Hello everyone .. During the recent summer holidays, I had the opportunity to visit "Samae San Island". Which I can say with confidence that it is very popular right now (including Koh Kham). Now that "Koh Kham" is closed to allow nature to rest (closed from May 16 onwards), "Samae San Island" is likely to receive even more attention. Right?

#SAMAESAN

SATTAHIP, CHONBURI.

For this trip, we have a large family group with members ranging from young children to adults, totaling 8 people. Our initial plan was to relax by the sea in Chonburi. However, we later considered visiting an island. "Koh Kham" was our first choice, but we heard it gets very crowded. So, we switched to "Koh Saemsan," which is also likely to be crowded, but we hope it will be more convenient due to its larger size.

The whole group traveled from Korat. I started my journey from Bangkok and we will meet in Sattahip. Since I had to drive and travel a long distance, I wanted to make the most of my trip, so I booked accommodation in advance. Because there were so many of us, I must say that... accommodation in Saemsarn and Sattahip is very scarce especially those by the sea. And they will be full during the holidays. I called many places and they were all full. The conditions I wanted were a house to stay in and the ability to grill food. As for being by the sea, I had to give up on that because they were all full.

In the end, I found accommodation at "Baan Puenthap" which is about 5-6 kilometers from Khao Ma Cho Pier. They have a large house that can accommodate 10 people, but it was already full when I booked it. So I got separate rooms instead. It's okay to sleep separately. As long as I can grill, that's fine. So I booked it in advance. After asking the accommodation about the travel details, I found out that I can book tickets to Koh Kham and Koh Saemsarn with the accommodation. The accommodation will only book for guests who stay there, but you have to specify the day in advance. There is an additional charge (+50 baht/person) which I think is quite reasonable. It's better than queuing up early in the morning as you know. Because it's quite difficult to take young children and elderly people to queue up to buy tickets early in the morning. This... I think it's buying convenience.

With the ferry tickets secured(booked for the 12.00 pm slot), my worries about transportation were put to rest. Most people who start their journey from Korat can afford to leave later, no need to rush out at midnight. (Initially, I planned to arrive early to buy tickets), so I ended up leaving in the early morning instead. The journey was comfortable and leisurely. As for me, I left Bangkok and took a van to Sattahip, which has many stops throughout Bangkok. The journey took just over 2 hours, and with the light morning traffic, we made good time. I arrived in Sattahip before I knew it. I told the driver to drop me off at Km 1 or Km 6. If you can get off at Km 6, I recommend doing so, and then take a motorbike taxi. I also got off at Km 6, but I was going to my accommodation first, which is in the same direction as "To the pier to Koh Samet (Khao Ma Cho)". If you're going to the pier, it's 50 Baht, but if you're going to my accommodation, it's 35 Baht.

I arrived at "Baan Pooktrapun" very early, so I sat down to wait for the other members of the trip to join me. In the meantime, I took a walk around the accommodation to kill time. This is a simple and comfortable guesthouse. From what I can see, there are several types of rooms available. There are several small houses, as well as larger houses that can accommodate multiple people. There is also a budget option in the form of a building that resembles a row of terraced houses. The general atmosphere during the day is quite hot, as you would expect!

The room I booked is a row of houses like this. I booked 3 rooms, one with 4 people and one with 2 people. There is a table and chairs in front for eating. (There is also a barbecue grill for rent.)

This will be the restaurant area. Breakfast is also served here. (Breakfast included)

They say.. grilled pork is delicious, but unfortunately I didn't get to try it because I'm on vacation and I'd rather eat seafood. Right?!

I think the aunt who was taking care of me saw me sitting around waiting for a long time, so she brought me breakfast to try. It was seafood porridge. Every day, breakfast is something simple like this. (There is also bread, tea, and coffee.)

Let's take a look inside the room. It's located in the same building, so the room sizes are all the same. This room can accommodate 4 people. The room looks very spacious. This is just the bedroom area.

**Opening the door to the back** reveals a wardrobe, a dressing area, and a refrigerator. The bathroom is located on the right-hand side.

The original text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

This room is designed for two people. Although the room size is the same, there is only one bed, making the room feel very spacious. The bathroom is similar, with all the amenities you need, including a TV, refrigerator, air conditioning, water heater, and Wi-Fi.

The bathroom looks clean, new, and brightly colored. On the other side, there is a shower area as well.

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#KOH SAMAE SAN

SATTAHIP, CHONBURI.

The time has come, all the members of the trip have arrived, and we are ready to cross over to "Samaesarn Island".

We arrived at "Khao Ma Cho Pier" and received our boat tickets. The boat that will take us to "Samaesarn Island" is the 12.00 pm round. Well, that's it... It's the time when the sun is sending its heat straight to our heads like this. And this pier doesn't have any shade from the sun either. We have to walk through the heat along the path that extends into the middle of the sea. Judging by the distance, it's quite tiring.....

Along the way, you will hear the soldiers who are here to serve you shouting all the time, especially when the boat is about to leave. You have to half walk and half run. There are a lot of people waiting to board the boat.

The boats that will take you to "Samaesan Island" are fishing boats that have been modified to have seats on board. On some trips, you may be lucky enough to ride on a military boat. The boats have limited seating and sun protection, so if you board late, you may only have space to sit in the sun. Each trip is very crowded.

"Samaesan Island" can accommodate 500 tourists per day (but on weekends, there are sometimes 6-700 people, and today it will definitely be more than 500). There are prohibitions: no alcoholic beverages are allowed on Samaesan Island / no bikinis are allowed on Samaesan Island / no foreigners are allowed to cross Samaesan Island without a Thai person present. The weather today is quite good, the sky is clear, the sun is shining, and the sea is beautiful!

Ferries to Samaesarn Island depart every hour from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM from the pier Khao Ma Jor - Samaesarn Island. The journey takes only 15-20 minutes. The ferry will dock at the Samaesarn Island pier on the Tien Beach side.

As soon as the boat docked at the beach, we were greeted by the stunning sight of the white sand and the crystal-clear water.

On "Samaesan Island" there are beaches where you can swim and do water activities, namely Tien Beach and Look Lom Beach. The boat landing point is Tien Beach, which is right next to the pier.

Upon arrival at the island, officials will provide a briefing on general knowledge about Koh Saemsan. What activities are available on the island? Where can you visit? The briefing is short and informative.

Beachside sun shelters with canvas beds for rent, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the breeze.

On the left side of Haad Thian Beach is a pier. You will see tourists getting on and off, rotating according to their own boat schedules.

The atmosphere of Haad Thian Beach is so inviting that the water is just begging you to take a dip.

Swing with a popular angle. Anyone who comes here must take a picture.

The swimming area at Tian Beach will have buoys to mark the safe swimming zone.

Points of contact for requesting services from officials, including diving registration, beach chair rental (20 baht), concrete mat rental (20 baht), bicycle rental, diving equipment rental (50 baht), etc.

Food and beverage service point At Tian Beach, there are simple foods such as instant noodles available, or there are some cold drinks to choose from.

After visiting "Haad Thian", you can also visit "Haad Look Lom". These two beaches are located on opposite sides of the island, about 1 km apart. However, there is a free shuttle service that takes tourists between the two beaches. The journey takes only 5 minutes and there are regular departures. (The number of tourists on both beaches is similar, so you can choose which beach to visit first. However, it is recommended to visit Haad Look Lom first and then return to Haad Thian, as you can then relax on the beach and wait for the return boat at the pier.)

After a short drive, we arrived at "Loog Lom Beach", a beautiful beach with a pleasant atmosphere, although it was also quite crowded.

"Loog Lom Beach" is a beautiful, wide beach, wide enough to play beach volleyball. The beach has a net and volleyball available. Another activity available here is glass-bottom boat rides to see the coral reefs underwater.

Under the trees by the beach, you will see tourists relaxing and taking shelter from the sun. Some have rented mats to sit on, while others have rented canvas beds to lie down and avoid the sun.

Tourists enjoy kayaking, which is available for rent.

Since we're already at the beach, let's go for a swim. Even though the sun is strong, once you're in the water, it feels nice and cool.

The water is crystal clear and inviting. I feel like this beach is even better for swimming than Thian Beach. You can swim here without a worry. There are free toilets and freshwater showers available on the island.

This beach offers a variety of activities, including a scenic viewpoint at Haad Luk Lom. (You can hike up the hill to enjoy the view.)

**Scuba diving** is a very popular activity. You need to register with the staff because before you take a boat out to dive, you have to watch a basic diving demonstration with the staff first. The diving will take you out to dive in rounds, **each round is about 1 hour long**. There is a limited number of people in each round. Sometimes you register for diving, but you have to wait a long time before it's your turn because there are a lot of people. Some activities require you to register with the staff and pay at the service point to queue up and take turns. If you have to wait a long time or change your mind and don't want to do the activity anymore, you can ask for a refund.

**Glass-bottom boats are the same!** Sign up and wait for your own round. And if the tide is low, the boat can't go out, you won't be able to see the coral either.

Simple and affordable food and beverage stalls are also available at Hat Luk Lom. After diving or swimming in the sea, these two things are perfect right now. 20 baht for herbal jelly in syrup and 15 baht for snow cone orange juice.

After visiting "Loog Lom Beach", I took the shuttle back to Thian Beach to catch the boat back to the mainland. When I arrived at Thian Beach, I saw the boat docked and waiting. It seemed to be the 4:00 PM boat. (The last boat today is at 4:30 PM.) I saw people on board getting ready to leave. The boat was about to depart, so I decided to take this boat back. At the pier, I also saw this small pavilion. Anyone who comes to "Samaesarn Island" must have seen this pavilion.

**On the return trip,** tourists will gradually return to the shore, with most of them returning on the later boats to maximize their time on the island. As a result, the later boats tend to be quite crowded. Throughout the journey, from crossing the island to sightseeing, activities on the island, and the return trip, military officers will be on hand to provide assistance. *Some of them may look a bit stern, but they are actually kind and hospitable!*

Soon, we returned to the shore at "Khao Ma Cho Pier" as before. The evening atmosphere at this pier is also quite chill.

After a tiring day of sightseeing, before returning to our accommodation, we had to grab some delicious snacks to take with us. On the way from "Khao Ma Jor Pier - Poonthrap House", we passed by Saemsarn Fresh Market, a market located by the sea. Of course, there will be seafood for you to choose from and buy to eat according to your preferences.

Arriving at the fresh market, there are many seafood stalls selling a wide variety of delicious-looking seafood. I'm sure to get fresh seafood to take home, because some of it is still alive! My dinner tonight... will definitely be seafood!

I saw that many shops in this market offer free steaming, grilling, and roasting services. You can choose your seafood, have it weighed, and they'll cook it for you right there. I tried ordering a large live crab (one kilogram) for 500 baht, and they steamed it for free. The crab meat was so dense! Dipping it in seafood sauce was absolutely amazing!

Spicy Salted Egg Yolk Salad This is also interesting. It comes with a ready-made dressing. You can ask them to grill it and remove the eggs for you, or you can take it home and do it yourself.

The highlight... is definitely the fresh shrimp. They even offer a grilling service!

But for me... In addition to the crab that they steamed for me, I also chose fresh seafood to grill myself at the house. I bought a foam box with ice in front of the market to keep the seafood I bought, and the house also provides a barbecue grill with charcoal and plates and bowls. 100 baht per set. In the evening like this, it's time for a barbecue party. The night is still long.....!

Another day has passed for the trip to "Samae San Island". This is a small amount of information for those who are interested in visiting Samae San Island (+ Samae San accommodation). I hope it will be helpful. ...Thank you!

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40 Things You Should Know Before Going to "Samaesan Island"

1. Samaesan Island can be visited in one day (from Bangkok).

2. Samaesan Island is located in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, only about 2 hours away.

3. Getting there is convenient, you can drive yourself, it's not far. But the popular way is to take a van to Sattahip.

4. It is recommended to take the first van in the morning. The fare is **150-160 baht** per trip. The destination is Sattahip. Tell the driver to stop at **Km.1** or **Km.6**.

5. If you get off at Km.6, it is recommended to get off here and then take a motorcycle taxi. Tell him to go to "Koh Samet Pier (Khao Ma Jor)" for 50 baht. It is convenient and fast. Don't worry about getting lost. The motorcycle taxi drivers here know the way because everyone who gets off here is going to the pier to cross the island.

6. At Km.6, you can also hail a shared taxi. It's a blue-navy shared taxi. However, I would recommend taking a motorbike taxi instead, as the shared taxis come infrequently.

7. Upon arrival at the Museum of Natural History of Thai Islands and Seas (Khao Ma Jo Pier), purchase a ticket to cross to Ko Samaesarn. Ticket distribution starts at 6:00 AM, ticket sales start at 8:00 AM.

8. Round-trip ticket to Koh Samet: Adults 300 baht each, children 3 years old and above but not exceeding 18 years old 220 baht each (children under 3 years old are free). Foreigners, both children and adults, 600 baht each. No advance booking.

9. Ferry tickets to Samesan can also be used to enter the Museum of Natural History of Thai Islands and Seas.

10. Samaesarn Island and Kham Island are different islands, but they are close to each other. When buying tickets, buy them separately, but board the boat at the same pier.

11. Every weekend, Samaesarn Island (including Koh Kham) is packed with tourists. Before traveling, be prepared for potential inconveniences due to the large crowds. It's important to be understanding towards the staff during these busy times.

12. Samaesarn Island is open all year round / As for Kham Island, it will be closed to allow nature to rest from May 16th onwards. The reopening date will be announced later.

13. Before boarding the boat to Samesan, it is advisable to stock up on provisions. (Food and drinks on the island are limited.)

14. The walk to the boat is exposed to the sun and can get quite hot. During peak times, the queue can get quite long, so it's a good idea to bring an umbrella for shade.

15. Samaesarn Island can accommodate 500 tourists per day (but on weekends and holidays, the number can increase to 600-700 people)

16. Samaesarn Island has the following restrictions: No alcoholic beverages are allowed on Samaesarn Island / No bikinis are allowed on Samaesarn Island / Foreigners are not allowed to cross to Samaesarn Island without being accompanied by a Thai person

17. Ferry to Koh Samet departs every hour from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

18. The ferry to Samaesan Island is a converted fishing boat with limited seating and sun protection. If you board the boat late, you may only be left with a spot to sit in the sun, as each round is very crowded.

19. From the pier Khao Ma Cho - Ko Samet Sar it takes only 15-20 minutes. The boat will stop at the Ko Samet Sar pier, Thian Beach side.

20. Upon arriving at the island, officials will provide a briefing on Koh Samet. What activities are available on the island? Where can you visit? The briefing will be short and informative.

21. **Samaesan Island** Day trip only, overnight stays are strictly prohibited (no accommodation available on the island).

22. The name "Samae San Island" comes from the fact that there used to be many Samae San trees on the island.

23. On "Samaesan Island" there are beaches where you can swim and do water activities, namely Tien Beach and Look Lom Beach.

24. These two beaches are located on opposite sides of the island, approximately 1 km apart. However, there is a free shuttle service that runs between the two beaches, taking only 5 minutes. The shuttle runs continuously.

25. **Hat Thian** is a beautiful, long beach located right next to the pier. As soon as you get off the boat, you'll be greeted by the beach. You can **rent a beach chair (20 baht), rent a concrete mat to sit on (20 baht), rent a bicycle to ride around, or rent snorkeling equipment (50 baht)**. If you want to go snorkeling, you'll need to sign up with the staff. Before you take the boat out to snorkel, you'll need to watch a basic snorkeling demonstration with the staff.

26. **Hat Look Lom** is a beautiful and wide beach, perfect for playing beach volleyball. The beach has nets and balls available for use. Similar to Hat Thian, this beach also offers glass-bottom boat rides for viewing the coral reefs below the water's surface.

27. Due to the large number of people, some activities require registration with the staff and payment at the service point to queue up in rounds. If you have to wait a long time or change your mind and do not want to do the activity, you can request a refund.

28. The diving will take you out for a dive in rounds, each round is about 1 hour long. The number of people in each round is limited. Sometimes, even if you sign up for a dive, you may have to wait a long time for your turn.

29. Glass-bottom boats too! Sign up and wait for your turn. And if the tide is low, the boat can't go out, and you won't be able to see the coral.

30. The military officers who provide services to tourists for all activities on Koh Saemsan may look a bit fierce, but they are kind, friendly, funny, and cheerful.

31. There are toilets and freshwater showers available on the island (and they are also limited)

32. There are shops selling simple food and drinks, such as instant noodles (20 baht), basil seeds in syrup (20 baht), orange snow ice (15 baht), and plain water.

33. There is a viewpoint at Hat Luk Lom. You can walk up the hill to see it.

34. There are nature trails available. If you are interested, please contact the staff.

35. Both beaches have a similar number of tourists, so you can choose which one to visit first. However, it is recommended to visit Hat Luk Lom first and then return to Hat Thian, as this will allow you to relax on the beach while waiting for the return boat at the pier.

36. Wild boars can be seen strutting around the island.

37. Although the island has a waste management system, the amount of waste will increase during peak tourist season. Therefore, it is important to help maintain cleanliness and dispose of waste in designated areas.

38. The return boat departs every hour, with the **last departure at 4:30 PM**. * (The boat schedule is not fixed. On some days with a lot of tourists, additional boats may be added.)*

39. If you haven't finished your water activities, such as going out to dive outside, and you don't make it back to the island in time for the last boat, don't worry, you won't be stranded. The staff will eventually take you back to shore.

40. On the way back, tourists will gradually return to the shore, and most of them will return on the last boat. Because they want to stay on the island for a long time, they have to make the most of it!

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Chailai Backpacker | Amazing Travel

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