Samet Island (Koh Samet) - resort island V Gulf of Thailand in the eastern part, close to the mainland, it belongs to Rayong Province, Thailand. Small beyond the area - 13.1 km. sq. Its distance from the mainland is about 6.5 km, from Bangkok - 200 km, 80 km from Pattaya. Length 7 km, width - from 4 km to 200 meters.

This is a magical place, as most of the island is National Park Thailand, so the water is very clean and the nature is almost untouched. Entrance to the island is free, and no one will take money from you for disembarking at the pier. There is only a fee for visiting National Park Mu Ko Samet, which is located on 4 islands, including Samet. The cost is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children.

Samet Island on the map

When planning your vacation, look at where the island is located on the map, so it will be easier for you to figure out how to get to it.

How to get there

There are several options. Since Samet is cut off from the mainland and does not have an airport, it can only be reached by water. You can sail from the village of Ban Phe - mainland Thailand, it will take you about 30 minutes. Ferries run regularly between the mainland and the island, costing about 50 baht, but you can also book a boat, estimated cost of 2,000 baht.

From the capital of Thailand

Buses depart from Bangkok to Ban Phe. The cost is about 160 baht, if you buy in both directions, it will be cheaper, around 280 baht. They run from morning to evening, with an interval of 40-60 minutes. Travel time is 3.5 hours.

The second option is to get from Bangkok to the regional center, and from there to Ban Phe. A bus to Rayong costs 120 baht, takes about 3 hours, from Rayong to Ban Phe you can get by songhthaew, which takes about 30 minutes. Please note that the latter leaves at 8 pm from Ban Phe.

It is always worth checking the time of the last bus, since no type of transport operates 24 hours a day. By car you can take Route No. 3 or Sukhumvit Rd.

By taxi: approximate cost 2000 baht, from the airport approximately 250 baht cheaper.

From Pattaya

From Pattaya to Rayong (district center) you can take a bus in about 50 minutes, it costs 70 baht. A taxi will cost you 850 baht, and the time will be about 1.5-2 hours. Always check the cost as it varies.

Rent a bike and fill the tank with a full tank and get along the Sukhumvit highway to your destination, Ban Phe. You can buy a complete package from any street travel agency, which includes a transfer to Ban Phe and a ferry ticket. It will be more expensive than buying tickets yourself, but it will be more comfortable, because you will be picked up from your hotel and taken right from the pier to the island of Koh Samet. You can also negotiate with them about the return journey.

Transport

There are practically no roads on the island itself. Only the section from the pier to the National Park is paved. You can get around on foot, the distances are short, the entire island can be walked around in about 2 hours.

Options for transportation can be quad bikes (rent 500-1500 baht per day) or local transport - songthaew (departed when fully loaded) from 10 baht, which you can use as a taxi, buying all the seats for 100-600 baht.

There is no good road on the island, which can be dangerous for your life. Songthaew fares are fixed and are indicated on posters on many beaches.

You can rent a motorcycle, but if you have never ridden one, it is not recommended to start on Samet.

Beaches and hotels

There are about 16 beaches on the island. The most famous of them are Khatsaikaeu, Diamond Beach, and Auwongdyan. They were all located on east coast, the length of the largest, Hatsaikeu, is about a kilometer, and the width is 25-30 meters. Au Vong Duan Beach is located in a bay that is almost circular in shape. Smaller beaches are generally quieter and always have fewer tourists. Ao Kyu Nok - an isolated beach of a luxurious and most expensive hotel on Paradee Island Resort and Spa.

Auphrao is a beach on the west coast, far from the noisy life of Samet. There is also a pier nearby from which you can go on a boat trip.

There are a huge number of hotels on the island that differ in cost and comfort of stay. These can be bungalows, separate houses, guesthouses. The cost is approximately 1000 baht per day, but you can find cheaper options, starting from 500 baht. The most important thing is the price-quality ratio.

On any website you can see photos of rooms and areas, which will help you in your choice. If you are going to travel during high season, we recommend booking your accommodation in advance.

Entertainment and attractions

The main attraction is the National Park, walking routes, temples. For history buffs, it is worth visiting Auhin Kok Bay, where the only monument on the island is located.

Incredible interesting place is the Turtle Farm, where rare species of fish and turtles are bred. It is located in the sea, not far from the pier. What is noteworthy is that these fish are then released into the open sea. Water activities:

1. Windsurfing and water skiing.
2. Boat trips are organized every day.
3. Snorkeling and diving.
4. Fishing trips can also be organized for you.

Massage services are often offered on the beaches. You can take advantage of this opportunity and feel it. Shopping consists only of beach accessories, but you can easily find a cafe or restaurant where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh seafood.

Samet Island is a great opportunity to plunge headlong into relaxation, forget about problems and enjoy every minute. This is a way to relax your body and soul, as well as be alone with nature.

Located twenty kilometers southeast of the city of Rayong, located on the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. This is a narrow piece of land seven kilometers long. From a bird's eye view, it looks like a heron's beak, stretching from north to south. You can get there by booking a combined route on.

It is part of a national park Khao Laem, That's why holiday on Samet island It will definitely appeal to lovers of tranquility and those seeking to communicate with almost virgin nature. The entertainment industry there is practically undeveloped. Residents love to spend weekends on this island.

The most famous beaches of Koh Samet are located on its eastern coast. The largest of them is Hat Sai Kaew, in European style called Diamond Beach . The sandy strip of this beach is 25 to 30 meters wide. Tourists can get windsurfing lessons (read more about) and rent a boat for water skiing. The majority of restaurants and bars are concentrated on this beach.

Very beautiful beach Ao Wong Deuan. It is located on the shore of a bay that almost closes in a circle. There you can also find interesting night entertainment and a full range of beach services. The main diving centers are located on this beach, but excursions to nearby islands, where you can go snorkeling, are organized everywhere.

The beach where you can find expensive hotels offering the most peaceful holiday is called Ao Phrao. It is located on the western coast of the island, it is the only one there, and therefore unique.

Shopping on Koh Samet limited to the sale of beach accessories. Baht is worth spending in the island's restaurants for the most delicious and fresh seafood that Thailand has.

Samet Island (Ko Samet, Koh Samed) is located in Thailand on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 200 km from Bangkok, 80 km from Pattaya and 6 km from the mainland (Rayong province). total area- 13 sq. km. Length 7 km, width - from 4 km to 200 meters (different in different areas).

Koh Samet – perfect place for those who want to combine lying on the sand, among almost untouched nature, with exploring the main attractions of the capital of Thailand - Bangkok, which is only 2.5 hours away from the island.

There are about a dozen beaches, and they are all similar - sandy, quite small, there are several hotels and restaurants on the coast, and nothing else. The exception is the beaches closest to the pier - and, where there are many bars, restaurants and generally quite lively.

Samet Island is located within the National Park, so the water in the sea is very clean. Apart from sparsely populated beaches, there are practically no attractions, except perhaps a temple not far from the pier, a few observation platforms, and a couple of sculptures.

It is worth keeping in mind that there are no banks on the island, but there are several ATMs near the pier and at the entrance to the National Park. You can also exchange currency, although there are not many places.

Just like anywhere else, a holiday on an island has advantages and disadvantages.

Samet Island on the map of Thailand

Island National Park

You can often read on the Internet that entrance to Samet Island is paid. This is not entirely true. When you board the ferry from the mainland, no one will take money from you. You can safely visit several beaches for free, located to the right of the Na Dan pier, and also walk 5 minutes to the left and end up on Luk Yon beach. From here you can get to Sai Kaew. All these beaches are free.

In principle, by mooring to the Na Dan pier and walking around the surrounding area, you can rent a house by the sea and live in it for the entire vacation. In fact, this is a very good option, because... all infrastructure is concentrated between the pier and Sai Kaew: bars, restaurants, hotels. The cheapest guest houses can also be rented in this area (these are 1-2-story buildings 500-1000 meters from the sea). It is quite possible to find decent accommodation for 600 baht per day. The only temple on Koh Samet is also located here.

A fee (200 baht) for visiting Samet Island will only be charged upon entering the National Park. It is located at the very end of the road leading from the pier to Sai Kaew. But there is one subtlety here - money is taken mainly from tourists who come to the entrance to the songthaew.

If you come on foot, no one will ask you to pay - they will just think that you have been here for a long time. By the way, next to the entrance there is a path along which you can also get to the park on foot or by motorbike (about 50 meters to the left of the entrance). And one more observation - often they don’t take money from tourists on a motorbike, thinking that they have been here for a long time and have paid before.

Who should go

A trip to Samet Island will greatly appeal to lovers of a leisurely holiday, who prefer to sunbathe and swim in the morning and afternoon, and in the evening dine in a restaurant on the seashore or sip beer in a bar and watch the surface of the water. But if you are a fan of vibrant nightlife, clubs and bar girls, then this place is not for you, since all this is simply not available on Koh Samet.

Of course, you can take the girl with you from Pattaya, but you can’t take the whole party from there. However, such people can visit the island for 2-3 days to relax a little, swim in the clear sea and recharge their batteries for new exploits in discos and clubs in Pattaya and Bangkok.

The lack of entertainment on the island can be explained very simply - it is part of the Khao Laem Ya - Mu Koh Samet National Park, and therefore the main priority here is ecology and conservation natural wealth, flora and fauna. Some places look really wild. There are bungalows and villas on the coast; usually on each beach there are several restaurants and bars, which are also located 50-100 m from the sea. And behind them the forest begins.

Our advice to you: if you want complete privacy, then go to Koh Samet on Monday. All week you will enjoy solitude on uncrowded beaches. The end of this will come only on Friday, when the Thais arrive from Bangkok. Weekends - no best time visit Samet. However, there are few people on the beaches far from the pier even on Saturday and Sunday.

You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

From Bangkok you can take a bus from the Eastern Bus Station (Ekkamai Bus Station) and Khao San Road. If you are arriving in international Airport Thailand - Suvarnabhumi, then use the Airport Express Bus AE3, which goes to the Ekamai bus station or a metered taxi. In general, you can take a taxi from the airport to the pier in Ban Phe, the fare will be about 2500-3000 baht. In addition to Bangkok, you can get to Samet from various places in Thailand, including Pattaya and Phuket. The best solution would be to buy a ticket to the pier at any travel agency or.

Ferries from Ban Phe pier on the mainland leave for Samet every hour from 8:00 to 17:00. They moor on Samet either at Nadan or at Wong Duan beach.

Transport

There is only one road on Samet Island, from which there are branches to the beaches. Since 2015, asphalt has been laid across the entire island - from the very north beach to the southernmost point.

You can get around the island on motorbikes and songthaews (tuk-tuks).

In the past, ATV rental was popular, but after the asphalt was laid, this vehicle is now almost never seen.

The price for songthaew is fixed and is indicated on posters on many beaches. The price ranges from 10 to 70 baht and depends on the distance.

A songthaew can be rented as a taxi, that is, you will go immediately and completely alone and will not feel the shoulder of your neighbor on the right and left (route songthaews do not depart until they have a full cabin of passengers). In this case, the price will vary from 100 to 700 baht.

Some night life is present next to Sai Kaew and other beaches closest to the pier. For everyone else, life comes to a standstill when the sun sets, but southern beaches so generally almost “wild”, where there are no shops or ATMs.

Ko Samet (Thailand) is a small but very comfortable island with wonderful hotels and beaches.

How to get to the island

Samet Island is located a short distance from the mainland. And its size is quite small. From here we can immediately say that you can only get to it by sea, that is, by ferry or boat. From the shore, on which the departure pier for boats and ferries is located, carrying passengers every 20-40 minutes, travelers set foot on the land of Samet in half an hour. But you can get to the pier from Bangkok by bus of varying comfort and spend 3.5 hours on the road. In addition to the bus, you can use minibus services. You can also get there from Pattaya. Minivans depart in the morning at 7 and 9 o'clock. They can pick up their passengers directly at the hotel and deliver them to Samet Island, if, of course, the passengers pay for the ferry. But from Phuket you can only get there by plane. The bus ride is too long - more than half a day.

Koh Samet Hotels

Since Samet Island is not very large, there are not very many hotels here either, but what comfort they have!

Club Koh Samet

This is an entire 3-star estate, consisting of 3 dozen rooms with an outdoor pool. Each room has air conditioning, a refrigerator, a minibar, and a bathroom with shower and toiletries. Bottled water is also served in the rooms. Tourists have access to water skis, a nanny for children, if available, and luggage storage. Or you can go canoeing or boating and look at the island from the sea.

Sunrise Villas Resort

This hotel has its own beach, free parking for rental cars, bicycle rental and water activities. All hotel rooms are equipped with the most advanced furniture and appliances. Bathroom, shower, refrigerator, and in the morning a gourmet breakfast. At the restaurant, the chefs will offer you not only Thai, but also European and Mediterranean cuisine. Directly from the hotel, you can contact your family and friends online and express your delight at how you are spending your holiday.

Silver Sand Resort

There is a garden next to the hotel where you can spend an evening with your family and children, if you are not here alone. The hotel has family rooms with air conditioning and a sun deck. Additional room service can be ordered at the discretion of the residents. The rooms have tea, coffee and water making facilities.

There is also satellite TV with Internet. The hotel's proximity to Sai Kaew Beach allows clients to easily reach major cultural and recreational sites on foot and attracts many tourists. In the restaurant and cafe you can enjoy any cuisine you want.

Beaches of the island

Ao Prao

This is the most beloved and most beautiful beach on the island of Samet. Only near this beach are the most expensive hotels and inns located. It’s as if it was created only for rich, respectable vacationers to visit its white sand. It is perfectly clean with lawns and tropical gardens. It is, as it were, isolated from all other places by coral reefs. And what beauty can be enjoyed by going to the observation deck or directly from the shore. Yes, you can also sail on a yacht or catamaran and see marine life.

Wong Duan

It curved in the shape of a crescent along a sand spit for 500 meters. Along it are located expensive hotels with their sophistication and desire to invite you on vacation. Along the entire beach there is lush tropical vegetation, which provides its shade to vacationers in hot weather. It is protected from wind and waves. The amazingly fine white sand is a beach attraction. Amateur fishermen can go out to sea with the locals and try their luck in their hobby. The beach is very quiet and calm. And there are so many corals in the water!

Ao Noina

The cleanest and calm beach islands. Contributes to silence and solitude. The absence of stones in the coastal water and the shallow depth allow both children and adults to swim without fear of drowning. There are no discos or bars, but if you want to escape from the silence, you can get to entertainment venues very quickly.

Ao Phai Beach

This beach is for nightlife lovers, but within reason. The beach is quite calm and quiet during the day, although there are many bars, restaurants and cafes concentrated on it. White sand and the complete absence of stones on it are its main advantage.

Ao Klang Beach

This beach can rival any beautiful area, as it is home to many coconut palms and other lush tropical vegetation. It is as if hidden from prying eyes and gazes. Coral sand of extraordinary beauty can captivate vacationers with its color. Very few tourists relax on the beach.

Attractions Koh Samet

The island is a nature reserve and its main attraction is the beaches and nature itself, which can only be found directly here. There is no historical places. Is it possible to highlight the statue of the Great White Buddha, located in a small temple. Around the temple there is a pond with fish. On the territory of Ao Putsa beach you can see a whole set of stones of various shapes, which inexplicably stand, lie on top of each other and somehow maintain balance. This is a very interesting sight. The underwater world of the island is incredibly beautiful. This is where the color, appearance and shape of the corals take your breath away. Anyone who has not seen this has lost a lot in life. From the observation decks of the island you can see such beauty that you will dream about it for a long time on frosty winter nights and call to yourself.

Vacation prices

The price of a holiday on Samet closely depends on the date of the trip, length of stay, and the comfort of the hotel where the tourist is going to stay. If your stay on the island is short, you can get by with 30 thousand rubles. And again, giving the exact amount that you need to reserve in your budget for this purpose is almost impossible. And if you buy a last-minute tour, then the above amount should be enough for a good rest.

Excursions

• Due to the small area of ​​the island, which can be walked around on foot, there are practically no excursions. It is worth highlighting a visit to fish farms, a boat ride around the island, and an excursion to the neighboring islands, also part of the national reserve.
• Visiting floating restaurants, where you will be offered to taste freshly prepared dishes from the inhabitants of the deep sea.
• Travel to the “bottom of the sea”, where you will be presented with a palette of colors of corals and fish. This is a haven for lovers of water recreation.

Weather in Koh Samet

Although the island is located close to the mainland, the weather on the island can be said to be much better than on the mainland. There are a lot of sunny days here, temperatures range from +30 to +40. Samet is dry and sunny from October to February. Heat - from March to May. Showers occur here mainly in September. Tourists are especially comfortable here from November to February and from June to early September.

Samet does not have its own airport, so traveling by fairy island begins with the first step taken on the southern soil of Thailand, regardless of the chosen flight and the city indicated in boarding pass. There are several options for constructing a route; you need to start from the desired type of travel - independently and with adventure, or safely and quickly. The only difference is the size of the budget planned for the road. The path to Samet includes several views Vehicle, in addition to the plane: bus or taxi and, of course, a ferry from the pier. There are no big difficulties with transfers in Thailand, since the schedule is followed practically without errors.

If you prefer the most comfortable holiday without the need to run with suitcases from the stop to the port, spend time waiting for the next transport and learn to navigate the map in record time, then there is a great option - you can use the transfer services of any travel company. The very first search query in the browser reveals a lot of options, depending on the starting point - for example, a trip from Pattaya will cost 5-10 USD (200-300 THB, Thai baht), which includes a transfer from your place of residence to the pier of Rayong province and a high-speed boat or ferry to wonderful Koh Samet. The price is indicated taking into account the round trip - you will be taken from the island jungle to civilization on any convenient day!

Well, I chose the adventure option, of course, so the story of the trip turned out to be extremely entertaining.

By plane

So, first of all you need to get to the Kingdom. As you know, this destination is in great demand among tourists, therefore the choice of airlines and possible routes is surprisingly large. It’s great if your vacation is planned in advance, because all that remains is to decide on the dates of the trip, and the search for profitable tickets is carried out automatically. You can compare ticket prices. The easiest way to get to Koh Samet is from Bangkok or Pattaya, let's see what options there are?

Flights from Moscow

There are daily direct flights from the capital to Bangkok, the average cost of which is about 500 USD (28,000 RUB, the price is for a round-trip ticket). Transportation of passengers to Cote d'Azur carried out by such airlines as Aeroflot, S7, Jet Airways, Thai and several other little-known companies. The selection is quite impressive!

While getting to Suvarnabhumi Airport(Bangkok) is not difficult - a 9-hour flight and you can enjoy year-round summer while drinking coconut juice; getting to Pattaya is not so easy. Alas, on the way to U-Tapao (Pattaya) you have to overcome up to 3 transfers, which stretches the range of travel time for an unlimited number of hours and automatically makes the trip almost twice as expensive!

Therefore, I recommend catching excellent offers from numerous airlines on Moscow-Bangkok flights. And then there is a wonderful opportunity to explore the famous capital of the Kingdom, and before the long-awaited vacation on the paradise island, get acquainted with the colorful Bangkok! Or stay in no less colorful Pattaya, which is located halfway to the coveted Koh Samet, which is basically what we did - we decided to stay for a week in Pattaya.

So, depending on the city of arrival, we will build a further route.

By train

I automatically want to write about the fact that you can’t get there by train, but... There is such an option, and, moreover, it is quite real. Why not? - not an island, let's try to trace it.

One of the possible transport sheets will look like this: - Chita - Zabaikalsk - Manchuria - - Kunming - Jinghong - Thailand. As a result, we need to apply for a Chinese visa and spend about 200 hours of our invaluable time on the road. Accordingly, for travelers northern capital the road will be extended by a couple of hours. It is also worth noting that this trip will not be cheap. Let's return to the optimal option.

By bus

So, we found out that the most convenient way to get to the wonderful island is from Bangkok or Pattaya. Well, or include both mentioned wonderful cities in the route list, sequentially moving towards Samet. But, despite the chosen option, the starting point is the same - we need the port of Ban Phe, in Rayong province. A map with all the marks of the cities and ports we need is above.

• From Bangkok. Find bus station in Thailand it’s not difficult: at a minimum, there are stops when leaving the airport, at bus stations or at main street Bangkok Sukhumvit Road. The required bus leaves from the Ekkamai bus station. The easiest way to get to it is by taking the BTS SkyTrain; the station of the same name is located literally a hundred meters from the station. The advantage of the metro is that heavy traffic is not associated with this type of transport. The trip will cost no more than 2.5 USD (80 THB). Buses from the bus station run every 40 minutes, just indicate the final stop when purchasing a ticket - Rayong province, Ban Phe port - and spend 2.5–3 hours in comfortable transport with air conditioning. A ticket will cost around 3.5–5 USD (122–170 THB).

• From Pattaya. A bus to Rayong departs daily from the fairly large North Station (Nua Bus Station). You can catch it at any stop on Sukhumvit Road (in Thailand it is customary to simply go to a convenient section of this main highway and get on the bus at the nearest stop). in the direction of travel, the ticket price is about 2 USD (70 THB), and, of course, we will be at the port much faster - the trip will take about 2 hours.

• From Rayong. The pier can be reached from anywhere in Rayong province by local tuk-tuk for a reasonable price of 1 USD (30 THB).

Transport with the funny name “Knock-knock” (also called songthaew) is an analogue of the Russian minibus, only adapted to the local climate. Externally, this is the most budget-friendly (trip from 0.3 USD (10 THB)) public transport resembles a small truck, with benches along the body. It’s very easy to catch a songthaew - you need to vote near the roadway, and in general, drivers have a habit of honking when they see pedestrians, inviting them for a ride. There are no specific stops; you need to warn about them yourself by pressing a special bell (as a rule, they are located overhead, under the roof). You can ride not only in the back, sitting on benches, but also standing on the running boards.

By the way, it is worth remembering that in the evening a tuk-tuk turns into a taxi and the cost will be significantly higher - from 3 USD (100 THB)!

By car

Many travelers prefer to travel on vacation by rented car or use a taxi. Of course, both options can serve as a way to quickly find ourselves on the pier, where we are so eager to get.

• A little about car rental - the cost depends on the company chosen, on average - 28 USD (1000 THB) per day. You can look at offers from world famous campaigns or compare prices. But, of course, you should think very carefully about the decision to drive in Thailand. The advantages here are obvious - the minimum amount necessary documents, quite reasonable price and freedom in choosing a route. But the disadvantages are sometimes hidden, such as the fact that Thai drivers are not the most careful people, which is worth the mere rule of parking wherever your heart desires and the generally accepted ignoring of some signs! Well, driving on the left is not the most convenient thing for Russian drivers. In general, it is not enough to be an experienced driver; what is important is extreme caution and a great desire not to have any adventures in this part of the trip. And you need to take into account that in Thailand there are sections of so-called “toll roads” - 0.2-1.6 USD (5-40 THB). Although, the quality of these roads more than compensates for this possible inconvenience. The road from Bangkok will take up to 3 hours, several routes are marked on the map. In this case, it will not be difficult to get to the pier on your own; for ease of movement, you should stick to the main highway, Sukhumvit Road.
• Well, if you have an impressive amount of luggage, an equal number of children, or comfortable conditions are a priority, then it makes sense to opt for a taxi that will drive up to Bangkok airport and, with air conditioning, take the whole company to the pier for 40-70 USD (1500 -2500 THB) or to your residence in Pattaya for 30–40 USD (1000-1500 THB) - and the same 2-3 hours on the road. There are an unprecedented variety of taxi services, the cars differ in color and level of comfort (which of course affects the price). Keep in mind that it will be cheaper to use an online application or choose a taxi yourself (clusters and official parking lots are everywhere - at shopping centers, at bus stations and at airport exits).

By ferry

We are at Ban Phe pier, half an hour’s drive from the unearthly beauty of the island. From Rayong to Samet you can take a ferry or speed boat. You can buy a ticket right there on the pier. If you have chosen the above-mentioned travel option with the help of a travel agency, then most likely the ferry is included in the price and will be waiting for its tourists at the pier at the specified time. Ferries run daily from 06:00 to 17:00, the cost is 1.5-2 USD (50–70 THB). A high-speed boat will reach the final point twice as fast, but will cost those interested 30–40 USD (1000-1500 THB). Although the picture that appears from the ferry is mesmerizing, so, in my opinion, there is no need to rush.

The price range is based on the beach you want on the island. The ideal option would be to get around Samet on your own and choose a place you like. Given the small size of the island, exploring the main beaches will take a couple of hours. But in a company with children or suitcases, taking long walks will not be very comfortable. In this case, it would be wise to decide in advance on the place where the ferry will take you.

On the map I marked the route of the upcoming trip, and the dotted lines lead to all the available berths on the island.

Let me remind you that Samet is a national park, so upon entry a fee of 6 USD (200 THB) is charged.

Clue:

Samet - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow − 4

Kazan − 4

Samara − 3

Ekaterinburg − 2

Novosibirsk 0

Vladivostok 3

When is the season? When is the best time to go

It is believed that Samet is the most comfortable island in terms of temperature and weather conditions. This is true! The weather here is always beautiful, and possible rains are characterized by their short duration. So don’t pay attention to the frightening statements about the low season - you can safely go to conquer the island. Indeed, at a time when the Andaman coast can really be flooded in the summer months, the bright sun is shining over Samet, the temperature is around 28–32 C°, and the sea pampers guests with warm water - 27–29 C°.

So, the conclusion is the following: the weather is always pleasant, and the long rainy season, typical of Thailand, bypasses this place. And I was convinced that this was absolutely true! The only sign of bad weather is waves and, as a result, sand rising from the bottom, due to which the water loses its inherent transparency. There is a possibility of jellyfish appearing in the sea at the end of September, but not necessarily. Apparently, sea creatures act according to their mood, as happened in my case. By the will of fate (or due to a great desire to see the surface of the sea as soon as possible), I found myself on the island of my dreams during that very rainy season - we were greeted by dark clouds and a ten-minute light rain and this is an isolated manifestation of the so-called off-season. But look at the photo, doesn't such a landscape compensate for slightly wet clothes?

Ko Samet is recognized as one of the most beautiful islands Kingdom (which is very easy to verify), therefore it is quite popular among the local population. Thais go to the island on Friday evening and stay the whole weekend to take a break from industrial Bangkok and bustling Pattaya. It is worth considering this fact when choosing days to travel. And due to the fact that during the “off season” (from May to October) the influx of tourists is significantly reduced, there is a great opportunity to enjoy the surrounding beauties in almost complete solitude, believe the traveler who has seen a lot of deserted beaches - an indescribable spectacle of nature’s masterpieces!

Samet - weather by month

Clue:

Samet - weather by month

What are the prices for holidays?

There is information everywhere on the Internet that prices on Koh Samet are higher than on the mainland. And this is true, which is quite logical, considering the costs of transportation. For example, a taxi on Samet costs from 6 USD (200 THB), a Tuk-Tuk from 2 USD (60 THB), the cost depends on the distance.

As for housing, the same cannot be said - again returning to our story of renting a wonderful bungalow (we never expected such a pleasant price tag!). The cost, of course, depends on the beach, the time of your trip (remember the well-established concept of “season/off season”) and various promotions that happen when early booking. The average cost of housing on different beaches of the island is as follows:

• East coast (Had Sai Keaw, Ao Phai, Ao Wong Duean, Ao Cho beaches) - 850 USD (30,000 rubles) for 7 nights for 2 adults (breakfast included);
• South Samet (Ao Karang, Ao Wai and Ao Kiew Na Nok beaches) - 830 USD (29,000 rubles) for 7 nights for 2 adults (breakfast and view of the blooming garden included);
• North of the island (Na Nai Pier, Nah Dan Public Pier, Ao Pa Cha, Laem Yai beach) - 830 USD (29,000 rubles) for 7 nights for 2 adults (here, by the way, they will also feed you for the specified amount);
• West Coast(Ao Prao beach) - 900 USD (31,000 rubles) for 7 nights for 2 adults (breakfast and the right to tell everyone upon return about have a wonderful holiday on the coolest beach of the island);

I also didn’t notice a significant difference in the cost of food - the problem is the extremely limited number of supermarkets (hint - you’ll find a couple in the northern part of Samet). But there are cafes and restaurants under every palm tree (literally) and you can find them anywhere - from cheap traditional Thai pancakes for 1 USD (30 THB) to oysters in white wine sauce with truffles, which are more expensive. My friend and I, who managed to find the freshest Seafood in all establishments, paid no more than 6 USD for lunch (200 THB, main course and ice-cold drink).

By the way, I was very surprised by the lack of ATMs; the search was successful only in the territory of local residents - all in the same place, in the north of the island. Frankly speaking, best advice for travelers - withdraw and exchange money in advance before traveling to the paradise island. Since in shops, souvenir shops and some cafes they prefer not to get involved with such an achievement of modern society as a terminal, and prepare to shake their heads at the sight of an outstretched plastic card.

As for the numerous excursions, there are quite a lot of companies offering to diversify your vacation - information about them is available in any hotel, since there are no agency offices on the island. You can also choose an excursion to the beaches, on the same east coast. They are easy to find - we carefully look at the signs with picturesque photographs that demonstrate all the advantages of various sea activities. Agencies offer similar options with minor differences in details; the cost will be the same almost everywhere:

• Study trip around the island - 10 USD (400 THB);
• Watching the sunset, including visits to several beaches and viewpoints, will cost the same 10 USD (400 THB);
• Night fishing will cost a little more - 15 USD (500 THB), but you will definitely take the catch with you!
• And for 17 USD (600 THB) you will be taken to 6 islands close to Samet (the duration of this excursion, which, by the way, is popular among tourists, is as much as 5 hours).

Main attractions. What to see

Although I only expected peace and tranquility from the trip, which you immediately get when you see the local beauty, I still decided to find out about the sights. While searching for information about this, I mainly came across confident reviews from predecessors that there was nothing to see on Samet. I sincerely declare that this is not so!

Of course, if you compare it with Samet, for example, the capital of Thailand, the result seems obvious. Endless museums, markets and architectural monuments Few cities can outshine Bangkok. But we are just looking at an island in the Gulf of Thailand, and there are a lot of interesting things here: the Buddha temple, observation decks (am I tired of my sunsets yet?), a local village, the famous statue of a prince and a mermaid - small island has its own secrets.

Top 5

On glorious Samet there are many opportunities to make your day unforgettable, without having to incur significant financial expenses.

Beaches. Which ones are better

The pride of Koh Samet is, of course, the beaches. During my vacation on this wonderful land, I never once had to doubt my choice of the island. All beaches, without a single exception, cause delight, the differences being entertainment and the number of vacationers. All the beaches are indicated on the map, and I will tell you about the main ones.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Almost every corner of the Kingdom has a Big Buddha statue, and Samet is no exception to the rule, although the Buddha here is relatively small. In front of it is an altar where incense is brought and offerings are made in the form of wreaths.

Buddha is on site temple complex, so you can admire the two-story temple. There is also a small fish pond in the fenced area.

Finding this interesting place will not be difficult; as a reference point, you should take Had Sai Keaw beach and one of the piers where ferries from the mainland arrive - Nah Dan Publik Pier.

An ordinary asphalt road leads to the complex, on both sides of which there is a real village of local residents. It was quite interesting to look at the life of the islanders.

Nearby Islands

Not far from Samet there are even smaller uninhabited islands, which can be reached by speedboat in 10 minutes. As a rule, tourists are brought here for varied recreation and water activities. This excursion is one of the most popular among guests of Samet Island and its cost is approximately the same in all travel agencies - around 17 USD (600 THB) per person for a 5-6 hour trip around the small wonderful islands. Typically, such a trip will show you as many as six different islands, most of which are famous for their clean beaches and untouched nature, but Ko Kudi and Ko Ta Lu have distinctive features, which is why they are more famous.

• Ko Kudi- an uninhabited island, part of the National Park, therefore entry for visitors from Samet will not require additional payment. Snow-white beaches, the absence of stones near the shore and convenient entry into the water make Kudi attractive for beach relaxation. The purpose of the visit is definitely snorkeling - the opportunity to swim with a mask and snorkel. As a bonus, there are several vantage points from which a wonderful sea panorama opens.
• Ko Ta Lu- paired with Kudi, most often excursions are conducted to both islands. A distinctive feature of this lovely place is an interesting natural feature - a stone arch washed by the sea waves. The underwater world is distinguished by its richness; fish swim almost close to the shore, especially in rocky areas.

Both islands are worth a couple of hours, if only to blissfully lie on the beach under the palm trees and enjoy the amazing clear water.

Food. What to try

On Koh Samet, the gastronomic issue is taken very seriously, otherwise it is unclear why the number of establishments exceeds the number of tourists. There is no obvious division into budget and expensive restaurants. The price range is approximately the same - 6 USD (200 THB) for two will make you full and satisfied. Popular beaches abound with all kinds of cafes - from Ao Karang to Ao Pa Cha itself, the question of finding food will definitely not arise. Every hotel on the shore has its own restaurant, even in an empty one. hotel complex They will feed you well - I checked it for myself.

If you prefer to buy food from shops and cook yourself, then you will have to get to the local village or Na Nai Pier, where the two largest supermarkets are located. But mostly all over the island you can find only small shops and fruit stalls.

Seafood is available absolutely everywhere, it’s plentiful, tasty, and inexpensive. And you won’t have to look for traditional Thai pancakes (these are pancakes made from rice flour with a crazy variety of fillings, which are prepared in front of you) - during the day’s heat, carts with pancakes hide under palm trees along the shore, and at nightfall they drive out onto the sand. Honestly, we had delicious food everywhere, you can find whatever your heart desires - freshly brewed coffee, desserts, fish and other delicacies. Probably, any food will seem tastier if you look at the surface of the water.

In general, on this island the service and gastronomic diversity fully justify the opinion that local kitchen is distinguished by its originality. You will definitely find your favorite among something very traditional, for example:

• Few people have not yet heard of Thai Tom-yama- the unique taste of this spicy soup will be remembered for a long time. There are a lot of varieties of this dish, for those who prefer meat or vice versa - a vegetarian option, there is something of their own.
• Of course, incomparable fruits! I believe that tasting an endless list of fruits should be part of the program. They can but buy them in any shop along the road, on the beach (here they will be cut up and in a convenient glass), in supermarkets and restaurants.
• Seafood grilled, in salads, with noodles or rice - fresh and delicious in any form. It was Thailand that made me a fan of squid and shrimp.

Read more about Thai cuisine in.

Safety. What to watch out for

You shouldn’t expect any special dangers on Samet - I traveled in the company of my fearless friend, with whom we walked the length and breadth of the island. And night walks were a familiar ritual for us. Thais are hospitable people, accustomed to sleeping in a hammock outside. So I looked rather strange with my habit of bolting the bungalow door and covering the windows at night.