Neil Aronson (Updated Nov 2024) If you are looking for a short time getaway from Bangkok to a Thailand island, then Koh Samet Island might be a good option for you. Ko Samed, as it’s sometimes called by locals. The island is popular with locals and tourists, backpackers, partiers, and adventurers. Legend has it the island was used by pirates, and there is still buried treasure somewhere on the island. So there’s that.
If you like a quieter more peaceful trip, then go during the weekdays. If you like the club party scene, then go on the weekends. The east side around the town, and southeast beaches is the busier party area. Sai Kaew beach to Ao Phian beach. The more remote and north beaches are quieter on the weekends.
My wife took me to Koh Samet Island when we first met, she was living in Rayong at the time. I like to call it ‘no sleep’ island. Because the first hotel we stayed at was next to the SilverSand Bar on Ao Phian beach, which was partying in to the morning hours.
Easily accessible by boat from Rayong, which is an hour from Pattaya and about 2 hours drive from Bangkok. So this makes it a popular weekend getaway for local Bangkok residents. The ferry ride from Rayong is about an hour. Another option is a speedboat that only takes 15 minutes. Learn more below in the How To Get There section.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Contents:
About Koh Samet Island
Koh Samet Island is a small island off the coast of Rayong city. And Rayong is about an hour’s drive south of Pattaya. It has sheer cliffs along the west coast and gorgeous beaches along the east. A lot of the hotels and activity is on the east and southeast side.
Most of the island is protected as part of the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, making it clean and relatively unspoiled. This National Park is the 34th and established in 1981. You must pay the park fee to enter Koh Samet Island. 200 THB foreigner.
The main town has an active nightlife scene, making it a favorite weekend retreat for Bangkok and Pattaya residents. There are hotels for everyone, from hostels to high end resorts. Restaurants and bars are abundant, and mostly along the beaches. Hiking, wildlife, ocean sports, and a good temple are also popular. An annual Thai pop and rock music festival takes place on the island, too.
Day Trip
A day trip option is available on Viator, where you can just go for the day.
Visit Koh Samet, aka Paradise Island, on this day trip from Pattaya. Arrive on the island by ferry, and then enjoy the day however you wish as you relax on the sand and swim. Lunch is included at a beachside eatery. Enjoy round-trip transportation by vehicle and ferry. Spend a relaxing day on the white-sand beach without the hotel.
Beaches
Koh Samet Island is your typical beach destination. Meaning, it has great white sand beaches with calm seas great for swimming. Most travelers stay closer to town which is near the pier, Na Dan. So this is the busier area.
The long stretch of beach on the east coast is for sure the most popular and crowded. Lined with great restaurants and bars, and fantastic boutique hotels on or near the beach.
Sai Kaew just south of town is very popular. You can walk south all the way down to Ao Thian, where we stayed.
The north side, Ao Klang, is much less crowded as there are less hotels and restaurants. But if you like more peace, this is a beautiful beach, and great for swimming.
If you want complete isolation and the beach pretty much to yourself, go to Ao Prao on the west side. The rest of the west side in mostly rocky cliffs, so this gem is the only option over there. No load bars or motorboats. And you will get the sunset. There are a few resorts that can be booked on Agoda Hotels Website.
Thai Seafood On the Beach
Sitting on the beach having your meal is a famous pastime on Koh Samet Island. Enjoy great food while watching the show of the beach. There are plenty of choices. On Sai Kaew beach is a popular spot. Eating fresh local food with your toes in the sand and a Leo in your hand! It does not suck.
Try Moo Krata on the beach. Moo Krata is usually served buffet style. It is a cross between Korean bbq and a hot pot. We went to Ploy Talay, which has seating on the beach as well as inside. Plus live music and a ‘fire show’ at night on the beach. I drank too much and broke my flip flop walking back to Ao Thian and our hotel.
Other restaurants on the island include the popular K’jeat’s Kitchen at Ao Noi Na which offers Thai food as well as European options. In this area you’ll also find German food at Ban Pra Kai Kaew and plenty of hole in the wall style places and small eateries offering simple dishes at fair prices. Further into Samet Village, other mid range options include Red Ginger, whilst you can pick up a pizza at Perfect Dough.
Haad Sai Kaew has many more expensive tourist oriented restaurants, but decent choices for Thai food are Buddie’s and Ploy Talay. Jep’s is very popular in Ao Hin Khok with a great beachside terrace and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere (our top choice!), whilst the Baywatch Bar in Ao Wong Duean has a similar vibe and is good if you’re not in a rush and want to lounge and enjoy your meal.
Where To Stay
Koh Samet Island caters to the whole range of budgets and types of travelers. As I mentioned, some areas are more active near the bars, while other areas are more quite and remote.
We stayed at a couple great places I would recommend. One is on Ao Phian, which has several great places, plus several great restaurants and bars. We stayed at Samed Villa Resort, right on the beach. This would be the east side. Good party area. And you can walk down the beach towards town for great restaurants on the beach.
Ao Klang Beach on the north side, is where we stayed at a quieter resort on the beach. Very nice beaches and quiet in this area.
Baan Ploy Sea offers room with private balconies. It features an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant. Free Wi-Fi is available in the entire residence. Surrounded by lush tropical trees and shrubs, the charming and panoramic landscape surrounds each of the 14 rooms behind with fresh, serene ambiance.
Samed Cliff Resort is one of the first places my wife and I stayed at up on the north shore where it is more quiet. We actually moved here after staying on the party beaches and needed some quiet. It features well-designed bungalows with a private balcony, with great views. Boasting an outdoor pool, it has a restaurant and free WiFi in public areas.
Le Vimarn Cottages and Spa is located next to Ao Prao Beach and they probably have the best outdoor pool out of this entire list, not only that, their rooms are also beach style bungalows that are beautifully decorated with traditional wooden furniture’s and fabrics.
Ao Prao Resort sits on Ao Prao Beach and is surrounded by luscious tropical vegetation. This is one of the few resorts that offer a hiking and biking trail through Koh Samet’s mountains and tropical rainforests.
As far as booking a hotel, my recommendation is to book through Agoda Hotels Website. It is our choice almost every time I book a hotel in Asia. All Thailand hotels are available to book and usually cheaper than other sites. Sign up for their points, they add up faster than most. Use the tool below to book directly on their site.
Things To Do on Koh Samet Island
Getting Around Koh Samet Island
Since it is a relatively small island, getting around is no problem. If you are staying on the east beaches, like Sai Kaew, you can walk to a lot of places and restaurants.
When you arrive on Koh Samet you’ll find it easy to get around. There’s pretty much just one road across the island, with some short dirt roads making their way off this to specific resorts.
Roads on the inner parts and remote parts of Koh Samet Island can get rough, especially during the rainy season. Songthaews (which are small buses/trucks), are the main public way around.
Most of the island is walkable, although you can easily and cheaply rent a motorbike. If you choose to do this make sure to drive with extreme care as island roads are notoriously dangerous.
It’s also possible to get around by songthaew where you can negotiate for a private trip or just for short journeys across the island – these are usually green pick up trucks with some seating, but note that if prices for a ride from the pier are reasonable, they jump as soon as you need to hire a songthaew as a private taxi.
Of course beaches are the most popular activity on the island, but there are other things to do.
Snorkeling/ Scuba
Some of the best spots for snorkeling and diving in Ko-Samet include Hin Khao and Koh Kudi, where you can see colorful fish and vibrant coral. If you’re lucky, you may even spot sea turtles or dolphins. Experienced divers can explore deeper waters and discover shipwrecks and underwater caves.
Best Snorkeling Spots
- Ao Prao Beach
- On the western side of the island, Ao Prao is quieter and has some coral and marine life close to the shore.
- Ao Wai
- A serene bay with fewer crowds and calm waters, ideal for beginners in snorkeling.
- Ao Cho and Ao Wong Duean
- Both beaches have rocky areas nearby that harbor marine life. The waters are generally calm and suitable for snorkeling.
- Ao Kiu Na Nok (Southern Tip)
- Offers more vibrant coral reefs and a variety of tropical fish. The southern part of Koh Samet is less developed, making it ideal for underwater exploration.
- Offshore Snorkeling Trips
- Join a boat tour to nearby smaller islands, like Koh Talu or Koh Kudi, for better coral reefs and diverse marine life. Check with Viator for options.
There are several dive companies. I have not used them, however a recommended one is Blue Aura Divers.
Hiking
There are not a lot of options but there are a few. You can walk along the east beaches from the town down to Samed Villa Resort on Ao Phai beach, which is about 1.5km. Or walk from Sai Kaew beach to the north tip of Noi Na Beach, which is about 2.8 KM, and take lots of pictures.
The main hiking trail is in the National Park grounds called as you would except, the Koh Samet Nature Trail. A maintained trail that is only 1.7 Km, but is fairly steep and moderately challenging. Great for birding and the views at top.
Rent Mountain Bikes/ Boats
Pretty much any tourist spot in Thailand it is easy and relatively cheap to rent bikes or motorbikes and cruise around. There are spots in town to rent all these. Or check your hotel. They may have bikes to use for free, or know where to go. Be careful of rental scams however. Go to a recommended place. Don’t give anyone your passport to hold. Boat trips are available to rent all over.
Water Sports
Being an island there are plenty of options for Windsurfing, Paddleboard, Kayas. Check out Seaddict Water Sports Facebook page.
Getting There
In terms of the best time to visit Koh Samet, the location of the island means that it misses most of the main monsoon weather and is warm and sunny year round. Whilst it does experience some rain and seasonal variations, the brilliant climate accounts for its attraction. Showers are more likely to take place between the months of May and October, with September usually ending up the rainiest month, whilst the sunniest months are October until February.
From Rayong it’s a simple boat ride over to the island. There are several company options. However you can book through the popular travel site 12Go. Choose from either the slow boat of the high speed boat. Both are cheap. We took the slow boat. I don’t think I knew there was a faster option at the time.
If you are staying in Bangkok or Pattaya, you will need to get down to Rayong Piers. You can hire transportation through 12Go.
Lastly, don’t forget to get Travel Insurance. For just a few dollars a day you can have piece of mind. It provides Trip Coverage including baggage and Medical. Our choices are Safety Wing and AXA Insurance.
