This place is popular in the kingdom. Thais and guests of the country like to go here for vacation. This is due to the picturesque nature , beaches with the best sand in Thailand, comfortable living conditions - the best hotels in Samet receive many positive reviews from guests. Here you can relax on the beaches or spend time more actively.
✔️ A bit of chronology and facts
The island was settled in the 13th century by sailors fleeing from enemies. They did not live here for long. In the 19th century, the famous Thai poet Sunthorn Phu sang of Samet in his work, which made this place famous among the locals. Inspired by the poem, another master created a sculpture of the characters from its plot. Today, visitors to the island can admire the image of the Prince and the Mermaid.
Resort fame came here in the 70s of the last century. First, Thais began to come here, and then foreigners learned about this heavenly place. There are not as many tourists here as at the more famous resorts of the country, but you can’t call this place deserted either.
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✔️ Entertainment Features
People come here to relax on picturesque beaches, enjoy water sports , explore bright coral gardens, and meet the inhabitants of the underwater world and emerald jungles. The island has both developed areas and wild places.
An additional option will be trips to restaurants on the island and Rayong province, located 9 km away. Fishing plays an important role in the region's economy, so it is no surprise that some of the best seafood restaurants are located here. You can also visit architectural and natural monuments on the mainland. Prices for a holiday on Samet are not the highest in the country. The cost depends on the chosen place of residence and the number of desired entertainments.
✔️ Possible transfer options
The island is located approximately 220 km from Bangkok, where there are two international airports. This city is the main transport hub of the country. People fly here from many parts of the world. The road is quite long and with transfers, if you choose public transport for the trip, it is better to use a rented car or order an individual transfer. It is organized by the host company or hotel, if possible.
✔️ Weather conditions
The archipelago, which includes Samet, differs from the rest of the country in its driest climate. The wet season here lasts from May to July. And even in these months there is less rain here than in the same Rayong, whose coast is located nearby. Therefore, you can find and select a tour online to Samet all year round. If you want to be sure of the weather, then it is better not to come in the rainy season. Despite the aridity, the island is covered with dense greenery. But drinking water has to be brought from the mainland.
✔️ What to bring back from your trip
Samet is not at all suitable for shopping. It is also about the price, since everything is brought here from the island, the goods are more expensive. The range is quite small - beach clothes, snacks, standard souvenirs. You can buy a sarong - part of the traditional clothing. For larger purchases, it is better to go to Pattaya. It is 88 km from the island. There you will find shopping centers, shops, markets and a wide variety of goods. It is worth visiting the floating market, where everything is located on the water, and you need to move along the shopping canals on boats, which is already an interesting adventure. In this city you can find ordinary things and original souvenirs - crocodile meat, handicrafts, clothes, exotic fruits, etc.
✔️ Search and selection of tours online to Samet, reasons to buy a tour or a trip
This island is suitable for both young people who love active leisure and for those who prefer passive time spent on the shore.
▶️ Beach holidays
Relaxation on the warm tropical coast is the main reason to buy a tour to Samet. The island has many cozy bays, and there are also spacious beaches.
The most popular is the east coast. This is 7 km of white sandy shore. Along it there are bars, hotels, beaches, and the island's nightlife is concentrated. The west coast is suitable for those who like privacy. The coast is rocky, there is only one sandy beach. The southern part is not developed in terms of tourism. There are no strong currents around, so swimming is safe. The entrance to the water is smooth, suitable for relaxing with children, the sea is transparent and clean. The island is quite small and covers an area of 13.1 km. It can be walked around in two hours, so it does not really matter where exactly you will stay. Among the beaches, we can highlight:
◼️ Hat Sai Kaew is the longest on the island. It occupies 1 km of coast. Width - 30 m. This is the most popular place among tourists. They are attracted by the active atmosphere, a large number of shops, bars, hotels, cafes. You can go windsurfing, water skiing, sailing catamarans, banana boats.
◼️ Ao Hin Khok is located next to the previous beach and is separated from it by a rocky ledge. It is quieter and cleaner here. It is considered one of the most beautiful on Samet.
◼️ Ao Wong Deuan is another noisy place with bars and restaurants. Nearby is the secluded Ao Cho beach .
◼️ Ao Nuan shows what the island was like before the influx of tourists. You can get to this wild place only on foot. Here you will find unity with nature - there is no infrastructure on the rocky shore.
◼️ Ao Prao is best suited for watching the sunset. There are good restaurants and quite expensive hotels here.
Those who wish are offered to visit neighboring islands or the beaches of Rayong province.
▶️ Nature
Picturesque landscapes and protected areas are another reason to buy a tour to Samet. The island is part of the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Marine Park. There are 10 islands in the reserve, Cape Khao Laem, located on the mainland, and Mae Rampueng Beach, also located on the "mainland". The area of the park is 131 km². Underwater, you can meet cuttlefish, parrot fish and other exotic marine inhabitants. On land, there are mouse deer, flying foxes, reef herons, Asian owls, several species of hawks and monkeys, tropical butterflies, etc.
On the neighboring islands, you can enjoy wild landscapes, swim on deserted beaches, walk through dense jungle.
On the mainland, in Rayong Province, there is another reserve - Khao Chamao-Khao Wong. Here you will find forested mountains where you can meet Asian elephants, representatives of several species of monkeys and deer, reptiles, and a large number of birds. Among the animals living here, there are rare and endemic species. The park is also famous for its waterfalls. The largest is Khao Chamao, consisting of 8 cascades. They stretch for 3 km. You can also go on a mountain hike. The highest peak is at 1024 m.
▶️ Additional entertainment
There is not much variety of leisure activities here. The province, which includes the island, is also not a very active place. People who love a quiet holiday in nature come here. There are no classic attractions here. Perhaps you can go and see the statue of the characters from the poem mentioned above. The sculpture is located on the beach of Hat Sai Kev.
The local cuisine will be an important addition to the holiday. The recipes are mostly based on seafood. The dishes are simple, but incredibly tasty. They offer fresh fish, shrimp, squid and other seafood. The only local specialist is fried seahorses. There are also restaurants with European cuisine. Often the establishments hold entertainment events, fire shows, and in the evenings you can have dinner right on the beach.
If you are planning a quiet holiday, enjoying the tranquility and tropical nature, this place is perfect for you. You can also buy a weekend tour to Samet, and then go to more lively resorts of Thailand.
