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Island in the Gulf of Thailand
Photo: Bjørn Erik Pedersen, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ko Samet (เกาะเสม็ด), also spelled Koh Samed, is a small island off the Eastern Gulf Coast in Rayong province, within easy reach of Bangkok and Pattaya.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Sai Kaew Beach, Diamond Beach
One of the most beautiful and most popular beaches on Ko Samet, Hat Sai Kaew is 1 km long and 25–30 m wide. Most of this space is taken up with deckchairs from the restaurants. Hat Sai Kaew, which literally means "crystal sand beach", is filled with activities. Visitors can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, jet skiing, windsurfing (700 baht/hr), catamaran sailing (1,000 baht/hr) a banana boat or even partying at night. It can get a bit noisy due to all the motorized activity though. It can also get crowded, especially on weekends.
Separated from Hat Sai Kaew by a small rocky sea point where there is a mermaid statue. The beach is half the size of Hat Sai Kaew. There is some monk's accommodation along this stretch of sand which explains the signs asking people to be quiet. It makes for a peaceful spot just past the noise polluted Hat Sai Kaew Beach.
Two beaches down from Hat Sai Kaew. More or less of the same white, sandy stretches with a few nice restaurants at night and a big, concrete block of a bar where most party goers end up late at night. Revelers can make this beach a little noisy, but much less so than the busier Hat Sai Kaew.
Suitable for those who are tired of crowded beaches and nightlife. Ao Put Sa has a small pontoon with some OK snorkelling around it. Best time to stick you head under and have a look is at low tide.
A perfect hideaway for holidaymakers in search of tranquillity. Only one type of accommodation here: handmade bungalows with a lot of character. Few dining options.
Some like this beach for being laid back and less developed, with a bit of a feel of the old Thailand. Others find it scruffy, and feel it can get pretty dirty and some have complained about oily sand (?). There are rasta and hippy bars where you can buy weed or just chill. Low tide really affects this beach.
The second largest beach on the island (after Hat Sai Kaew) and much nicer than its immediate neighbour to the north. Ao Wong Deuan has a ferry service with the mainland which makes this beach easy to access but the ferries bring noise, pollution, and day-trippers with them. However it remains a scenic and popular beach with lots of shade, accommodation, restaurants and even a mini mart.
Candlelight Beach
More a collection of small bays separated by rocky outcrops than a single beach, Ao Thian has with some nice spots for diving, and is one of the quieter beaches on the island.
Shaded by coconut trees, the beach is quiet & scenic. There is a jetty here for ferries, so the usual pros and cons apply. Confusingly also called Wai Beach.
Shaded by trees and with space above the high tide line, the beach is quiet & scenic. Access is through resort which dominates beach but not controlled.
This is a private beach because the only way to access it is via the large and exclusive Paradee Resort. Walking along the coast is possible but tricky. It is a lovely spacious beach with trees dotted around. The beach has good snorkelling but not good enough to itself justify staying at this resort (?) Best for those who want to go to the beach and don't want to mingle with the hoi polloi.
Ao Pakarang
Functionally this is a private beach because the only way to access it is via the large Nimmanoradee Resort. The beach has good snorkelling but not good enough to itself justify staying at this resort. Best for those who want to go to the beach and don't want to mingle with the hoi polloi. There is a small and secluded beach just north of here.
A large bay where lots of sport activities such as fishing take place.
Led by an English instructor and the guys will be able to help with all your diving needs locally and they are also very knowledgeable about the diving all over Thailand.
Great European and Thai food at good prices.
Does an excellent barbecue with chicken steaks smothered in mushroom sauce and sizzling beef and chicken hotplates. Between 100 and 200 baht, these meals are good value. Good bar as well.
A classic cosy pub with 70s, 80s, 90s, country, reggae, and rock and roll music.
A loud dance music bar with glow paint and black lights. Mostly western tourists with a healthy mix of Thai tourists as well. As of July 2016, the music was a little bit outdated but still fun. They have a TV with the music videos playing. Look out for ladies of the night here especially toward the motorcycles on the side toward the beach.
A large, generally Thai-style night spot that often has live acts and some manner of sideshow games. A big establishment, you can't miss it.
Silversand is generally where everyone ends up at the end of the night. The bar has a dance floor and the fire twirling kids stop by for their show. Reviews tend to complain about bad food and slow service.
Air-con bungalows (no cheap rooms) with individual bathrooms from 1,000 baht, depending on proximity to the beach. The bungalows are not necessarily pretty or overly clean
Run by a husband and wife team, this hostel has A/C 8-bed dorms with comfy beds, privacy curtains, and personal lockers. Comfortable social areas, clean showers, and helpful staff. Free drinking water and small breakfast.
An old, ratty hotel owned by a British expat, this resort offers triple-share rooms with attached baths for about 1,000/night or double rooms with air-con for 800 baht. The small reception/restaurant area does some breakfast, but much better options are available on the beach.
Very basic bungalows. It's on a small bay that is excellent for swimming. The restaurant has excellent service and is one of few on the island that is open early for breakfast. This beach is not accessible directly by road; unless you arrive directly by boat, you must walk on the beach for at least part of the way.
Bamboo huts with fan and mosquito net for 500 baht. A favourite among backpackers. 300 baht per night for fan huts, great value. They have acquired a CD for the boxing ring in the Naga Bar, which in the bar sounds like hardcore classical Thai violin playing, but from the rooms is sounds more like a bagpipe. The Naga Bar was once "the" bar on the island, it has gone downhill somewhat in the last few years, but still a good place to hang and enjoy cheap drinks and a few games of pool with locals and tourists alike.
Great if you are looking for some deserted areas on the island. Get a bike and drive down on the gravel road. A bit hard to find, just go down to the beach and walk along. A small bunch of bamboo huts, with mosquito nets and a fan. Comes with a little deserted beach.
A dingy little place offering fan bungalows with attached bathroom from about 400 baht/night, about as cheap as you will get, and in a fairly decent location.
Silversand still offers a few decently priced fan bungalows with attached baths for around 600 baht.
A group of concrete-built bungalow style rooms, small and spartan, but the 180 degree sea views make up for it. There's a bit of noise from the pier, especially in rooms 13 and above. Air-con rooms 800-1,000 baht, fan rooms 500-700 baht, all have hot showers.
A collection of wooden huts, very close to the water, on a rocky beach. The rocks are an advantage as no speed boats dock there so it's the place to have some peaceful and quiet atmosphere. The facilities are basic, bordering on the run-down, but still charming.
Usually reliable and has rooms in the range. It's in a quieter area, although at night you might find the sound of bar music drowns out the lull of the ocean waves.
If Jep's is full, head back past the mermaid statue to this place.
Clean, serviced bungalows and some concrete bunker-style accommodation starting at 700 baht (fan, without breakfast) up to the 3,000 baht price range (air-con) set in well-groomed gardens. Their large beach restaurant on Haat Sai Kaew serves good food and the staff is friendly. They are also a 2-min walk from the 7-Eleven and Internet cafes.
Gorgeous wood-paneled rooms under a canopy of trees.
Posh resort, one of the three on Ao Prao. You might see some of the Thai glitterati lounging about, if only you could recognize them.
Restaurant serves delicious Thai & European cuisines. BBQ is also recommended.
By car and taxi
As Ko Samet is an island, you first have to drive to Rayong. From Bangkok, you can take Sukhumvit Rd (Hwy 3) passing Chonburi, Si Racha, Pattaya, Sattahip and onto Rayong.
By bus
The bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes 3½ hours, costs 173 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry piers.
By plane
Pattaya's U-Tapao Airport (UTP) is the closest airport to the island. It is 60km from the piers which takes 1 hour by taxi.
By train
The nearest railway station to the piers is Ban Plu Ta Luang which is only served by two trains per day in each direction, between Bangkok and Chuk Samet.
By boat
Ferries from Ban Phe or Nuan Thip (they are about 200 m apart, with Ban Phe to the north opposite a 7-Eleven) to Ko Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes.
Motor bike hire
The island has more motorbike hire shops than any other shops so they are not hard to locate and prices are standard ranging from 300-400 baht per day for manual or automatic bikes.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rayong · International · UTP
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