KOH SAMET HOTELS & TRAVEL GUIDE | Getting here and around on Koh Samet
The transit point for every visitors to Koh Samet is Ban Phe in Rayong Province. From Bangkok, the cheapest way is to take an air-conditioned public bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal (locally called Ekamai Bus Station) and the buses leave every 2-3 hours during the day. The fare is about 125 Baht per person (one-way - traveling time approx. 2 hour and a half).

Once arrived at Ban Phe in Rayong, there are several piers offering boat rides to Samed Island, and the boat fares can be varied depending on the beach destinations that you are going. Since Koh Samet is considered as a national park, there is an admission fee of 200 Baht per person to be paid to the authority on the island. Traveling by a private car or van is also another option.

At Ban Phe, there are a number of parking lots that provide rental space for the vehicle for a few hours or even for many nights. The fares among these parking lots are vary.

There are numerous boats running back and forth between Ban Phe and Koh Samet. The ferry schedule varies depending upon the destination on Koh Samet.

The boats, leaving for Na Dan Pier, departs from Ban Phe every hour and vice versa.

Ferry Schedule from Ban Phe to Koh Samet:

Ferry leaves at 9:00, 12:00, 13:30 and 17:00 every day to Vong Duern Beach at 40 Baht per ticket Ferry leaves at 11:30 and 14:00 to Ao Wai at the cost of 80 Baht per ticket Ferry leaves at 10:00 Ao Kiu at 100 Baht per ticket Ferry leaves at 08:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 16:00 to Ao Prao at 80 Baht per ticket

Ferry Schedule from Koh Samet to Ban Phe Ferry leaves Vong Duern Beach at 08:30, 12:00, and 15:30 Ferry leaves Ao Wai at 14:00 Ferry leaves Ao Kiu at 08:00 and 12:00 Ferry leaves Ao Prao at at 10:00, 12:30, 15:00 and 17:00.



Getting around on the island
Getting around Koh Samet is easy with lots of choice. Read about the different methods below.

Taxi Boats
The pictureresque and now famous Thai longtail boat is infact one of the best ways to get around Koh Samet's best beaches and outer islands.

Taxi boats can be found on most beaches and it is a simple matter of going up to them and asking to be taken to the destination of your choice. However, it is a good idea to make sure you agree on the price before getting onboard and make sure you that you listen to the 'drivers' advice regarding waves and weather as certain times of year can present problems getting to some of the more outlying beaches and bays.

Apart from that, enjoy it! It's a great experience and more fun than going by car...


Songthaews (Taxi)
If you have been to Samui you are most likely already familiar with this cross between a pickup and a taxi. Comfortable enough, these taxis operate usually between the main beaches and you simply flag one down as it comes towards you. They operate without timetables or set prices, so check the fare before you get in and expect the driver to try to fill it up (and then some).


Renting a Moped
There are bikes for any budget and purpose available on the island. If you are unfamiliar with bikes we would actually urge you not to learn how to drive on Koh Samet but stick to public transports.

If you go ahead with a bike atleast ensure that it is a clutch free automatic such as the Honda Dream that you rent. These bikes are fairly easy to handle as long as you keep your tongue in check.

You can also rent larger dirtbikes, which if you know how to ride them are good fun and safer than a smaller bike.

Whatever you choose we urge you to consider not getting on the wheels when you are intoxicated!


Renting a Car
Should you wish to rent a car then we recommend a 4WD Jeep such as the Suzuki Carribean which is very popular with the local car renters. You can expect to pay anywhere between 700 THB and 1200 THB per day.


IMPORTANT
Before renting either a Jeep or Motorbike we urge you to check the vehicle for faults, scratches and so forth as to not have such things piled on you when you return it. It is also a good idea to check if the rentee have insurance (although most do not).

Please bear in mind that it is standard practice for the rentee to hold on to your passport for the duration of the rental period.


Tips from fellow travelers
From the Ban Phe, Rayong Province just cross the street and you can see the Nuanthip Pier and there you can get a ticket for the ferry that leaves every 10 mintues. The ferrry will take you 30 minutes to Nadan Pier in Ko Samet. When we get there the boat is very small as we arrived late. RT is 100baht/person and it's better to get your ticket RT so that you wouldn't need to queue in Nadan in going back. There are alot of boats that caters in going and around the island. Ticket Price to Samet Island: Nadan Pier-Saikaew----------------100baht/RT/person (Wait for 20 person) *First boat-8am and wait for every hour *last boat-6pm AO Vongduean -----------------120baht/RT/person (wait for 7 persons) *First boat-8:30am and 10:30am,12:30pm,14:30pm *last boat-16:30pm AO Wai ------------------200baht/RT/person (wait for 7 persons) *First boat-10am and 12pm,14pm *Last boat-16pm AO Prao ------------------120baht/RT/person (wait for 7 more persons) *First boat-1330pm AO Kaui-Pakarang ------------------200baht/RT/person (wait for more 7 persons) *First boat-9:30am and 11:30am,13:30pm *Last boat-15:30pm Samet Cliff ------------------120baht/RT/person *First boat-8am and every hour *Last boat-18pm

It's a pick up truck that goes around the island. you will take a seat in the back as they provided a seat to passengers in there. From where we wanted to go to, we paid for 50baht/person. The road is very bad that you have to be careful to watch out as you might catch/eat a bug! As it's an open air! Most of the drivers will ask you first when are you going to,of course and if it's a bit far from where you are it will take you a 100baht/person..It's alot but you don't want to walk neither! ASk frist how much and try to bargain... If you think you are being ripped off, check out in the Nadan Pier the list of fares they have there and ask the person in-chrage there!

Travelling to Ban-Phe,Rayong District, the nearest pier to Ko Samet will take you around 4 to 5 hours. The road in going there is very good and the drivers is either okey or it will take you forever to arrive! Seriously, when you want to take a bus. Get to Ekamai Station(BTS) and exit in EXIT 1 and you will find the Eastern Bus Station that has different routes. You can go there for Trat, Pattaya, Sriracha and anywhere that is somewhere in around the Central Thailand leaving every an hour or so.. We had the first class bus for only 125baht/person. And a forty seater.

Around the Samet Island as the road is very bad, it's advisable to rent a motorcycle which I guess, 125baht/day which isn't that ripped off. I've seen alot of "Parangs(foreigner)" driving motorcycles around the island and it looks comfy on them to explore.. The pic is still in Rayong Province..

We booked the trip to Ko Samet from Holland. But there's a booking agency at the coast in front of the island. It's in a place called Ban Phe (17 km. east of Rayong). There you can book a stay on the Ao Prao resort or Sai Kaew Beach resort (same owner), both beautiful resorts next to each other at Ao Prao beach. This boat from Ban Phe to Ao Prao leaves a couple time a day (at the message bord at the booking agency). We left at 1.30 PM to arrive in 30 minutes at Ao Prao beach. There's a short stop at Laem Noi Na at the North side of the island. It's a nice boat, really Thai and colourfull. If you want to get faster at Koh Samet you can hire a speed boat at the little harbour from Ban phe; but this will cost you a lot more.....!!!

From Ban Phae there are several boats daily going on to Ko Samet. None of the boats I have seen look very stable - and they might actually not be so safe. Let's say it this way: aside from the handful of tourists (and a motorbike) there was one local lady on board - and she had taken and worn her own life-vest. I don't think the boat had any life-vests. On the way back we were offered a ride on a real boat by the owner of our cottages we had befriended. it was a much more pleasant ride - in particular since we ran into a storm and the sea got really choppy (to say the least). I'm quite glad we were not on one of the local fragile boats on that occasion

When you get off the Ferry/Boat you will see these kind of trucks parked right there. To take you anywhere they charge 200 baht per person, doesnt matter how far you are going. To walk to the first and main beach (Hat Sai Kaew) takes 10-15 minutes from the dock. We walked and it wasnt a problem with the bags just to save money, so anyways, if you want to save money then no point in taking these, if you want to bounce around in the back of the truck then please yourself....the rides are super bouncy i hear.....

I was a little scared to get a motorcycle after all ive only ridden a few times in my life. Well i shopped around and the first one i looked at was a auto, yes i was gonna be a wuss... he wanted 500 baht for the day and my passport, wellyou aint getting that, ok he wanted my ID well you aint getting that either. Then he said i can sign a contract and give a 1000 baht deposit. Forget that.. I walk further down and find another auto... 500 baht or something like that too... well he showed me his bargain bike, .... 250-350 i cant remember which... either way it was the cheapest probably on the island. It had been dropped a time or too before. So the guy gave me a run down on how to operate it and off i went.. also no deposit or anything... downside it had street tires... i highly recommend one with dirtbike tires... quite a few times it almost slipped out under me, but i got the skills to pay them bills.. or soemthing...... i didnt wreck, BE CAREFULL THOUGH!!!