How to Get to Koh Samet from Bangkok?

Koh Samet is a little hidden gem of an island off the coast of Rayong, a beachside town near Pattaya. With its idyllic beaches, chill atmosphere, and lively nightlife scene, there are plenty of things to do in Koh Samet. However, going from Bangkok to Koh Samet can be little confusing given the island nature.

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What Transport Options Do You Have?

minibus bangkok to rayong — *One of the mini busses that will take you from Bangkok to Rayong*

While you could technically travel part of the journey there by plane or train, all modes of transport will boil down to you having to get on a car and a boat. So basically the transportation options from Bangkok to Koh Samet are quite limited.

However, despite the transportation limitations, getting to Koh Samet is actually pretty easy and the journey will be in 2 parts:

Traveling from Bangkok to Rayong
Traveling from Rayong to Koh Samet

Traveling from Bangkok to Rayong

google map of journey from bangkok to rayong — *Ban Phe Pier is located about 20kms further away from the main town of Rayong*

The journey from Bangkok to Rayong is approximately 190km with the total travel time taking anywhere from 2 - 4 hours depending on your mode of transport.

Part 1 of your journey is having to reach Ban Phe Pier, Rayong. Ban Phe Pier is where you will board a ferry or speedboat to get to Koh Samet island. There are few transportation options you can take:

Bus / Minivan (Recommended)

I mostly recommend people to take the Bus or Minivan as it is the most comfortable way to get there. The buses and vans are all air conditioned and the service is excellent, the price is also affordable coming in at just 300 THB for a ticket. You can pre book a ticket for Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier here or at the widget below.

Depending on the ticket you purchased the bus will leave from either Mo Chit’s New Bus Terminal or Ekkamai Bus Terminal.

The Ekkamai Bus Terminal is easier to reach as it is directly under the Ekkamai BTS Station. While the Mo Chit Terminal will require you to hop on a motorbike or taxi after exiting from the Mo Chit BTS station.

The journey can be a bit long, taking 3.5 hours, but I would still recommend this option for people without personal cars.

Personal or Rental Car

Renting a car, or using your own car is a convenient mode of transport and is great if you plan on stopping at various locations along the way or are traveling at a leisurely pace. But it could be a hassle when you are crossing over from Rayong to Koh Samet as there aren’t ferries that will take your car there, you’ll have to park your car at Ban Phe Pier for an extra cost.

You can find rental cars at various dealers around Bangkok for about 700 THB per day or you can pre book a rental car here at a very competitive price.

The journey will take you just under 3 hours if you drive straight to Ban Phe Pier without stopping.

Taxi (Not Recommended)

Just do not take a taxi or any personal ride service like Grab, it’s expensive and frankly not a good use of money. The price can range anywhere from 1500 - 2500+ THB, however if you pre book a ticket from here, then the the experience is a more comfortable as the taxis are owned by a private company. However the price is still ridiculous.

If you do choose to use a taxi the journey will take approximately the same time as using a personal car (3 hours).

Plane

Traveling to Ban Phe Pier by plane is cumbersome as the nearest airport is U-Tapao airport which is 60km away from Ban Phe Pier and 30km away form Pattaya City.

So once you disembark from your flight you’ll still need to make your way to Ban Phe Pier either by car or some other means.

If you do choose to board a plane, the journey will take approximately 4 hours and will cost about 3,500 THB.

Rayong to Koh Samet

The second part of the journey is from Ban Phe Pier, Rayong to Nadan Pier, Koh Samet. You have 2 options and both are boats. I don’t have any concrete recommendations as they are all up to your preference but I personally take the ferry as it is cheaper.

You’ll be able to purchase boat tickets directly from one of the many vendors at Ban Phe Pier, Rayong, be wary as there are quite a few scammers about and the atmosphere is quite confusing and chaotic

You can also pre book tickets at the links I have provided below, less hassle, straight to the point, and always at the best price.

Speedboat

Arguably the most fun way to get to Nadan Pier, a speedboat ride.

The journey will take about 15 minutes and the cost is 200 THB per person for a one way trip.

A thing to note is that the speedboats operate 24 hours a day, so you won’t have to worry about being on a strict schedule.

You can pre book a ticket at this link, or purchase a ticket at one of the many vendors at Ban Phe Pier

Ferries

Ferries are slow taking about 40 minutes to reach Nadan Pier, however this is balanced by the fact that the price is cheap coming in at 70 THB for a one way trip.

The ferries operate on a tight schedule, with a ferry often leaving port once ever hour. Also, ferry service will stop at 6PM, so be sure to plan your schedules accordingly

You can pre book a ticket at this link, or purchase a ferry ticket at one of the many vendors at Ban Phe Pier

Looking for Things to Do in Koh Samet?

Ultimate Koh Samet Travel Guide - All the things you know about everything in Koh Samet
Snorkeling in Koh Samet - Visit up to 9 islands and snorkel amongst the fishes and coral
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price

Recommended Hotels and Resorts on Koh Samet

Paradee - A luxury villa-style resort with free standing bathtubs
Sai Kaew Beach Resort - A modern resort with 3 outdoor pools and 2 beachfront restaurants.
Samed Villa Resort- Cozy rooms with motorbike rentals.
Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa - Bungalow-style resort with Thai massage and spas.
Ao Prao Resort - Resorts with a hiking and biking trail through Koh Samet’s mountains.

Useful Resources for Traveling in Thailand

Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Thailand
4G/5G SIM Card - 8 days, 15GB, Important for staying connected while in Thailand
Private Airport Transfers - Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city without worry
Best Bangkok Hostels - A list of the best hostels to stay for cheap and meet new friends