Koh Samet is an island in Rayong Province, Eastern Thailand. This nice small island is a part of national marine park and has a number of wonderful beaches scattered around the island. Planning a trip to Koh Samet Island in Thailand? This detailed Koh Samet travel guide with travel tips will help you discover the island and its best things to do.
Koh Samet is a perfect place for a relaxing beach holiday not far from Bangkok. The island gets significantly less rainfall than other beach destinations in Thailand making it a perfect place to visit during most of the year.
Things to Do in Koh Samet
There is something for everyone on the island. You can discover a wide choice of fun things to do in Koh Samet. even if the main attraction on the island is its wonderful beaches.
Koh Samet Beaches
Most of the beaches in Koh Samet are located on the east coast of the island.
Haad Sai Kaew
Haad Sai Kaew is the closest to the ferry piers and the busiest beach on the island. The choice of accommodation, restaurants and bars is really wide here, meaning that everything you need for your holidays will be within an easy walking distance from your place.
Haad Sai Kaew beach is the center of nightlife in Koh Samet and is famous for its numerous restaurants offering sunset dinner and wide range of seafood right on the white sand of the beach.
Ao Hin Khok
At the southern end of Haad Sai Kaew you will find rocky formations and a picturesque statue of Mermaid.
Cross the rocks and you will find yourself in Ao Hin Khok, the quieter part of Haad Sai Kaew which is also known as Silence Beach. Smoking and drinking is not allowed and silence is expected on this beach as monks meditate nearby. If you are looking for place to avoid crowds and enjoy a really relaxing atmosphere in Koh Samet, Silence beach should be your choice.
Ao Phai
Going further south from Haad Sai Kaew you will find Ao Phai. Ao Phai beach is a fine stretch of white sand with a few nice restaurants nearby.
Ao Pudsa
Ao Pudsa is just a short walk from Ao Phai. Quieter than its northern neighbors Ao Pudsa beach is a good choice for those who are trying to escape crowded beaches and have little interest in nightlife activities.
Ao Nuan
If you are looking for more tranquility, walk further south from Ao Pudsa and after 10 minutes walk you will find a nice secluded beach Ao Nuan. Ao Nuan beach is a perfect getaway with only few bungalows near it.
Ao Cho
Another nice beach on the east coast of Koh Samet is Ao Cho. Divided by a wooden pier, Ao Cho beach is a bit longer than Ao Nuan or Ao Pudsa but still offers tranquility as no nightlife or shopping opportunities can be found here.
Ao Wong Deuan
Ao Wong Deuan is the second largest beach on the island. Ao Wong Deuan beach can be reached directly by a ferry service with the mainland. As the beach is quite big, the choice of accommodation and places to eat is a bit wider here than in smaller beaches but don't expect active nightlife here.
Ao Phrao
On the west coast of Koh Samet one of the quietest beaches of the island, called Ao Phrao, can be found. Ao Phrao is an upmarket beach so don't expect to find any budget accommodations here. However, you can easily come to Ao Phrao and enjoy its white sand, blue sea and spectacular sunsets.
Ao Noi Na
Ao Noi Na beach is located on the northern coast of the island. Ao Noi Na is a very quiet beach that is great for recharging your batteries on fine white sand beach.
Ao Luk Yon
Ao Luk Yon beach is located on the northeast coast of Koh Samet. This small beach offers amazing views of the sea and is a good place to relax from everything.
National Park
Most of Koh Samet is a part of Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park. This marine national park has an entry fee and you need to pay it if you’re going to visit any of beaches.
National Park Entrance Fee
Current National Park entrance fees are as follows:
For foreigners:
200 baht/Adult and 100 baht/Children
For Thais:
40 baht/Adult and 20 baht/Children
The fee is now collected on entry at the main pier of the island. If it will be missed, you might be charged by officers at the booth on the entrance to the park (see in photo) or just on the beach, if you are using ferry service which is taking directly to Ao Wong Deuan beach.
Where to Stay in Koh Samet
There are plenty of beaches in Koh Samet but on smaller ones the choice of accommodation is very limited. Most of accommodations can be found at Haad Sai Kaew beach and in the main town of the island, which is nearby.
Some of the best beachfront resorts on the island:
Sai Kaew Beach Resort - beachfront haven, where you can enjoy a memorable getaway with exciting activities, sun-soaked beaches, and delicious dining at the beach club
Samed Tamarind Beach Resort - boutique hotel right by the sea embedded in lush tropical gardens and towering Tamarind trees
Viking Holiday Resort - private, quiet resort yet not too far from the exciting activities around the island
Paradee - resort offering the ultimate in luxury on the secluded powdery white sands of Ao Kiew Beach
Discover the extended selection of the best hotels in Koh Samet and choose your perfect accommodation on the island.
To get the best deal on accommodation, make sure to compare hotel deals on Booking.com with often better special offers on Agoda.
How to get to Koh Samet?
You can get to Koh Samet from Bangkok or Pattaya by bus or private transfer.
Bus to Koh Samet
There are regular bus services from Bangkok’s Ekkamai Bus Terminal to the mainland ferry piers in Ban Phe (pier for ferries to Koh Samet).
Buses depart approximately every hour. The total journey to Ban Phe takes about 4 hours, depending on the traffic.
There are also minivans departing every hour from 07:00 to 20:00.
Bus tickets can be booked online here: Bus from Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier.
You can also booked a combined bus + ferry ticket for the entire journey from Bangkok to Koh Samet.
Private Transfer
Enjoy the ease and convenience of a private vehicle as you travel between Bangkok City, Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Pattaya City, and Koh Samet (Ban Phe Pier) by booking this Private Transfer to Ban Phe Pier.
Ferry to Koh Samet
Ferries to the island depart from Nuanthip Pier, which is located in Ban Phe town.
Most of the ferries go from Ban Phe to Nadan Pier, which is the main pier of Koh Samet.
You can also take a ferry to the second largest beach of the island Ao Wong Deuan but they are less frequent and is a good choice only if you are staying at Ao Wong Deuan or beaches nearby.
The journey by ferry can take about 50 minutes.
Ferry tickets can be booked online here: Ferry from Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet.
Speedboat to Koh Samet
Speedboats also depart from Nuanthip Pier in Ban Phe town. You can take a speedboat to Nadan Pier or directly to Haad Sai Kaew, which is the main beach of Koh Samet.
It takes only 15 minutes or a bit more to get to the island by speedboat.
Speedboat tickets can be booked online here: Speedboat from Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet.
Various transportation options can be compared and transport tickets can be booked by using this search form.
Nadan Pier
The main gateway to Koh Samet island is called Nadan Pier. The giant lady will greet you there.
Currently you need to pay the national park entry fee (200 THB for adult foreigner) when you arrive at Nadan Pier. The fee is paid at the booth on the right of the main hall of the pier, just before the exit to the town.
Getting around the island
The distance from the main town of Koh Samet, which is located by Nadan Pier, to the beaches is not very big. Most of the beaches can be reached on foot by walking along the coastline.
You can also use a songtaew for traveling around the island. Songtaew is a pickup truck with two benches in the back. In Koh Samet songtaews are usually green. As there are just a few other cars on the island, you will definitely notice them. You can find songtaews parked near Nadan Pier (on the right side when you exit the building of the port), near the main beaches or just passing by.
A private trip by songtaew costs up to 600 baht, depending on which beach you are going to. Songtaews in Koh Samet also operate as a public transport and costs between 20 and 100 baht per person. They pick up people on the road, so don’t expect your trip to be fast, unless it gets full. Before you board, make sure if the songtaew is operating as public transport or private, as they all operate according their needs.
The official prices are listed on the boards at main pick up points.
Weather in Koh Samet
The island has only two seasons - the wet and the dry. The best weather in this coastal city is between November and May when the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected for much of this time. Wet season occurs between May and October in Koh Samet. Even during wet season the island gets less rain than other beach destinations in Thailand.
For the best time to visit Koh Samet check the weather ratings chart.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
After visiting Koh Samet you are planning to continue your trip to other regions of Thailand? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations and choose your next destination with the best possible weather conditions.
Next Destination after Koh Samet?
Pattaya is a large coastal city, where you can enjoy shopping malls, water parks, infamous nightlife and much more just a short van ride from the island. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city of the country with tons of things to do and see, so you can easily spend days or weeks there and not get bored. Koh Chang is a larger island offering a good relaxation from crowds.
