The beaches of Koh Samet are some of the best that Thailand has to offer. Most have that perfect silky white sand, some rocky and have a castaway feel. The east side of Koh Samet is home to the majority of the beaches and as you travel south the fewer tourists and more secluded they become. The west side is mostly hilly, and devoid of beaches except for Ao Prao.

The Beaches:

The most popular beach is Hat Sai Keaw or Diamond beach. It's crowded with tourists and Thai weekenders. Lined with restaurants, hawkers walk up and down selling their wares. You can rent jet skis, kite surf, and para-sail. It has the feel of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.

Separated from Hat Sai Keaw by a rocky outcrop atop a statue of the mermaid of Koh Samet lies a long stretch of beach of Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai beach, with budget bungalows, massages and beach-side bbqs. It's less crowded but still near a little life.

The beaches between Ao Phai and Ao Vong Duean are small beaches with various offline budget bungalows. Restaurants and bars dot the footpath down along these beaches. If you really want to get away and relax Ao Phutsa is a small bay with a quiet, secluded feel.

Ao Prao, the only beach on the west side, is basically a private beach of resort villas. This is the beach where the sunset is like an orange sherbet. It is a large cove with an idyllic white sand beach with a hilly backdrop. It has a few bars and restaurants. The Ao Prao Resort has a secluded beach on the north end and Le Vimarn Cottages and Spa is nearby and has a secluded beach.

Ao Noi Na, or custard apple beach is on the north end between the two piers. It has a hilly backdrop and fine white sand beach. Mooban Talay and the Samet Cliff Resort, a boutique resort, are excellent choices for accommodation.

Ao Vong Duean is a calm crescent shaped beach. The sand is as inviting as on Hat Sai Kaew and is less crowded but still quite popular for groups. It is the second longest beach on Koh Samet. Along the beach you find many first class seafood restaurants which offer stunning views.

Bungalow Strategies:

Top End Resorts

Koh Samet has several top end resorts, many having private beaches. The Samed Resorts Group have coalesced to offer five world class resorts each with its own charm, décor and beach. Choosing between them is a matter of the desire of activity level and seclusion. All have private transportation from Bangkok airport or within the city and you can have your wedding there too.

Sai Keaw Beach Resort is luxurious as well as fun. It straddles the point between Sai Keaw and Pineapple beaches. The Sai Kaew Beach Resort is an elegant jewel shining on this beach. It's a bit from the main action of Sai Keaw beach but close enough for a night out. It is what you would expect from sprawling resort: several restaurants, pool, spa, fitness center, meeting and banquet facilities. Water sports are plentiful: snorkeling, para sailing, windsurfing to name a few

Ao Prao Resort and Le Vimarn Cottages are on Ao Prao beach and offer seclusion and privacy with seaside and garden bungalows but the Ao Prao Resort is lively and for active holiday makers. Bike ride in the green lush of the hills, sail a catamaran, windsurf, fish in the deep sea, and scuba dive, all complement strolling and sunbathing on crystalline white sand beaches. Have sun down drinks and bbq at their Breeze restaurant.

Le Vimarn Cottages and Spa is quietude and pampering, a village of spacious cottages and villas. View Ao Prao's gorgeous melting creamsicle sunset from your private balcony. Each villa has a private balcony and a private spa.

The Samed Club is on the boutique end of the group. It is less private but has spacious villas. It is all the amenties of a full scale resort but lighter on the wallet.

The boat transfer from Seree Ban Phe pier is compulsory, has a maximum of 6 persons, departs at 11:00, 1:30, and 4:00 and costs 250 baht per person.

Paradee, self proclaimed as a six heaven resort, (to infer 6 stars) is perfect for couples. It sits at the isthmus of Koh Samet on the southern end making both sunrise and sunset watching possible. It is a couples only retreat with privacy and luxury on the agenda. Each villa has a private deck and pool. Sunsets are taken at the Sunset bar and the infinity pool has a open air bar. Sea sports and island hopping can be arranged. In a word, Paradee is stunning.

Transportation is by private speed boat from Jadet pier in Rayong.

Mid Range:

Other than the aforementioned five top resorts, the rest of the “resorts” of Koh Samet are mostly a sprinkle of air-con bungalows and hotels, some offering sparse facilities like a small pool

On the north side, Mooban Talay and the Samet Cliff Resort are good choices. The medium fare villas and bungalows of Vong Duean Villas, Malibu Garden, and Samet Cabana Resort offer about the same style, and facilities on Ao Vong Duean. Both are adequate, but they're a coin toss. The Vimarn Samed Resort, however, is a little above the rest on this beach offering Thai style décor and a large deck overlooking the bay. Newly opened Samed Cabana Resort is scaled back but offers beach side bungalows. It looks promising.

Worthy to note is the White Sand Resort on Sai Keaw beach. It is on the south end of the beach and has a range of bungalows from budget to deluxe and larger family cottages

Budget:

Most budget bungalows are on Ao Phai beach.   Jep's Bungalows and another up and comer Tok's Bungalows are popular choices and regularly sell out. Both offer a range of bungalows on the hill just inside the main road and seaside are their restaurants. Jep's offers a bit overpriced but tasty beach-side bbq with twinkling lights in the trees and a fire show. But Tok's has a not too crowded deck chair and umbrella with a good restaurant and beach-side service

Ban Samet Hill is in town on the north end near Ao Pacha beach, and five minutes walk to Saikeaw beach. It is a fair option, keeps you from paying the entrance fee and a 10 minutes walk from Na Dan pier.

For the beaches further south, the best approach is to walk along the footpath look into any place that seems promising. Many places are not online or have advanced booking. Be keen to stay away from the Silver Sand Resort. It looks fun but has a terrible reputation for bad service and attitude.

If you continue south of Ao Vong Duean, there are two notable smaller beaches of Ao Lung Dam, and Ao Wai. Ao Lung Dam is a bit of budget travellers' paradise, a quiet beach, and rustic bungalows. Ao Wai is serene and secluded as there is only one resort, the Samet Ville Resort.

If you are on a super light budget, then staying in Na Dan village is your best bet. The majority are hostel-share bathroom-over a restaurant type. But if you are more about the beach and eating good food then this is for you. You'll have to walk or take a song tiaw to the beaches but that is cheap too. You'll end up passing by the park entrance every day, unless you walk along the beach, which means you might have to buy a ticket and hang on to the stub. You have to get to know the guard so that you can pass without hindrance.