Going on a Snorkel Diving and Island Hopping Adventure Tour at Koh Samet

Thailand
Written By James Kaewanan
Going on a Snorkel Diving and Island Hopping Adventure Tour at Koh Samet

That is not a dead body in the background, that’s just me looking at the sea urchins below

I’ve recently went on a little Koh Samet excursion with my girlfriend. While Koh Samet is a quaint little island with plenty of things to do, our main goal was to go diving and island hopping to see the beautiful corals and fishes. I mean, you can’t go on a weekend Island getaway without partaking in some scenic ocean adventures now can we?

To be honest, we could’ve gone to one of the many other popular islands in Thailand but Koh Samet was untrodden territory for us. Plus, Koh Samet is actually a hidden gem as not many tourists know or care about this island, which is a shame(?) as Koh Samet is truly a wonderful island. If you are looking to take a trip to Koh Samet yourself, then I’ve written an Ultimate Travel Guide that contains every bit of information you need to plan your weekend getaway to Koh Samet.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. By clicking on the links and purchasing the product, I will receive a partial commission at no cost to you. All of these products are ones that I fully trust and recommend with my heart. Thank you for your support!

Booking the Snorkeling Tour

Sinsamut group tour website

The 5 island tour package that my girlfriend and I booked through Sinsamut Group Tours

*Disclaimer: I AM NOT SPONSORED BY SINSAMUT GROUP TOURS

There are may businesses providing the same tours, literally, exactly the same just a different logo and staff uniform.

So in the end, what will really make your decision is the presentation and the reviews left by previous customers. Through our research we decided that Sinsamut Group Tour provided the best looking offer.

Sinsamut provides different tours but the main difference is how many islands you’ll be visiting

My girlfriend and I had chosen to go on the 5 Islands tour.

All of the tour packages include:

  • Snorkeling equipment

  • Fruits (Pineapple, Watermelon)

  • Drinking water

  • Snacks

  • Life vest

  • Floating board

  • Anti travel sickness tablets

  • Free underwater photography service

Exploring the 5 Paradise Islands

koh samet pier

The skies were very cloudy that day, it wasn’t a beautiful day but that’s not going to stop us

Our tour was almost over before it even began.

The weather on the day of our diving tour was terrible, strong winds and heavy rain was the mood. Our tour was suppose to be at 2:00PM but the heavy downpour started at mid-day and continued through the early afternoon.

We considered cancelling altogether, to which we would get a refund, but at around 2:00PM the weather started calming down.

Luckily at the very last minute, the tour operator was kind enough to let us reschedule our tour to 3:00PM and we made it in time, and so our Koh Samet Island Hopping and Diving tour continues.

riding on speedboat to nadan pier koh samet

Imagine riding a speedboat on a hot and sunny day, absolutely blissful

We boarded a wooden speedboat that, despite its old construction and chipped paint, actually felt quite safe.

The tour operators gave us the usual safety notices and told us to wear our life jackets, etc… Standard safety briefings that should be expected on all of these tours.

The operators were friendly as well, offering to take pictures, striking up small talk, and cracking a few jokes with us and the rest of the passengers. Overall the vibe was very cozy, which was very much appreciated as for the next 3 hours, these will be our new friends.

me pointing at kham island sign

If the giant wooden sign didn’t give it away, let me point at it to show you this is Kham Island

Our first island was Koh Kham, which also happened to be our second island as well. That’s right, Koh Kham is actually connected to a Koh Pla-Theen via a land bridge that appears during low tide.

I felt cheated honestly.

The rest of the tour went fine, with us making one long stop at Koh Kudee to enjoy our snacks which were slices of watermelon and pineapple, and some sugary crackers.

Diving Amongst the Sea Urchins

diving snorkelling surrounded by fishes

Could you imagine if these were piranhas? Don’t worry there are no piranhas in these waters

Our snorkeling and diving destination was at Koh Tam Tai Khang Khao, which actually stood for Bat Cave Island.

The diving was perfect, snorkeling gear was provided and you are required to wear a life jacket at all times. For those who don’t know how to swim, the tour operators will drag you along with a giant pool floaty.

snorkeling surrounded by fishes and coral

I tried touching those corals, they stick to you, it’s gross but interesting at the same time

We spent quite a good while diving, I couldn’t recall how long but it felt more than enough.

You are able to see all sorts of different coral and sea creatures. What I didn’t expect was there were armies of sea urchins scattered throughout the coral. The water wasn’t that deep either, you could stand on some of these rocks, so you’ll need to be careful with your feet or you’ll step on an urchin.

Overall for the price of 500 THB, this Koh Samet Diving and Island Hopping Tour was well worth it. Although the weather wasn’t the greatest, that wasn’t the fault of the tour itself.

Details About Koh Samet

Koh Samet is a little known island off the coast of Rayong full of amazing and relaxing experiences. If you don’t like the crowded and tourist-y islands in Thailand, Koh Samet is a great place to go for your next weekend vacation. You can read more about all the things that Koh Samet has to offer at my Ultimate Koh Samet Travel Guide.

How to Travel to Koh Samet from Pattaya

To travel to Koh Samet from Pattaya you’ll need to book a minivan or taxi to get from Pattaya Town to Ban Phe Pier in Rayong, from there you'll need to purchase a ferry or speed boat ticket to travel to Nadan Pier in Koh Samet.

Part 1 - Pattaya to Ban Phe Pier Rayong

  • Taxi - A little expensive but really fast and comfortable (1.5 hours)

  • Minivan - Cheap but slow (3-4 hours)

Part 2 - Ban Phe Pier Rayong to Nadan Pier Koh Samet

  • Ferry - Cheap but slow (45 minutes)

  • Speedboat - Fast but expensive, also fun (15 minutes)

Recommended Hotels and Resorts on Koh Samet

These are some hotels and resorts that I recommend you stay at for the most relaxing experience. Each of these accommodations are known to provide the best service and comfort in the entire island.

  • Paradee - A luxury resort located on Ao Kiew beach, rooms are villas with some even including free standing bathtubs for ultimate relaxation.

  • Sai Kaew Beach Resort - A fancy modern resort with 3 outdoor pools and 2 beachfront restaurants, located on the busiest beach on Koh Samet, Sai Kaew Beach.

  • Samed Villa Resort- Cozy rooms located on Ao Phai beach, a major plus here is that motorbike rentals are available for you to easily travel around the island.

  • Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa - Located in the expensive area of Koh Samet, Ao Prao beach, this bungalow style resort has all the luxuries you need form Thai massages and spas to some of the best restaurants on Koh Samet.

  • Ao Prao Resort - One of the few resorts that offer a hiking and biking trail through Koh Samet’s mountains and tropical rainforests. Plus a wine cellar is available ;)

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James Kaewanan
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