Ko Samet is a small island in Rayong Province, within
easy reach of Bangkok.
Ko Samet is not overly renowned for its parties
(unlike Ko Pha
Ngan) or its diving (unlike Ko
Tao), but it has both convenience and quietness
in its favor. It's a popular tourist destination
for Thais as well as foreigners for its proximity
to Bangkok.
How to get here
Most of Ko Samet, including all of the good parts,
is a national park and has an entry fee. Thais pay
40 baht, foreigners 400 baht - a classic example
of Thai dual pricing. If your ferry arrives at the
main pier and you take a songthaew to the beaches,
there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint.
If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an
officer will collect the fee as you step out of
the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic
in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven, ATM or other
shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you
can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone
checking your ticket. There is a road via the temple
which avoids the checkpoint entirely.
The 1st class bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal
(Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes just over 3 hours,
costs 276 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry
piers (there's no direct service to Ban Phe from
Moh Chit - nearest alternative is to Rayong, from
there you can take a Song Thaew to Ban Phe). If
you take a regular bus from Pattaya or Sattahip,
you'll need to take a songthaew or charter a tuk-tuk
to the ferry piers. Minibus services go straight
to the piers.
Ferries from Ban Phe to Ko Samet take around 30
to 45 minutes. Only buy a one-way ticket, as there's
no discount on round-trip tickets and you won't
have to worry about losing it. The ticket sellers
may also offer to sell you the national park ticket
- don't bother.
The nearest airport fielding commercial flights
is U-Tapao, just east of Sattahip - about 45 km
from Ban Phe.
Getting around
There are two methods to get around the island.
The first is by songthaew, this is just a pickup
truck with the passengers sitting in the back. It
costs 200 baht for a private trip, or between 20
and 60 baht per person for a full car, depending
on which beach you are going to. This is a rather
expensive method to get around the island, and the
dusty roads can make it an uncomfortable trip. The
second way is by renting a motorcycle. Signs advertise
300 baht per day or 100 baht per hour, but when
you go to enquire about renting they will often
say 400 or 500 baht per day. Insist on paying 300
baht. You will usually be able to rent it from the
hotel you are staying at. Leaving your passport
or a deposit is not necessary or advisable.
See
Catch the sunset from dramatic cliffside
locations along the south-west coastline.
A fireshow at the renowned Silver
Sand Bar on Ao Phai Beach. They are usually held
around 10pm, and are biggest later in the week
and on weekends when the party crowds come in.
Do
Hiking
Boat trips
A boat trip with any of the number of companies
should cost around 600B and can include snorkeling,
fishing, a visit to the fish farms and floating
restaurant, or a tour around the island.
Snorkeling/Diving
Traditional on almost every South-East
Asia beach, Ko Samet has started featuring "Full/Half/Dark
Moon" nights. These should not be confused
with the massive Full Moon Parties on Ko Pha
Ngan or other parts of Southern Thailand - here
they are simply an excuse for drink specials,
which are present every night of the year anyway.
Drink the local speciality, a
SangSom bucket, which is a toxic mix of Thai
whiskey, red bull and coke, served in a kids
sandbucket with lots of straws.
Read a novel set on Koh Samet
while you lounge on the beach: The Butterfly
Trap
Ko Samet, Rayong
