Samed Attractions
More than a dozen coves and beaches provide visitors a range of choices from campsites on secluded, deserted beaches to bungalows with all the modern conveniences in more settled and gregarious communities.
A recently constructed reservoir has improved the availability of fresh water, which was an enduring problem on the hot and dry island where the rainy season is limited to the May to July period. Koh Samet gets significantly less rainfall than Rayong Province, even though it is only a few km offshore.
Round the clock electricity is now available in most resorts on the island. There are regular ferries to Koh Samet from three different piers in the fishing village of Baan Phe, about 20 km east of Rayong City.
The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on which part of the island it goes to. Speed boats can be hired to make the trip in about half the time, but are much more expensive.
Samet Island has only 1 road going from the North to the South of the Island.
The taxi fees from beach to beach is rather expensive, but price is setting by the association of public taxi service, so tourist will not be charged over the standard price.
From 1 beach to another, you can walk through a relatively primitive inland road. Most of the beaches are located on the northern and eastern sides of this T-shaped island whereas only a few, that is, Ao Prao, Ao Kham and Ao Kiu Na Nai lie on the west. It is more convenient to reach Ao Prao by a direct ferry from Baan Phe.
Like most resort destinations in Thailand, motorcycles are cheap to rent and they are the best way to zip around. But not all the roads are well paved so watch out for the bumpy dirt roads.
The local taxis or “Song Thiao” are utility trucks fitted with bench like seats at the back. They are the next best thing to travel on but they are not easily available and mostly hang out on the popular beaches. They also tend to overcharge so bargain hard and set a price for a return trip as well.
The beaches on the northeast of the island are beautiful and better developed. As you move south down the east coast the coves and bays become less congested, though no less beautiful. The beaches on the southeast coast are the least developed and least visited. The west coast is rocky but does have one very secluded beach with bungalow resorts and a nice view of the sunset.
The 16 beaches of Samet Island :