Transfer from Pattaya to Koh Samet is carried out by minibus and boat - it will take travelers to the island pier. And you can get around the island on foot, by taxi or on a motorcycle, which you can rent here.
Koh Samet is a small island located in the Gulf of Thailand, six and a half kilometers from the mainland. From an administrative point of view, it belongs to Rayong Province. On a small territory - just 13-odd square kilometers - is the village of Nadan.
Almost all the beaches of the island boast exotic hotels with bungalow accommodation. Those who fly to Thailand for quiet exoticism will find a secluded and pleasant holiday here. The entertainment industry in this place is not as developed as in Pattaya, but the flora and fauna are perfectly preserved.
Due to the fact that the island is a national park, a separate fee must be paid for visiting. About 200 baht.
Description of options
transfers to Samet from Pattaya
Taxi to Ban Phe Pier
Pattaya - Koh Samet Pier (Economy class - up to 3 passengers): 1200 baht.
Pattaya - Koh Samet Pier (Minivan, jeep - up to 6 passengers): 1400 baht.
Pattaya - Koh Samet Pier (Minibus - up to 9 passengers): 1800 baht.
Bangkok - Koh Samet Pier (Economy class - up to 3 passengers): 2500 baht.
Bangkok - Koh Samet Pier (Minivan, jeep - up to 6 passengers): on request.
Bangkok - Koh Samet Pier (Minibus - up to 9 passengers): on request.
Prices for excursions to Samet Island from Pattaya
| Program | Number of days | Price, baht |
|---|---|---|
| Excursion to Samet | 1 | 799 |
| Excursion to Samet + lunch | 1 | 949 |
| Excursion to Samet + lunch + dinner + fire show | 1 | 2049 |
| , without power | 2 days 1 night | 1599 |
| Excursion to Samet. Hotel Sea Breeze 2*, no meals | 3 days 2 nights | 2499 |
| , with breakfast | 2 days 1 night | 2399 |
| Excursion to Samet. Hotel Silver Sand 3*, full board | 2 days 1 night | 2899 |
| Excursion to Samet. Hotel Silver Sand 3*, with breakfast | 3 days 2 nights | 3699 |
| Excursion to Samet. Hotel Silver Sand 3*, full board | 3 days 2 nights | 5000 |
FAQ
1. How long does it take to get to Samet?
Travel time is 2 - 2.5 hours.
2. How long in advance do I need to order a transfer to Samet?
3. Is non-cash payment possible?
Possible, check with the operator for details.
4. Can I pay for the transfer in dollars?
You can pay by credit card on the website.
5. How can I find out the exact departure time?
Our operator will inform you of the exact departure time after confirmation of the order by the organizer.
Book a transfer to Samet
Koh Samet is a wonderful island very close to Pattaya. It is essentially a national park, so you will have to pay 200 baht upon entry to be on its territory.
The guys and I planned to get to Samet in the morning on November 1, check into a guest house we had booked in advance, and then devote the rest of the time to rest. And in the evening to celebrate Anton's birthday. We were very lucky - on the beach where we were relaxing, there was a fire show in the evening and air lanterns were launched into the sky. All this added a festive atmosphere to our gatherings.
Koh Samet is just a small part of our trip to Thailand from Pattaya. Previous photo story - Khao Kheo Zoo. For convenience, I have collected all the reports on one page.
How to get to Koh Samed on your own:
Economical way: buy a transfer to Samet. We ordered a transfer from one of the many agencies. We boarded the mikrik and drove to the Van Phe pier, where we had to go to the house and pay fees for visiting Samet Island, as well as get tickets. There is nothing unusual on the ferry: it is painted with blue peeling paint, with hard seats. But we are on a budget vacation, what am I talking about! You can sit quietly and look at the sea and the islands we pass by. The ferry does not drop us off at the main pier of the island, but at Ao Wong Duan Beach. Getting to the desired beach by songthaew is not difficult and inexpensive.
A more expensive and faster method: get to the pier, pay for a speedboat to the beach you want.
The most basic way for the lazy: book a whole trip, which will include transfer, food and sunbeds.
The long-awaited day came - November 1st, and we wanted to quickly find ourselves on an island with white sand and palm trees. Finally, the minibus arrived at the hotel and we hit the road. The first point of our mini-trip is Rayong pier Ban Phe. Coming out of the mikrik, we were stunned by the smell of sewage. It was so sharp and unbearable that everyone’s nose tingled and they wanted to quickly board the ferry and sail away from Rayong. At a booth with the required sign, we paid the environmental fees, picked up our tickets and went to wait for the ferry to depart.
We didn't have to wait long, and soon we set sail. The path to the island is interesting due to the surrounding landscapes, and while you are admiring it, time flies by.
This is what the pier on Koh Samet looks like. But the ferry will not drop us off here.
When we arrived at Ao Wong Duan beach, we were dropped off in a kind of boat. This structure with steps really surprised me with its appearance. Once on land, I quickly captured this strange boat on my phone.
Well, that’s basically it, we’re there. Now we need to find transport to the beach we need Hat Sai Kaew. There were no problems with this, the main thing was to pay the driver money. Having reached the beach and finding the guest house we had booked in advance 400 meters from the beach, we, frankly speaking, were terribly disappointed. The reviews on booking were good, but in real life the hotel let us down and turned out to be a rare piece of nonsense. It's good that we're only here for one night. It's called Ban FahSay Guest House. Now they seem to have renovated it, and it’s getting better. Otherwise, we used a bathroom with concrete walls, and there was mold in the room from the dampness.
After checking in, we, of course, went to the sea. The beaches on Koh Samet are beautiful and spacious. Colorful merchants sit right in the center of the beach under an umbrella.
We brazenly settled down on sunbeds outside some hotel without asking anyone. 🙂
The white sand contrasts beautifully with the bright blue sky and green plants. A paradise for seal rest.
Someone has a balcony with a wonderful view of the sea:
The sea here is clean, the water near the shore has a beautiful greenish tint. Sandy beaches alternate with rocks protruding from the water.
For some reason, few people mention this sculpture, dedicated to one of the characters invented by the poet Sunton Pu, among the island’s attractions. Basically, the sculptural composition with a mermaid, which is also related to the famous hero, is more popular.
In the work "Phra Apaimani" the author tells us about a traveler who was accidentally captured and almost died, but found shelter on the island of Samet. Here he fell in love with a mermaid. This story ended beautifully, they lived happily ever after.
We spent the rest of the day peacefully on the beach, sunbathing and swimming. Suddenly we were disturbed by a snake, which somehow quietly made its way to the beach to lie on the warm sand. Even the Thais jumped out of their sunbeds screaming and ran away from her. Perhaps she was dangerous and poisonous. As a result, the snake itself quickly crawled into the nearest bushes.
When the sun disappeared and darkness fell, we took out the mangoes and SangSom we had stored, which we were going to use to celebrate Anton’s birthday.
The birthday boy decided to peel the fruit himself:
Before we had time to properly celebrate, the fun began. I had to distract myself and go enthusiastically watch the process of launching sky lanterns. Unfortunately, the photos were all blurry... There was no tripod, and the lens was garbage.
The trees near the cafes are beautifully illuminated:
After watching the fire show (which I didn’t photograph) and the launch of lanterns into the sky, we sat down to drink cola and local alcohol. It was a pleasant evening. Happy birthday, Antosha!
We didn’t go trekking around the island; the guys in our group don’t really like to walk. So the next morning we went to the beach again.
The weather is sunny.
I rejoice at the sea:
The best snack while relaxing on the beach is to eat a piece of fruit. Zhenya is the main pineapple cutter.
The pineapple also served as the subject for a strange photo shoot:
As expected, we couldn’t lie on the beach for long. Boring. We decided to go snorkeling. I don’t remember the exact cost, about 350 baht per person.
On a cool motorboat they took us past all the beaches to the coral reef:
When we arrived at the place, we were given masks and vests. There are a lot of fish, but there are only a small number of colored corals. There was plenty of time for swimming, and we all had time to see enough of the inhabitants of the underwater world.
When we sailed back to shore, we asked the guys on the boat to take us to Ao Wong Duan Beach, where our ferry to the mainland leaves. For a nominal fee, they quickly took us to the desired point.
From the motorboat the views of the island are simply stunning. A small beach with almost no people:
The nature here is truly wonderful. It's a pity we didn't go for a walk. Next time we will definitely walk around the entire island.
All the colors are absolutely real, the water really is that color. This is not photoshop.
Disembarked on land:
A calming picture. I fell in love with Tai just from one trip, and I miss him very much.
I can admire these views forever:
We replenish our strength, as always, with delicious fruits.
The beaches on Koh Samet are clean (unless some tourist buries a bull in the sand or throws a bag) and very beautiful. This is the last photo before leaving the island.. I didn’t want to leave, because we had so little time. No problem, we'll be back!
Results of the trip to Koh Samet:
We had a great time, the sea here is cleaner and there are fewer people than on Koh Lan. The beaches are spacious. Food is no more expensive than on the mainland. At the cafe we had a delicious set breakfast and something meat for lunch.
Of all the beaches on the island, we visited two: Ao Wong Duan and Hat Sai Kaew. The second one is what everyone on the Internet recommends, and they are right: the infrastructure is good, there is a choice of cafes, the beach is large and there is enough space for everyone. In the evenings, entertainment shows are held at Sai Kaew Beach.
The next day we have a most exciting excursion planned.
How to get from Pattaya to Samet on your own and what budget a trip to one of the “paradise” islands of the Gulf of Thailand will require is required in advance, because this information will allow you to more carefully plan your own vacation.
Google Maps / google.ru
Samet Island is located closer to than the rest and, accordingly, getting to it from the city is easier and cheaper than getting to other fabulous island beaches.
How to get to the island?
You can only get to Koh Samet by sea, there is no airport on the island and there are no bridges connecting it to the mainland, but this does not mean that the trip will be difficult or expensive, quite the opposite.
Transfer to the tropical paradise from the Ban Phe piers by ferry or speedboat. Ferries, in fact, are actually an analogue of public land transport, and boats, accordingly, resemble taxis, the price differences are also similar to the difference between a taxi and a bus ride.
Scooter
The Ban Phe pier does not provide scooter rentals for an independent boat trip to the island, although it is very close, about 70 km from the mainland piers. This is not at all due to the reluctance of the Thais to look for lost travelers, but to the peculiarities of the currents in this sea area - the sea here is almost always restless.
smalljude/flickr.com
But this nuance applies only to a certain section of the route; on the sandy beaches of the island lagoons there is complete silence, even if it is stormy in most of the Gulf of Thailand.
The ferry schedule directly depends on their demand; the following flights depart daily, regardless of calendar holidays, days of the week and seasons:
- To Wong Duern Beach (Wong Duan) - at 9:00, 12:00, 13:30, 17:00, one-way ticket price - 40 baht.
- To Ao Kiu Beach - at 10:00, ticket price - 100 baht one way.
- To Ao Wai Beach (Ao Phai) - at 11:30, 14:00, the trip costs 80 baht one way.
- To Ao Prao Beach - at 08:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, the price of one ticket is 80 baht.
The farthest of all is Wong Duern Beach, the ferry takes more than 45 minutes to reach it and upon arrival there is no pier waiting for tourists. When you get to this beach, you should be prepared for the fact that the ferry will stop within sight of the shore, which you will have to get to by rowing boats - for a fee of 10 to 15 baht, or by swimming.
Thanate Tan / flickr.com
This beach is the least in demand among tourists; here you can almost always find yourself “alone,” illusory, of course, but unlike other beach areas of the island, there will be no sunbeds of other vacationers in sight.
The trip to the rest of the beaches will last from half an hour to forty minutes and, in good weather, will bring a lot of positive emotions. When boarding the ferry, you need to pay attention to where the locals sit. Thais constantly travel from the island to the mainland and back, and most of them use the ferry.
If Thais go to the upper deck, you need to go up, if down, you need to stay down. This will help you avoid weather-related hassles along the way. For example, if the waves are “high”, then travelers on the lower deck will come out to the piers of Samet thoroughly wet from the salty sea spray, and the upper deck will simply be very seasick, but not flooded.
And, conversely, with a strong wind, but a relatively calm sea, you can freeze “to the bone” at the top. It is impossible to predict such nuances, but local residents know very well what awaits along the way, so it makes sense to focus on them.
smalljude/flickr.com
Ferries also depart back to Ban Phe depending on demand. There are always the following flights:
- from Wong Duern - at 08:30, 12:00, 15:30 it is better to approach the boats ten minutes before this time;
- from Ao Kiu - at 08:00, 12:00;
- from Ao Wai - at 14:00;
- from Ao Prao - at 10:00, 12:30, 15:00, 17:00.
Prices are the same as in the direction of the island. During the season of influx of travelers, on holidays and weekends, there are more flights, ferries depart literally every 20-40 minutes from early morning until evening. Tickets must be purchased immediately before departure, as the flight may be canceled due to weather.
Speed boat
A very good way to find yourself on a tropical beach without being tied to time. You can rent a boat at the Ban Phe pier, you can see them, the boats are in a row a little further than the ferry piers.
There are no set prices for how to get to Samet Island by boat. You need to bargain, but you should first assess the situation. If there are several dozen ships moored along the pier, and there are no people willing to become their passengers, you need to bargain loudly and confidently.
It will take about half an hour, and will end with an amount several times less than that originally requested by the “captain” of the boat. For example, if a Thai asks for 2000 baht on a Monday morning in early April, you can sail for 500 baht, but if this situation occurs at the end of May on a Saturday morning, then the maximum you can bargain for is 1800 baht.
smalljude/flickr.com
Whether or not to agree on how and when to get back on the same boat depends on the specific situation, but there is no particular point in this; there are also shipowners on the island who are always ready to take tourists to the mainland. Moreover, you should not make any advance payments for the return trip, even if the Thai does not deceive you, it will be difficult to recognize his boat among the others of the same type, and for the Thais themselves, all Europeans look the same.
How to get to Ban Phe?
In how to get from Pattaya to the island of Koh Sumet, an important point is the path from the city to the Ban Phe pier, which, in fact, is located in a “suburban” village.
As elsewhere, the easiest way to do this in Thailand is to take a taxi, tuk-tuk or bus. You can also come by bike, which you can rent through the website; there is a parking lot near the pier, which is quite “civilized.” You need to take the Sukhumvit Rd or Highway No. 3. If you follow the speed limit, the journey will take about 3 hours.
The taxi fare will range from 600 to 1200 baht, depending on where exactly the trip starts. You can order a car in advance on the website.
Regular buses leave every forty minutes from the central bus station, of course, they do not carry to Koh Samet from Pattaya, and do not even reach the Ban Phe piers. You need to take a bus to Rayong, and then change to a tuk-tuk.
Espen Aaeng / flickr.com
The route diagram just seems complicated. All necessary buses have the inscription “Sukhumvit”. This means that they are following the Sukhumvit Highway, which means they are passing through Rayong. The price of the trip is 70 baht, there is no space for luggage on these regular buses, so you should only take what will be convenient to take with you into the cabin.
In Rayong, you don’t need to leave the car platform anywhere, since the songhthaews stop right there, you don’t even have to raise your hand, the drivers drive up to the stop themselves. The cost of a trip to the pier is 30 baht.
The entire trip will take about 3-3.5 hours. It is quite difficult to get there in less time, given the wait for the bus and tuk-tuk. When tourists say that they got to the pier on their own in a couple of hours, this only means one thing that they used a service such as transfer Pattaya - Koh Samet or Pattaya - Ban Phe pier.
This is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the island. Transfers can be completely different, for example, there are minibuses that take groups of 12-14 people to the pier and meet them there. The price of this transfer option ranges from 200 to 350 baht one way.
There are transfers from Pattaya to Koh Samet, which also include a crossing to the island. When renting a boat for a group, the cost is from 700 to 800 baht, the boat will not only deliver, but also pick up from Samet, just as the minibus will not only take you to the pier, but also meet you on the way back.
smalljude/flickr.com
There are a lot of transfer options and prices. It is very convenient to search for a suitable car through.
Among the most budget travel agencies targeting Russians, it is worth noting the Pattaya Group.
Traveling by tuk-tuk will require good orientation in Thailand, since you will have to travel with transfers. You should take the minibuses traveling along the Sukhumvit Highway. It is difficult to predict how long such a trip will take and how much it will cost.
Despite the obvious disadvantages, this method also has an advantage - it is quite extreme. When choosing a ride on a tuk-tuk, you need to stock up on cash and keep in mind that drivers usually don’t have change.
For those who don’t want to stress, there is an excellent way to get from Pattaya to Samet and back - a sightseeing tour. There are a lot of tour options; “one-day” trips are very popular, which include lunch, an excursion and, of course, free time on the beach.
Video: excursion to Samet Island from Pattaya.
The cost of tours starts from 1200 baht and has no upper limits; it all depends on what the tour will be filled with, where exactly the traveler wants to go and how many days he plans to spend on the island.
Finding yourself on the beaches of Koh Samet is not as difficult or expensive as it seems, so you shouldn’t neglect a trip to a tropical fairy tale. Koh Samet Island is a national reserve, and its visit costs from 100 to 250 baht, depending on the length of stay.
smalljude/flickr.com
The island itself has good infrastructure, tuk-tuks drive briskly, there is WI-FI almost everywhere and, in addition, there is a lot of interesting things here, for example, one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries.
Samet Island is one of the best and most beautiful in Thailand. This tropical corner is located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 6.5 kilometers from the coast in Rayong province. Many tourists who prefer independent travel in Thailand go to Koh Samet from Bangkok. This metropolis is a connecting hub between other resorts in the country, as well as one of the main centers of arrival for foreign tourists. Let's look at how to get to Koh Samet from Bangkok, prices and features of Koh Samet.
Koh Samet: how to get there by bus from Bangkok
From Bangkok you need to get to a coastal town called Ban Phe. Buses traveling to this city depart from Bangkok's Ekamai East Station. From here you have two ways to get to Koh Samet on your own:
1. Get directly to the city of Ban Phe by direct bus, which also stops at the pier, from where you will need to take a water transport. There are different classes of buses, the average price is 150 baht. They run almost every hour from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm and will take you to your destination in about 3.5 hours. There you can also buy a return ticket for 292 baht with an open date. You can use this ticket within 1 month. For a ticket with a ferry, the cost will be 100 baht higher, i.e. 392 baht.
If you decide to book tickets separately, then as soon as you get to Ban Phe, you need to walk to the pier (it’s nearby). There you can buy a ticket for a ferry (50 baht, 40 min journey) or a speedboat (150 baht, 10 min). Tourists arriving on the island pay a “fee” (to collect clean water!) - 200 baht (national park fee).
2. You can also take a bus to the city of Rayong (the name of the province). Ticket prices are slightly cheaper, around 130 baht. You need to get to the pier by songthaew or tuk-tuk, which costs 25 baht.
If you have just arrived at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, then there is no direct connection with Ban Phe from there. From the air harbor you can go to the city of Rayong by bus No. 9906. Then take a tuk-tuk to the pier and take the ferry.
Samet Island: how to get there by minibus
In addition to the bus, you can get to Koh Samet from Bangkok by minibus. This option is often more expensive, but you can get there a little faster. The Bangkok – Ban Phe connection is operated by several companies and almost all of them depart from Khaosan Street. The ticket price will be about 300 baht, and the travel time is just under three hours. A minibus is a little more comfortable than a large and bulky bus; in it you will feel almost like in a passenger car.
Koh Samet: how to get there from Bangkok by taxi
You can get to Koh Samet from Bangkok by taxi. At the same time, you will immediately get to the town of Ban Phe without transfers to the pier. The average cost of a taxi from Bangkok, depending on the size of the car, will be 2500-3000 baht. You can order a taxi in advance and it will be much cheaper, but if you take a taxi on the spot, then do not forget to bargain.
Samet, Thailand: how to get there by ferry from Ban Phe
Getting to Samet Island on your own from Ban Phe is very easy. Ban Phe has several piers from which ferries depart to Koh Samet. These are Taruaphe, Nuanthip and Sribanphe piers. Ferries depart almost every hour from 8 am to 6 pm. The ship takes travelers to Koh Samet in 30 minutes, and arrives at the Na Dan pier, located in the northeastern part of the island. The crossing costs 50 baht and is a short boat trip. The ferries can accommodate 20-30 people on board and have a roof that protects from the scorching sun.
How to get to Koh Samet on your own by speedboat
From the piers in the town of Ban Phe you can get to Samet Island on your own by speedboat. They stand right on the pier and it is almost impossible not to notice this offer. The fare is about 200 baht and the travel time is 15 minutes. Speedboats depart as soon as the required number of people has reached the destination. But since ferries run once an hour, there are also plenty of people who want to go on a speedboat.
A private speedboat can be booked until midnight. The cost of such pleasure will be about 2500 baht. If you are traveling in a group or find travel companions, the amount will not seem so large.
Koh Samet: how to get there from Pattaya
A few words about how to get to Koh Samet from Pattaya. This is also possible. However, there is no state transport in this direction. But there are travel companies that organize trips from Pattaya to Koh Samet. Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies in the city or online. Departure takes place both from the bus station in Pattaya and from your hotel.
The independent route to Samet Island from Pattaya is as follows. First you need to take a bus from Thepprayi to Rayong, then take a songthaew to Ban Phe pier, then take a ferry to the island.
Koh Samet: features
- The water is clean, as on all the islands.
- The beaches are easily accessible, even from the pier you can walk.
- There is a national park (almost immediately) - an entrance fee is charged - 200 baht.
- Ao Putsa Beach - 2.5 km to the left of the pier.
Prices for Koh Samet
- The price of a ferry ticket is from 100 baht for a round trip (nearest port), the ferry is slow. If one way - 70 baht.
- Distant beaches - 200 baht.
- There are green tuk-tuks running around the island. Price to the beach 20 baht.
- Scooter rental averages 150 baht per hour.
- Bed in a guesthouse - 250 baht.
Overall, Koh Samet is a pleasant island. However, I personally liked the islands of Koh Chang, Koh Sichang and even Koh Lan tourist islands more.
That's all for today. Follow the news on
In this article we will talk about how to get to Samet Island on your own! This famous island attracts with its gorgeous beaches, which, according to vacationers, are no worse than those in Phuket.
Well, let's go have a look! We really enjoyed our stay in Phuket.
There are several ways to get to Samet Island. The first is to take an excursion (979 baht for an adult and 700 baht for a child), but judging by the reviews, this is not the best option, since with an excursion you do not have time to relax and enjoy the picturesque views. The second is to get there on your own by car, minibus, bus to the village, and then by sea to the island.
Samet Islands in Thailand
We went by car with friends. First we went to the pier in the village of Ban Phe in Rayong, and there we rented a speedboat for everyone for 1,900 baht. By boat we just reached the beach we needed. We got back the same way.
Travel time by road is about an hour, an hour and a half and plus 15 minutes by speedboat.
Samet is located 6.5 km from the mainland of Thailand, you can get here not only by speedboat, but also by ferry. The ferry travel time is 30 minutes, the fare is 50 baht. Ferries run once every 20-40 minutes.
Ban Phe Pier in Rayong
It was more convenient for us to take a speedboat, because we were traveling in a large group with children and large bags of things. As one mother told me, “when you go on vacation with your children, you need a lot of things, whether you go for two days or for a month, it’s the same.”
Attention. Samet Island is considered a protected area. In some places they write that you need to pay an additional 200 baht to land on the island, but no one took it from us. Perhaps the rules have changed.
How to get to Samet Island on your own if you are traveling alone and don’t have transport? You can take a tour! The cost of the excursion depends on the range of services. If you take the most expensive all-inclusive option, then lunch and a tour of the main attractions await you on the island.
If you absolutely do not want to take a tour, then you can take a taxi to the pier. A car one way will cost approximately 1000 baht. We also heard that you can get to the village by bus, but with transfers. First you need to take the Sukhumvit highway to Rayong, the fare is 70 baht, then take the songthaew to Ban Phe for another 30 baht.
By the way, important information. Alcohol on the island is quite expensive, so those in the know take it with them. As for housing, there are guesthouses and hotels. Prices are higher than on the mainland, but it’s understandable - an island...
We rented a guesthouse for 1,200 baht per night, but to be honest, we expected more for the money.
If you want to see how we went to Samet with friends, then watch our video below. Enjoy watching and have a great holiday.