Pattaya to Koh Samet

The fastest way and the easiest way

Our van to Ban Phe, then a speedboat for the group to your beach, is the fastest and the easiest way from Pattaya to Koh Samet. You step off the van and onto the boat.

Ask Tanner which way suits your group.

Is there a direct bus?

No. There's no direct Pattaya to Koh Samet bus, so you book a shared van or a car to Ban Phe pier, or take the bus to Rayong and a songthaew on.

Shared van. 9-seat vans run to Ban Phe at about ฿350 to ฿450, taking 2 hours 25 minutes to 4 hours (checked October 2026).

Private transfer. The same page lists cars and vans to Ban Phe at about ฿890 to ฿3,000, 40 minutes to 2 hours, hotel to pier.

Bus and songthaew. The bus to Rayong and a songthaew to Ban Phe come to under ฿200 in all, 2 hours or more (checked October 2026).

Our van. A luxury van for up to 4, a party van for up to 10, or a coach for 20 and more, from your hotel to the pier, with no changes.

Ask Tanner to skip the changes and send the van.

The boats across

The Pattaya to Koh Samet ferry crossing starts at Ban Phe pier: speedboats take about 15 minutes, and the slow ferry about 40 minutes to Na Dan, the island's main pier.

About 33 boats a day cross from 8am to 5pm, from about ฿100 (checked 28 October 2026).

Foreign visitors pay a national park fee in cash at Na Dan Pier: ฿200 for adults, and children pay half under the Department of National Parks' fee rules (checked November 2026), so bring baht.

Insider tip: the last scheduled boats leave around 5pm, so a late start from Pattaya means a private speedboat. See Bangkok to Koh Samet, and ask Tanner to time the van to the boat.

How far Ban Phe is

The Pattaya to Koh Samet distance is mostly road: Ban Phe pier is about 85 km southeast of Pattaya, and the island sits a few kilometres offshore.

That's 1 to 1.5 hours in our van on a clear road, then 15 minutes on the speedboat. Ask Tanner what time to leave the hotel.

Straight there by speedboat

There's no direct scheduled speedboat from Pattaya to Koh Samet. A private speedboat can run straight there, skipping the road and the pier. Tanner quotes it for the boat, hotel to beach.

• A boat day instead: see Pattaya yachts for Koh Larn and the islands near Pattaya.

Speedboats wait for calm water on windy days. Ask Tanner for a quote on your date.

Why the group goes by car

Six friends in two shared vans means someone always waits at Ban Phe. In our van the group leaves the hotel together, the bags go in once, the drinks stay on ice, and the driver drops you at the pier for the boat. Coming back, the same van is waiting when you step off.

Tanner's pick: for 5 to 10 of you, take the party van to Ban Phe and a speedboat to your beach. Plan it with Tanner.

Pattaya to Koh Samet in short

• What it is: a road run of about 85 km to Ban Phe pier, then a short boat ride to the island.

• The whole trip takes about 2 to 3 hours by road and boat.
• The pier is Ban Phe, about 85 km southeast of Pattaya.
• The crossing is about 15 minutes by speedboat, or 40 on the slow ferry to Na Dan; boats run 8am to 5pm.
• There's no direct bus: take a shared van, a private car, or the bus to Rayong and a songthaew.
• The park fee is ฿200 an adult, in cash at Na Dan.
• A group takes our van to Ban Phe and its own speedboat to the beach.

Checked October 2026.

Which island is best near Pattaya?

Koh Larn is the closest island to Pattaya, a day trip by boat; Koh Samet, 2 to 3 hours away by road and boat, is better for a night or two on white sand.

• Koh Larn: the beaches by day and back to Pattaya for the evening.
• Koh Samet: a night or two, with beach bars after dark. A day trip from Pattaya means 4 to 6 hours of travel there and back.

Insider tip: stay for the evening. Hay Haa Bar on Sai Kaew beach puts on a fire show every night with a DJ after, and Silver Sand on Ao Phai has the open-air dance floor, Cocoon Samet's bar guide says.

See our Koh Samet guide and the Pattaya nightlife guide, and ask Tanner which island suits the group.