The small island of Samet, located in the Gulf of Thailand, belongs to the province of Rayong. It is 200km from Bangkok, 70km from Pattaya, and 6.5km from the "big land" (Ban Pe town).
On the territory of Samet, there is officially only one settlement: the village of Nadan. The island does not have its own airport. Samet is only accessible by water from the mainland of the Kingdom of Thailand.
How to get to Samet from Ban Pe
From the mainland, ferries, boats, launches, and ships to Samet depart from the piers of Ban Pe town:
Nuanthip Pier;
Taruaphe;
Sribanphe.
The distance between the piers is about 250 meters. There are ticket offices on the piers where you can buy bus tickets to the nearest major town of Rayong, as well as Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket.
Transportation arrives at Nadan, the main pier in the northeast of Ko Samet. You can also rent a boat, with prices starting from THB 2,500.
Travel time: by ferry - about half an hour, by speedboat - 10 minutes.
Fare: from 50 THB by ferry and from 200 THB by speedboat. You can buy tickets to Samet Island directly at the pier.
Operation schedule water transportation: from 8:00 to 18:00. Boats depart every hour.
How to get from Bangkok to Ban Pe
There are several ways to get from Bangkok to Ban Pe by bus on a budget. Then from the Ban Pe piers, it's easy to travel to Samet by sea.
Bus
No transfers
From Bangkok's Ekamai East Bus Terminal, it is possible to get to Ban Pe without a transfer.
Travel time: 3.5 hours.
Fare: from 150 THB depending on the class of bus.
Buy tickets at the ticket office at the bus station or on the website.
Through Rayong
Because of the lack of direct flights, it may be necessary to get to Ban Pe with a connecting flight. The best option is to travel from Bangkok's Ekamai East Bus Terminal via Rayong.
Travel time: 4 hours.
Fare: from 130 THB from Bangkok to Rayong, 25 THB from Rayong to Ban Pe.
From Kaosan Road
The unofficial bus station near Kaosan Road is a great way to get to Ban Pe in comfort by minibus. Tickets are sold at Kaosan Road and at ticket offices located throughout Bangkok. There are no pre-booking sites for transportation from Kaosan.
Travel time: 2.5 hours.
Fare: from 300 THB.
Taxi
For families with children or companies with a lot of luggage, as well as tourists who value their time, the ideal option to get to Samet from Bangkok is a cab. The driver will take customers to Ban Pe, from where the ferry to Koh Samet departs every hour.
Travel time: 1.5 hours.
Cost: from 2000 TNV.
How to get from Pattaya to Samet
The most popular way to get to Samet Island from Pattaya is by minibus from one of the local companies. But there are alternatives, such as taking transportation from Bangkok to Rayong and passing by Pattaya.
The 35 Group Pattaya bus
The 35 Group Pattaya office is located 50 meters from the intersection of Third and South Streets. The carrier offers a comprehensive travel option: both a bus to Rayong or Ban Pe, and a ferry from the pier of these populated cities directly to Ko Samet.
For current schedules and fares, visit the website.
Travel time: about 1 hour.
Cost: from 270 THB one way, from 500 THB for direct and return tickets with an exact date, from 550 THB for two tickets with an open-date return ticket.
Bus via the Sukhumvit highway
The Sukhumvit highway is traditionally used for transportation from Bangkok to Rayong. You can catch the bus at the bus stop at the intersection of South Street and Sukhumvit Highway.
Travel time: 1.5 hours.
Cost: from 120 THB.
Taxi
Taxi is a great option for those who don't want to adjust to bus schedules. Plus, it can be hailed to any point on the Pattaya map, and you don't have to lug your luggage to the bus station.
How to get from Phuket or Samui to Samet
Airplane
It is quite quick to get to Ko Samet from Phuket or Samui by airplane. Tickets must be booked to U-Tapao Airport. It is located 45 minutes by car from Ban Pe.
For up-to-date flight schedules and ticket prices, visit the Phuket Airport website.
Total travel time: 2 hours.
Cost of travel: from 700 THB.
Bus
Taking a bus to Ko Samet from Phuket (connecting via Rayong) is a great way to save money, but takes a decent amount of time. Minivans to Rayong depart from Bus Terminal 2, the new bus terminal building.
Travel time: from 17 hours.
Cost: from 200 THB.
Flight schedule to Rayong: daily 10:00, 15:00, 18:00.
Although Koh Samet is a fairly remote island from the mainland, it is relatively easy and quick to get to. The scenic nature, excellent climate and some of Thailand
