What to do in Koh Samet

Most of Koh Samet, including all of the good parts, is a national park and has an entry fee. Foreigners pay about 400 baht - a classic example of Thai dual pricing. If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew (local open air taxis) to the beaches, there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint. If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an officer will collect the fee as you step out of the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven, ATM or other shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone checking your ticket. There is a road via the temple which avoids the checkpoint entirely.

The 1st class bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes just over 3 hours, costs 276 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry piers (there's no direct service to Ban Phe from Moh Chit - nearest alternative is to Rayong, from there you can take a Song Thaew to Ban Phe). If you take a regular bus from Pattaya or Sattahip, you'll need to take a songthaew or charter a tuk-tuk to the ferry piers. Minibus services go straight to the piers.

Ferries from Ban Phe to Koh Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes. Only buy a one-way ticket, as there's no discount on round-trip tickets and you won't have to worry about losing it. The ticket sellers may also offer to sell you the national park ticket - don't bother.

The nearest airport fielding commercial flights is U-Tapao, just east of Sattahip - about 45 km from Ban Phe.

Many of the resorts and guest houses around Hat Sai Kaeo (Diamond Beach) - the most developed beach on the northeast cape, are linked by a local path. Diamond Beach is also only a 10 minute walk from the ferry port at Na Dan. You can also hike the shoreline path between beaches. This tiny island (about 7 km long, and 5 km wide) lies about 6 km off Thailand's east coast in the province of Rayong. Ferries leave the small fishing village of Ban Phe (about 20 km east of Rayong town) to Koh Samet daily from 06.00 - 17.00 hrs. The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on which part of the island it goes to. It's possible to hire a local "long-tail" boat which makes the trip in about half the time. There is also a 20 baht entry fee to the National Park.

Traditional on almost every South-East Asia beach, Ko Samet has started featuring "Full/Half/Dark Moon" nights. These should not be confused with the massive Full Moon Parties on Koh Pha Ngan or other parts of Southern Thailand - here they are simply an excuse for drink specials, which are present every night of the year anyway.

Source Photo :
Kris_B
lubow