To get to Koh Samet from Bangkok, travel by road to Ban Phe, the pier town on the Rayong coast, and take a boat across. The island is about 220 km southeast of Bangkok; ferries from Ban Phe take about 40 minutes to Na Dan, the island's main pier, and speedboats can run straight to individual beaches in around 10 minutes. There is no airport or rail link on the island, so every trip ends with the boat.
Most of Koh Samet is a national park, which shapes the arrival: visitors pay a park entry fee when they land, and single-use plastics are banned. Plan for both before you pack.
Step 1: Bangkok to Ban Phe
By bus or minivan
Buses and minivans run from Bangkok toward Rayong and Ban Phe, and the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road is the usual starting point for the eastern seaboard. Schedules and operators change, so confirm the day's departures and the drop-off point at the terminal: you want a service that ends at the piers in Ban Phe rather than in Rayong town.
By car or taxi
A car is the simplest option for a group or a family with luggage. For a Bangkok taxi hired for a trip outside the city, the Department of Land Transport allows a fare agreed with the driver instead of the meter, and the passenger pays expressway tolls, so settle the price and the tolls before leaving. Many hotels and transfer companies also sell a car to the pier.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport
Airports of Thailand's list of intercity buses from Suvarnabhumi does not include Rayong or Ban Phe. The nearest listed destinations on this coast are Pattaya, Si Racha and Chonburi, so arriving travelers usually go by car or change in Pattaya. Our guide to how far Pattaya is from Bangkok covers the airport buses.
Step 2: Ban Phe to Koh Samet by boat
Ban Phe has several piers selling boat tickets to the island. You have two basic choices:
- Passenger ferry to Na Dan pier on the island's northeast coast, about 40 minutes. From Na Dan, Hat Sai Kaeo, the island's longest beach, is the nearest.
- Speedboat direct to a beach, around 10 minutes. Smaller piers at Ao Phrao, Ao Wong Duean, Ao Thian and Ao Wai handle resort transfers and excursion boats.
If your hotel is on a beach away from Na Dan, ask it about transfers before you travel: some resorts arrange boats from Ban Phe, which saves a second ride across the island. Buy tickets only at pier counters or through your hotel.
Step 3: National park entry
Almost all of Koh Samet, except the port village of Na Dan, belongs to Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, declared in 1981 and run by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The park covers 131 square kilometers of land and sea, including Khao Laem Ya headland and Mae Ramphueng Beach on the mainland and several smaller islands.
Visitors pay a one-off park entry fee on arrival, and foreign visitors pay a different rate from Thai nationals. We could not reach the Department of National Parks' website to confirm the current rates on the day we checked, so we do not quote a figure here; check the department's site or ask at the park checkpoint. The department has banned single-use plastics, including bags, food containers, cups, straws and cutlery, from all national parks since 2022, so bring a reusable bottle and bag.
Where to stay and which beach
Most of the beaches are on the east coast, including Hat Sai Kaeo, Ao Phai and Ao Wong Duean, and they are the most developed. Ao Phrao is the main beach on the quieter west coast. Na Dan village has shops, a clinic, a police station and convenience stores near the main pier. Koh Samet is a popular weekend escape from Bangkok, so book rooms and boats ahead for weekends and Thai public holidays.
Before you go
- Leave Bangkok early. The drive and the boat make this a half-day journey, so aim to reach Ban Phe with plenty of the day left.
- Carry cash for pier tickets and the park fee.
- For other coastal trips, compare how far Bangkok is from the beach and how to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok.
Spending a night in Bangkok first? See our pick of Bangkok hotels.
Sources: Wikipedia: Ko Samet, TAT Newsroom: Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Airports of Thailand: intercity buses from Suvarnabhumi, Airports of Thailand: taxi fares and the Department of Land Transport notice. Checked September 26, 2026.
About 220 km southeast of Bangkok, off the coast of Rayong province. The boat trip from Ban Phe to the nearest beach is about 10 km.
Passenger ferries to Na Dan pier take about 40 minutes. Speedboats run to individual beaches in around 10 minutes.
Visitors pay a one-off entry fee to Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park on arrival, with different rates for Thai and foreign visitors. We could not confirm the current rates with the Department of National Parks on September 26, 2026, so check its website or ask at the park checkpoint.
Not directly. Airports of Thailand's list of intercity buses from Suvarnabhumi does not include Rayong or Ban Phe. Its nearest listed route is Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., at approximately 140 to 190 baht, as listed on September 26, 2026.
Yes. For a Bangkok taxi hired outside the city, the Department of Land Transport allows a fare agreed with the driver instead of the meter, and passengers pay expressway tolls. Agree the price before leaving.
No. The Department of National Parks has banned single-use plastics, including bags, food containers, cups, straws and cutlery, in all national parks since 2022. Bring reusable alternatives.
