Koh Samet Holiday Destination - Rayong
Koh Samet (Samet Island) is the miracle glass island, made famous by the legendary Thai poet - Sunthorn Pu. It is known as Koh Samet becuase of the 'Samet' species of plant that bears red and white seeds. Approximately 220 kilometers from Bangkok, is another delightful resort on Thailand’s eastern coast. A late bloomer, the province is well known for its pristine beaches stretching along a 100-kilometer coastline and scenic waterfalls amidst exotic surroundings.
It is an island of great natural beauty in Rayong province. It is famous with both local and foreign tourists and is comprised of 2-3 hills that are arranged in an interesting manner on the northern and western parts of the island.
The Beaches of Samet Island
Ao Wong Duan (Wong Duan Bay)
Ao Wong Duan is the second largest beach on the island after the Hat Sai Kaew. Ao Wong Duan is one of the most popular places for tourist groups. This beach is beautiful with white sand and many good resorts. If you like good restaurants nice beach and some night life this is the place.
Ao Tien (Tien Bay)Ao Tien means "Candlelight Bay". This beach has a lot of rock on the beach which is a nice place for skin diving. This beach is quiet and private with few tour groups. It is easy to find bungalows and resorts around the beach.
Ao Chor (Chor Bay)Ao Chor is Scuba diving point
Ao Wai (Wai Bay)Ao Wai located near Candlelight Bay you can walki from there to Ao Wai. The beach has lots of the coconut trees and a private beach.
A Memorable Wedding Ceremony on the BeachAo Nuan (Nuan Bay)Ao Nuan near Ao Phut Sa , this beach is a nice, quiet place, with private beach and natur. Here you can find the Ao Nuan Bungalow which operates as a bungalow for tourists.
Ao Phut Sa (Phut Sa Bay)
Ao Phut Sa is small bay on Koh Samet and travelers always come here for relaxation. Here, you will feel more isolated from the throngs of tourists. Small groups of travelers stay here for to be close to nature and crystal clear water. Ao Phut Sa is far from the nightlife beach allowing you to enjoy swimming and sunbathing in relative quiet.
Ao Tub Tim (Tub Tim Bay)Ao Tub Tim located near Ao Put Sa travelers will enjoy swimming and sunbathing. The beach is white sand and clear water for travelers who prefer nature and a quiet beach. Ao Tub Time has a small resort, decoration and nice services.
Ao Phai (Phai Bay)Ao Phai is close to Sai Kaew Beach which it is a very popular beach on Koh Samet. You will meet many tourist at the beach. Ao Phai is rather more quiet than Hat Sai Kaew alot of sea rock on the beach. However, Ao Phai is not fine for travelers to swimming because it has whirlpool on the sea. Which you will see the red flag on the dangerous area.
Hat Sai Kaew (Sai Kaew Beach)Sai Kaew is the longest and most popular beach on Koh Samet. There are lots of resturants,resorts,bars and shops in behind this beach. There is also lots of watersport type activities that you can get involved in from here, like jet ski, banana boat, snorkeling and speedboat tours. The main thing about this beach is its super-fine white powder-like sands and the crystal clear blue waters. At the southern end of Hat Sai Kaew on the rocks you will find these statues that are taken straight out of a Thai folk story.
Ao Noi Na (Noi Na Bay)Ao Noi Na has location near the Ao Sai Kaew however, the Ao Noi Na is quiet more than Ao Sai Kaew. If you like white sand and clear water as Ao Sai Kaew but need quiet place and good nature. We comment to stay at Ao Noi Na. Here, you and your family will have a nice vacation.
Ao Hin Nok (Hin Nok Bay)Ao Hin Nok was separated from the Hat Sai Kaew by a small sea rocky on the beach. Which the is small beach and lot of the jet skies cruising.
Hat Naga (Naga Beach)Hat Naga is a smallish, party beach popular with young people. It is also home to one of the few Internet Cafés on the island.
Ao Prao (Prao Bay)Ao Prao is Diving point
Lung Dam BeachAo Karang (Karang Bay)Ao Karang - Diving point, view point, gives visitors a glimpse into traditional Thai living on the island. There are some excellent seafood restaurants here.
Ao Kui Na Nai (Kui Na Nai Bay)Ao Kui Na Nai located about 100 m. from Ao Kiew Nok which many travelers come to Ao Kiew Nai to take pictures of the sunset views and for the skin diving.
Ao Kui Na Nok (Kui Na Nok Bay)Ao Wiang Wan (Wiang Wan Bay)Ao Wiang Wan located on the west of Na Dan Pier, which it is the large bay has a lot of the sporting activities such as fishing and boating for tourist groups.
What to Eat
Seafood, seafood, and seafood. But there's also meat and veggie curries as well as Western favorites like pizza, and a bakery that makes fresh bread. Almost every hotel and bungalow operation has its own restaurant but it's only the movies that differentiate them. Many also set up tables and chairs at night for dining on the beach.
Drinking
Although Koh Samet is not a renowned party island, Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Phai do get their fair share of backpackers, and therefore have their fair share of parties. Everyday on Ao Phai flyers are handed out from the different bars that advertise the drink specials for that night, and might even give you a free drink. Biggest nights are generally Thursday-Saturday, when more of the backpackers and expats come to the island. The main bars along Hat Sai Kaew are:
- Lima Bar - a small bar that’s still getting started, but does excellent cocktails - try the chocolate martini. Located at the end of the village road, next to Buddy Bar.
- Ploy Bar - a large, generally Thai-style night spot that often has live acts and some manner of sideshow games. Located in the middle of Hat Sai Kaew, a big establishment, you can't miss it.
and along Ao Hin Nok / Ao Phai are:
- Naga Bar, at the top of 'Naga Hill' between Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Hin Nok. 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. This bar has recently been taken over by a Brit, so look out for a few guest djs and a bit of British hous music. Located
- Tok's Little Bar, at the top of 'Naga Hill' between Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Hin Nok. A small thatched hut serves as the main bar for this laid back, chilled out drinking spot. They generally have good drink specials and a different theme for every night, so grab a bucket and chill out on a mat on the beach. Occasionally has some fireshows and special parties.
- Silversand Bar, at the opposite end of Ao Phai to Naga Bar. Arguably the most popular bar on the island, Silversand brings in the largest backpacker crowd, and is generally where everyone ends up at the end of the night. The bar boasts quite a big dancefloor and generally the best fire shows on the island.
- Baywatch bar in Ao Wong Duan - popular bar for foreigners and Thai on Ao Wong Duan with very relaxed chairs and an extended cocktail list to enjoy those long Thai nights. Currently they are expanding having rented the space from the bar next to them.
- Very posh resort on the west side of the island. You might even see some of the Thai glitterati lounging about - if only you could recognize them.

There's also the usual assortment of Thai beer - Chang, Tiger, San Miguel, Leo, and Carlsberg. Prices are significantly higher than on the mainland, but most bars have some form of happy hour. Alternatively, there's always the option of buying a 6-pack and sitting on the beach; for non-drinkers there are tropical fruit drinks.
Getting to Koh Samet
To enter the nice parts of the island you have to pay a fee to the national park authority which is ten times higher for foreigners as it is for thai guests, so if you are asian looking and speak a bit of thai you can easily pay the smaller fee. Local transport consists of pick-up trucks with seats that cost some money to use. There are plenty of bus connections to Ban Phe where you take a boat to the island. If you buy your ticket from Khao San Road the boat fair is usually included and if there are few passengers you they might use a van instead of a bus. An alternative is to take the cheaper busses from Bangkok Ekamai Bus Station and buy boat fare when you arrive, to do this you should preferably speak a little bit of Thai since the bus station can be very confusing.
Alternatively, any bus to Rayong will leave you with a short tuk-tuk or song-thaew ride to Ban Phe where you can walk onto the ferry, this is probably the cheapest way to get there.
Since it is a national park you are allowed to set up at tent anywhere on the island (several places rent out tents) even if there is a sign saying it is not allowed. At Naga beach there is a small shop, a book exchange and internet cafe. There are ATMs on the island so you don't need to bring cash, some places accept credit cards but with an extra fee.
From the island there is plenty of daily boat trips and also the possibility to learn scuba diving. The diving on the island can be very special and a great experience. Many bars offer nightly movies when you are tired.
The ferry to Samet IslandThe ferry leaves from Banphe Pier everyday, from 07.00 until 17.00 ,arrive at 3 piers on Samet Island, which are Nadan Pier (25min), Prao Pier (30min), Wong Duan Pier (45min). You can hire also a speed boat from Banpe Pier to Samet , which costs around 1,000 Baht/Trip.
Getting around Koh Samet Samet Island has only one road going from the North to the South of the Island.

The taxi fees from beach to beach are:
- from Nadan Pier to Wong Duan Beach, 30 Baht/trip/person
- from Sai Kaew Beach to Wong Duan Beach, 30 Baht/trip/person
- from Sai Kaew Beach to Prao Bay, 40 Baht/trip/person
you can hire also a taxi for a group of maximum 12 persons.
- from Nadan Pier to Wong Duan Beach, 200 Baht
- from Nadan Pier around the island, 1,000 Baht
- from Wong Duan Beach to Kaew Bay, 400 Baht
Accommodation on Koh Samet
Budget Accommodation- Naga, bamboo huts with fan and mosquito net for 200 Baht. A favorite among backpackers.
- Jep's, A Hua Khok, offers clean, nicely designed fan and air-con bungalows from between 800 - 2000 baht per night. A favourite among Thais, this establishment fills up very quickly on holidays.
- Lung Dam Bungalow, located on Ao Lung Dam (a one-hour walk south on the beach from Na Dan), has very basic bungalows in the 300-500 baht range. 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.
- Silversand Resort, Ao Phai, though becoming more upmarket everyday, Silversand still offers a few decently priced fan bungalows with attached bathroom for around 600 baht.
- Sea Breeze, Ao Phai (behind Silversand), is 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.
- The Lost Resort, Ao Phai (up the road from Silversand), a new bungalow op owned by a British expat, this resort offers clean, pleasant triple-share rooms with attached bathrooms for about 500-600/night. The small reception/restaurant area does one of the best fried breakfasts for anyone missing home.
- Tok's Little Hut, A Hua Khok (sometimes part of Ao Phai), offers fan and air-con bungalows with individual bathrooms from between 300 and 800 baht/night, depending on proximity to the beach. The bungalows are not necessarily pretty or overly clean, but if you want cheap they're fairly good value.
- Tub Tim Bungalow, Ao Tub Tim (AKA Ao Phudsa), is usually reliable and has rooms in the 600-1300 baht 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.
Mid-range AccomodationMost accommodation operations on Ko Samet offer a variety of different types of rooms, most of which fall in the mid-range category. If you are willing to spend between 600 and 1500 baht/night, you shouldn't have any trouble finding accommodation, no matter what beach you are on. A few such places are:
- Sai Kaew Villa has clean and serviced bungalows and some concrete bunker style accommodation in the 3000 baht price range (fan or A/C) set amongst well groomed gardens. Their large dining and evening beach restaurant on Hat Sai Kaew serves good food and the staff is friendly. They are also a two minute walk from the Seven-Eleven and internet shops.
- Tarn Tawan located on Ao Chao is a clean, pleasant spot with decent bungalows, friendly service, and excellent food. The air-con bungalows are good value.
Splurge Accommodation- Ao Prao Resort - very posh resort on the west side of the island. You might even see some of the Thai glitterati lounging about - if only you could recognize them.
- Lima Bella Resort - hailed as the "hip" place to stay in Koh Samed, the Lima Bella resort offers a quaint, trendy atmosphere. Excellent service and small details make the Lima Bella a quality choice for a stay on the island.
- Samed Villa Resort, 89/4 Ao Phai; tel. +66-38644094. Has beautiful new air-con rooms just a stone's throw from the water at 1900-2100 (low season).