Koh Samet
Transportation
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Koh Samet Information
Koh Samet is famous for being a hiding place for Bangkok’s residents. As it is only a 3-hour drive away from the capital. The island is always occupied with people seeking relaxing, long holidays or weekends. There are no direct flights to Rayong from Bangkok, but you can drive your car or take a taxi or even a bus to the nearest pier, Rayong’s pier “Ban Phe Pier” to catch a ferry to Koh Samet. You can fly from Phuket or Koh Samui to Pattaya, it takes only one hour by car, bus, minivan, or a taxi to reach the pier from Pattaya’s airport to also take a ferry straight to the island. There are bus services from Phuket to Nuanthip Pier in Ban Phe. From Koh Kood, you can take a ferry to Pattaya and another ferry from Pattaya to Koh Samet. You can easily explore the island on foot or by a bike as it is very small compared to the other islands or hire a motorcycle to drive down the island.
Popular Routes
Popular crossings to Koh Samet — pick a route to book.
Hop onward from here
Piers
Nadan Pier
Koh Samet Information
Koh Samet at a glance
Koh Samet is a small island located in the province of Rayong. The island has most of the beautiful beaches in Thailand. Koh Samet is the ideal getaway from daily life, work, and stress. Bangkok is only 200 km away from the island, so it is not too far, it's only 3 hours drive and you still can enjoy the nightlife, attractions, and shopping. The main activity in Koh Samet is relaxation, so spoil yourself and recharge.
Because the island is compact, most visitors settle into one beach and explore the rest on foot, by songthaew or by scooter. That short distance from the capital is what makes Koh Samet such a popular weekend choice: you can leave the city in the morning and be on the sand the same day.
How to get to Koh Samet
Koh Samet has no airport and no bridge, so every trip finishes with a short sea crossing. The standard journey has two parts: reach the mainland pier area near Ban Phe on the Rayong coast, then cross to the island.
On this site you can compare the services that run to Koh Samet and book them in one place. We currently list several routes routes serving the island, with fares from our online fares depending on the operator, the vehicle and the date you travel.
Mainland connections
Rayong province is well connected to the rest of eastern Thailand, so travellers usually combine a land leg with the crossing. Common starting points include Bangkok and its airports, Pattaya, and the beach towns further along the eastern seaboard. Services operated by our transport partners and other providers appear in the search results with their live departure times, so check the timetable for your exact date rather than relying on a fixed schedule.
Ports and piers
Ban Phe on the Rayong mainland is the main departure point for the island. On the Koh Samet side, arrivals are concentrated at the piers serving the northern beaches, which is where most accommodation, restaurants and onward local transport are found. Your ticket confirmation shows the exact pier for your booking — worth checking, because a few services use alternative jetties depending on the beach they serve.
Popular routes to and from Koh Samet
The busiest journeys are the mainland crossings from the Rayong coast and the combined transfers that start in Bangkok or Pattaya. Many travellers also arrive from, or continue on to, other islands and beach destinations in the region.
- Mainland crossings from the Ban Phe pier area to Koh Samet
- Combined land-and-sea transfers from Bangkok and its airports
- Connections from Pattaya and other eastern seaboard resorts
- Onward journeys towards Koh Chang and other Gulf of Thailand islands
If you are still comparing destinations, our Thailand travel routes pages set out the alternatives, and the Rayong page covers the mainland side of the trip in more detail.
Practical travel information
A few things are worth knowing before you set off:
- Arrive early. Allow extra time at the pier for check-in, luggage and boarding, especially on weekends and public holidays when demand rises.
- National park fee. Koh Samet lies within a national park, and a separate entrance fee is collected on arrival. It is not included in your ticket price.
- Weather matters. Sea conditions can affect sailings during the rainy season. Operators may adjust departures at short notice, so keep an eye on your booking confirmation and contact details.
- Getting around. There is no public bus network on the island. Shared songthaews meet arrivals at the pier and run to the individual beaches.
- Cash. Card acceptance is patchy outside the larger hotels, so bring some cash for the pier fee, local transport and smaller restaurants.
Booking conditions
Ticket rules vary by operator. Before you confirm, check the baggage allowance, the amendment and cancellation policy, and whether your booking is for a specific departure or an open ticket. All of this is shown at the checkout stage for the exact service you select.
What to see and do on Koh Samet
Relaxation is the headline activity, but the island rewards a little exploring. The northern beaches are the liveliest, with restaurants, bars and evening fire shows on the sand. Head south and the bays get quieter, smaller and more secluded — good for swimming, snorkelling and reading in the shade.
Other easy ways to fill a day:
- Walk or ride the coastal track between beaches and compare them
- Take a longtail boat trip to nearby snorkelling spots and offshore islets
- Watch the sunset from the west-facing bays
- Try kayaking, paddleboarding or a simple swim in the clear, shallow water
Because the island is small, you do not need to plan much. Pick a beach, eat well, and let the days run together.
Book your trip to Koh Samet
Compare departures, prices and travel times for every service to Koh Samet on one page, then book in a few steps and receive your ticket by email. Search availability for your travel dates to see live options.
Highlights
Kayaking and Canoeing
Windsurfing and Sailing
The Prince and the Mermaid Statue
This statue was built to honor the famous Thai poet “Sunthorn Phu” he wrote a poem with thirty thousand lines about a love triangle between an exiled prince, a giant female, and a mermaid. The prince was exiled by his father to a kingdom under the sea. Ruled by the giant female, she transformed herself into a beautiful woman to deceive the prince. And when he discovered and tried to escape, the mermaid helped him and they both hid on the island of Koh Kaew Phitsadan.
Fishing
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pier that my ferry departing from?
Phuket Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents; we are happy to help.
Ferry Samui :
FWe understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Pier Information page for the most comprehensive local pier information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
Bali Ferry :
We understand that pier details are important to our customers. That’s why we’ve made the information as clear as possible. Your departing pier address is clearly shown on your e-ticket, which we sent to your email. Additionally, go to our Departure Point Information page for the most comprehensive information you can find anywhere. Finally, if you still need more information, contact our Customer Service Agents, we are happy to help.
What are the tourist seasons ?
Phuket Ferry :
Phuket really just has two seasons, which are known as "high season" and "low season" (or "green season"). During the low season months (May- September), boat numbers are reduced. During the high season (October - April), boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options.
Ferry Samui :
There are three distinct weather seasons on the tropical island of Koh Samui: the dry season (December until February), the hot season (March until August) and the rainy season (September until November).
Bali Ferry :
Bali actually has a variety of tourist periods, notably around the Balinese New Year, 15 December - 15 January, and 1 June - 30 September. During these high traffic periods, boats to the surrounding islands are increased so you will have some more options. The quieter periods are between 16 January - 30 April and 1 October - 14 December historically.
Will bad weather affect my travels?
Ferries are large and can usually operate in the rain, except in extremely bad weather. During storms or strong winds, the journey may take a little longer than usual.
Speedboats are more likely to be canceled than ferries. If a trip is canceled due to bad weather, you can choose to receive a refund or reschedule. Please note that refunds for bad weather are only issued if the ferry operator cancels the trip.
On rough days, we recommend bringing motion sickness medication and taking it about 20 minutes before boarding if you are prone to seasickness. Boat staff may also provide Dramamine upon request, but you will need to remain indoors during rough conditions. On sunny and calm days, the sun deck is open for passengers to enjoy the weather.
What's the boarding process on the day of my trip?
At the pier named on your ticket, look for the staff of the ferry operator listed on your ticket as well. Please present your e-ticket (QR code) from your phone or other device—they’ll provide you with a sticker and/or boarding pass and direct you to your boat. Most piers have staff available to help load your luggage. In Koh Samui, staff are usually stationed at booths near the boarding area; at other locations, they’re typically near the boats, wearing their company uniforms.
When will I receive my ticket confirmation?
After completing your online booking, your reservation will remain in “Pending” status until it is processed. Once confirmed, we will send your e-ticket via email. The process is usually very quick.
On the day of travel, please present your e-ticket to the ferry staff at the relevant booking counter. If you do not receive your confirmation within 24 hours, contact us immediately.
What are the baggage allowances?
Your ferry e-ticket includes ferry transport, baggage fees, and handling. The free baggage allowance per person is 20–25 kg, depending on the operator. If your baggage exceeds this limit, you can pay the extra fee directly to the ferry operator in cash.
To check the baggage allowance for your specific trip, please refer to the trip details for your selected route.
