Travel Tips Koh Samet Thailand
During our backpack route through Thailand, we spent four days on the small tropical island of Koh Samet. This island is a short travel distance from Bangkok, making it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle! In this article, you’ll find all the travel tips for Koh Samet in Thailand!
How to reach Koh Samet?
Koh Samet (or Ko Samed in Thai) is located on the southeast coast of Thailand, about 100 km from Pattaya and around 200 km from Bangkok. It’s just a few kilometers from the coastline and can be reached by (ferry) boat from the Ban Phe Pier, a short distance west of Rayong. We visited the island from Bangkok and traveled by bus, which is the best travel option. Minivans depart daily from Ekkamai Bus Station (southeast of Bangkok). The bus takes about four hours to reach Ban Phe Pier. From there, it’s a half-hour ferry ride. In total, the journey takes around 5-6 hours. We booked a combo ticket (bus and boat) via 12go.asia, and the connection was seamless. This round-trip combo ticket cost 720 Baht (about 20 euros, September 2023).
Where to stay on Koh Samet?
We stayed within walking distance of the pier at Baan Minnie, a great budget option. The room was spacious, with a private bathroom and facilities to cook your own meals. From the accommodation, it’s just a short walk to the small center, where you can do some shopping and find nice restaurants. From here, we also went on a long hike across the island.
What to do on Koh Samet?
You mainly come to Koh Samet for the beautiful beaches, where you can enjoy snorkeling or simply relax. In our free Google Maps travel guide Thailand map, you can find all the beaches we found worth visiting. Be aware, though, that some beaches have apparently become private and are no longer publicly accessible. However, we were still able to visit some of these beaches.
