaya this week and I was wondering where (exact directions please) in Pattaya do I get a boat to the near bye outer Islands (apx. 6km from Pattaya) and also a boat for the BIG resort island of Koh Chang?

Thank you

[Basil B]

As far as I know there is no (certain there is not), any regular boat service to the far Islands.

You can get there but either you will need to charter a speed boat or some dive boats go out there and will take swimmers/snorklers out there.

Not sure what restrictions there are on landing on the islands but as I recall there are some, also best avoid Koh Rin a the The Royal Thai Navy do from time to time use it for target practice.

Another option is to listen out for someone chartering a big boat and offering places, or charter yourself and advertise places...

[Spalpeen]

At 6km the OP may be talking about what we call the near islands. If that's the case, go to Bali Hai pier at the south end of Walking Street, go out to the end and there's a regular and cheap ferry to the biggest island, Koh Larn. The islands farther out are imaginatively referred to as the Far Islands. To get there hire one of the thousands of speedboats also found at Bali Hai pier.

The far Islands are owned by the Thai navy. It is permitted to visit them but not to stay overnight. They are uninhabited. Don't kick anything that looks like an unexploded shell.

Koh Chang is a long long way south of Pattaya. You wouldn't take a boat from Pattaya to get there. Drive south along the coast for several hours until you come to the place from which the Koh Chang ferry leaves.