Ko Samet

Introducing Ko Samet

What happens when an island blessed with 14 white-sand beaches is just half a day’s travel from a Southeast Asian super city? If it’s pretty Ko Samet it becomes a weekend and holiday getaway for the good people of Bangkok – locals and expats alike. Toss in the fact that the island is unusually dry (it misses the worst impact of the monsoons) and you’ve got the geographic equivalent of Miss Popularity. Arrive on a weekend and you may be hit with rate hikes of up to 100%, and you could be ducking for cover from volleyballs and banana boats on certain beaches.

Ostensibly Ko Samet is a national park, but along the developed northeast coast it’s hard to see where your 400B park entrance fee is being invested. The island’s ecosystem is overtaxed and it is vital visitors play their part by conserving water and being mindful of rubbish.

If you’re willing to venture further south, there are some undeniably gorgeous bays where development is still low-key and come with a relaxed traveller vibe. Ko Samet was originally a backpacker idyll, but accommodation is inching up the price chain, and many simple beach bungalows are being reborn as midrange or even luxury operations.

Weekends and holidays are undeniably fun, with Bangkok students fuelling the nightlife, and you’re bound to leave with a whole swag of email addresses from your new Thai friends. Come on a relaxed weekday and the atmosphere will be less frantic, and you’re more likely to discover what attracted the original backpackers a few short decades ago.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009