6 Things You Must Try on Koh Samet

Located on the northeast corner of Koh Samet, Hat Sai Kaeo is the most beautiful and popular beach on the island. The level of tourism development here is quite complete. There are not only conventional beach projects such as sea view hotels and sunbathing areas, but also a variety of water sports including motorboats, surfing, and parasailing.

At the southern end of Hat Sai Kaeo, there is a statue of a Prince and Mermaid to commemorate the epic Thai poem "Phra Aphai Mani" written by the famous Thai poet Sunthorn Phu. The prince in the book defeated the villainous monster in Koh Samet, which also made the island of Koh Samet a popular holiday destination in Thailand.

Located on the west coast of Koh Samet, Ao Phrao is a very quiet little beach. The 300 m long beach is crescent-shaped, facing west towards the blue-green Gulf of Thailand. It is perfect for a cocktail in the evening and waiting for the fiery sunset.

Being far away from the noisy east coast, Ao Phrao is one of the quietest beaches on the island. It is isolated from the world, far from the crush of tourist groups, more like a paradise. It is a cluster of high-end resort hotels. If you like to sunbathe and spend a quiet holiday, this would be your top choice.

Ao Phutthra, also known as Phutsa Bay or Ao Phutsa Bay. It is very peaceful and natural even though it is on the lively east coast of Koh Samet. Catching squid in Ao Phutthra is a very popular activity at night. Boats usually cast off from the beach at 6 o'clock in the evening and return at midnight. The price is about ฿500 per person.

Night fishing for squid utilizes the phototaxis nature of squid. Usually, several headlights areplaced on the fishing boat, while a special luminous bait is also used. After catching the squid, you can choose to make sashimi on the boat, absolutely fresh; tourists who are not used to the fishy scent can choose to bring it back to the beach for barbecuing.

Koh Samet and nine adjacent islands constitute a national park. Each island in the park has beautiful sandy beaches and clear water. There are also colorful coral reefs under the shallow bay, which is ideal for island hopping snorkeling.

The island hopping snorkeling in Koh Samet is generally booked at the hotel and is operatedby the same entity. Generally speaking, different routes involve 3-6 small islands, which take half a day to 1 day and the price does not exceed ฿1,000. For longer duration routes, there will be lunch at noon included.

Whenever night falls, the large and small beaches on the east coast of Koh Samet will become the center of nightlife. Seafood barbecue stalls, mobile karaoke bars, and low bar tables allpop up on the beach. Visitors can enjoy seafood barbecues, sip cocktails made on-site, and enjoy the most famous torch show on Koh Samet.

The performers of the Koh Samet Torch Show are generally twenty-year-old, handsome and energetic local guys. The 3 to 4 bare-chested body performers quickly wave torches like nunchaku. Some will spray fire from the mouth, and some twirl flaming red steel wool, creating sparks everywhere. The dynamic background music is very energetic.

The Baan Ploy Samed Restaurant is located on the north side of Koh Samet and is part of theBaan Poly Sea hotel. It is the only sea chalet restaurant on Koh Samet. Sitting in the woodenhouse enjoying the sea breeze, you can take in the unrivaled sea view while relaxing.

To eat at the Baan Ploy Samed Restaurant, visitors must ring the bell at the dock. After the waiter hears the ringing, would then row the wooden boat to greet the guests. The dining tables in the wooden house are made of glass, and the feet are suspended over the water while seated. The diners can see the fish swimming past in the sea, which is something special.

The restaurant prices are much higher than the average level on the island. The average meal costs about ฿600 (about ¥120), which is suitable for tourists who have high standards for dining environs.