A snorkelling trip around the islands
Longtail boats and speedboats take you around Samet and to the small islands nearby, such as Koh Kudee, for snorkelling among corals and fish and swimming on untouched beaches.
See tours and pricesThe national park island near Bangkok · Thailand
Koh Samet
Your guide to Koh Samet
White sand, small coves and mermaids, just a few hours from Bangkok.
Koh Samet lies in the Gulf of Thailand off Rayong province, about three hours from Bangkok by bus plus a short boat ride. The island is only a few kilometres long and has been part of a national park since 1981. Every visitor pays a fee on arrival. National park status has helped limit development, and large parts of the island are still covered in forest.
Almost all the beaches are on the east coast, where small coves and sandy beaches follow one another along paths and dirt roads. Hat Sai Kaew in the north is the longest and liveliest beach, with fine white sand. Further south the coves become smaller and quieter. In the evenings, restaurant tables are laid out right on the sand.
Koh Samet has a special place in Thai literature. The national poet Sunthorn Phu set parts of his long epic poem Phra Aphai Mani here. Statues of the prince and the mermaid, two of the story's main characters, stand by the beach. The island is a popular getaway for Thais, especially at weekends, while weekdays tend to be calmer.
The best time to visit is from November to April. The rainy season runs from May to October, but Koh Samet gets less rain than many other parts of Thailand, so the island is a good choice all year round.
Things to do
A fire show on the beach
After dark, fire performers spin burning staffs and chains by the bars on Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Wong Deuan. The shows are free to watch.
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Explore the island's dirt roads
Dirt roads and paths cross the island through the forest. Walk, rent a bike or take a songthaew to the coves in the south and to the sunset on the west coast.
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Best November–April
25–33 °CTropical and warm all year. November to April is driest and most comfortable. The rainy season runs from May to October, but Samet gets less rain than much of Thailand, and the sea can then be rough.
Current currency
฿
Thai baht
1 THB to SEKThe rate is updated every hour. Always check the current rate before you travel.
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Plan your trip
Getting to Koh Samet
The island has no airport. Most people fly into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and continue by bus, minibus or taxi to the port at Ban Phe. Buses from Bangkok's Ekkamai bus station reach Ban Phe in about three hours.
From Ban Phe, the regular ferries take 30–40 minutes to the pier at Na Dan, while speedboats take around a quarter of an hour and can go straight to your beach. On arrival you pay the national park fee in cash.
Check current departures and prices before you travel.
Where to stay
At Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Wong Deuan you stay close to restaurants, bars and the boats, but it can be lively in the evenings. The smaller coves to the south, such as Ao Thian and Ao Nuan, have simpler bungalows and quieter nights. On the west coast, at Ao Phrao, are a few more upmarket resorts with the sunset right outside.
Prices go up at weekends and on Thai holidays, when many people come from Bangkok. Book well ahead for those periods, and expect simpler standards than on the bigger islands.
The big and the small
Selected sights
The prince and the mermaid
On the rocks at the northern end of Hat Sai Kaew sit statues of Prince Phra Aphai Mani, playing his flute, and the mermaid who rescued him. The figures come from Sunthorn Phu's fairy-tale epic, in which the prince escapes from a sea ogress to the island. The statues are a popular photo spot, especially in the evening light.
Ao Phrao
The only larger beach on the west coast lies apart from the coves on the east side and is the best place for sunset. There are a few hotels and restaurants, and boats come here directly from the mainland. Even if you stay on the east coast, it's worth coming over one evening.
Ao Kiu
In the far south the island is so narrow that the Ao Kiu bay has a beach on each side, just a few minutes' walk apart. From one you watch the sunrise and from the other the sunset. The water is clear and shallow, and the area is much quieter than the north of the island.
Khao Laem Ya
On the mainland opposite Samet lies the Khao Laem Ya headland, part of the same national park. A road and a footpath follow the rocks out towards the sea, with views over Samet and the small islands. It makes a good outing before or after the boat, especially at sunset.
The Sunthorn Phu Memorial
Inland on the mainland, in the Klaeng district east of Ban Phe, is a memorial park to Thailand's national poet Sunthorn Phu, whose father came from the area. The park has statues of the poet and figures from his stories, among them the mermaid and the sea ogress. It's a good stop if you have a car.
Hat Sai Kaew
The island's longest beach is a short walk from the pier at Na Dan and known for its chalk-white, fine sand. Most of the hotels, restaurants and bars are here, and in the evenings there are fire shows and music. At weekends and on Thai holidays it gets packed, so come on a weekday if you want more space.
Ao Wong Deuan
The crescent-shaped bay in the middle of the east coast has calm water, a wide beach and restaurants that set up tables on the sand in the evening. Boats also come here directly from the mainland. It's lively but more relaxed than Hat Sai Kaew, and the smaller coves to the south are close by.
The coves of the east coast
South of Ao Wong Deuan follows a string of small coves, among them Ao Thian, also known as Candlelight Beach. A path runs over the rocks between them, and you can walk from cove to cove in a few hours. The further south you go, the quieter it gets, and the water is clear for snorkelling.
Worth knowing
Areas
Na Dan in the north is the island's village and harbour, with shops, a pharmacy and cash machines. South along the east coast lies Hat Sai Kaew, the liveliest beach, followed by Ao Hin Khok, Ao Phai and Ao Wong Deuan. Further south come the small coves of Ao Thian, Ao Nuan and Ao Kiu, where it's quieter. The west coast is almost undeveloped, except for Ao Phrao.
Food & drink
In the evening, restaurants set up tables right on the sand and grill fish, prawns, squid and crab that you pick yourself. Also try tom yum, green curry, som tam papaya salad and fresh fruit from the stalls. Rayong is known for its seafood and for nam pla fish sauce. Food on the island is pricier than on the mainland, so you can eat cheaply in Ban Phe before the boat.
Getting around
The island is small, and much of it can be reached on foot along the beach and paths. Songthaews, green pickup trucks with benches in the back, wait at the pier in Na Dan and drive to the beaches at fixed fares. Many people rent scooters or quad bikes, but the roads to the south are dirt with steep hills, and you need a motorcycle licence for your insurance to apply. Boat taxis run between the coves and to the mainland.
Apps
Grab works for taxis in Bangkok and to Ban Phe. Bus and boat tickets are easy to book through 12Go. Before arrival, fill in the TDAC digital arrival card on the official website. Google Translate with the camera function helps with Thai signs and menus.
Essentials
Many nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for short tourist stays, but the number of days has changed several times, so check the current rules for your passport before you travel. Fill in the TDAC digital arrival card before arrival. The currency is the Thai baht. Bring cash, since the national park fee and many small places only take cash and there are few cash machines on the island. The time zone is UTC+7 all year. Don't drink the tap water.
Extra tips and advice
Visit Samet on weekdays, since the island fills with visitors from Bangkok at weekends and on holidays. Samet works well at the start or end of a trip to Thailand, close to Bangkok and with no domestic flight needed. Walk the east-coast path early in the morning, and head to Ao Phrao or Ao Kiu for the sunset. Ask whether the national park fee is included when you buy your boat ticket.
