Ko Samet

Ko Samet (Ko Samed) is an island in Rayong province in the Gulf of Thailand known for its sandy beaches and tourism development. It is a compact island with a string of popular beaches along its coast and several small settlements and guesthouses.

The island’s shoreline features multiple beaches with white to light-golden sand and shallow nearshore waters suited to swimming and snorkeling. Hospitality and beach-oriented services are concentrated near the main landing points and the busier beaches.

Historically a fishing and coastal community, the island developed into a recreational destination during the 20th century and is administered as part of Rayong province.

Geographically it lies off the Rayong coast in the eastern Gulf of Thailand and is reached by regular boat services from the mainland ferry piers at Ban Phe and other nearby coastal towns.

• Access: Regular ferries and speedboats run from Ban Phe and Rayong; transfers typically take under an hour depending on the service used.
• Why go: Popular for sandy beaches and nearshore snorkeling rather than large-scale resorts, making it a common day-trip destination from nearby coastal towns.

Almost all of Ko Samet lies inside Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park, so every visitor pays a national park entry fee on arrival, with a higher rate for foreign visitors than for Thais. Ferries from Ban Phe dock at Na Dan on the north-east tip. Nearly every beach sits on the sheltered east coast, a chain of coves divided by rocky points and joined by a coastal footpath, so you can walk from one bay to the next. They are listed here from north to south.

Ao Noi Na lies west of the pier on the north shore. It faces the mainland rather than the open sea, but it is quiet and close to the island’s shops.

Hat Sai Kaew (“crystal sand beach”) is the longest and busiest beach, a short walk from Na Dan. The sand is so fine it squeaks underfoot. Expect sunbeds, jet skis, banana boats and crowds of Bangkok day-trippers, then tables set out on the sand after dark. Statues at the beach show the prince and the mermaid from Sunthorn Phu’s epic poem Phra Aphai Mani, part of which is set on Samet.

Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai, next along, are smaller, with buildings set back behind the trees. They draw a younger, budget-minded crowd and stay lively in the evening.

Ao Phutsa (also called Ao Tubtim) is a curved, sheltered bay with few rocks and easy swimming, a good middle ground between the busy north and the quiet south.

Ao Nuan is a tiny cove reached on foot over the headland. With no boats or water sports, it is one of the calmest swims on the island.

Ao Cho is split by a pier used by some boats from Ban Phe. The water south of the pier is good for swimming, though passing boats can leave a film of fuel.

Ao Wong Deuan, the island’s second hub, is a wide crescent of hotels, bars and shops. The sand narrows sharply at high tide, so keep your things well up the beach. It faces east and suits an early sunrise walk.

Ao Thian (Candlelight Beach) and Ao Wai, further south, are rockier and slower. Ao Thian fills with Thai weekenders; Ao Wai is a shaded bay with gently shelving water.

Ao Kiu Na Nok, near the southern tip, has clear water and some of the island’s best snorkelling. A short path crosses the narrow neck of land to Ao Kiu Na Nai on the west coast for the sunset.

Ao Prao is the main beach on the west coast: a single quiet bay with a few upmarket resorts and the best sunsets on Samet.

The southern half of the island is mostly forest and dirt track. Samet is one of the driest corners of Thailand, so it gets more sunshine than the mainland in the wet season. Weekends and Thai holidays pack the northern beaches; midweek, even Sai Kaew is easy-going.

Ko Samet is off the Rayong coast and is reached from the mainland piers at Ban Phe in Rayong province. From Bangkok drive east on Route 3 (Sukhumvit Road) to Ban Phe (roughly a 3-4 hour drive depending on traffic, about 200 km) and take the regular ferries or speedboats from Ban Phe pier to Ko Samet (ferries ~30-45 minutes; speedboats shorter). On the island the main beaches and settlements are a short walk from the piers.

• Take an early ferry on weekdays from Ban Phe and head straight to quieter beaches such as Ao Phai or Ao Nuan to avoid the mid-day influx to Sai Kaew (Haad Sai Kaew), which is the main day-tripper landing.
• If you want to escape the busiest stretches, stay overnight or visit in the shoulder seasons (May-June or September) when island accommodation is more available and day-trip traffic is lower.