Ban Phe, Ferry Ports for Boats to Koh Samet Island
Koh Samet (also spelled Ko Samed ) is a favourite weekend getaway for Bangkokians, due to it being just a couple of hours drive and a 15 – 45 minute boat ride from the capital. So the majority of visitors, especially at weekends, are Thai tourists rather than foreigners. Therefore, if you are planning on a weekend trip at anytime of the year – book in advance.
The island offers all the ingredients that tourists require. There are fine white sand beaches, clear blue seas, water sports, good nightlife and a wide range of restaurants. Accommodation ranges form basic beach huts through to luxury fiove star hideaways, there’s something for every budget. But as with all destinations there are Pros & Cons.
And, as an added bonus, Koh Samet is a very dry island. The corner of Thailand covering Pattaya and Rayong receives very little annual rainfall. Meaning that visitors are almost certain to have plenty of sunshine regardless of when they visit.
If you want a break from city life in Pattaya and Bangkok, and islands such as Koh Chang, Koh Kood or Koh Mak are too far for a short break, then Koh Samet is well worth visiting.
How to get to Koh Samet?
The best way to get to Koh Samet is to take a passenger boat from Ban Phe, a small town on the mainland.
Ban Phe, the pier for boats to Koh Samed, is around 2 and a half hours drive from Bangkok. On this site you’ll find all the information you need regarding getting to Ban Phe and boat services to Koh Samed.
Ban Phe to Koh Samet Boat Schedules for 2023 – 2024
Please note that boat timings depend on which beach you are staying on and are also on ‘Thai time’ so may vary by 20 minutes or more. The weather and number of passengers may also affect when the boat departs.
Koh Samed Khokaew Phitsadan Fast Ferry
In late 2017 a new, high speed ‘Khokaew Phitsadan’ catamaran service was launched between Ban Phe and Koh Samet. This combines the speed of a speedboat, just a 10 minute journey, with the safety of a large, modern boat. Unless price is a serious issue, then this boat service is currently the best way to get to the island. There are regular sailings throughout the day from early morning to late afternoon.
Ticket price is 150 Baht per person one way. The ticket office is located roadside opposite the police station near Tarua Phe pier.
Taxi Rayong - Koh Samet ฿ 2,595–4,956 55m | |
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Ferry Rayong - Koh Samet ฿ 100–200 15m – 50m | |
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Check availability for the Khokaew Phitsadan ferry from Ban Phe to Nadan pier,Koh Samet
Timetable For Wooden Passenger Boats to Koh Samet | ||
Journey | Outward | Return |
Ban Phe to Na Dan pier | 07:00 – 18:00 (Hourly) | 07:00 – 18:00 (Hourly) |
Ban Phe to Ao Wong Duan | 09:30, 13:30 | 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 |
Ban Phe to Ao Wai | 11:00, 12:00 | 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 |
Ban Phe to Ao Kui | 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 | 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 |
Timetable For Speedboats to Koh Samet | ||
Ban Phe to Koh Samet ( all beaches ) | 09:00, 10:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 | 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 |
Ticket Prices for Boats to Koh Samet
As mentioned above, tickets can be bought as a single or return. It saves a bit of time when you are on the island if you buy a return ticket, but you don’t save any money. The boat companies charge the same prices:
Ban Phe – Koh Samet by Wooden Boat | ||
To / From Ban Phe | One Way | Return |
Na Dan Pier | 50 Baht | 100 Baht |
Ao Wong Duan | 70 Baht | 140 Baht |
Ao Wai | 100 Baht | 200 Baht |
Ao Kui | 100 Baht | 200 Baht |
Ban Phe – Koh Samet by Speedboat | ||
Hat Sai Kaew | 200 Baht | 400 Baht |
Ao Wong Duan | 300 Baht | 600 Baht |
Ao Wai | 400 Baht | 800 Baht |
Ao Kui | 500 Baht | 1,000 Baht |
Private Boats From Koh Samed Resorts
Several of the better resorts run free boat services for guests. Boats usually run 3-4 times per day in each direction. If you are arriving outside those times then you will have to take a public boat to the island. But it makes travel much easier if you can use your resort’s own service.
Based at Ao Prao pier ( formerly known as Sri Ban Phe pier ) . Take this boat if you are staying at: Paradee Resort, Le Vimarn Cottages, Ao Prao Resort, Saikaew Beach Resort, Samed Club or Ban Ploy Sea Resort.
Based at Chok Kritsada pier. Take this boat if you are staying at: Lima Bella, Lima Coco or Lima Duva Resort
Based at Municipality Pier. Take this boat if you are staying at Vongdeuan Resort
Private Speedboat Charter
This is the quickest way of getting to the island. There are several companies and the speedboats run 24 hours / day. Note that night time sailings are more expensive then daytime. Figure on around 2,000 Baht to hire a private speedboat to take you from Ban Phe to Koh Samet during daylight hours. Check tour agents in the village or around Municipality pier if you arrive late night and want to get to the island in a hurry.
White Shark Speedboats Tel: 038 653 181 or 081 781 4803 or 081 857 5638 (Office at Tarue Phe pier)
Samed Speedboats Tel: 038 651 134-5 ( Based at Ao Prao Pier )
Follow Me Tour Speedboat Tel: 038 864 7405
Chokmana Speedboats – Tel: 038 651 531 or 038 653 577
Private Speedboat Prices to Koh Samet
These prices are a guide and subject to negotiation. Most speedboats will take a maximum of 15 passengers. Private boats will run at night but there will be a surcharge of 200 – 500 Baht.
Going To | Boat for 1 – 10 pax | Boat for 11 – 15 pax |
Nadan Pier | 1,800 ฿ | 2,300 ฿ |
Sai Kaew Beach / Ao Phai / Ao Tubtim | 2,100 ฿ | 2,500 ฿ |
Ao Cho / Ao Vongduen | 2,300 ฿ | 2,800 ฿ |
Ao Thian / Ao Lungdum | 2,500 ฿ | 3,000 ฿ |
Ao Wai / Ao Pakarang | 3,000 ฿ | 3,500 ฿ |
How to Travel to Ban Phe
The small port of Ban Phe is the departure point for speedboats and ferries to Koh Samet. There are regular, scheduled boat services but timetables aren’t necessarily fixed as public boats will until there are enough passengers before departing. At the weekend or during High Season this isn’t an issue as there is a steady stream of people arriving throughout the day. But during Low Season (May to October) you may have to wait at the pier for up to an hour on weekdays.
If you find that you have to wait for a boat there are a multitude of small coffee shops and restaurants close to the piers plus several mini-marts where you can get a drink and bite to eat. For visitors who haven’t booked accommodation on the island, there are also numerous tour agents which can book bungalows for you.
This does save you time when you arrive. But outside weekends and the busiest times of year advance booking isn’t necessary to find a room in almost any budget. The only advantage is saving you time and effort when you arrive.
If you are coming from Bangkok to Koh Samet, then it’s worth bearing in mind that buses can be packed, especially at the weekend. Therefore you should book tickets in advance.
It is possible to go via Rayong, but it saves you time to go direct from Bangkok to Koh Samet with a combined bus and boat ticket.
These are the current bus and minibus services from Bangkok to Koh Samet. Note that they may change depending on the coronavirus situation.
Taxi Bangkok - Koh Samet ฿ 3,460–7,667 3h | |
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Van Bangkok - Koh Samet ฿ 670 5h 20m | |
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Taxi Suvarnabhumi Airport - Koh Samet ฿ 3,545–6,732 2h 30m | |
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Taxi Don Mueang Airport - Koh Samet ฿ 4,208–6,078 2h 30m | |
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Koh Samet is a National Park, although you might not think that given the amount of development on the island. However, unlike Ko Chang island, which is also 75% National Park, all visitors to Samet must pay a National Park entrance fee. Thai tourists pay 40 Baht for an Adult and 20 Baht for Children. Foreign tourists pay 200 Baht and 100 Baht respectively. You can usually pay this either when you buy your boat ticket or when you arrive on the island.
Google Streetview shows the main piers clearly. You can enjoy a virtual drive along the high street in Ban Phe which runs past all the piers. You’ll see it’s lined with small minimarts, coffeeshops and restaurants, catering to people visiting Koh Samet.
Which Pier Should I Use in Ban Phe?
As you’ll see from the map there are several piers in Ban Phe. The all offer a range of boat services to Koh Samet either by wooden boat or speedboat.
The wooden boats are much slower. They take around 45 minutes to get to the island. Whereas the speedboats are a lot faster, crossing in around 10 minutes, but are far more expensive. Scheduled boat services only run in daylight, form around 07:00 – 18:00 daily year round.
Most of the wooden boats used are refurbished fishing boats powered by an old diesel engine. They are slow but are reliable and on a sunny day you’ll be able to enjoy the views as you head to the island. The speedboat services are handy if you are travelling to one of the beaches further south on the east coast or are in a large group.
Also, if you need to get to or from the island very early or late night then you’ll need to hire a speedboat privately. The price depends on the number of passengers and destination on Koh Samet.
The wooden boats all moor at Na Dan pier on the northeast shore of Koh Samet. This is the main pier on the island. In addition to the National Park fee, visitors arriving at Na Dan also have to 20 Baht for the pier maintenance fund.
The piers in Ban Phe are all relatively close together, so walking from one to the other isn’t a problem. Buses and minibuses tend to drop visitors off at Nuan Thip Pier. This is where you’ll be able to take a wooden boat or speedboat to the island. The wooden boats run hourly but the speedboats require 10 passengers before they will depart. Boat tickets for the wooden boat are the same at all piers 70 Baht one way and 100 Baht return. There is no requirement to buy a return ticket. You’ll be able to buy tickets from your hotel or any tour agent on the island.
A stone’s throw Nuan Thip Pier is Tarua Phe pier. This is the most popular pier for anyone wanting to take a speedboat to Koh Samet. Two speedboat companies ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘White Shark’ are based here. Ticket prices are from 200 to 500 Baht per person, depending where on the island you want dropping off.
Wooden passenger ferries also run hourly from both Chok Krisda Pier and Seree Ban Phe Pier also now known (since 2020) as Ao Prao Pier. These are more popular with Thai visitors, simply because they have secure, covered parking areas for passengers to leave their vehicles.
If you are staying in one of the larger resorts, a luxury hotel or resort owned by one of the extended local families, then it will probably have it’s own private boat service. This is usually free but the downside is that there will only be a handful of departures per day. So if you miss a boat then you’ll have the choice of waiting until the next boat or taking a public boat and then also having to pay for a pick up truck taxi to the hotel when you ready the island.
Taxi Service on Koh Samet
When you arrive at Na Dan pier on Koh Samet, you will see green, shared pick up truck taxis ‘songthaews’ waiting to take passengers to the beaches on the east coast of the island. These take the island’s main road. A narrow strip of concrete that runs from the north of the island down the east coast to the south. The driver will drop off at resorts on Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Tubtim, Ao Lung Wung and Ao Wong Duan. The taxi fares are expensive, from 50 – 200 Baht per person.
On the way the taxi will stop at the National Park office so that passengers can pay the National Park entrance fee. This is only payable once, when you arrive on the island. (If you take a speedboat and get dropped off elsewhere then you’ll avoid passing the ticket office. Hotels are supposed take this off guests in this situation, but rarely do.)
Our hotel told us that tourists are not allowed to cross to Koh Samet after 8 pm. Is that true or are private speedboats available after 8 pm?
It depends on the weather conditions. At this time of year it probably won’t be possible.
G’Day
How easy is to find a parking for 2-3 days near the pier? Is it safe to leave a rental car there?
Thanks
The boat companies all have car parks at their piers. Most Thai visitors to Samet will drive and park at piers in Ban Phe. It is safe. Car thefts are very rare in Thailand.
Hej
Skal bo på Vimarn Hotel.
Hvilken båd og hvorfra skal jeg tage og hvor til på Samet?
Your resort has a speedboat service for guests from the Samed Resorts office at Ao Prao pier, Ban Phe. See https://www.samedresorts.com/levimarn/transportation/
it’s possible to rent a motorbike in koh Samet for see the island?
Yes, no problem to rent a scooter when you are on Koh Samet. The price is from 250 – 350 Baht / 24 hours. It is a small island so you can also use a bicycle to get around.
Can i take a Bicycle to the ferry?
Yes. No problem to take a bicycle on the wooden boats. But not speedboat.
Vielen Dank!!
I’ll will be heading to Koh Samet from Bangkok and will stay at Sai Kaew Beach area,
May I have more information on which ferry I should take and from which pier please?
Thanks a lot!
It is easiest to go to Tarua Phe pier where there are various boats to Koh Samet. You can take a wooden boat to the main pier on Samet and then a pick up truck taxi to your hotel. Or a speedboat to Sai Kaew beach and then walk to your bungalow.
Where can I book a payablle private transfer from Bangkok airport BKK to Ban Phe Pier?
Flight TG 921 on March 15, 2023, 2 persons, if possible including the speed boat ferry. Thank you.
There are a lot of taxi companies which can arrange transfers from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the island. Contact a few that show up in the Google searches and also check reviews on Tripadvisor and Google maps.
We have 8 pax and want to book round trip speedboat from Ao Prao pier to Koh Samet – Na Dan Pier or Sai Kaew Beach on 10 Apr 2023 and 13 Apr 2023. We will stay at Sai Kaew Beach Resort. Please see the following and could you please advise how much for the cost ? Many thanks.
10 Apr 2023 – 11am Get on the speedboat from Ao Prao pier
13 Apr 2023 – 9am Get on the speedboat from Na Dan pier or Sai Kaew Beach
I can’t book a speedboat for you. Your resort has a free boat service for guests and can also arrange a private speedboat service. See: https://www.samedresorts.com/saikaew/th/transportation.html
Hello!
I will go to Ao Cho Grandview Resort and looking for a speedboat that can take to Wongduean Pier. Is this possible?
Hi Dan. Ao Cho Grandview Resort has a speedboat service for guests. 250 Baht one way or 500 Baht return. Departures at 10.00, 11.30 14:1& 17.00. If you contact them they can reserve tickets for you.
Hi, if I go to ban phe by motorbike is there a place to park my bike or a way to take it to the island?
You can’t take your motorbike to the island but you can park it at any of the mainland piers. They all have secure parking.
Hi. We are landing in bkk at 210pm so will hopefully get to Ban Phe at around 6pm. Would there still be speedboat options? And what sort of time do they stop in case we are delayed?
The last speedboat is currently around 17:00. And the last wooden boat around 18:00. If you arrive later than this it might be possible to charter a speedboat privately. Or probably cheaper to stay the night in ban Phe and come to Koh Samet the next morning.
helli, tell me please, which pier should i choose to go directly to wongduan?
You will need to take a speedboat, not a wooden boat. For example, PN Group speedboat from Municipality pier. Or White Shark and Black Shark speedboats.