Things to Do on Koh Samet: Beaches, Snorkelling, and Island Life

Beach activity

Koh Samet’s beaches are the primary activity. The island is small (6km long) with beaches running down the east coast — each bay has a different character, and moving between them by longtail is straightforward.

Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach) — The main beach, 1km north of Na Dan pier. The widest and most developed, with the highest concentration of beach chairs (฿100–150/set), beach vendors, restaurants, and accommodation. Good swimming across most of the beach at all tides. The busiest beach on the island at weekends.

Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai — The next two bays south, separated by rocky headlands. Narrower and quieter than Hat Sai Kaew. Good snorkelling at the rocky points between beaches. The accommodation strip here is more budget-focused and the bar scene more low-key.

Ao Phutsa (Ao Tub Tim) — Mid-island. A small, sheltered bay with calm water, a sand bottom, and fewer visitors than the northern beaches. One of the best options for families with young children.

Ao Cho — Reached by a short forest trail from Ao Phai, or by longtail. Quieter and less developed, with rocky headlands on both sides that produce good snorkelling.

Ao Wai — One of the most beautiful bays on the island’s east coast. A curved bay with clear water, a simple bungalow operation, and no road access — getting here requires a longtail from Na Dan pier (฿50–80). Worth the trip for a half-day.

Ao Kiu (southwestern tip) — The furthest beach, accessible only by longtail. The most pristine on the island, with excellent snorkelling on both sides of the headland. No overnight accommodation. A longtail round trip from Na Dan: ฿800–1,200 for the boat.

Snorkelling

The rocky headlands between beaches and the southern coves provide the best accessible snorkelling on Koh Samet:

• Ao Hin Khok / Ao Phai rocky points — Shallow reef with sergeant fish, parrotfish, and occasional sea turtles. Accessible from shore at mid-to-high tide.
• Ao Cho — Clearer water than the northern beaches; colourful reef fish and soft coral.
• Ao Wai — The best beach-access snorkelling on the east coast.
• Ao Kiu — For those reaching the southern tip by longtail, the water on both sides of the headland has the most diverse reef on the island.

Mask and fins hire: ฿100–150/day from beach shops at any of the main beaches.

Organised snorkel tours: Longtail boat tours from Na Dan pier, ฿500–800 per person, covering 4–5 snorkel stops around the island in a half-day. Groups of 6–12; check departure times at the pier in the morning.

Longtail boat island circuit

A chartered longtail circumnavigating Koh Samet takes 3–4 hours and visits 5–6 beaches, including the southern coves not reachable by road. Charter price: ฿1,200–1,800 per boat (split between however many people are sharing). Negotiate at Na Dan pier before departure.

Standard stops: Hat Sai Kaew → Ao Phai → Ao Cho → Ao Wai → Ao Kiu → west coast → return. The western coast is windier and less developed; the eastern beaches are the main destination.

Kayaking

Several beach operations along Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Phai hire kayaks (฿100–200/hour, solo or tandem). Paddling between bays is possible at calm tide; the headlands between Ao Phai and Ao Cho are straightforward. The southern bays require 45–60 minutes of paddling from Hat Sai Kaew — feasible in calm conditions.

Evening on the beach

Koh Samet’s beach bar scene is low-key compared to Koh Phangan or Phuket. Fire shows on Hat Sai Kaew most evenings during high season — spinners on the beach from around 9pm. The bars along Hat Sai Kaew and Ao Phai serve food until late. Beers from ฿80–100 at beach bars.

The national park status limits the scale of commercial beach entertainment — there are no stages, no amplified DJ sets, no club zones. The evening tone is relaxed.

Practical notes

• Getting between beaches: Songthaews from Na Dan pier run fixed routes (฿30–80). Longtail hops between adjacent beaches: ฿50–100. Motorbike taxis along the interior dirt track.
• National park entry: ฿200 per person, collected at the pier or park checkpoints. Valid for the entry day.
• Weather: Koh Samet faces east and is sheltered from the southwest monsoon — one of the few Thai islands with reliable weather almost year-round. The sea is occasionally rough in January and February from northeast winds, but significantly more weather-consistent than Andaman coast islands.
• Weekday vs weekend: The difference is significant. Weekday visitors find a calm, relaxed island; long-weekend arrivals from Bangkok can triple the population overnight.

See also: Koh Samet travel guide for getting there and accommodation.