Koh Samet is an island in Rayong province on the eastern Gulf of Thailand. It belongs to the Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park, which also covers a stretch of the mainland coast, so the island is run under national park rules and entry fees. The Department of National Parks (DNP) page for the park names Ao Luk Yon, Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Wong Duean and Ao Phrao among its beaches. Facts here come from DNP, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) or the hotels' own sites, checked on 16 October 2026. We have not stayed on the island.
How to get to Koh Samet
You always finish with a boat from Ban Phe. Timetables and operators change, so treat the table as the official picture and confirm before you travel.
| Step | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| By car from Bangkok | DNP gives about 220 km via Highway 3 (Sukhumvit) to Rayong, then Ban Phe for the boat. |
| By bus | The DNP page says Transport Co. buses leave Bangkok Eastern (Ekkamai) bus station for Ban Phe roughly hourly from 05:00 to 20:30. The wording is old, so check the current timetable. Samed Resorts also lists a minibus from the Chatuchak minibus station and says its page can change over time, and other operators run the route, so this is not the only service. |
| Boat | DNP says there are 3 passenger piers at Ban Phe, boats seat 10 to 100 people, the crossing takes about 30 minutes and service runs 06:00-17:00. |
| By air | Ao Prao Resort says the nearest airport is U-Tapao, about 45 km from Ban Phe. Check with your airline whether it flies there. |
| Cars on the island | Samed Resorts says cars are not allowed on Koh Samet and guests can leave a car at its Ao Prao pier parking on the mainland. |
Ask your hotel which pier it uses before you book. DNP says the island has 3 piers (the head of the island, Ao Wong Duean in the east and Ao Phrao in the west) and that some small-bay resorts use their own speedboats from Ban Phe.
If you are starting in Bangkok, see our Bangkok airport to city guide and the Bangkok hub. Pattaya is the nearest large resort on the same coast: see the Pattaya hub and Bangkok to Pattaya.
Getting around the island
DNP says Koh Samet has a single road, about 6 km long. Its news item of 29 January 2023 names a songthaew club and a motorbike-taxi club among the operator groups on the island. Ao Prao Resort says its guests can rent a motorbike near Na Dan pier and that the hotel does not provide rentals. We do not quote fares, so agree the fare first.
When to go
DNP says the monsoon runs from May to September, and on average about 15 days a month have strong waves. It also says that between December and March some days can have monsoon wind and heavy rain that stop boats going out. TMD says the Thai rainy season starts around mid-May with the southwest monsoon, and the northeast monsoon replaces it around mid-October, with the start 1 to 2 weeks early or late. Check the forecast close to your dates and ask your hotel whether boats are running. For a country-wide comparison, see best time to visit Thailand by region.
Park fees and hours
DNP published the entrance rates in a news item dated 2 June 2022, in force from 7 June 2022. Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet is in group 2: Thai adults 40 baht and children 20 baht, foreign adults 200 baht and children 100 baht. This is the latest DNP page we found (checked 16 October 2026), so confirm at the ticket booth. The DNP open-data fee list updated 2 June 2023 (read 2026-10-16) repeats these rates and lists THB 300 / 150 for foreign adults / children at Koh Thalu, Koh Kudi, Koh Kham and Koh Kruai.
A separate DNP news item dated 29 January 2023 says foreigners pay an extra 100 baht per person at the special-fee islands Koh Talu, Koh Kudi and Koh Kham-Koh Kruai. That is the position as of January 2023, so check the current fee before you book a boat trip there. DNP asks visitors to keep their park service card with them for inspection. On opening hours, the DNP park page lists the welfare shop open daily 08:00-17:00, and the park chief said on 3 April 2025 that the park is open daily 08:00-18:00. Samed Resorts also says plastic bags and foam are not allowed on the island.
Where to stay
The bay you choose decides your pier, your boat times and how quiet the setting is. Our where to stay in Koh Samet guide compares eight areas, from Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Phai to Ao Wong Duean, Ao Phrao and the secluded Ao Kiu, with 14 hotel cards checked against each hotel's own website. We quote no hotel prices, because we cannot verify a current rate for your dates.
Things to do
DNP lists the beaches as the main draw, and the park page names Ao Luk Yon, Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Wong Duean and Ao Phrao. Some hotels arrange activities for guests: Sangthian Beach Resort lists kayaking, snorkelling and paddleboarding and says trips such as the Talu Island trip are arranged at reception, and Paradee lists free non-motorised water sports.
Nearby destinations
- Pattaya is the nearest big resort city, with its own island day trips.
- Koh Chang is a larger island further east on the Gulf coast.
- Bangkok day trips shows what else is near the capital.
- The Thailand getting-around guide covers buses, trains and flights if you are linking stops.
FAQ
How do I get to Koh Samet from Bangkok?
You travel to Ban Phe in Rayong by road, then take a boat. DNP gives about 220 km by Highway 3 for the drive, and says the crossing takes about 30 minutes with service from 06:00 to 17:00. Check bus and boat times with the operators before you go.
Can I take a car to Koh Samet?
No. Samed Resorts says cars are not allowed on Koh Samet, and its guests can leave a car at the Ao Prao pier parking on the mainland.
How much does the national park fee cost?
The DNP notice of 2 June 2022 lists foreign adults at 200 baht and children at 100 baht, and Thai adults at 40 baht and children at 20 baht. It is the latest DNP news page we found, so confirm at the ticket booth. The DNP open-data fee list updated 2 June 2023 (read 2026-10-16) repeats these rates and lists THB 300 / 150 for foreign adults / children at Koh Thalu, Koh Kudi, Koh Kham and Koh Kruai.
When is the sea roughest?
DNP says the monsoon runs from May to September, with about 15 days a month of strong waves on average, and that some days from December to March can stop boats. Ask your hotel whether boats are running.
Is there more than one pier on the island?
Yes. DNP says there are 3 piers: the head of the island, Ao Wong Duean on the east and Ao Phrao on the west. Which one you use depends on your hotel, so ask before you book.
Official sources and further reading
- Department of National Parks, Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park
- DNP news, park entrance rates (2 June 2022)
- DNP national park entrance fee dataset (updated 2 June 2023)
- DNP news, special fee at Koh Talu, Koh Kudi, Koh Kham-Koh Kruai (29 January 2023)
- DNP news, park opening hours (3 April 2025)
- Samed Resorts (Ao Prao Resort), transport page
- Thai Meteorological Department, seasons of Thailand
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
