Koh Samet
Bangkok's closest island escape — powdery white sand, calm water, and famous beach fire shows
Listing data updated
About Koh Samet
Koh Samet is Bangkok's island: the closest proper white-sand island to the capital, close enough that office workers leave on Friday afternoon and swim before sunset. It sits in a rain shadow that makes it the driest of Thailand's major beach destinations — a genuinely year-round island, when every other coast has a serious monsoon. The sand is the draw: Hat Sai Kaew and the beaches running down the east coast are powdery, squeaky-white, and lapped by calm, swimmable water.
The island is small — about seven kilometres end to end — and part of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, which has kept development low-rise. Each cove steps down in energy as you head south: busy Sai Kaew, the backpacker fire-show beaches of Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai, family-friendly Ao Wong Duean, and near-empty Ao Wai. Upscale Ao Prao faces west, alone, for sunsets. The rhythm is distinctly Thai: packed and buzzing on weekends and public holidays, then quiet and cheap Monday to Thursday.
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April (driest island near Bangkok)
Avoid: Thai long weekends (crowds, not weather)
Rainy season
May – October (lighter than elsewhere)
Avg. temperature
25°C – 33°C(77°F – 91°F)
Crowds
Peak: Weekends & Thai public holidays
Getting there
Bus or minivan from Bangkok's Ekkamai terminal to Ban Phe pier in Rayong (~3–3.5 hrs), then a 40-minute ferry or 15-minute speedboat to Na Dan pier. The island is part of a national park — foreigners pay a ฿200 entry fee on arrival.
Getting around
- •Green songthaews between the pier and the beaches
- •Walking — the east-coast beaches connect via a coastal path
- •Motorbike rental (฿300/day; interior roads are partly dirt)
Where to stay in Koh Samet
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Things to Do in Koh Samet
Koh Samet offers 106 curated places to explore across 10 categories. Choose from 30 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 22 restaurants and dining spots. Visit 7 temples and cultural landmarks. Explore 9 beaches and islands. Book from 7 activities and tours.
Browse by category below or scroll down to see top-rated picks in each category. Every listing includes Google ratings from verified visitors, price ranges, and direct booking links where available.
Pick where to stay in Koh Samet
Browse live hotel rates across the major booking sites.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Agoda
Asia-focused selection
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Hotels & Resorts
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Saikaew Beach Resort
Upscale beachfront resort on Koh Samet with bright rooms, three pools, a spa, and open-air dining.
Samed Villa Resort
Beachfront resort on Koh Samet offering casual rooms with balconies, a bar, dining, and spa treatments.
Sangthianbeach Resort Koh Samed
Beachfront resort on Koh Samet offering comfortable rooms, a casual restaurant-bar, and regular live music.
Samed Grand View Resort
Beachside resort on Koh Samet offering rooms, wooden cottages, two restaurants, and a beach bar.
Restaurants & Food
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Ploy Talay
A seafood-focused restaurant in Phe, open daily from 7am, serving travellers heading to Koh Samet.
Winkks Beach Club
Beachfront club on Koh Samet serving food and drinks daily from 11am to 11pm.
Breeze Restaurant
A highly rated beachside restaurant on Koh Samet, open daily from breakfast through to evening.
Reef Bar & Restaurant
A laid-back beachside bar and restaurant on Koh Samet serving food and drinks daily from 8am.
Temples & Culture
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Ao Phai
A scenic white-sand beach on Koh Samet with waterfront dining, relaxed resorts, and clear coastal views.
Wat Thamma Sathit
A respected Buddhist temple on Koh Samet, open daily from early morning until late evening.
Koh Samet Temple
A hilltop Buddhist temple offering spiritual calm and scenic island views on Koh Samet.
Ao Wong Duean National Park fee booth
The entry fee booth marking the gateway to Koh Samet's protected national park area.
Beaches
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Sai Kaew Beach
A popular white-sand beach on Koh Samet, busy with speedboats and backed by an upscale resort.
Ao Wai
A secluded south-coast beach on Koh Samet, known for calm waters and a relaxed, crowd-free atmosphere.
Koh Samet Beach
A scenic island escape near Rayong, offering white sand beaches and clear waters within easy reach of Bangkok.
Ao Hin Khok
A scenic rocky beach on Koh Samet with clear waters and a laid-back atmosphere, ideal for swimming and relaxing.
Islands
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Koh Samet
A compact island near Rayong offering white sand beaches, clear waters, and coral reefs within easy reach of Bangkok.
สินสมุทร กรุ๊ป ทัวร์ - ดำน้ำเกาะเสม็ด วันเดย์ทริปเกาะเสม็ด / Sinsamut Group Tour - Koh Samed Island Excursion
A popular day-trip tour operator running snorkelling and island excursions to Koh Samet from Ban Phe.
Markets & Shopping
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Ko Kloi Floating Market
A lakeside floating market near Rayong with souvenir shops, dining, and fish-feeding activities.
Ban Phe Fresh Market
A lively coastal market in Ban Phe offering fresh-caught seafood, dried goods, and local produce daily.
Comprehensive Product Market, Ban Phe Municipality (100 Pillars Market)
A sprawling daily market in Ban Phe serving fresh produce, seafood, and everyday goods near the Koh Samet ferry pier.
ร้านเจ๊แหวน ตลาด 100 เสาบ้านเพ
A covered seafood market in Ban Phe selling dried squid, whole fish, and local produce daily.
Activities & Tours
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Nuanthip Pier
The main ferry departure point connecting the mainland at Ban Phe to Koh Samet island.
Mermaid (and the child) Monument
A charming coastal landmark on Koh Samet featuring a beloved mermaid and child sculpture beside the sea.
Pra krarang Bay
A scenic bay on Koh Samet offering calm waters and a relaxed coastal escape for beach lovers.
Luke Yon Bay
A scenic bay on Koh Samet offering calm waters and a relaxed escape from busier island beaches.
Nightlife & Bars
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Naga Bar
A popular mid-range bar on Koh Samet open daily from 2pm until 2am, perfect for island evenings.
Rasta Bar Koh Samet
A laid-back reggae-themed bar on Koh Samet with a relaxed island vibe and solid opening hours.
Gecko Bar
A laid-back beach bar on Koh Samet open daily from 3pm until 2am, perfect for sundowners and late nights.
Lima Bar
A beachside bar on Saikaew Beach serving drinks and good vibes from 11am to 1am daily.
Wellness & Spas
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Heaven’s Feels Thai Massage
A highly regarded Thai massage studio on Koh Samet, open daily until 11pm for post-beach relaxation.
ร้านนวดสิริอร sirion massage
A well-regarded massage shop on Koh Samet, open daily from 9am to 11pm for island relaxation.
Tree roots retreat
A nature-surrounded wellness retreat and guesthouse near Rayong's beach, run by warm, attentive hosts.
Mer Elephant Spa
A well-regarded elephant-themed spa on Koh Samet offering daily wellness treatments in a relaxed island setting.
Transportation
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Koh Samet Pier for Boat Transport
The main ferry pier connecting Koh Samet island to the mainland port of Ban Phe in Rayong.
Frequently Asked Questions about Koh Samet
How do you get to Koh Samet from Bangkok?
Minivans and buses leave Ekkamai terminal for Ban Phe pier roughly hourly and take 3–3.5 hours (฿200–300). From Ban Phe, the ferry to Na Dan pier takes about 40 minutes (฿100 return) and speedboats about 15 minutes (฿300–500 per person, more for a charter). Door-to-beach from central Bangkok is realistically 4.5–5 hours.
Is there an entrance fee for Koh Samet?
Yes — the island sits inside Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, and foreigners pay ฿200 per adult (฿100 per child) at the checkpoint past Na Dan pier. Thais pay ฿40. Keep the ticket; it's occasionally checked. The fee is per entry, not per day, so it covers your whole stay.
Which beach should you stay on?
Hat Sai Kaew has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants and the most going on. Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai are the budget beaches with nightly fire shows. Ao Wong Duean balances comfort and quiet, and Ao Prao is the splurge — three upscale resorts on their own sunset-facing cove. Everything on the east coast is walkable, so where you sleep matters less than on bigger islands.
Is Koh Samet doable as a day trip from Bangkok?
It's possible — leave by 7am and you'll get about five hours of beach — but it's a rushed ten-hour round trip. One night makes it worthwhile, two is ideal. If you only have a single free day in Bangkok, closer options like Ayutthaya make a better day trip; Samet rewards the overnight, especially midweek when the weekend crowds are gone.
Planning your trip to Koh Samet?
Essential planning guides for every Thailand trip — costs, timing, visas, and safety.