Ko Samet Place guide
Pattaya
Ko Samet
The Wonders of Ko Samet
About
Ko Samet is one of the closest major islands to Bangkok and is a very popular place in Thailand to watch clear water kiss the white shores. If you would like to enjoy the nightlife on Bangkok’s beach playground, Trip Guru would be happy to recommend Ko Samet to you. While it doesn’t have the same charm as other beaches, it keeps on drawing crowds of people that want a quick escape to the Thai capital. This is one of the very first Thai islands to surface on the foreign traveller’s radar back in the 1970s.
Ko Samet is part of the Khao Laem Ya Ko Samet National Park. There are plenty of resorts spread along the beaches. Because Ko Samet is close to Bangkok, the island tends to get crowded during holidays and weekends. Every bay has a different kind of party vibe, and if you want to enjoy without being weighed down by a backpack, you can check into a guesthouse in the village and trek to a different beach every day.
If you would like to party hard, Haad Sai Kaew, Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai are where you want to go. Though they get crowded, the northern beaches, at night turn into party central complete with fire-spinning shows, comfortable cushions on the sand, and live music. It’s definitely a place to go for a good time with scenic views, perfect for posting on Instagram. If you need a quiet space to write some poetry or create unique experiences, visit Ao Wong Duen, Samet’s second most-popular beach with restaurants and bungalows available.
To get to Kho Samet, there are air-conditioned buses complete with toilets that leave Bangkok’s Ekkamai bus station for Ban Phe, which is the jump-off point for Ko Samet. The buses leave every hour from 6:00am to 4:30pm daily. These buses also go back every two hours, roughly from 5:00am to 4:00pm. The journey, with a bit of traffic takes three and a half hours, but it can be as much as five hours if you find yourself in the middle of rush hour. The buses will take you to a town center with the pier directly across it, and this is what you need to look for to catch a ferry to Kho Samet.
