This Koh Samet travel guide is for anyone who wants an easy island escape within a few hours of Bangkok: how to reach the pier at Ban Phe, what the boats and the park fee cost, which beach suits which mood, where to sleep from simple bungalows to a private cove, and how a day tends to unfold between a morning swim and a fire show after dark. Prices are in Thai baht with US dollar figures beside them, so you can plan a weekend or a week with real numbers.
Prices last updated October 2026. Rates move with the season and the exchange rate, so treat every figure as a guide and let each operator’s and resort’s official site have the final word. Conversions use about 33.7 baht to US$1, the rate in late October 2026.
Quick facts
- Where: An island off the coast of Rayong province, in the Gulf of Thailand, roughly three to four hours from Bangkok by road and boat.
- Currency: Thai baht (THB), about 33.7 to the US dollar.
- Language: Thai, with English widely used at resorts, piers and restaurants.
- Plug type: Types A, B, C and O are common, 220 V. A universal adapter covers it.
- Time zone: UTC+7, no daylight saving.
- Park fee: The island is a national park. Foreign adults pay 200 baht (about US$6) and children 100 baht (about US$3), once per stay. Pay at the pier and keep the ticket, as it may be checked at beaches.
- Best months: November to April.
When to go
November through April is the classic window: sunny skies, calm water, and the island at its liveliest. Rates rise accordingly, and weekends and holidays fill quickly, so book ahead. Visit midweek and you’ll find the same sand with more room on it.
May to October is officially the rainy season, though Samet tends to see less rain than much of the country. Showers are short, the sea turns green and glassy between them, and prices soften. It’s a fine time for a slower trip.
Getting there from Bangkok
The journey has two parts: road to Ban Phe, then boat to the island. Buses and minivans leave from Ekkamai (the Eastern bus terminal) and Mo Chit, and the ride takes about three to five hours depending on traffic. Fares run about 200 to 300 baht (US$6 to 9) per person, and combined bus-and-ferry tickets start around 350 to 400 baht (US$10 to 12). A private car or van from the city costs roughly 2,000 to 3,800 baht (US$60 to 113) per vehicle and takes closer to three hours. If you land at Suvarnabhumi first, our guide to getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport into Bangkok is a handy start, and some minibuses run to Ban Phe from the airport directly.
At Ban Phe you choose a boat. The wooden ferry to Na Dan pier takes about 40 minutes and costs 50 to 100 baht (US$1.50 to 3). A fast boat or catamaran is about 150 baht (US$4.50). A speedboat crosses in 10 to 15 minutes and runs about 200 baht (US$6) to Sai Kaew, rising to roughly 300 baht to Ao Wong Duean, 400 baht to Ao Wai and 500 baht to Ao Kiu, because it drops you at the beach itself. Private charters start around 1,800 baht (US$53) for a group. Na Dan pier collects a small maintenance fee of about 20 baht. Sailings thin out in the late afternoon, so aim to cross before 3 p.m. and confirm times with your resort a few days ahead.
The beaches
The east coast is a chain of small bays, each with its own temperament.
Hat Sai Kaew is the island’s showpiece: pale sand, easy swimming, beach restaurants and the nightly fire show. It’s the social heart.
Ao Phai sits a short walk south and feels more relaxed, with soft sand, calm water and beachfront cafes where lunch drifts into the afternoon.
Ao Hin Khok, between them, is a good in-between for those who want easy access to both.
Ao Wong Duean is a gentle crescent that suits couples and families, with calm shallows and a handful of long-running resorts.
Ao Wai is small and lightly developed, with very clear water. By mid-afternoon, once the day boats leave, it settles into a lovely hush.
Ao Kiu (also spelled Ao Kiew) is the island’s private corner, home to Paradee, with good snorkeling off the rocks.
On the west coast, Ao Prao faces the sunset and has a quieter, more polished feel, without the nightlife.
Where to stay
Choose your beach first, then the room. Here are resorts we could verify, with indicative nightly rates for the high season.
- Paradee, Ao Kiu (luxury). Garden villas, villas with private pools and beachfront pool villas, each about 100 square meters, set around a private cove with an outdoor pool, snorkeling on site and an on-site restaurant. Rates start at about 12,000 to 15,000 baht (US$360 to 445) a night, and the villas are the most private option on the island.
- Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa, Ao Prao (upscale). Steps from the sunset beach, with a pool, a restaurant, a bar and a full-service spa. Rooms start from about US$172 (roughly 5,800 baht) in late October, higher in peak months.
- Samet Ville Resort, Ao Wai (comfortable). Quiet and close to the clearest water, from roughly US$70 (about 2,350 baht) a night.
- Vongdeuan Resort, Ao Wong Duean (comfortable). A long-standing beachfront choice from roughly US$60 to 65 (about 2,000 to 2,200 baht).
- Tubtim Resort, Ao Tubtim (mid-range). Around US$50 (about 1,700 baht) at current rates.
- Guesthouses in Na Dan village (budget). Simple rooms, often around 1,000 baht (US$30), within walking distance of the pier and the morning coffee shops.
For a wider look at Thailand’s finest addresses, see the best luxury resorts in Thailand.
Seafood dinners and beachside dining
Samet does dinner well, and it does it barefoot. In the evening, beachfront restaurants set tables on the sand around Sai Kaew and Ao Phai, with grilled fish, prawns, squid and crab laid out on ice. Ploy Talay on Sai Kaew is a well-known beachfront table that combines Thai dishes and seafood with fire performances. Sea Breeze at Ao Phai pairs cocktails with sunset views and a fusion menu. Jump@Sea, just south of Sai Kaew, leans international, and the restaurant at Paradee serves Thai and Western plates in a more refined setting.
As a rough guide, a casual Thai dish near the pier costs about 50 to 150 baht (US$1.50 to 4.50). A beachfront main costs 150 to 400 baht (US$4.50 to 12), and a polished resort dinner runs 400 to 1,000 baht or more (US$12 to 30). Seafood is usually priced by weight, so ask for the price per kilo before you order and the evening stays easy. Pad thai at a beach resort tends to land around 200 baht.
Sunsets and fire shows
The west coast is made for sunset. Ao Prao is the natural pick, with a drink in hand and the sky turning apricot over the water. For a wider view, the island’s southern tip has shaded viewpoints for sunrise and sunset, reached by a short motorbike ride or a sunset ride arranged in town.
After dark, head to Hat Sai Kaew. Dancers spin flaming staffs and ropes on the sand while diners watch from their tables, music carrying down the beach. It’s cheerful and skilled. Dinner at a beachfront restaurant gives you the best seat.
Getting around the island
Green songthaews (shared pickup trucks) are the island’s workhorse. Fares run about 20 to 200 baht (US$0.60 to 6) per person depending on distance, and they wait at stands behind Sai Kaew, Ao Prao and Ao Wong Duean. A private songthaew trip is about 200 to 400 baht (US$6 to 12). Motorbikes rent for about 300 to 500 baht (US$9 to 15) a day, bicycles for about 200 baht (US$6), and golf carts around 1,000 baht (US$30). The roads in the south are steep, so many travelers find a songthaew or boat taxi (about 150 to 300 baht) the relaxed option. Walking works well between neighboring bays, along sandy paths and beach edges.
Wellness and spa
The island’s slow pace is a spa in itself. Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa offers a full-service spa at Ao Prao, and Paradee provides massage on site. A traditional Thai massage after a day in the sun is a pleasure. Our piece on traditional Thai massage explains what to expect. Treatment prices vary by venue, so check the menu at your resort.
Day trips
Snorkeling is the main excursion. Half-day and full-day boat tours visit nearby islets and reefs, including multi-island itineraries that book easily through your resort or a pier agent. A private speedboat will take you to a quieter bay for a swim and lunch. Many visitors also pair the island with a night in Bangkok before or after, and our Bangkok travel guide covers it.
Price guide per person per day
| Style | Stay | Food and drink | Getting around | Daily total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | About 1,000 baht (US$30) | 300 to 500 baht (US$9 to 15) | 100 to 300 baht (US$3 to 9) | About 1,400 to 1,800 baht (US$42 to 54) |
| Comfortable | 2,000 to 3,500 baht (US$60 to 105) | 600 to 1,200 baht (US$18 to 36) | 300 to 600 baht (US$9 to 18) | About 3,000 to 5,300 baht (US$90 to 160) |
| Luxury | 6,000 to 15,000 baht (US$180 to 445) | 1,500 to 3,000 baht (US$45 to 90) | 500 to 1,500 baht (US$15 to 45) | About 8,000 to 19,500 baht (US$240 to 580) |
Prices last updated October 2026. Figures are guides and may shift with season and exchange rates, so check official sites for final rates.
Practical tips
- Bring cash. Cards are taken at larger resorts, but small shops, songthaews and beach cafes prefer baht, and cash machines on the island are limited. Withdraw in Rayong or Ban Phe first.
- Pack light. Boat transfers are easier with a soft bag. Many resorts offer luggage storage.
- Sun and sea. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle make long beach days comfortable.
- Motorbikes. Rental shops may hold your passport as a deposit. Photograph the bike beforehand, wear a helmet and agree the daily rate before you ride.
- Entry. Many nationalities can visit Thailand visa-free for short stays, and rules change, so confirm requirements for your passport with the Thai embassy or official immigration site before booking.
- Tipping. Not required, though rounding up a bill or leaving 20 to 100 baht for good service is appreciated.
- Connectivity. Tourist SIM and eSIM plans can be bought at Suvarnabhumi or in Bangkok.
- Dress. Beachwear is fine on the sand. Cover up for villages and temples.
Insider tips
Cross in the morning and you’ll reach your beach with the whole day ahead. Midweek stays bring lower rates and a gentler pace. Walk Ao Phai at dawn, when the sand is empty and the water is flat. Ask your resort to arrange a sunset songthaew to the southern viewpoint, and for a quieter dinner, pick a table at Ao Prao or Ao Wai and linger.
