For somewhere as relatively close to the metropolis of Bangkok, the island is fairly undeveloped and it’s easy to find your small patch of tranquillity.
It’s an hour’s drive from Pattaya to the town of Ban Phe. Ban Phe would be much like any other small town, were it not smack opposite Ko Samet. As a result, it’s a busy rendezvous point for tourists and there’s even a mini Khao San Road especially for backpackers.
A dirt track cum road climbs and winds its way around the island, and its lack of quality ensures there are no major hotel chains to spoil your view.
Pick any beach and you’ll find the finest sand, wonderful views, and the clearest water.
During the day there isn’t much to do except sit in a deckchair and catch the sun, in between ordering beers from the beach-side bars and restaurants.
In the evening the resort has a reasonable night-life. Perhaps the
best tip for a cheap night’s drinking is to find the boy who
hands out flyers on the beach during the day.
If you’re lucky, you may find the flyer that entitles you to a free bucket of San Som Thai whisky, which should keep you busy for an hour or two. Even if you can’t find the flyers, many bars offer a ‘heads or tails’ coin toss, which determines whether you or the bar pay for your drink.
The north-east is the best place to head if you want good sand, while inland there is more natural beauty to be admired. In 1981 the island was incorporated into the Khao Laem Ya National Park and is home to monkeys, gibbons, and hundreds of exotically-coloured butterflies. On the downside, because it’s a national park there is a 200 baht entry for foreigners and a 20 baht levy for Thais. However, if you are a foreigner working in Thailand, take some proof of your employment along and they may let you off with the Thai fee.
Ever since the 1970s, when Thai teenagers discovered the retreat, utilities have slowly been improving and now electricity and water is everywhere. Most resorts are clean and neat, though they are also relatively expensive and 800 baht a night for the most basic of rooms is not uncommon. There is plenty of accommodation among the northern-most beaches, although during long weekends they soon fill up.
If you do want to rise from your deckchair, there is windsurfing, jet-skis, and snorkelling to keep you occupied. Day trips to other islands, which include lunch and snorkelling, are about 450 baht.
For a really secluded break, head for Ao Prao, or paradise beach, on the south-east coast. There’s a comfortable bungalow resort and health centre, which offers examples of yoga, meditation and Reiki healing.
As for weather, Ko Samet has the benefit of being the driest archipelago in the Kingdom, and even during the rainy season, things aren’t half as bad as in the neighbouring province of Rayong.
