Ultimate Koh Samet Travel Guide: Things to Do, Accommodations, Transportation!

Ultimate Koh Samet Travel Guide: Accommodations, Activities, Everything You Need to Know!

Koh Samet is the ultimate weekend island paradise getaway.

Sitting on the Gulf of Thailand in the province of Rayong, Koh Samet is located 220km away from Bangkok and only 75km away from Pattaya and is a popular destination for locals who are looking to escape to lush beaches and ignore the chaos of city life.

Koh Samet is little 6.5km long island is known for it’s idyllic beaches, deliciously fresh seafood, and relaxing bars. Being located conveniently close to Bangkok, many locals such as myself often travel here as a weekend getaway.

The best thing is that this island is a hidden gem and is not known to a large number of tourists. If you are searching for another hidden gem and are located in Pattaya then might I also recommend you take a trip to Koh Larn which has a similar island paradise vibe as Koh Samet.

For being such a small island there are actually quite a lot of things to do in Koh Samet, so if you are planning a weekend getaway to this picturesque island paradise, then join me in this ultimate travel guide as I bring you through all the things you need to know to enjoy your time in Koh Samet.

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How to Travel to Koh Samet

minibus van to ban phe pier koh samet from bangkok

One of the modern minivans that will take you to Ban Phe pier from Bangkok.

Getting to Koh Samet is actually pretty easy, the journey will be in 2 parts, the first will be the bus/minivan, and the second will be via ferry or speedboat.

I’m going to assume that you will begin your journey at Bangkok.

Part 1 - Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier

The first part is traveling form Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier, Rayong which is where you will board your ferry. There are a few options for you to take, 220km form Bangkok means that the journey will take 2-3 hours by car:

  • Personal Car - Can be tiring, but you can drive leisurely at your own pace.

  • Taxi (NOT recommended at all) - overpriced at 1500 - 2500 THB

  • Train - most economical but unpleasant experience, also takes the longest time.

  • Plane - expensive, cumbersome, and nearest airport is 30km from Pattaya City, which means you will still need to make your way to Ban Phe Pier.

  • Bus / Minivan (Recommended) - Cheap and good service, little to no hassle, air conditioned.

I travelled to Koh Samet with my partner and with us being broke young adults, we went with the bus/minivan option as that was the most convenient and cheap at around 200 THB (5.75 USD) or less. 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.

I highly recommend you purchase a ticket in advance as the bus can fill up quickly. The tickets are cheap and is well worth it for the comfort you are getting.

You can book a cheap ticket for a minivan at the widget below or you can click on the links above.

nadan pier and pisuea statue

Approaching Nadan Pier, you can’t miss this great statue of a female Giant, Pisuea Samet.

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

From Ban Phe Pier you have a few options for boats heading to Koh Samet:

  • Speedboat - 15 Minute ride, 200 THB (5.75 USD) per person (one way trip)

    • Speedboats operate 24 hours

  • Ferry - 40 Minute ride, 70 THB (1.00 USD) per person (one way trip)

    • Ferries operate on a schedule and terminates at 6pm

Note that there are multiple companies and ticket booths that operate these boats, so prices can vary.

I recommend taking a ferry as it is cheaper, but to be honest it’s all up to you. You could take a ferry to, and a speedboat back, so you can have the best of both worlds.

P.S. we purchased a two way ferry ticket but somehow we manage to get on a speedboat on the way to Koh Samet… Due to the hectic nature of the whole process, the staff accidentally led us to the speedboat, if you feel lucky then you can try out your luck.

Top 5 Best Resorts and Accommodations

Paradee

paradee resort hotel

Paradee’s huts include a deck with chairs and a private pool.

This breezy resort is situated near Ao Kiew, this serene luxury resort is perfect for those who want to rest in peace and quiet. The well-lit rooms offer complimentary Wi-Fi, satellite TVs, and facilities for making tea and coffee, along with mini-fridges. The garden and beachfront cottages are clean and tropically decorated while provide scenic vistas of the Gulf of Thailand. Some villas even have freestanding bathtubs and roof decks, as well as terraces and beach views!

Google Maps Rating: 4.8 / 5 (430+ Reviews)

Phone: 03 864 4283

Location: Koh Samet 76 Moo 4 4 Tumbol Phe, Phe, Muang, Rayong 21160

Price: 17,000 THB / Night

Sai Kaew Beach Resort

sai kaew beach resort

I can’t get over this gym over the pool bar situation they got going on there.

Sai Kaew Beach Resort sits on the Sai Kaew Beach, the best thing about this resort is that it offers not 1 but 3 outdoor pools as well as 2 beachfront restaurants. I especially like their architecturally unique fitness room that sits atop of one of the pools.

The rooms are all modern and come with the amenities you expect.

If you are looking for food, their Zea Restaurant serves Thai and international dishes, while La Luna restaurant offers Italian specialty dishes.

Google Maps Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1990+ Reviews)

Phone: 03 864 4195

Location: 8/1 Moo 4 Tumbol Phe Koh Samet Koh Samet Rayong 21160

Price: 4500 THB / Night

Samed Villa Resort

samed villa resort

The rooms here are very simple and evokes a vintage traditional Thai style design.

Samed Villa Resort sits near Ao Phai and Tubtim beach, a plus is that this resort also offers bike rentals to easily travel around the island.

The rooms are nice and cozy with designs that showcase the relaxing wooden Thai style houses.

The resort also has water sporting facilities for you to enjoy. With all the facilities and amenities you are getting, Samed Villa Resort is a bang for you buck and is one of the cheaper options that I recommend.

Google Maps Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1440+ Reviews)

Phone: 03 864 4094

Location: 89 Moo 4, Ao Phai, Koh Samet Ban Phe, Muang, Rayong 21160

Price: 1700 THB / Night

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa

la vimarn cottages and spa

Tis fountain is just wow.

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa is located next to Ao Prao Beach and they probably have the best outdoor pool out of this entire list, not only that, their rooms are also beach style bungalows that are beautifully decorated with traditional wooden furnitures and fabrics.

Their luxury massage and spas are also a great indulgence, the Dhivarin Spa has traditional Thai massage packages as well as beauty treatments.

If you are looking for a relaxing massage experience along the beaches of Koh Samet then this resort is the one for you.

Google Maps Rating: 4.7 / 5 (440+ Reviews)

Phone: 03 864 4104

Location: Koh Samet 40/11, Phe, Muang, Rayong 21160

Price: 5600 THB / Night

Ao Prao Resort

That’s a luxury resort if I’ve ever seen one.

Ao Prao Resort sits on Ao Prao Beach and is surrounded by luscious tropical vegetation. This is one of the few resorts that offer a hiking and biking trail through Koh Samet’s mountains and tropical rainforests.

And for those of you who are looking to relax the night away, a wine cellar and a bar are also available.

Google Maps Rating: 4.6 / 5 (480+ Reviews)

Phone: 03 864 4100

Location: Koh Samet 60 Moo 4 Tumbol Phe,, Amphur Muang, Rayong 21160

Price: 4000 THB / Night

Getting Around Koh Samet Island

green rod song thaew pick up trucks of koh samet

Do you think these guys have part time jobs as Grab Delivery drivers?

Transportation around the island is easy and quite convenient. Koh Samet is only 6.5km long and all the attractions, beaches, bars, and restaurants, are all clustered near each other making traveling between each destination a breeze.

Walking

The most obvious mode of transport is to walk, while walking can be an enjoyable experience, I doubt you want to walk the whole length of the island especially if you want to travel further south to reach some of the beaches there such as Ao Pakarang.

Not to mention that the south of Koh Samet is quite mountainous so you’ll be hiking rather than walking. But walking within or around the main Koh Samet town is perfectly doable.

Motorbike

A super popular method of traversing Koh Samet is by Motorbike. This allows you to have more flexibility and speed compared to walking or using the Rod Song Thaew.

The roads in Koh Samet can be a little bumpy, further south of the island the there are many twists and turns as well as plenty of inclines and slopes, so just be careful when you are driving.

If you are looking to rent a motorbike, there are rental shops all around the island, the starting price is around 250 THB per day, most motorbike rental shops include fuel for free but subsequent refills will need to come out of your own pockets.

You can also rent motorbikes from your hotels, some hotels will include motorbikes as part of your amenities such as the Blue Moon Hotel. While some hotels you’ll need to pay extra and usually at a higher cost compared to outside motorbike rental shops.

Note that you will need to have an International Driving License to rent a motorbike, but I found that most shop owners don’t care, but do beware that there is a police presence on the Island and they may ask to check your Driver’s License from time to time.

Rod Song Thaew

If walking under the sweltering heat of the sun is not your forte or you don’t know how to drive a motorbike then the Rod Song Thaew is your best friend.

Rod Song Thaews are pickup trucks (they’re green in Koh Samet) with two rows of seating in the back, which is where the “Song Thaew” (meaning two rows) in the name comes from.

These are your equivalent of Taxis and can take you anywhere on the island. The fares depend on the distance you are traveling but usually fall within the ranges of 20 - 100 THB.

Note that you will usually be sharing your ride with a few other passengers, also if you are the first people in, the driver will usually want to wait for more people so as to not waste fuel.

Exploring the Island Paradise

nadan pier

Nadan Pier feels like I’m walking through the Death Star’s corridor.

Upon our approach to Nadan Pier at Koh Samet, we can’t help but notice a statue of a female giant at the far end of the pier. She is known as Pisuea Samet, and upon further research I learnt that there are countless other similar statues all over Thailand.

We booked a night at the Blue Moon Koh Samet, which is a small hotel located about halfway along the island’s main road. Not wanting to haul out luggage around, we opted to ride the local Rod Song Thaew to our hotel.

koh samet town

The atmosphere here just looks so peaceful and simple.

The main Koh Samet town lies on this stretch of road that reaches from Nadan Pier to Sai Kaew Beach. It’s a small town, of course, but you can spot some aspects of modernity such as a mobile phone store and a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Life is simple here.

National Park + Coral Reef Fees

Before I go further I need to tell you something IMPORTANT!

Koh Samet has a “National Park Entry Fee” which you must pay upfront before leaving Nadan Pier to enter the island. This is because the Koh Samet Archipelago area is under the National Park Department of Thailand and therefore entry fees must be collected from everyone entering the Island.

The price is 40 THB for Thais and 200 THB for foreigners, I personally think this is a rip off towards our foreigner friends but unfortunately it’s just the way Thailand works…

Once you pay up the fee you’ll receive a ticket. Use this ticket to enter the national parks (duh) and to do certain activities around the Koh Samet island cluster.

koh samet beach

Koh Samet might have the cleanest beaches I’ve ever seen.

You can’t go to an Island without taking a stroll through it’s beaches and so of course, our first item on our itinerary after checking in was to check out the beaches of Koh Samet.

You’d think that the obvious place we would go to would be Sai Kaew Beach as it is closest our hotel right?

No.

We went to Koh Samet Beach instead… Why? Well because it’s way quieter and cleaner compared to Sai Kaew Beach which is full of tourists and activity.

man and dog playing on the beach

Even the dog’s love it here.

Anyways the sand was pearl white and the ocean water was sky blue, the only thing that could’ve been better was if the sun wasn’t radiating deathly heat upon us.

my feet in the water

Crystal clear waters and pure white sand, what more could you want?

One thing I noticed about the beaches of Koh Samet was that they were quite clean, as in there weren’t a lot of trash floating around the oceans or buried in the sand. That was a huge plus that added to the tropical island atmosphere.

koh samet town at night

Koh Samet town starts coming to life during the night when the Chang Beer bottle are all opening.

I’ve only been to Koh Samet once prior to this trip but that was years ago, nowadays, the island has developed so much with new infrastructure and quality of life improvements, no doubt supported by the increase in tourism to the island.

The Beaches of Koh Samet

map of koh samet and her beaches

For such a small island there are so many beaches to explore.

Koh Samet has well over a dozen beaches, some spanning hundreds of meters in length and some only a modest few tens of meters. Nevertheless some of the beaches are quite beautiful and spectacular and are definitely places you must see while in Koh Samet.

Also you might notice that the majority of beaches here are not called “haad” (Thai word for beach), but instead they are named “ao” which means “bay”.

Anyways, whether it’s exciting water sports or relaxing beers by the sand, every single one of Koh Samet’s beaches will provide you with something to do.

Here are a few note worthy beaches for you to check out in Koh Samet:

Koh Samet Beach

The aforementioned Koh Samet Beach is a narrow, but long beach that stretches across the island. There are plenty of restaurants and bars on this beach so plenty of things to do and see. Koh Samet Beach is quite peaceful as not many tourists visit this one, so if it’s quiet seclusion that you seek while still maintaining activity then this is the best place to be.

Ao Prao

Ao Prao is the only beach located on the upper west coast of Koh Samet and is sometimes lovingly referred to as “Paradise Bay”. The Ap Prao beach area is also home to some of the most exclusive resorts and expensive restaurants on the island so if you are looking for a bit of luxury then this 200m long beachfront is for you.

Nearby is also where you can find some viewpoints where you can admire the beautiful island sunset.

This is my favorite beach out of the whole bunch.

Sai Kaew Beach

sai kaew beach

Many of the beaches here look the same, except for Sai Kaew Beach which has the most activity.

Sai Kaew Beach also known as Crystal Sand Beach is the biggest and most popular beach in Koh Samet. This beach stretches on for 900m and is packed full of activity from water sports to beachside restaurants and bars.

Here is where you will also find the Ploy Talay Restaurant (which I will talk about later), arguably the best place on the island to get fresh seafood and to witness the exciting Fire Show which I will more about later on.

Sai Kaew Beach has no shortage of things to do, most fun activities are definitely the water sports which include but are not limited to:

  • Water skiing

  • Jet skiing

  • Banana boat

  • Wind surfing

  • And many many more!

I’ll tell you more about all of these fun activities later in this guide.

Due to the popularity of this area with weekend visitors from Bangkok, it can be hard to find available hotels and accommodations here so be sure to book a hotel in advance, you can find great deals on resorts in Koh Samet here.

Ao Wai

Ao Wai is a small little beach on the south of Koh Samet, you’ll only find a single resort here so thigns won’t feel overly cluttered and busy. This bay is the perfect place if you want to seclude yourself then Ao Wai is a great place to kick back and relax your worries away.

Wong Duean Beach

Similar to Ao Prao Beach, Wong Duean Beach is popular with tourists who are looking to splurge on their holiday. The area features a market as well as plenty of shops and restaurants, the hotels and resorts in Wong Duean Beach can be on the pricy side but that is worth it because the beach’s main highlight is the amazingly beautiful crescent shaped bay which the area is within.

Ao Thian

ao thian beach

On a bright sunny day, the views and atmosphere are really scenic and gorgeous.

Ao Thian, also known as Candlelight Beach is a serene yet rocky beach which gives the area a sense of wonder and adventure. There isn’t a lot to see and do here, a few canoes can be seen and a restaurant sits above the sandy beach.

But what Ao Thian lacks in activities, it offers in seclusion and peaceful serenity.

Ao Pakarang

Ao Pakarang sits on the most southern tip of Koh Samet and is a combination of rocky cliffs and mini beachfronts. The area features the most scenic cliffside view in all of Koh Samet and is perfect if you like to take adventerous and daring looking Instagram photos.

Things to do in Koh Samet

For such a small island, there are plenty of things to do in Koh Samet. Although the activities here are pretty much the same as the other islands in Thailand, what makes Koh Samet special is the relative peaceful atmosphere compared to the other islands.

Watching the Sunset at Viewpoints all over the Island

viewpoint hut to watch the sunset

Viewpoints like these can be found everywhere on the western side of the island.

Dotted all around the island are vantage points you could go to to take a look at the gorgeous sunset. Many of these viewpoints are located in the western part of the island, in places like Ao Prao.

Some viewpoints offer a serene view of the ocean while others showcase beautiful rocky cliffside terrain. It’s all a matter of preference.

On my way to Ao Prao I stopped at this little hut to catch a glimpse of the sun setting.

Beach Activities and Water Sports

pool floaties on the beach

You can take the unicorn, I got my eyes on that duck.

As previously mentioned, Koh Samet’s beaches are home to many water sporting activities. The diversity of water sports vary between beach to beach, so if you want the full selection then head to the more popular and larger beaches like Sai Kaew Beach.

Water sporting activities include but are not limited to:

  1. Jet Skiing

    Jet skiing is a great way to experience some adrenaline, prices are around 1500 THB / 30 mins. These are available at the more popular and larger beaches. Beware of scams though as some vendors will provide you with pre-damaged jet skis and will them claim you’ve done then damage.

  2. Banana boat

    Banana boats are long blow up boats that represent you guessed it, a banana. the idea is you sit on one of these and a jet ski will tug your banana around and you’ll have to hold on for dear life. It’s like riding a roller coaster but the jet ski driver is purposefully trying to throw you overboard.

  3. Parasailing

    In Koh Samet you can find multiple beaches that offer you parasailing for those of you who are daredevils. You’ll usually find these operators on popular beaches like Sai Kaew Beach. The prices can vary but generally you should expect to spend about 1000 THB / 8 mins.

  4. Windsurfing / Sailing

    Here is something you don’t have to seek out, most beachside hotels and resorts in Koh Samet offer Windsurfing activities. If you ask the hotel they can arrange the necessary equipment and calculate the cost for you. You can especially find these activities at places like Ao Prao or Wong Duean Beach.

Usually there will be multiple vendors selling tickets to the same activity but prices can vary depending on the beach you are at.

Go on an Island Hopping + Snorkeling Tour

me posing next to koh kham sign

Wow who is that handsome guy next to that Koh Kham sign, he should be a model or something.

The highlight of my Koh Samet weekend getaway trip was definitely the Island Hopping and Snorkeling Tour. The gist is that the tour will bring you to a number of islands around the Rayong region and in some tours, there will also be islands where you can get off and snorkel around admiring the salty coral and ocean life.

Some example of Tour packages are:

  • 9 Island Hopping Tour (1500 THB/Person)

  • 6 Island Hopping + Coral Snorkeling Tour (600 THB/Person)

  • Discover Koh Samet Island Tour (400 THB/Person)

All of these tours includes snorkeling masks, lunch, fruits and snacks, and water. The tours also operate on a schedule so double check with your tour operator on what times the tour takes place.

The tour that I went on was by Sinsamut Group, and it was the 5 island tour which brought us to:

  1. Koh Kham

  2. Koh Pla-Theen

  3. Koh Kruay

  4. Koh Tam Tai Khang Khao

  5. Koh Kudee

And remember that National Park Entrance Ticket I mentioned earlier? You’ll need to bring that when you go on these island hopping tours

me snorkeling with the fishes

Sorry but the fish photobombed this picture and covered my girlfriend’s face.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less for the islands we were visiting I just wanted to go diving with the fish!

Word of warning though, there were a lot of sea urchins, so beware of where you feet are, some corals were sitting on rocks that were almost poking through the water’s surface, and on those corals definitely exists some sea urchins.

When we reached the 5th island the tour guides brought out the fruits and snacks and we enjoyed ourselves some fresh tropical pineapples and watermelons.

My tour was cut short though, we were suppose to go to our 2nd diving spot but one person on our boat was very seasick and the rest just didn’t felt like going for another dive. I was disappointed because I wanted to go for another dive :/

If you want to read more about my experience with these Koh Samet island hopping and ocean diving tours, I’ve written an article here describing my experience in more details so you’ll know what to expect.

Watch the Dazzling Fire Show

fire show at night

“Running around the ring of fire”.

Another thing you should definitely check out in Koh Samet is the Fire Show. These shows are basically buff shirtless men twirling around sticks and and ropes spewing fiery embers in a spectacular fashion.

You can observe these for free but it’s better if you are sitting down at a bar enjoying a drink while all of this is going on.

The most popular place to enjoy these Fire Shows would be at Ploy Talay restaurant at Sai Kaew Beach, although you could find these at the other beaches as well.

These shows happen during the night at around 8:00pm where the embers can shine the brightest through the night sky.

Enjoy a Relaxing Beachside Massage

mer elephant spa massage beds

Don’t come looking for happy endings here, go somewhere else please, we are a family friendly blog.

It’s not Thailand if you there is no Thai massage, and despite being a small island, Koh Samet is no exception. There are a few massage parlors around the island but the best one has to be Mer Elephant at Koh Samet Town.

The price can be a bit too expensive coming in at around 1800 THB and even 2500 THB for some packages but the price is indicative of the quality and expertise of their masseuses.

You simply can’t go on a Thai island paradise getaway without rejuvenating your aging bones via a Thai massage.

Wat Koh Samet Temple

koh samet temple wat ko kaeo phetchabun

Who could resist that smile?

Not far from the main Koh Samet Town you’ll find Wat Koh Samet also known as Wat Ko Kaeo Phetchabun. A quiet and serene temple complex surrounded by lush vegetation and lotus plants.

The center piece is the statue of the giant sitting buddha towering over you and giving you a cheeky little smile.

Foods You Must Eat

Much like everywhere else in Thailand, Koh Samet is no stranger to delicious food, and with it being an island you can expect to find that most of the food you’ll find here are seafood based. So here are some of the foods that I enjoyed on my trip to Koh Samet as well as some of the foods that you should definitely eat.

Fresh Seafood, Duh

giant grilled lobster with 4 different sauces

I won’t tell you what these sauces are because I don’t know what they are but they are tasty.

When you are on an island, especially an island in Thailand, you would be committing a great sin if you don’t eat some fresh seafood.

Koh Samet is not stranger to seafood restaurants and while every restaurant has some sort of seafood on the menu whether that’d be a Western inspired seafood spaghetti or a local Squid Pad Kaprao, you won’t find a better place to eat fresh seafood than at Ploy Talay on Sai Kaew Beach.

You’ll find all sorts of seafood creatures like fish, squid, prawns but my favorite dish has to be their giant grilled lobster with 4 different sauces.

Ploy Talay is also the place where you can witness the spectacle of the Fire Show.

Local Khao Gaeng and Aharn Tam Sang

one plate dishes aharn tam sang khao gaeng pad pong karee

Pad Pong Karee is one of my favorites, try it when you get the chance.

Stepping down a bit from the extravagant grilled lobster, we have our simple one plate dishes or Aharn Tam Sang / Khao Gaeng. These are dishes that you would eat everyday if you are bored of the fancier foods or if you wanted something simple and hearty.

You can get anything from stir fried Pad See Ew noodles to stir fried vegetables with rice. My favorite one plate dish is always the Pad Pong Karee which is curry powder stir fried with proteins, usually the protein is crab but you sometimes you can even get it with Moo Krob, or crispy pork belly.

These restaurants aren’t hard to find, in fact there is a whole cafeteria-like cluster of them on the main road in Koh Samet town.

Thai Barbecue Moo Krata

moo krata on the beach

I’m a meaty kind of guy but I often find myself eating a bunch of vegetables when I’m feasting on Moo Krata.

Guys, Moo Krata is special. It’s similar to Korean BBQ where you have a bunch of meats sizzling away on a metal grill over a charcoal flame. But the kicker here is the hot pot moat that surrounds the middle grill.

If you are stuck between hot pot or barbecue then Moo Krata is your answer, it’s the best of both worlds.

Moo Krata is almost always served buffet style, so go ham and eat as much as you want, it’s cheap too, only around 299 THB with no time limit.

There is nothing quite like feasting on Moo Krata with sand between your toes as you watch the sun set on the beaches of Koh Samet.

If you could only eat one thing at Koh Samet, make it Moo Krata.

Cakes, Coffees, and Desserts

jump at sea cafe coffee and red velvet cake

Red velvet cake anyone? Honestly, this one was pretty dry and the flavor was lacking.

“Why would I sit in a cramp cafe while I could enjoy my Chang beer at the beach?” you might ask.

Well… Have you seen Thailand? It’s f*cking hot, I don’t want to be out there sweating and getting sun burnt.

There are a few cafes dotted around Koh Samet, but Jump at Sea is where you want to be if you want a bit of comfort and air conditioning. They have a wide selection of cakes as well a brunch items on offer.

You’ll need the coffee and cakes to refresh yourself after gorging on all the Thai seafood, trust me.

Western Food? Sure

O restaurant pizza

The pizza was tasty but we waited close to an hour for this one…

I wouldn’t normally recommend Western food when you’re in a touristy part of Thailand, they usually don’t compare to the real thing and are exorbitantly overpriced.

BUT! Ao Prao is home to some delicious western inspired restaurants. O Restaurant has some good Italian food and brick oven baked pizzas if that’s your jam.

Order a Pina Colada on the side and you have yourself a nice fancy meal over looking the gorgeous Ao Prao bay.

Chug Down an Alcohol Bucket

alcohol bucket with fried ice cream

I’m no alcoholic but this was the highlight of my trip to Koh Samet.

Lastly, get yourself an alcohol bucket.

It’s like an alcohol slushie with all sorts of fruity flavorings and gummy candies.

And also get yourself a couple of deep fried ice cream from a stall not far down the beachfront.

Once you got your alcohol bucket find a beanbag that is located right in front of the shop and sit down and enjoy the scenery.

Just get yourself an alcohol bucket. It’s great.

Koh Samet Bars & Nightlife

naga bar koh samet nightlife

Anyone up for a drink? Let’s meet up at Naga Bar :)

Coming in nicely from that alcohol bucket is the Koh Samet nightlife scene.

There area a lot of bars and nightclubs in Koh Samet so uh… Pick your poison:

  • Naga Bar - Fun drinks like a Pina Colada served in a coconut, a favorite bar amongst tourists. Live boxing matches are also held here.

  • Silver Sand Bar - The absolute best place for nightlife in Koh Samet, Full Moon Parties, a large dance floor, and cheap alcohol buckets. This place is great.

  • Finale' Bar - The whole bar is full of bright blue neon lights, with mats and cushion seating on the beach, a stage with live music, and exotic cocktails what more could you want?

  • Sunrise Bar - Boasting a futuristic design this bar stands out from the rest with its chill atmosphere and bright neon lights. Cocktails are only 80 THB during happy hour (4:00PM - 9:00PM).

  • Friendly Bar - Wooden and tropical in design, cocktails are 100 THB during happy hour + an alcohol bucket (which you should get) for 250 THB.

  • Baywatch Bar - A small bar managed by a friendly Dutchman, it’s a favorite amongst many locals and tourists.

  • Breesze Restaurant and Bar - A more expensive bar in Ao Prao resort with live music and a relaxing soothing atmosphere.

  • Reggae Pub - Dreadlocks, Bob Marley, anything reggae you come here to Reggae Pub

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