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Once at Nadan pier on Koh Samet, songtaews (covered pick-up trucks with seats in the back) provide transportation to the national park entrance 1 km away and then onto Haad Sai Kaew or Ao Pai for 10 or 20 baht. For beaches farther south, the fare increases dramatically, particularly if there are fewer passengers.
Once on the island it is possible to get around with your own vehicle, if you brought one, or via songtaew or rental motorbike, both of which are available on most beaches.
Getting to and from Koh Samet
By Car:
From Bangkok to Rayong:
Rayong is roughly 200 km southeast of Bangkok. There are several different routes to drive between Bangkok and Rayong and the boat pier in Ban Phe.
By Bus:
Busses from Bangkok to the boat pier in Ban Phe, Rayong depart Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal. From Ekkamai, the busses, which leave throughout the day, complete the journey in about 3 ½ hours.
There are also busses from Bangkok’s Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal to Rayong town, from where visitors must take a songtaew to Ban Phe.
From Pattaya, busses also head to Rayong, from where visitors must also get a songtaew or tuk tuk to the pier at Ban Phe. Minibuses from Pattaya go directly to Ban Phe.
By Air:
The nearest airport to Koh Samet is U-Tapao, about 45 km from Ban Phe. There are limited flights on Bangkok Airways to and from U-Tapao, namely into and out of Koh Samui and Phuket.
By Other:
By Boat
Once in Ban Phe, visitors must take a ferry to Koh Samet, which typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes. It may be preferable to buy a one way ticket as there are numerous ferries returning throughout the day and you can purchase a ticket for whichever boat is most convenient.
In Ban Phe there are actually several piers from which different boats leave: Nuan Thip Pier, Phe Pier, and Sri Ban Phe Pier. Fares to Koh Samet range from 50-150 baht for a one way ticket. Each pier has boats that stop at different beaches on the island, but the piers in Ban Phe are all a short walk from one another so it’s not difficult to find the one that’s best for you. Ferry service runs until 5:00 pm, so if you will arrive later than this you will need to charter a speedboat or stay the night in Ban Phe.
There are a couple of speedboat companies that operate from the Phe Pier and charge at least 600 baht to Nadan pier and more for the southern beaches. Private speedboats offer the convenience of taking you directly to your destination on Koh Samet.
Getting Around Koh Samet
Unless you have brought your own car, getting around Koh Samet is possible by walking, hiring a motorbike, or climbing in the back of a songtaew (a pick-up truck with benches in the back). The island is fairly small, so getting around is not much of a problem.
By Foot:
Haad Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach), the most developed beach on the northeast coast of Koh Samet, has a sandy path that is fine for walking between guesthouses and restaurants. Diamond Beach is only a 10 minute walk from the ferry port at Nadan and most of the beaches from Diamond Beach to Ao Pai and Ao Cho are accessible by walking along the shoreline or the sandy path that connects the beaches.
By Songtaew:
There is only one main road on Koh Samet, which runs north to south and has smaller roads branching off it that lead down to each of the island’s beaches. Some parts of the road are concrete and some parts are dirt. Songtaews will pick up passengers at each destination, as well as passengers along the way. Songtaew journeys between beaches cost around 30 to 40 baht per person per trip, depending on distance and negotiating skills. If there is no one else to join the drive, then expect to pay 200 baht for a private trip. It is also possible to hire a songtaew for the entire day.
By Rental Motorbike:
Motorbikes are available for rent for around 300 to 500 baht per day. It is typically required to leave your passport as a deposit. Make sure to inspect motorbikes carefully and drive cautiously so as not to pay exorbitant fees for damage (real or otherwise) in order to get your passport back. 4x4 ATVs are also available for rent at around 1600 baht per day.
