Travelers who have gone to Bangkok and crave for a lavish island experience head off to Koh Samet, an island just 45 minutes away from the mainland that boasts of fine white sand beaches, crystal-clear blue sea, and extravagant nightlife. Here’s a quick-to-learn transport guide for tourists who are ready to escape to the island of abundance.
Basic information about Koh Samet
Koh Samet is located 160 kilometers southeast of Bangkok in the province of Rayong. Considered as the third largest island in Thailand, Koh Samet is covered with sprawling coconut trees and jaw-dropping tropical sceneries.
Most tourists believe that the island offers more than what it’s paid for, mainly because of the isolated paradise living that any traveler would die to experience. Moving from the busy streets of Bangkok to Koh Samet proved to be a better decision for those looking for deep serenity.
Koh Samet is abundant with water activities–from snorkeling to water skiing–on top of swimming on its white-sand beaches and breathtaking religious sites. The most popular beach on the island is Hat Sai Kaeo (also spelled Hat Sai Kaew), which is the wildest stretch of sand flocking with sunbathers and extreme sports enthusiasts. Life is very active on the beach, especially at night, with fire shows delighting local and foreign tourists.
The whole stretch of Koh Samet is only about 7 kilometers long, so travelers can burn their remaining days on the island before catching their flights from Bangkok.
Travelling from Bangkok to Koh Samet
For travelers exploring how to get to Koh Samet from Bangkok, they’ll find that the primary point of entry is through the Na Dan Pier on Koh Samet’s northeastern tip. The island gets less and less developed with lesser tourists for those heading the southern part of the sand strip, but never less beautiful.
When getting to Koh Samet from Bangkok, it’s not advisable to ride a plane given its three-hour drive–depending on traffic. Here’s how travelers can find their way to Koh Samet from Bangkok:
TIP: All land trips will end at the Nuan Thip Pier in Ban Phe, outside Rayong. Ferry boats from Ban Phe will head off to Na Dan Pier in Koh Samet, where passengers pass through the Si Racha (the inspiration for creating the sriracha sauce).
● Take a public bus.
Travelers who prefer to ride a public bus going to Koh Samet can head off to Ekamai, the eastern bus terminal in Bangkok. Buses bound for Ban Phe leave the terminal every 90 minutes; the last bus departs at 5:00 p.m.
The minimum travel time when taking a public bus transport is four hours, which may take more depending on traffic. Tourists can already purchase ferry tickets at the bus ticketing counter or at Nuan Thip Pier.
Another option is to ride a bus from Bangkok’s Mo Chit Bus Terminal. The difference is, buses from Mo Chit don’t offer direct transport to the Pier. The bus stops in Rayong, where guests can take a Songthaew to Ban Phe, which costs only 20 Baht or less than 1 USD.
● Ride a minivan (minibus)
One of the quicker options compared with a public bus is taking a minivan or minibus, departing from Victory Monument in Bangkok’s Phahonyothin district. The charge is 200 baht or 6.40 USD per person and leads guests directly to the Pier. The minivan station is situated in Century Cinema near Exit 2 of Victory Monument Skytrain Station.
Compared with public buses, minivans leave only on mornings, so travelers need to arrive early for this cheaper transport option. It’s also important to note that the minivans are cramped, so it’s not advisable to bring a lot of luggage. Otherwise, guests can pay for another seat to put their belongings.
● Hire a private car or taxi
For tourists who are traveling with friends with family, it’s usually advisable to hire a private car or taxi to bring them to Koh Samet. This is usually the option for people who don’t have the time to figure out how to go to Koh Samet from Bangkok and would like to get to the island as soon as possible.
Traveling with a group will find it more convenient to ride a taxi, especially during the three-hour transport. This also offers an allowance for luggage space as well as comfortable legroom. Taxis and privately hired cars will go directly to Nuan Thip Pier in Ban Phe. The negotiated price for a private taxi can cost 2,000 baht or 64 USD.
Nuan Thip Pier to Na Dan Pier in Koh Samet
Upon arriving in Nuan Thip Pier, guests have the option to ride a ferry boat or a speedboat.
● Ferry boat to Koh Samet
Once travelers have purchased their tickets in Nuan Thip Pier, they will ride a ferry boat to Koh Samet. It’s unlikely to purchase a return ferry ticket from Koh Samet to Ban Phe because it won’t save anything, and some hotel accommodations might offer speedboat transfers should guests need it.
The ferry boat ride costs between 100 to 150 baht or from 3 dollars to 5 dollars.
● Speedboat to Koh Samet
Guests who want to cut their travel time by half can choose to ride a speedboat, especially when costs don’t matter when it’s all about convenience. Speedboats are operating 24 hours and can drop guests off directly to where they want to go and not at the public Pier.
The cost of riding a speedboat is 2,000 baht or 64 USD.
