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• Pattaya
• Koh Samet Island
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Koh Samet Island Overview

• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• Activities
• Climate
• Visas & General Information

Koh Samet (or Koh Samet Island) is one of the most important national parks in Thailand. This island contributes to the great natural beauty of the Rayong province, and yet it is not so far from Pattaya or Bangkok. But the close distance is probably the only thing this island has in common with the other two. Ko Samet has fabulous clean beaches but a minimum of night life, bars and discotheques. The island is located about 6 kilometers from the Rayong mainland and the Ko Samet beaches are among the best in Thailand.

The most well-known beaches on Samet are Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Vong Duan, Ao Wai and Ao Kui Na Nok on the East coast and Ao Prao on the West coast. Many of these beaches have sand that is so fine and white, it is almost like baking powder.

Most boats from the mainland arrive at Na Dan Pier on the northeastern tip of the island. From here, the first beach you will hit is Sai Kaew, the most developed and the best place for nightlife. Then it’s one headland after another as you head southwards along the east coast from Ao Phai and Ao Tabtim to Ao Vong Duen, Ao Wai, Ao Kiu Na Nok to Ao Karang at the southeastern end. You can always hitch a ride on a passing songtaew to get from one beach to another.

The west coast is more rocky and isolated, with forest-covered headlands and white-sand beaches – the perfect setup for upscale resorts. Ao Phrao is the main landing point on this part of the island and boasts absolutely stunning beaches with azure water.

which is located near Hat Sai Kaew, has a different ambience. It is quieter and therefore more suitable for those looking for a truly relaxing experience on the white, clean sandy beach.

Right next to Sai Kaew Beach, Ao Phai has a backpacker feel to it and overall is relaxed and pleasant. The beach is a continuing stretch from Sai Kaew, only separated by a low, rocky headland. Snow-white sand, turquoise waters and a lineup of oceanfront restaurants and bars with fire dance shows are all featured here. Nightlife is, however, more low-key than neighbouring Sai Kaew. Think candlelit tables and comfy cushions neatly spread out on the sand, ideal for chilling out until late into the night.

This 200-metre stretch of powdery beach is popular among backpackers and budget travellers who often touch base here to share travel tales and plan their next adventures. Many have compared the friendly Hin Khok atmosphere to Bangkok’s laid-back Khao San Road. So, expect to see lots of familiar faces if you are a regular of Bangkok’s most famous backpacker strip. The beach here is one of the best for swimming and sunbathing. Cheap accommodation can be found a bit further up the hill and often comes at better value than that in neighbouring Sai Kaew or Ao Phai.

is a small bay on Koh Samet which draws repeat visitors intent on relaxing. Suitable for those who are tired of crowded beaches and nightlife activities, Ao Put Sa offers a quite retreat that reunites visitors with nature in its crystal clear waters.

Just a five-minute stroll from Ao Phai, Ao Tubtim/Ao Phutsaa occupy pretty much the same stretch of white-sand beach and have somehow managed to stay off the tourists’ radar. They are popular amongst foreign visitors in search of a quiet spot not far from the main Na Dan Pier. Rather than a sweeping beachfront, you get a cosy stretch that is perfect for lazing around with a book or MP3 player. The crystal-clear water is ideal for swimming in.

Ao Nuan is located near Ao Put Sa and is a perfect hideaway for holidaymakers in search of tranquility.

Ao Thian’s topography is painted by rocky beach in which some nice spots for skin diving are available. This beach is very quiet and free from group tours with bungalows and resorts available around the beach area.

Remote but not completely isolated, Ao Wai offers a tranquil and picturesque beach front, a far cry from the honky tonk backpacker scene of Sai Kaew Beach or Ao Phai. However, being this remote means that your resort is pretty much all of Samet that you will see unless you venture out to neighbouring Ao Thian, a long-time favourite of local college kids, with its beachside bars and restaurants. Access is limited to either a bumpy ride on a dirt road from Vong Dueng Beach or via a boat from Ban Phe. Accommodation is basic here, but if all you need is a place to sleep, eat and a secluded beach escape, then Ao Wai is an ideal choice.

Tucked away on the southern tip of the island, Ao Kiu Na Nok offers complete isolation from other beaches and is best accessed via a boat ride from Ban Phe. With a picturesque beach front, where calm, azure waters meet and melt into powdery soft sand, this is as close as it gets to a ‘paradise beach’ on Samet, making it an ideal choice for honeymooners and romantic couples. You can catch both sunrise and sunset as the beach is situated on a narrow, walkable swathe of land facing both east (Kui Na Nok) and west (Kiu Na Nai).

The best place to experience the traditional lifestyle of the residents of Koh Samet is at Ao Karang where there also are a number of seafood restaurants providing fresh seafood dishes at reasonable prices.