Ko Samet - Islands & beaches

Ko Samet (เกาะเสม็ด) is a small island in Rayong Province , within easy reach of Bangkok.

• Catch the sunset from dramatic cliffside locations along the south-west coastline.
• A fireshow at the renowned Silver Sand Bar on Ao Phai Beach. They are usually held around 10pm, and are biggest later in the week and on weekends when the party crowds come in .

Ko Samet, including all of the good parts, is a national park and has an entry fee. Thais pay 40 baht, foreigners 400 baht. If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew to the beaches, there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint. If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an officer will collect the fee as you step out of the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven, ATM or other shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone checking your ticket. (There is a road via the temple, take that and you won't get near the checkpoint.

• Activities •

- Hiking

- Boat trips
A boat trip with any of the number of companies should cost around 600B and can include snorkelling, fishing, a visit to the fish farms and floating restaurant, or a tour around the island.

- Snorkeling/Diving

-Traditional on almost every South-East Asia beach, Ko Samet has started featuring "Full/Half/Dark Moon" nights. These should not be confused with the massive Full Moon Parties on Ko Pha Ngan or other parts of Southern Thailand - here they are simply an excuse for drink specials, which are present every night of the year anyway.

- Drink the local speciality, a SangSom bucket, which is a toxic mix of Thai whiskey, red bull and coke, served in a kids sandbucket with lots of straws.

• Food •

Seafood, seafood, and seafood, some of the best barbeques are found along Ao Phai and Haat Sai Kaew beaches. But there's also meat and veggie curries as well as Western favorites like pizza, and a bakery that makes fresh bread at the Naga Bar and Bungalows on Ao Hin Khok. The best Burgers on the Island you get at the restaurant SAFFRON. Almost every hotel and bungalow operation has its own restaurant but it's only the movies that differentiate them. Many also set up tables and chairs at night for dining on the beach.
If you are relaxing on the beach during the day there are plenty of hawkers selling fresh fruit, BBQ chicken wings, dried squid, papaya salad (can be extremely spicy) and even ice creams at reasonable prices.

Also if you need a break from Thai cuisine a number of the restaurants along Haat Sai Kaew make excellent club sandwiches. They also offer western style breakfast. (eg. bacon and eggs, yogurt or breakfast cereal)

Have a nice Trip !!

credet : wikitravel