Koh Samet
Transportation
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Koh Samet Information
Koh Samet is famous for being a hiding place for Bangkok’s residents. As it is only a 3-hour drive away from the capital. The island is always occupied with people seeking relaxing, long holidays or weekends. There are no direct flights to Rayong from Bangkok, but you can drive your car or take a taxi or even a bus to the nearest pier, Rayong’s pier “Ban Phe Pier” to catch a ferry to Koh Samet. You can fly from Phuket or Koh Samui to Pattaya, it takes only one hour by car, bus, minivan, or a taxi to reach the pier from Pattaya’s airport to also take a ferry straight to the island. There are bus services from Phuket to Nuanthip Pier in Ban Phe. From Koh Kood, you can take a ferry to Pattaya and another ferry from Pattaya to Koh Samet. You can easily explore the island on foot or by a bike as it is very small compared to the other islands or hire a motorcycle to drive down the island.
Popular Routes
Popular crossings to Koh Samet — pick a route to book.
Hop onward from here
Piers
Nadan Pier
Koh Samet Information
Koh Samet at a glance
Koh Samet is a small island located in the province of Rayong. The island has most of the beautiful beaches in Thailand. Koh Samet is the ideal getaway from daily life, work, and stress. Bangkok is only 200 km away from the island, so it is not too far, it's only 3 hours drive and you still can enjoy the nightlife, attractions, and shopping. The main activity in Koh Samet is relaxation, so spoil yourself and recharge.
Because the island is compact, most visitors settle into one beach and explore the rest on foot, by songthaew or by scooter. That short distance from the capital is what makes Koh Samet such a popular weekend choice: you can leave the city in the morning and be on the sand the same day.
How to get to Koh Samet
Koh Samet has no airport and no bridge, so every trip finishes with a short sea crossing. The standard journey has two parts: reach the mainland pier area near Ban Phe on the Rayong coast, then cross to the island.
On this site you can compare the services that run to Koh Samet and book them in one place. We currently list several routes routes serving the island, with fares from our online fares depending on the operator, the vehicle and the date you travel.
Mainland connections
Rayong province is well connected to the rest of eastern Thailand, so travellers usually combine a land leg with the crossing. Common starting points include Bangkok and its airports, Pattaya, and the beach towns further along the eastern seaboard. Services operated by our transport partners and other providers appear in the search results with their live departure times, so check the timetable for your exact date rather than relying on a fixed schedule.
Ports and piers
Ban Phe on the Rayong mainland is the main departure point for the island. On the Koh Samet side, arrivals are concentrated at the piers serving the northern beaches, which is where most accommodation, restaurants and onward local transport are found. Your ticket confirmation shows the exact pier for your booking — worth checking, because a few services use alternative jetties depending on the beach they serve.
Popular routes to and from Koh Samet
The busiest journeys are the mainland crossings from the Rayong coast and the combined transfers that start in Bangkok or Pattaya. Many travellers also arrive from, or continue on to, other islands and beach destinations in the region.
- Mainland crossings from the Ban Phe pier area to Koh Samet
- Combined land-and-sea transfers from Bangkok and its airports
- Connections from Pattaya and other eastern seaboard resorts
- Onward journeys towards Koh Chang and other Gulf of Thailand islands
If you are still comparing destinations, our Thailand travel routes pages set out the alternatives, and the Rayong page covers the mainland side of the trip in more detail.
Practical travel information
A few things are worth knowing before you set off:
- Arrive early. Allow extra time at the pier for check-in, luggage and boarding, especially on weekends and public holidays when demand rises.
- National park fee. Koh Samet lies within a national park, and a separate entrance fee is collected on arrival. It is not included in your ticket price.
- Weather matters. Sea conditions can affect sailings during the rainy season. Operators may adjust departures at short notice, so keep an eye on your booking confirmation and contact details.
- Getting around. There is no public bus network on the island. Shared songthaews meet arrivals at the pier and run to the individual beaches.
- Cash. Card acceptance is patchy outside the larger hotels, so bring some cash for the pier fee, local transport and smaller restaurants.
Booking conditions
Ticket rules vary by operator. Before you confirm, check the baggage allowance, the amendment and cancellation policy, and whether your booking is for a specific departure or an open ticket. All of this is shown at the checkout stage for the exact service you select.
What to see and do on Koh Samet
Relaxation is the headline activity, but the island rewards a little exploring. The northern beaches are the liveliest, with restaurants, bars and evening fire shows on the sand. Head south and the bays get quieter, smaller and more secluded — good for swimming, snorkelling and reading in the shade.
Other easy ways to fill a day:
- Walk or ride the coastal track between beaches and compare them
- Take a longtail boat trip to nearby snorkelling spots and offshore islets
- Watch the sunset from the west-facing bays
- Try kayaking, paddleboarding or a simple swim in the clear, shallow water
Because the island is small, you do not need to plan much. Pick a beach, eat well, and let the days run together.
Book your trip to Koh Samet
Compare departures, prices and travel times for every service to Koh Samet on one page, then book in a few steps and receive your ticket by email. Search availability for your travel dates to see live options.
Highlights
Kayaking and Canoeing
Windsurfing and Sailing
The Prince and the Mermaid Statue
This statue was built to honor the famous Thai poet “Sunthorn Phu” he wrote a poem with thirty thousand lines about a love triangle between an exiled prince, a giant female, and a mermaid. The prince was exiled by his father to a kingdom under the sea. Ruled by the giant female, she transformed herself into a beautiful woman to deceive the prince. And when he discovered and tried to escape, the mermaid helped him and they both hid on the island of Koh Kaew Phitsadan.
Fishing
Frequently asked questions
What are the tourist seasons ?
Phuket
Phuket really just has two seasons, which are known as "high season" and "low season" (or "green season"). During the low season months (May–September), boat numbers are reduced. During the high season (October–April), boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options.
Koh Samui
There are three distinct weather seasons on the tropical island of Koh Samui: the dry season (December until February), the hot season (March until August) and the rainy season (September until November).
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