Ko Samet or simply Samet Island is a beautiful little island 80 km from Pattaya. A one-day excursion to Samet Island from Pattaya is the best way to get to know the vaunted islands of Thailand without haste, without complicated logistics and without unnecessary expenses.
Is it worth going to Koh Samet at all?
If you are in Pattaya, then, of course, it is not necessary to travel 80 km for beautiful bounty beaches: there are azure waters and white sand nearby. If you're lucky, the Chinese invasion won't happen on the day you're there. An excursion to Samet Island from Pattaya or an independent trip there is more suitable for those who can never get enough of paradise islands (although does it ever happen that you get tired of such islands?). And, of course, Ko Samet is simply more beautiful than Ko Lan.
What we personally like about Koh Samet is that the island is very tiny: you can walk from its east coast to the west in 20 minutes! I love such small atmospheric islands.
This is what Koh Samet looks like. We covered almost its widest part in 17 minutes.
How to get to Koh Samet?
If you took an excursion to Koh Samet from Pattaya, you will be picked up from your hotel from 7 to 8 am (depending on the area of the city) and driven by minivan to Nuantip Pier(Nuanthip Pier) in Rayong, which is a neighboring province. And from the pier, 10 minutes by speedboat - and that’s it, you’re on the island! The boat arrives directly to the beach, and not to the pier, and, since the boat is small, it stops almost at the shore - you only need to take a couple of steps on the water. We know that on excursions to the islands starting from Phuket, tourists are often dropped off far from the shore, when they are still almost waist-deep. It is better here.
We are often asked if it is possible to get to Koh Samet by sea. Friends! There are no ferries or ships to Ko Samet from Pattaya, and if someone offers you to get to the island from Pattaya by speedboat, hit that person in the neck - this is not a trip on the magnificent Greek ferries, where you can sail for at least a month.
The path to Koh Samet from Pattaya goes overland and ends at this pier.
From the pier to the island and back you will have a 10-minute flight by speedboat.
And now you are on the island
Beach. The boat arrives at Ao Phai beach, which already includes an umbrella and a sun lounger. This is a beautiful, green beach with white sand and easy access to the water. There you will almost never be pestered by junk dealers, and you won’t be disturbed by water bananas, cheesecakes, kayaks, etc. Holidays on the island of Samet are purely for relaxation.
Well, unless your compatriots on the neighboring sun loungers are rowdy - because yes, not only you will come to this beach on an excursion to Koh Samet from Pattaya :) But Ao Phai beach on Samet island is not the only one - getting to any other will not be difficult.
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The sand on Ao Phai beach is white and fine, just like flour.
You can stay away from other tourists.
These cute cafes are waiting for you on the shore.
Wi-Fi. On the beach there is free Wi-Fi of average quality: it certainly won’t support Skype conversations, but it’s quite possible to chat.
Food. The price of an excursion to Koh Samet from Pattaya may or may not include lunch. Let's be honest: lunch is quite simple, so if you like to eat a lot, you can take some other sandwich or fruit with you. If you don’t want to include lunch, you can eat in a cafe; there are several of them near the beach.
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In general, cafes on Koh Samet are quite simple; the main thing here is not the interior, but the proximity to the sea.
Ko Samet in Thailand is so good that the Thais have included all its nature and beaches in the national heritage of the country! Is this really paradise at 500 baht a day?
From Pattaya you need to get to the city of Ban Phe, the easiest way to do this is:
- With the help of 35 Pattaya Group (this is a company in Pattaya with cheap minibuses (not excursions). Google it, it’s really the most convenient way if you don’t have your own transport. But we went everywhere ourselves and I can’t leave an objective review)
- By our own transport (the two of us drove a PCX-150, the journey took two hours with a stop for food)
- If you’re scared to travel on your own, you can order an organized trip from our partners
The ships depart from the small town of Ban Phe; most of its residents live off the tourist flow to the island of Samet. At every corner they will try to sell you anything, every taxi driver will catch up with you and tell you that he can buy a ticket, or he has a boat and only he will take you. How things really stand:
There are about 5 different piers in Ban Phe. Each of them has its own ticket office, but some sell tickets only for high-speed boats, and some only sell tickets for regular ferries. Tickets cost the same at different ticket offices: ferry - 50 baht one way, speed boat - 150 baht one way. All berths are 100 meters from each other, so if somewhere I’m trying to charge you double the price, you can easily walk to the next one. Ferries run once an hour (from approximately 8.00 to 17.00), on weekends speedboats run every 10 minutes, and much less frequently on weekdays.
Samet is a national park, so at the main pier you will be charged 200 baht per person just to enter the island.
And our Tolya is a fool. As usual, I distinguished myself: I went to look for a pier for speed boats. I saw a group of Thais standing there, so I approached and asked:
Are you waiting for a boat to the island?
-Yes
-Well, we’ll wait with you.
-Okay, wait.
And only after loading into the boat, I found out that these were majors from Bangkok who ordered themselves an individual yacht, and we brazenly climbed into them. They took us straight to the beach, so we didn’t have to pay this national park fee and flatly refused to take us for the road. I love Thais.
There is a normal pier only in the city; if you take an individual transfer to a beach, you will be dropped off in waist-deep water. Keep this in mind if you travel with children and suitcases
Choosing the best beach on Koh Samet. I read a lot of reviews about the island before the trip, found many stories about a secret beach in a rubber grove, or about a beach of millionaires with huge palm trees. And I’ll tell you honestly: this is all complete nonsense! Don't worry about choosing a location at all! All beaches are excellent, with magnificent azure seas and perfectly white sand.
Sai Kaew Beach
In general, I liked the largest city beach the most and I will recommend it.
Now a little more detail. Not far from the port is the main city beach, Sai Kaeo. This is the largest beach on the island, along which small bungalows, cafes and shops are lined. It is to this beach that tourists from Pattaya are brought and book excursions. The beach is long, and tourists are gregarious creatures, so they cluster in one place, next to their boats. Therefore, most of the beach is empty and you can calmly lie down in silence.
What about other beaches? Yes, everything is the same! But there are beaches at hotels, so there are advantages: there are no boats there, there are many fewer people and it is much calmer. And on the downside: there is no nightlife, food is only in the restaurant and is expensive.
These are all the photos of the main beach of Sai Kaew Beach:
Sai Kaew Beach Video:
Ao Wong
The beach is located in the bay and at the hotel. It turns out that the beach is well-equipped and very calm, with a nice green area. I liked it so much that we decided to stop here for a few hours. There is nightlife, equipped palm swings, and you can take a boat for a ride. In general, we recommend it.
2) Ao Thian- one of the secret bays and that’s its beauty! Finding this place from the road is very difficult, because... it looks like a small path into the jungle. But it was here that we found inexpensive bungalows for 400 baht. The beach is very small, but there are almost no people. Bartenders generally sleep at the counters, because... no visitors.
I didn’t see anything interesting on the other beaches, so I’ll just post a few photos and videos so you know what to expect.
Ao Cho
Boats for diving trips, only here I saw such open ones with seats
Prices for hotels and guest houses
If you arrive on Koh Samet from Pattaya to the central port, you will pass through the city. If you are looking for cheap guest rooms, then they are there. Moreover, from the Pier you can go either to the left (to the main beaches) or to the right.
Prices in the city vary greatly, but you can easily find a guest house with a fan for 500 baht. The average price is 800 baht per night. The city is small, literally one street, but it lives off tourists, so every house is a store, cafe or guest house. To the sea from anywhere in the city is 10-15 minutes on foot.
Housing near the sea. Average price 1200 baht per night. These are ordinary 3-star houses: located near the sea, with air conditioning (but usually noisy), hot shower. You can bargain cheaper on the spot (1000 baht). There are also more expensive hotels.
The most expensive accommodation is in hotels with their own territory and which occupy the entire bay. There prices start from 2000 baht per night.
If you are traveling during the high season for a weekend, be sure to book your hotel in advance, and if it is also a Thai holiday, then book a week in advance, because... The island is very popular with Thais and tourists.
Prices in the cafe.
Prices in the cafe are about 40% more expensive than in Pattaya. You also need to be prepared for the fact that the waiters on the island are very slow. Those. the situation that you wait 15-20 minutes for breakfast or coffee is absolutely normal. This is especially frustrating in small coves, where you are tied to 1-2 restaurants and you have no choice, be prepared that you will have to spend 1-1.5 hours on lunch, and when leaving the beach for the next fruit shake you will have to wait 20 minutes for it.
A large store of everything was seen only on Sai Kaew Beach and Ao Cho. There are also small family cafes with traditional Thai food. Food prices, as I already said, are about 40% higher than on the mainland. Tom Yam soup - 140 baht.
On the remaining beaches there are only local restaurants. Prices are valid for most restaurants located on the shore:
- Breakfast (scrambled eggs + fruit + coffee) - 170 baht.
- Pork shish kebab – 250 baht
- Lamb shish kebab – 400 baht
- Shake - 85 baht.
Makashnitsy (seen only on Sai Kaew Beach) - famous Thai pancakes - 50 baht.
You need to understand that there is a large selection of food only on Sai Kaew Beach, and only on this beach you can eat relatively inexpensively due to the large selection of various cafes in the city itself.
Only on weekends in the evening cafes set up tables facing the sea
Transport on Koh Samet
Let's say right away: You are unlikely to get pleasure from driving around the island using any type of transport, because there are no beautiful views, the road is terrible, and the handling of the vehicle is below any criticism. But if you want to see different bays, or take a ride in the evening to watch different shows, then take the transport safely, but ride very carefully.
Taxi drivers are located absolutely near all bays, i.e. getting from one to the other is not a problem at all. Taxis look like pickup trucks with seats in the back and carry groups of people at once; you can rent a separate one for yourself.
At any taxi stand there is a sign with prices to each bay (the first price if you wait until the car is full, the second if you start right now).
Motorbike rental.
Cost: 100 baht per hour, or 300 baht per day. Payment for gasoline varies, but is usually included in the rental bill. Ordinary motorbikes (Clicks and Fino).
The roads on the island are very bad - it’s either just dusty ground with sand, or concrete slabs + a large number of slides + a large number of turns into one lane with no visibility. But nevertheless, for a person with driving experience in Thailand, moving around the island will not be a big problem; you won’t be able to drive, but it’s easy to ride.
On a motorbike you can move around the island of Samet quite comfortably only up to Ao Wai Bay, then there are 2 very steep hills that are covered with sand, 90% of accidents happen there. Those. when you read that someone gets ripped off and falls - it’s most likely there, the motorbike will skid in any case and the only question is whether you can brake it with your heels. The ATV on these slides also skids, but the only task is to prevent it from turning sideways.
At the southernmost point there is an observation deck, but it is not at all interesting (it is on the video), so there is no point in climbing these slides.
Quad bike rental.
An ATV, or as everyone here calls it an ATV, can also be rented at any bay.
Cost of renting an ATV on Samet:
Small quad bike:(2 thin people drove the entire island more or less comfortably)
250 baht per hour
1200 baht per day
Large quad bike (family)
400 baht per hour
1600 baht per day.
Regarding gasoline: everything in the tank is yours, everything you need to fill up from above is yours. You won't be able to drive it either, because... The roads are still bad, and the ATVs are very worn, but the chance of falling on them is much less than on a motorbike. But it will be difficult to park it in the city, because... There are very few free parking spaces there.
Excursions and entertainment.
On all beaches and in all hotels you will be offered the same excursions, but the prices for them will differ by 100-200 baht. In some places they are fixed, and in others street sellers set the price themselves. One of these agents in front of us erased the price of 1200 baht and wrote 1300. Simply because he decided so.
Where to get a kayak: at a hotel on Wai Beach - 250/300 baht per hour, or 1500/1800 per day. You can also rent kayaks on the very last beach of AO Pakarang (prices for a hotel on this beach are higher, the name is Nimmanoradee resort, the hotel is luxurious, but the restaurant is one of the longest, 2 necks waited 20 minutes.)
Prices are shown in the photos below. and the main excursions sold on the island.
Nightlife
After 18.00, every restaurant sets up tables near the beach, and the beach itself becomes a large pedestrian street. Everyone is either walking or having dinner by candlelight. Many restaurants have fire shows, but beautiful shows take place on weekends (from Saturday to Sunday), because... Most of all there are tourists, but on other days the performance can be very mediocre. And, to tell the truth, you shouldn’t expect anything enchanting there, but you can have a lot of fun.
Time from 18.00 to 21.00. The most beautiful and fun part starts around 21.00 in front of the restaurant where it says “Fireshow”.
Those who are afraid to pass through are carried by the organizers themselves.
The phone doesn't pick up well at night, but the atmosphere on the island in the evening is gorgeous! Although we lived in Thailand, here we felt like we were on vacation
The cheapest is a passenger ferry. Ticket price starts from 50 baht and approximately 30-40 minutes on the way. Opening hours of passenger ferries: from 6.00 to 17.00 Public boats move on the water a little faster and a ticket costs about 100 baht.
Ferries from the pier in Ban Phe depart daily from 08:00 to 16:30 approximately once every one to two hours, and arrive at three beaches on Koh Samet: Nadan (travel time 25 minutes), Prao (travel time 30 minutes), and Wong Duan (travel time 45 minutes). The fare in all cases is 50 baht. Remember that when the ferry arrives at Wong Duan Beach, tourists will be in for a surprise: the ferry does not moor to the shore itself, and a special boat, similar to a trough, ferries tourists to the beach for 10 baht.
Samet is located in a national reserve, which means that upon arrival on the island you need to shell out another 400 baht per adult. Keep the issued stickers confirming payment until the end of the trip.
The length of Samet Island is 7 km and the width is 3 km. Total area of the island = 13.1 sq. km.
The beaches of Samet Island are located in the eastern part of the island. The largest and most popular of them is Hat Sai Kaew Beach, which translated from Thai means “beach with sand as clear as glass.” Its length is about 1 km, and its width is from 20 to 30 m. On one side it is surrounded by hotels and sun loungers with umbrellas, on the other - by turquoise water, clear as a drop of dew. The sand on Samet Island is white as flour and just as fine and delicate.
If you go south from Hat Sai Kaew beach, then straight to Auhin Kok Bay, you will find an excellent place for souvenir photos and a rather unusual sculptural composition consisting of a statue of a Mermaid and a Prince. 
Attractions. National reserve. Koh Samet is both a resort and a tourist attraction.
25 years ago it was decided to assign it the status of a National Park, and thanks to this, Samet preserves its natural conditions, unaffected by aggressive human actions. In addition, it is a pleasant and hospitable resort. The reserve is distinguished by a wide variety of flora and fauna; monkeys, squirrels, more than 20 species of tropical birds and many other animals live here. Ko Samet is often called the "paradise" of Thailand. Tourists live in areas adjacent to the sea, next to emerald bays and sandy beaches. Prices and service for every taste - from simple campsites to furnished bungalows equipped with modern communications. Many restaurants, bars and cafes are located right on the beaches, offering seafood and exotic Thai cuisine.
Reviews: We went to Samet once. Before that, we visited other islands in Thailand, to which we went from Krabi. Samet did not impress, because... there are a lot of people there, civilization.
We went to Samet Island, Bangkok and Pattaya. The easiest way to get to the island is to order a taxi from the hotel to the pier and take the ferry there. In general, we liked Samet, although the beaches were not very crowded. We walked around half the island, staying overnight in a bungalow near Ao Thian beach, there are rocky shores, but there are few people and a good place to relax. Of the beaches, I liked Ao Phrao on the west coast the most. A civilized and expensive beach, of course, but it’s great to swim there, and to take pictures too, a real “bounty”)) It’s better to book a hotel in advance on websites; you can also rent on the spot, but it will be more expensive and if you need a cheap room for the night, you’ll have to look. We haven't found anything cheaper than 1000 baht.
When you go to the pier, whether by taxi or even on your own for the first time, you will in any case end up in a parking lot, and there is a tourist area where you will be offered to go to the island for 300 baht per person, or maybe less if you negotiate, they will offer speed boat (a regular boat takes an hour, a boat takes 15 minutes) and bungalows, etc. Do not buy! Go back a little to where you came from and after the 7-11 store turn left to the pier ticket office, there is also a good and inexpensive market for everything you need. You can leave your scooter in paid parking for 30 baht per day. So, at the box office you can buy your own ticket to the island for only 50 baht one way. We were so scammed on our first trip (On the island you can walk around the hotels yourself and rent a room or bungalow on your own, it’s much cheaper. There is also an entrance to the national park. The island itself is very cool and small. You can walk, you can also take a scooter or a taxi. On The beach is very clean, there are many cafes, restaurants, hotels, entertainment. The sea is calm even in summer.
KO SAMET ISLAND. GENERAL INFORMATION. Samet is a small island 200 km from Bangkok. This is the Thai name for a tree that grows on the island and is used in medicine and in the construction of boats. The island is very small and can easily be walked around in two hours. Samet Island is a paradise for lovers of untouched nature. It is surrounded by greenery of coconut palm plantations and is practically uninhabited. Only local fishermen live there permanently.
The island is shaped like the letter P with a long tail. At the top of R is a fishing village with a pier and a monastery with a temple. The rest of the island is a national park. The left side of the P is a straight rocky coast with one sandy beach. The other long side has long sandy beaches. The island is small, which allows you to walk around it in 2 hours.
Samet can rightfully be called a paradise Thailand A. Dozens of emerald bays and sandy beaches offer a wide choice of accommodation - from campsites located in areas adjacent to the sea, to bungalows that have a high level of service and all modern communications. There are many cozy bars and restaurants on the beaches where you can try amazing Thai cuisine and seafood dishes.
Samet is not rich in shopping centers and supermarkets - the range of goods in stores is mainly limited to beach accessories (sarongs, T-shirts, etc.). In many hotel x books are sold or rented, and can also be purchased from numerous street vendors.
Vibrant nightlife and discos are practically absent on Samet, because the main motto of the island is closeness to nature. The cleanliness of the sea makes it possible to engage in all types of water sports, and there are many coral reefs near the island. Canoe trips, spearfishing, visits to SPA centers - these are just some of the offers from the long list of activities on Samet. Tourists are offered a wonderful opportunity to rent a bicycle or moped and have fun traveling along the mountain trails.
Those interested in ancient culture Thailand or they can visit a Buddhist temple, which managed to combine classical Thai style with the styles of various countries of the West and East, thereby emphasizing its beauty and grandeur.
Since the island is a national park, for your stay here when registering hotel you will have to pay 200 baht. Only motorcycles can be rented on the island.
SAMET BEACHES
The most developed tourist area of Samet Island is the northeast coast. Its beaches, such as Ao Pai and Wong Deuan, provide all the conditions for windsurfing, sailing and water skiing. The beaches on the southeast coast are the least populated and least visited by vacationers. On the rocky west coast of Koh Samet lies the secluded Ao Prao Beach, equipped with comfortable bungalows and an alternative wellness center offering courses in yoga, painting, dance, meditation, etc. Naga Beach is the most popular place among young people who love noisy entertainment. There are several bars and hotels in the form of huts, as well as a small shop and an Internet cafe. The rest of Koh Samet consists of smaller beaches with a wide choice hotels various price categories. Majority hotels, bungalows and hotel complexes are concentrated on the east coast. The tourist season on Koh Samet usually lasts from November to February and from June to August, during which time it is quite difficult to find available accommodation. Some of these places get crowded on weekends, so it's best to visit the island midweek as many hotels don't accept reservations.
The island's numerous beaches are hidden in small coves. Popular among them are Ao Wong Duean in the eastern part of the island and Hat Sai Kaew (aka Diamond Beach), and the beaches
Ao Wong Duean and Hat Sai Kaeo will delight you with the finest white sand.
Sai Kaew is a white sand beach with many hotels and beach restaurants.
Ao Prao is a small closed bay with azure water. Higher class hotels are located here.
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ENTERTAINMENT, EXCURSIONS AND ATTRACTIONS OF SAMET.
Explore the western coast of the island, the neighboring islands of Talu and Mann Nai, travel along mountain trails by bicycle and ocean fishing. History buffs are advised to visit Auhin Kok Bay, where the monument is located, a beautiful statue of the Prince and the Mermaid. It was built in honor of the 19th century Thai poet Sunthon Phu.
Bars with videos, restaurants. In the evenings there are discos on Ao Phai and Ao Wong Duan beaches. Diving and snorkeling on the coral reef on the south side of the island can be combined with fishing and windsurfing. Starfish and pufferfish can be found in the surrounding waters, and visibility there is 5-10 meters.
A full-day sea excursion with visits to other islands and snorkeling will cost around 500 baht per person.
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NOW ABOUT THE TRIP ITSELF:
At 7.20 a.m. hotel a minivan arrived, only 15 minutes late, picked us up and after three more hotels we hit the road. The journey to the boat's departure port took about one hour. There were three minivans traveling in a group. Our guide was Russian, his name was Fedor. He spoke briefly about our excursion, answered questions and turned on a movie: the production of paper from elephant dung, locally known as “tanga”. An instructive film for those who are late to the boat on the way back... Like later you will make paper from tanga.) There was no breakfast as such, because... not far to go. There was one stop for a smoke break and a toilet.
At 9.00 we arrived at the pier. We rested a bit at the tables under the canopy, went to the toilet, had a smoke break, and wandered around the local small market. We waited for two more minivans, which were late, and at 9.30 we boarded speedboats. I will say right away that people traveling to the island for a day or two traveled together.
At 10.00 we arrived on the incredibly beautiful island of Koh Samet. Beach – Ao Phai (Ao Phai). We were disembarked from the boat, everyone immediately went to take their sunbeds, which, by the way, on the first and second lines were almost all occupied by people who stayed there overnight. We took sunbeds on the third (last) line, changed clothes in the toilet and sunbathed and swam.
At 12.30 check-in to the rooms. Until this time we had free time. Some went swimming, others just relaxed on sun loungers. No entertainment. There’s not much to go see either. I got number 12, right behind the restaurant. I think it’s very convenient, because... It's not far from the beach. I advise you to take a house away from the disco, where the music pumps until 03.00 in the morning.
At 13.00 – 13.45 we had lunch. Quite modest. 4 people are seated at tables, two dishes for each and THAT'S ALL!!!. What they gave us, my kitten at home couldn’t even eat enough. Cucumber salad and a plate of rice. But the menu was brought quite quickly. It is clear that if the girls were full, then most of the men, at about 100 kilograms, did not even understand anything about this lunch. Then I realized what the joke was. Our three guides (Fyodor, Maxim and Viktor or Vitaly - the latter, by the way, pushed honey on a bee farm back in April, but did not admit it), came up with the following trick: you order a dish that is not on the menu, it is very SPECIAL!!! It's called hot fish and something else "hot". The meaning of the dish is as follows: the frying pan is heated until red, then food is poured into it - salad + fish or meat, they are rushed to you, and while it is all smoking, you must quickly mix it with both hands - with large spoons. Like, according to the Chinese custom, by stirring you put your soul into the food, and it will be very tasty, as if you cooked it yourself. Why is the dish not on the menu? To make it clear that he was pushed by the guides and would get a kickback for it. The price of the dish is 150 baht, but in reality it costs no more than fifty dollars. We tried it because you can’t sunbathe if you’re hungry, and they advertised it too loudly. I forgot - they also give you a 1.5 liter bottle of water per person. Why the hell there is so much – it’s not clear! I didn’t even open mine at breakfast or dinner. Because drank beer, there was water in the room, and I took it with me hotel 0.6 bottle of water.
HOTEL. HOUSES (bungalows). Total houses in this hotel 26-30, each with one number. They are not on the first line, but on the second and third. Scattered behind the restaurant behind it and to the right (view from the sea). I consider myself lucky with the number. A separate house, close to the beach - right behind the restaurant. There is an ordinary Chinese round sign on the door, but when you slam it from the outside you can only open it with a key. Territories hotel there is no such thing, the beach is the whole territory hotel. Absolute order and cleanliness everywhere. In front of the entrance there are two wooden chairs and a table with an ashtray overlooking the wall of the house in front. Not exactly romantic, but cheap, reliable and practical!
NUMBER. I would say a solid 4, as stated in the company, although on the Internet this hotel goes like 3*. Not only is the renovation quite fresh, but also the design of the room and bathroom is modern. The room has one huge bed (you can choose one bed or two from the guide immediately upon arrival), two bedside tables on each side of the bed, a flat-screen TV on the wall without Russian channels - I watched one sports TV for the background, a large mirror, a table along the entire length of one of the walls . The air conditioner is small and almost silent. Then there is a closet for things, in it there is a small refrigerator with two plastic free bottles of water and a safe, which I could not open. The room has stained glass windows, but there's not much to look out of, just for daylight. BATHROOM. The plumbing is all modern and new. The water flowing from the sink faucet was rather weak, and in the shower, although the pressure was normal, it was felt that the water heater was coping somehow. The bathroom itself is also made in a modern design; the toilet and shower area are separated by a glass partition and a door. Toilet paper and kit: soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush were included in a packaged envelope.
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SEA AND BEACH. 14.00-19.00 free time. Swim and have a sunbath! The sea is incredibly beautiful, the water 100 meters from the shore is absolutely transparent! There are no stones or other vegetation. It's not far to go to the depths. The water is pleasantly cooling. The beach is gorgeous: snow-white sand, horizontal palm trees, a pleasant warm breeze. There are sun loungers and deck chairs on the beach. Free - exchange for tickets given to you by the guide. The guides also offered masks with snorkels for 200-250 baht, but I took ordinary glasses with me and looked at the delights of the underwater world through them. IN hotel There is free Wi-Fi, you can use it right on the beach. The speed is quite decent, the password is in the room and on the counter in the restaurant bar. You can't swim everywhere, but only in an area fenced with buoys. In other places there are stones that can be seen in the evening at low tide.
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GROUP DEPARTURE (for 1 DAY). At 16.45, the group that arrived for 1 day began to gather, and those looking after the beach had already begun to close their umbrellas and collect the scattered sunbeds, telling vacationers that the beach holiday was over. By the way, the sun hits the beach area only until 16.20, then the beach is in the shade of trees. At 17.00 I went for a massage. Prices are more expensive than in Pattaya, but still inexpensive. Prices from 100 to 400 baht. The price is in the photo. At 18.00 I went to rest in my room, take a shower and get ready for dinner. I almost overslept it... Island life and 100% oxygen - you can put matches in your eyes as early as 18.30 pm!
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DINNER. At 19.30-20.30. And again disappointment! They gave me two potatoes and a piece of meat! I can no longer see these “overseas delicacies” in Perm, but they brought them to me for dinner on the island... Moreover, they are not tasty either! With them was a plate of watermelon/pineapple fruit and again a 1.5 liter bottle of water, which I didn’t even touch, I took a small Chang beer - 60 baht by the way, a large one 100 baht. By the way, there is one romantic moment in the dinner: the restaurant workers lay out a large carpet right on the beach and place tables with short legs on it. People sit almost on the floor, on special pillows. The seats were taken in 2 minutes, everyone really wanted to sit next to the sea at such a table!
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EVENING. After dinner we were invited to watch a fire show; it was included in the program. It happened three times, because... The beach line is very long. After the show, everyone was invited to launch a FLASHLIGHT OF HAPPINESS into the sky. Price 200 baht. You could buy it at the bar. Don't forget to make a wish, it will come true very soon, I checked! There were practically no RUSSIANS on the island; I can confidently say 80% were foreigners. There are a lot of French and Belgians.
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DISCO. 21.00-03.00. Almost no one danced at the disc, everyone sat next to the restaurant at tables and simply relaxed, enjoying the beautiful night views of the island to pleasant music. We also spent the evening drinking low alcohol drinks and chatting with new friends outside the restaurant. The BAR worked exactly until 24.00 (I don’t know beyond that, I went to bed). The price tag for drinks is not high, in the range of 100-200 baht.
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NIGHT. 0.00-8.30 I went to bed. I don’t remember how I fell asleep, apparently the sea air + alcohol did their job, and as soon as I touched my head to the pillow, I immediately fell asleep. The disco didn't interfere much; the sound was certainly audible, but not critical.
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BREAKFAST. 7.00-10.00. In the morning I woke up at 8.30, took a swim and went to breakfast. There were only a few people on the beach, the water pleasantly cooled the body. Breakfast is what you really need to take with it hotel! Eggs, bacon, sausages, rice and coffee + rice soup with meat. Everything you need for a good start to the day!
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At 12.00 they asked to vacate the room, took my things, and handed over the key to the “reception”. Things were collected in a bag, and I went on to sunbathe and swim.
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16.45-17.00. Gathering, boarding the boat, we move to the mainland pier.
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TAKE WITH YOU ON THE ROAD. Sunscreen, sunglasses, swimming goggles, a towel, two pairs of swimsuits, a bottle of drinking water, a hat, a cell phone, a camera + whatever chargers are needed and money 2000 baht.
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CELLULAR CONNECTION on the island is rather poor. DTAC is very bad, TRUE is good.
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MOTIK. ATV. On the island you can rent mopeds and two-wheelers of various capacities. I didn’t find out the cost, but I think rent costs from 300-500 baht per day, deposit from 1000-2000 baht.
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INFORMATION varies between necessary and unnecessary. The company did not fulfill everything it promised. 1. They promised 4* on the seashore. Actually 3* - but no complaints, the room is cool, but the seashore is a relative concept. In the photographs, the first line is really far from the water and from the window it is certainly not visible from more than one room. 2. Tickets to the park. They didn’t give us tickets anywhere, apparently tickets to the park are a ticket to the island. 3. Fire show. We even watched it three times, no questions asked. 4. All meals included. Instead, meals are served on a breakfast/lunch/dinner basis. As you understand, there is a difference.
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NATIONAL PAKR AND SAMET ATTRACTIONS. When purchasing a ticket, we were promised tickets to a park on the island, but the guides forgot about this upon arrival. Perhaps there is no park on the island, because the island is a park. There are waterfalls and other advantages on the island, I did not study, I have very little time. You need to go for at least 5 days to understand and see it. If anyone can give me some advice on the places on the island, I would be grateful!
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I RECOMMEND. Go to this island and to this hotel according to the system without meals or only breakfasts. The food is inexpensive, the full price menu is in the photo report. Friends went for two days without food for 1800 baht, but to the neighboring hotel– I think they did the right thing! I definitely wouldn’t eat 1400 baht for three times...
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RESULT. Overall I really enjoyed the trip! I repeat - next time I will try to go for five days, and immediately upon arrival. This type of relaxation, although boring, is very relaxing. It feels like the brain first turns into a liquid state, and then into a gaseous state. With such relaxation, nothing can be kept in my head at all!!!
Would I go there again? Of course yes!!! And I will recommend this to all my friends hotel and this type of recreation. Travel! Ko Samet Island is worth it!!!
The islands of Thailand are in great demand among experienced tourists who have already experienced the pros and cons of the most popular resorts in Thailand. But traveling to the islands inevitably involves the need to get there on your own. After your plane is dropped off at the airport in Bangkok, you will have to travel to Samet Island on your own. In this article we will talk about the most convenient and popular routes and their costs.
In any case, your journey to Samet Island will consist of two mandatory parts:
- You need to get from the airport to the Ban Phe ferry crossing, which is located not far from Pattaya or Bangkok
- From the ferry you can get to any of the beaches of Koh Samet during the day.
Let's start analyzing our route with a more complex one, namely how to get to the ferry pier.
How to get there from Pattaya
The distance from Samet to Pattaya is 85 km. You can use any of the options described below to overcome this path. Regardless of which option you choose, you will need to get from Pattaya to the small village of Ban Phe. In this village there is a pier from which you can take a boat to the island of Samet.
By bus
- Ticket price is 2-3 $.
- Travel time: ~50 minutes
If you choose this method, then you will need to get from the airport to Rayong, the administrative center of Pattaya province. You can take the regular bus from North Station, which is located on North Street, or the passing bus from Sukhumvit.
From Rayong you can get to Ban Phe for $1 on Songhthaew.
Take a taxi
- Cost: $25-35.
- Travel time: ~about 1.5 hours.
It is simpler, since you will be met directly at the airport. At the same time, you will not need to travel around Pattaya, you will not need to change trains in Rayong - you will immediately get to Ban Phe. If you are traveling with a large group or the whole family with children, then this option is the most convenient.
Purchase a package from a travel agency
Another convenient option is to purchase a travel package from an agency, which can be found everywhere. This package includes travel by minibus from Pattaya to Ban Phe, as well as a ferry ticket from Ban Phe Pier to Wong Duan Beach on Samet. Purchasing such a package provides you with a comfortable trip, and you will be picked up directly from your hotel in the morning at the specified time. You can immediately purchase a travel package for the return trip.
- The package price is about $10.
- Travel time – 50 minutes + transportation time by sea.
How to get there from Bangkok
From Bangkok to Samet Island is 200 km. To get to the island, you also need to get to the village of Ban Phe, and then by sea to the island. Again, you can choose one of the options described below.
By bus
Buses depart from Ekamai Bus Station every 40 minutes starting at 5:00. The last bus leaves at 20:30. When purchasing a round trip ticket you can save $1-2. From Ban Phe to Bangkok, buses depart every hour, starting at 4:00 and ending at 19:00.
- Ticket price is about $5 one way.
- Travel time is about 3.5 hours.
Private transfer
The most convenient option would be to order an individual transfer to Pattaya or before departure. You will be met at the airport with a sign, helped to carry your luggage to the car and taken to the ferry pier, from where you can independently get to your hotel on Koh Samet.
Ferry to Koh Samet from Ban Phke
The waterway from Ban Phe village to Samet can be covered by speedboat or ferry.
On a ferryboat
- Cost: ~$2 + $7 environmental fees
- Travel time: 25-45 minutes
Ferries leave the pier every hour or two every day from 8:00, with the last ferry leaving at 16:30. The ship arrives at three beaches: Nadan, Prao, Wong Duan. The ticket price is about $2, regardless of the beach you go to.
Travel time is 25, 30 and 45 minutes respectively.
Please note that upon arrival at Wong Duan Beach, the ferry does not moor to the shore; tourists are taken to the shore by boat for 30 cents.
On the boat
- Cost: $35-65
- Travel time: 10-15 minutes
At the Ban Phe pier you can hire a speedboat, in which case the travel time is reduced by 2-3 times. Travel time is 10-15 minutes depending on the beach.
When traveling from Ban Phe to Samet Island, everyone must pay $7 for the opportunity to enter the National Park, since Samet is located on its territory.
Samet Island is a beautiful island with excellent beaches near Pattaya (85 km). Buy an excursion there or go on your own, which hotel on Samet to choose, which beach on Samet is the best, deserted and clean - read in this article.
Samet hotels – which one to choose, should you book in advance?
The trip to Samet Island was timed to coincide with my husband and I’s wedding anniversary, and we also wanted to quickly introduce our youngest daughter Dasha to the sea (I wouldn’t bathe a 2-month-old baby in the sea in Pattaya).
I always approach the choice of the place where we go very carefully, I’m not too lazy to read a bunch of reviews on booking and others in order to roughly understand where we are going, which hotel on Samet to choose and how to make the trip a pleasant journey and not a disappointment .
It is this “secret” knowledge that I share with you)
First, let's define it.
We went to the island of Samet to take a break from people, bustle, relax in silence and get the most out of communication with nature, the sea, delicious food, etc.
at Lima Coco the food was very generous. Even the small portions were simply huge and very tasty
My main criteria when choosing a hotel on Samet were:
1. So that the hotel is on the very seashore, so that you don’t have to walk longer than 5 meters to the sea.
2. To have a clean beach, gentle and shallow entrance to the water
3. Minimum number of people
4. No nightlife, loud music, dancing or dancing with tambourines. Family hotel on Samet.
5. Good reviews on the Internet and preferably not an exorbitant price.
We found all this at the Lima Coco resort hotel, on Ao Phrao beach, in the westernmost part of Koh Samet.
Beaches of Koh Samet
When I was looking for the beach we needed and a suitable hotel on Samet, I, of course, looked at all the beaches, consulted with my friends and so on.
I came to the conclusion that we have nothing to do with children on the nearest beach to the Na Dan pier - Sai Kaew beach, although it is not bad at all and my husband and I had a great holiday there when we came to Thailand on vacation as a couple on a package tour.
Sai Kaew beach
If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that Samet Island is a nature reserve and there is an entrance fee. At the time of writing, it was 200 baht,
but in my opinion it’s already more expensive. They take it from everyone.
Beach Ao Tubtim aka Ao Pudsa (Ao Tub Tim and Ao Pudsa)
Our first stop is the Tubtim Hotel. There were no normal houses
We landed here on a speed boat from the Ban Phe pier in Rayong. Nice beach, not too many people, there are rocks on the sides of the beach.
We landed at the hotel of the same name - Tubtim resort, for shelter and to rest properly.
But we were unlucky.
It is known that it is better not to come to Samet on weekends. But since the wedding date is constant, we had to go on Sunday, in the hope that vacationers from Bangkok and others would have dispersed by that time.
In general, if you have the opportunity to plan the dates of your trip to Samet, then do not choose weekends. At least in the high season from November to March.
We were shown a couple of houses priced at 3500-4000 baht, and they were what is called “hug and cry”, and even on the second line.
And the hotel, I remind you, is packed to capacity with young people, noise and noise, in short, we quickly got out of there.
In principle, Ao Tubtim beach is suitable for relaxation if you take care in advance to find and rent housing.
The Tubtim Hotel has decent houses right on the shore, but they were all occupied and no matter how many times I “monitored” Samet, I could not find them free.
When it comes to an independent trip to Samet with an overnight stay, you need to book a hotel in advance, especially during the season, since there are a lot of people interested and the best inexpensive hotels-bungalows by the sea are sorted out first.
How to get to Samet Island from Pattaya
We drove our car to Ban Phe port in Rayong. If you are on a moped or by car, the route to Rayong and further following the signs is 80-85 kilometers, nothing complicated.
For those who do not have transport or who do not want to drive, there is a very simple way: in any booth selling excursions, there is a transfer to Samet.
It costs about 1000 baht round trip. For this price you will be picked up from Pattaya, taken by speedboat to the beach and delivered back at the agreed time.
Ao Phrao Beach
When, in the heat of the day (12 noon), we realized that there was nothing for us in Tubtim, I suggested going towards Ao Prao.
As reviews on the Internet said, this is the farthest and most private beach on Samet Island.
It (the beach) is the cleanest, most deserted and the best on the island.
Because Ao Phrao beach is located in a bay in the west of the island and there are only 3 hotels that belong to the same owner.
The beach is cut off from the main island by rocky shores and a bad road, as well as by the fact that only guests of these hotels can be on the beach.
Of course, no one will kick you out, but it’s impossible to get there by accident.
The best hotel on Samet – our reviews
When we arrived for 200 baht on a green tuk-tuk (songthaew) to Ao Prao Bay, it became clear that we were on the right track and would stay here.
A truly heavenly place, with a clean beach, minimal crowds, all that was left was to choose a hotel from three.
First comes -Le Vimarn. Cottages and villas in it start from 14,000 baht, extra bed 1,500.
Well, it's a bit expensive for us. At the same time, the number shown was very different from the one in the picture on the booking. It had not been cleaned, but instead of this jacuzzi on the veranda, there was some kind of cup with a dirty, muddy slurry, very vaguely similar to what is in the picture.
The next hotel on Ao Prao beach was the Lima Coco hotel, where we stayed, which we never regretted and recommend to our friends.
I’ll tell you more about it later, but now the third hotel in a row – Ao Prao resort, named after the bay.
There were houses available there (one-room ones) for 10,000 baht, and they were not worth the money at all.
We arrived just in time for check-out and miraculously rented a house right by the sea. We did it online, and it turned out to be cheaper than at the hotel reception.
Go to Hotelluk website
, choose the hotel you need and book the cheapest option. In my opinion, this is the most convenient booking system because it searches for all agencies at once.
We liked the option with a house right on the shore. This is number S1, if anything.
We took two rooms for 10,000 baht, they gave us a discount, since the one that was closer to the sea cost more.
Yes, 10,000 is expensive, in general, rooms there start from 3,500 baht, so if the price is unacceptable for you, go on a tour, they’ll take you to White Sands Beach,
where is also very cool.
There are 44 rooms in Lima Coco, they are located in the form of a pyramid, that is, there is a staircase going up.
What did I like about Samet in Lima Coco?
The beach is clean. Dasha swam in the sea for the first time and I was not afraid for her, since the water was shallow and clear.
Kayaks are free.
P.S. A couple of years later, a swimming pool was also built near the beach, so it’s really cool. There is a children's playground on the nearby beach.
Contrary to reviews, the staff was very “russling”, all orders were brought very quickly and the food was very, very tasty!
At the hotel restaurant, I recommend ordering glass noodles with shrimp in ginger sauce.
The cocktails are also at the same level, despite the fact that in Thailand, in my opinion, there is quite a lack of tasty and high-quality cocktails.
Prices for cocktails and food are more expensive than in Pattaya, but this is because, whether on Samet or Koh Chang, this is always the case on the islands.
Due to the fact that drinking water, food and everything else have to be imported, prices are much higher than in Pattaya.
One thing I can’t understand is why both Samet and Koh Chang have such disproportionate prices for hotel rooms?
If the hotel is right on the seashore, with a good beach, clean and everything is as needed, then it will cost no less than 3500-4000.
If it’s cheaper, then at the expense of some characteristics: cleanliness, newness of the room, etc.
Samet – photo of the beach and the Lima Coco hotel
We came for 2 days and one night.
The room we stayed in at Lima Coco was ordinary. Its main advantage is that there is no one in front of you, you can sit on the veranda and look straight at the sea.
The beach is right next to your nose.
The room had a wonderful bathroom, shower, all the necessary accessories, a double bed and even a TV (I don’t understand why it is and who watches it).
What I didn’t like was that there was nowhere to put things, there weren’t enough shelves or hooks, and the fact that both the inside and the outside were simply whitewashed.
Alya is a nature scene, like a summer house somewhere in the Crimea.
Breakfast was included in the room rate and was completely ordinary.
You won’t go hungry, but there’s nothing much to sing about - coffee, tea, sausages, fruit, buns.
Again, I’ll praise the hotel restaurant, which attracted not only guests of Lima Coco, but also neighboring Ao Prao and
Le Vimarna.
In their hotels, the prices are generally prohibitive, and the food (according to reviews) is worse.
Summary and conclusions from visiting Samet
We liked it at Lima Coco. We would go back, and will probably go back there again. True, I don’t like going to the same hotels, I want something new,
but in the case of Samet, I’m afraid that Lima Coco is the most suitable option for us.
The pool at the Lima Cocco hotel is right in the place where the Thais sit and stand, where the white fence is. At the time of filming it had not yet been built there.
If you are expecting relaxation from your holiday on Samet, a calm, quiet holiday, without parties and nightlife, then Ao Prao beach on Samet is the most suitable option.
I would recommend something closer to young people, since in Ao Prao not only are the prices a bit high, but you also have to spend money on moped trips to the center of the island,
Motorbike taxis charge 200-300 baht per trip.
After writing the article, I repeatedly went to Samet Island on excursions, as I found a good travel agency whose prices were reasonable and
The excursions are interesting. Through them you can go to Samet for 1000 baht one day and from 1650 with a hotel, which turns out to be much more profitable and cheaper,
than booking it yourself. And they deliver you to the beach by speedboat.
I have already recommended them to readers a hundred times, so if you are going to Samet or other excursions, write in the comments, I will send you the contact information by email.
During the two days that we were there, we didn’t meet any Russians. Mostly married couples go to Lima Coco,
including small children. But even the presence of small children does not turn the hotel into a farce.
I forgot to say that in addition to kayaks and delicious food, there is suitable snorkeling, as well as massage.
The massage takes place outside, overlooking the sea, a total blast!
If you decide to go to Ao Prao Bay on Samet, and you don’t have personal transport (though I can’t imagine what kind of transport there might be, you can’t even get there on a scooter),
It wouldn’t hurt to take mosquito spray wipes, some light snacks, maybe something else that you might want to buy in a store. There are no shops nearby.
And, yes. The sunsets here are simply stunning, amazingly beautiful.
How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?
I'm looking on the Rumguru website. It contains absolutely all discounts on hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. I often find very profitable options, I can save from 30 to 80%
How to save on insurance?
Insurance abroad is required. Any appointment is very expensive and the only way to avoid paying out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. We have been applying for many years on the website, which gives the best prices for insurance and selection along with registration takes only a couple of minutes.
Have a nice holiday! If you have any questions, ask them.