Koh Samet – written also
as Ko Samet or Ko Samed – is one of the most popular islands in the
Gulf of Thailand. It's more popular among Thai people than among
tourists from the West because of its relatively short distance from
Bangkok – you can get there in 3-4 hours. Both factors outweighed
that we chose this place and not for example Koh Phi Phi, known as
the Bond island.
Getting there
*Travel agencies in
Bangkok and Pattaya offer organized trips to Koh Samet; the journey
takes 3-4 hours; cost: 200-400 THB; you can buy an option a ferry
ticket included.
*You can go by yourself by
bus from the East Bus Terminal in Bangkok to Ban Phe (it takes 4
hours) or go to Rayong and from there to Ban Phe by songthaew or bus.
Also from Pattaya you need to go first to Rayong and hence farther to
Ban Phe because there's no direct connection.
*From Ban Phe, from two
main piers, from 8.00 until 17.00, every 15 minutes ferries should
depart for Koh Samet, sometimes more seldom if there are less
tourists. It's best to choose the ferry which has some people aboard
and but a ticket after getting on board (the cost is the same as in
the counter). You need to be careful to take the right ferry heading
for the beach you want to go to.
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| Ferry from Ban Phe to Koh Samet |
Ferries look as if they
remembered the times of old, they seem older than the grandfathers of
the young coxswains. It's surprising how they still function...
After you've arrived you
can take a songthaew or... go on foot. The island is not big and you
can reach every beach in more or less a quarter to half an hour. On
your way there you can learn some topography of the island. But such
a walk at noon, in the heat, on terrible road and with a heavy
suitcase is not a pleasant one.
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| Ticket to the national park |
*The island is in fact a
national park and you have to pay to enter. The fee is 200 THB per
person. You have to have your ticket on you because the park staff
have the right to inspect you. Thus, even if you go to Ban Phe and
leave the island, you can always come back with this ticket, without
having to pay once again.
*There aren't many stores
on the island. Most tourists go shopping to the self-service and
well-stocked 7Eleven, next to the checkpoint to the national park.
*There are several ATM's
on the island, at 7Eleven stores. However I didn't notice any
exchanges there.
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| Self-service 7Eleven |
There
are a
dozen or
so beaches
on Koh
Island. The
largest ones
are: Hat
Sai Kaeo,
Ao Hin
Kok,
Ao Phai,
Ao Tub
Tim and Ao
Nuan. But
if you
expecti broad,
extending for
miles, sandy
beaches you'll
be disappointed.
The beaches
are very
narrow and
short, crossed
by rocky
paths and
cliffs. The
cliffs are
very picturesque
at sunset.
They look
stunning in
the pictures...
Most tourists
take also
pictures near
the statue
of Mermaid.
This terrible
thing seems
to be
set here
just for
that purpose,
but in
my opinion
it's far
from being
beautiful.
 |
| Ao Hin Kok |
Accommodation is fairly
well developed, there are mostly small groups of bungalows. In the
high season it's difficult to find a hut with a bathroom and air
conditioning for less than 1200 THB. Rooms can be rented from 500 THB
but they are usually tiny rooms with a fan and shared bathroom.
 |
| Jep's Bungalows |
We
chose Jep's Bungalows, not too cheap, but for the price we got a
comfortable place to stay, with breakfast-buffet – really rich.
 |
| Afternoon coffee on the beach |
You can eat in a dozen or
so establishments that are located along the beach and the main road
crossing the island. You can get a dinner for 200 THB as well as for
1000. Coffee, nescafe-like costs 40 THB, and a real coffee from the
machine – 80. Beer costs 80-120 THB.
Guidebooks advice against
mosquitos. We didn't notice any invasion of them but in the evening
it's good to have something with DEET.
In my opinion, Koh Samet
is a place suitable for not more than a week's rest. We planned to
spend here 11 days but after a week we began to be bored to death.
Besides swimming and sunbathing on the beach, going for a coffee or a
beer, and several tours, there's not much to do here. On the other
hand, there are some advantages: the island is ideal for rest and
relaxation. You won't encounter here hordes of German and British
teenagers, drinking until late to techno rhythms and throwing up
anywhere. On weekends the island is full of the groups of Thai
youngsters or whole families, however the locals don't stay till late
and aren't so noisy as the youth from Europe.
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| One of the beaches in the afternoon with rock uncovered by the outflow |
Tours
Many agencies propose
additional attractions while on Koh Samet. Following there are a few
words about the most popular ones.
*Seven islands adventure
tour. The speed boat takes you to the island of Koh Kudi and then a
visit to turtles farm on Ko Mun Nai is scheduled. From there you head
for Koh Mun Klang. Two next islands are Mun Nok and Koh Talu where
you can admire beautiful scenery. Time: 10.00-17.00; price 1200 THB
(includes snorkeling equipment, lunch, fruit and soft drinks).
*Coral island, four
islands. Tour by a speed boat to Koh Kudi, Koh Kham, Koh Plateenand
and Koh Talu with their beautiful beaches. Return to Koh Samet and a
visit to fish and turtles farm. Time: 12.00-17.00; price: 600 THB
(includes snorkeling equipment, fruit and mineral water).
*Discover Koh Samet
island. Tour by a speed boat around the island. Snorkeling on Ao
Phrao beach. At the end a visit to fish and turtles farm. Time:
12.00-15.00; price: 400 THB (includes snorkeling equipment, fruit and
mineral water).
*Sunset trip. A boat takes
several people on a trip around the island. On Ao Phrao beach they
have time for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, admiring sunset.
Time: 16.00-18.00; price: 400 THB (includes snorkeling equipment,
fruit and mineral water.)
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| Picturesque rocks on one of the beaches |
As I already mentioned, we
were supposed to spent here 11 days, but we leave after a week. In
the meantime, to have a little break from the sun we decide to make a
trip to Ban Phe. What a waste of time! We geot tired to death, the
heat is high and there's really nothing to do in the town, apart from
walking to and fro along the main road and peepping into some shops
with souvenirs and mobiles.
From Koh Samet we head for
Pattaya from where we take a bus to Bangkok. There we'll spend the
last days of our holiday – one day we'll spare for a tour to
Ayutthaya which once was a capital of the country.
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| Songthaew - a popular means of transportation in Thailand |
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| To get to know the island better we decide to look for a bungalow on foot |