Ko Samet is a small and beautiful island located in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its pristine sandy beaches, and relaxing nightlife scene. Located just a few hours by car and ferry ride from Pattaya and Bangkok, it is perfect for a weekend escape from the city’s chaos.
In this article, I will cover the 20 amazing things to do and see in Koh Samet. These include the best beaches and water activities as well as nightlife spots, fireshows, and island hopping tours.
The beaches on Koh Samed are white fine sand with crystal clean water. Popular beaches are Sai Kaew Beach, Ao Prao, Ao Lung Dam, Wong Duean Beach, and Ao Pakarang Beach. There are also many other small ones on the east coast of the island.
You can check out my recommendation on the itinerary and getting around Koh Samet in these articles:
- Best Places to Stay in Koh Samet
- My 2-3 Days In Koh Samet Itinerary
- How to get to Koh Samet & Get Around
I explored most of the beaches on Koh Samet all on foot. You can use Songthaews and rent a motorbike to explore the island. The main roads on KOh Samet are quite flat, so it is easy to drive around by yourself.
The songthaews can be found at all popular beaches. It is best to travel in a group so you can share the fee for songthaews, otherwise you’ll need to pay for the whole car or wait until enough people to go.
Here are the best attractions and activities in Koh Samet:
21 Best Things to Do & See in Koh Samet
Best Beaches
Koh Samet is a small island, with only 7 km long from north to south, and 2.5 km at its widest point. You can easily go beach hopping around the island within a day in a scooter. If you are an adventurous traveler like me, you visit most beaches on the island on foot within a day.
Most beaches are concentrated on the east coast with Sai Kaew Beach (main beach) on the north, Wong Duean Beach on the middle, and Ao Pakarang Beach on the south. There is only one popular beach on the west coast, Ao Prao Beach. It is the best spot to watch the sunset on Koh Samet.
#1. Sai Kaew Beach
Sai Kaew Beach is the most popular beach of Koh Samet, located on the northeast coast, within easy walking distance from the island’s main town and the main pier. It is around 1 km long beach with white fine sand and crystal blue water.
The beach is lined with lots of resorts, restaurants, cafes, and bars. It has all beach facilities such as bed chairs and sun loungers for rent. The road from the main town to the beach is also home to several shops selling souvenirs and beachwear.
Sai Kaew is an ideal place for swimming, sunbathing, taking a walk along the sand, and trying watersports such as parasailing, banana boat, and jet skiing.
The beach has a lively atmosphere especially in the late afternoon and in the evening. Tables, chairs, bean bags were started to set out on the sand just before sunset. You will see several beach vendors selling grilled chicken, seafood, corn, and Thai beach towels.
At night, around 8pm, you can watch fireshow at several venues on the beach. I recommend watching the fire show Ploy Talay restaurant, which is one of the best fire shows I’ve seen in Thailand. Food and drink here has similar prices as other beachfront establishments.
#2. Ao Prao Beach
Ao Prao is the only sandy beach on the west coast of Koh Samet. It is located around 3 km from the island’s main town. It is possible to walk all the way from the town center to Ao Prao if you don’t mind the heat. Otherwise, just use motorbike rental and songthaews to reach Ao Prao.
Ao Prao is the best spot to watch the sunset on Koh Samet, so I recommend visiting this beach during sunset time. You can take a long walk on the beach or on the blue floating pier.
The beach has clear and calm water, which is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. There are a few high end resorts at the back of the beach as well as several open-air cafes and restaurants with a romantic atmosphere.
#3. Wong Duean Beach
This is a 500 m long and crescent beach located on the central east coast of Koh Samet. You can reach the beach by walking, scooter, or using songthaew pickup trucks.
The beach has super fine white sand with crystal clear water, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, SUPboarding, and kayaking. There are some big rocks at two ends of the beach. It is lined with resorts, restaurants, and cafes.
There are lots of shades from big trees along the shore. You can find a floating pier in the middle of the beach where speed boats arrive from the mainland.
#4. Ao Lung Dam Beach
Ao Lung Dam is a small quiet beach with white sand and clean water located on the south east coast of Koh Samet, just south of Ao Sangthian. The beach is home to a couple of reports, beach bars, and restaurants.
Apache pier restaurant is a bohemian restaurant located next to the wooden pier and it has very nice decoration. There was a big swing at the northern end of the beach, and the trail at the southern end of the beach led to a rocky shore.
#5. Ao Pakarang Beach
Ao Pakarang is the last beach with accommodations in the southeast coast of Koh Samet. It is located around 6.5 km south of the island’s main town and is around 20 minutes drive. If you walk, it will take around 1.5 hours.
The beach is quiet and peaceful with only one resort located here. When I visited Dec 2024, Nimmanoradee Resort was still under renovation.
There are lots of shades from mangrove trees along the beach shore. You can explore the rocky area at Laem Kut, swim at the sandy beach, or simply just relax and sunbathe.
#6. Ao Hin Khok Beach
Ao Hin Khok is a small beach located right next to Sai Kaew Beach. The two beaches are separated by a rocky area and the Mermaid statue. The beach has white sand and clean water and is a great place for swimming.
There are beach resorts, bars, restaurants, cafes, umbrellas, and sunbeds on the beach. You will see several beach vendors passing by with their grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables.
#7. Ao Phai Beach
Ao Phai is a small beautiful beach located just south of Ao Hin Khok. The beach has fine white sand and plenty of beach facilities such as beach chairs, restaurants, and bars.
Two big resorts, Silversand and Samed Villa, are located here. You will also see many more bars and restaurants on the main street, back of the beach.
#8. Ao Tubtim Beach
Ao Tubtim is a small quiet beach located south of Ao Phai. You can reach this beach from Ao Phai by walking along the coast passing Samed Villa Resort.
The beach is home to a couple of resorts with bars, restaurants, and massage shops on the beach. It is quieter than other beaches on the northeast coast but still has easy access to all tourist amenities.
#9. Ao Nuan Beach
Ao Nuan is a small peaceful beach located south of Ao Tubtim. You can reach Ao Nuan by walking through a small hill from the southern end of Ao Tubtim.
This is an ideal place to relax and chill, with only one resort on the beach. You can still easily walk to the busier side of Ao Tubtim for more options of bars and restaurants.
#10. Ao Chor Beach (Ao Lung Wang)
Ao Lung Wang, also known as Ao Chor Beach, is located 3km south of Koh Samet main town. It is around 10 minutes drive on scooter/ songthaew or around 40 minute walk from the main village.
Ao Chor is home to several resorts, with Reggae style restaurants and Bars, and massage areas on the beach. You can rent sunbeds or buy food/drinks at their restaurants to use it for free. This is a nice quiet place for swimming and relaxing.
You can also easily walk to the biggest beach nearby called Wong Duean Beach for more beach facilities.
#11. Ao Thian Beach
This is a quiet beach in front of Sangthian Beach Resort and is a great place to relax. It is located on the east coast of Koh Samet, around 4 km from the main town.
There are few other resorts located on the same beach. If you continue walk to the south, you will reach the hip beach called, Ao Lung Dam within a few minutes.
#12. Ao Wai Beach
Ao Wai is a quiet beach located on the southeast coast of the island. It is home to the only resort, Samet Ville Resort. To access the beach, you’ll have to walk through the resort and use their services such as convenience stores, restaurants and bars.
With its white fine sand and calm clean water, it is a perfect place for chill and relaxation. You can find lots of shades on the beach.
Other attractions and activities
#13. Koh Samet Walking Street
The Walking Street is the area between KOh Samet pier and Sai Kaew Beach. It is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars, souvenir shops, massage shops, hotels, 7-11, and travel agencies.
The area is lively all day and night. You can find some of the best restaurants and bars on the island in this central area.
#14. Fire Show on Sai Kaew Beach
Sai Kaew Beach is very lively at night with lots of bars, restaurants, and fire shows on the sand. Watching a fireshow is a must on Koh Samet. Many resorts, restaurants in all areas of Koh Samet have their own fireshow. I recommend checking the show at Ploy Talay restaurant, which is, in my opinion, one of the most impressive fire shows in Thailand.
#15. Bar Hopping
You can find a high concentration of bars on the walking street and the area between Ao Phai and Ao Hin Khok Beach. There are also many other nice bars scattered around the island, on each beach. If you love drinking, you can consider bar hopping on Koh Samet.
#16. Sunset at Ao Prao Beach
Ao Prao is the best place to watch the sunset on Koh Samet. It is the only beach on the west coast of KOh Samet and offers stunning sunset views. If you love a quiet and romantic atmosphere, you must check this beach during sunset time.
#17. Island Hopping Tours
There are many boat tours and island hopping tours on Koh Samet. You can consider taking 4,5,6,9 island hopping tours, sunset boat tours, or tours on beaches around the island for snorkeling and swimming. These tours can be easily booked at your accommodation and local travel agency.
#18. Wat Koh Samet
This is a small temple located in the main town of Koh Samet. You can see a big seated Buddha from the road and spend a few minutes exploring the area while walking around town.
#19. Laem Toei – Southern end of Koh Samet
This is the southern end of Koh Samet, located around 7 km from the pier and main town. You can take songthaews here or walk. It takes around 1.5 hours to walk and around 20 minutes if you drive. The road is mostly flat but more hilly toward the southern end area.
At the Laem Toei, you can take a short walk on the natural walk to the sunset and sunrise viewpoint. I saw people stacking rocks and there were many piles of rocks. You can walk on the wooden boardwalk and enjoy stunning views of the sea and the small island called “Chan Island”.
#20. Mermaid Statues
There are several places where you can see and take photos with beautiful mermaid statues on Koh Samet. I saw the giant female mermaid at the Koh Samet Pier; the mermaid statue and the child at the southern end of Sai Kaew Beach.
There is also a flute-playing man (Prince Aphai Mani) and a mermaid statue at the main road near Ao Hin Khok Beach. This area has beautiful sea views.
#21. Explore Koh Samet on a scooter
Driving a scooter to explore Koh Samet is one of the top things to do on the island. You can rent a scooter for 200-300 per day and easily drive around the island for beach hopping.
If you know how to drive, you can do it easily. The island is small and the road is in quite good condition with just a bit of a hilly area at the southern end of the island.
If you don’t want to drive, it is possible to get around on foot. I visited all the beaches by walking. It was a bit tiring on a hot day but it is doable if you are a solo traveler and want to save money.
These are my suggestions on the 21 best things to do and see in Koh Samet. If you love stunning beaches with snow white sand and crystal blue water and a relaxing nightlife scene with stunning fire show, you must visit Koh Samet.