How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samet
Koh Samet is the closest proper beach island to Bangkok, which is exactly why getting there is more fiddly than people expect: the journey is two legs, not one. You cross about 220 km of the eastern seaboard to Ban Phe pier in Rayong, then take a boat. The road leg is where all the time and most of the cost sits, and it is the part where your choice actually matters.
Book a Private TransferThe journey at a glance
| From | Bangkok |
|---|---|
| To | Koh Samet |
| Distance | ≈ 220 km to Ban Phe pier |
| Journey time | 3 – 3.5 hours by road, plus the ferry crossing |
| Private taxi fare | Sedan ฿2,000 · SUV ฿2,300 · Van ฿2,800 — per vehicle, tolls included |
| Payment | Cash in Thai Baht to the driver on arrival. Nothing charged at booking. |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before pickup. |
Every option compared
| Option | Typical cost | Total time | Departures | Door to door | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi to Ban Phe + ferry | ฿2,000 car + ≈฿70pp ferry | ≈ 4 h total | Any time you choose | Hotel door to pier | Same day usually fine |
| Bus from Ekkamai + ferry | ≈฿250–300pp + ferry | 5 – 6 h total | Roughly hourly, daytime | No — get to Ekkamai first | Buy at the terminal |
| Minivan from Ekkamai + ferry | ≈฿250pp + ferry | 4.5 – 5.5 h total | When full | No | Buy at the terminal |
| Private speedboat package | Charter rates | ≈ 3.5 h total | On demand | Pier to your beach | Arrange in advance |
Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.
How the journey works, leg by leg
Leg 1 — Road to Ban Phe pier
Your driver takes you door-to-door to Ban Phe pier in Rayong. This is the mainland ferry terminal for Koh Samet, and it is where the taxi journey ends. Tolls are included and the driver waits while you unload.
Leg 2 — Ferry or speedboat to the island
Ferries cross from Ban Phe to Na Dan pier on Koh Samet in about 40 minutes for roughly ฿70 per person, running through the day until early evening. Speedboats do the same crossing in 15–20 minutes and cost considerably more, but they run on demand and can drop you at a beach closer to your hotel. Buy tickets at the pier — no advance booking needed.
Leg 3 — National park entry and last mile
Koh Samet is inside Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so there is an entry fee collected on the island: around ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors. From Na Dan pier, songthaews run to every beach for ฿20–100 depending on distance. Many hotels also arrange a pickup if you tell them your ferry time.
Practical tips
- Ekkamai bus terminal is on the east side of Bangkok. If you are staying anywhere west or central, getting to the bus can take an hour on its own — which is most of the time a taxi would have saved you.
- Ferries stop running in the early evening. If your flight lands late, it is usually easier to sleep in Ban Phe or Rayong and cross in the morning than to pay for a night speedboat.
- The national park fee is separate from both the taxi and the ferry, and is collected in cash on the island. Keep some small notes.
- Tell us your ferry plan in the booking notes and the driver will aim for a specific departure rather than just "the pier".
- Bags are carried onto the ferry by hand or trolley. If you are travelling with large suitcases, a speedboat straight to your beach saves a lot of hauling.
- Returning to the mainland, allow a full hour between the ferry landing at Ban Phe and your taxi pickup time — crossings are frequently a little late.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Bangkok to Koh Samet?
About four hours door to beach if you go by private taxi: roughly 3 to 3.5 hours by road to Ban Phe pier, then a 40-minute ferry. By public bus, allow five to six hours once you include getting to Ekkamai terminal and waiting for a departure.
Can a taxi take me all the way to Koh Samet?
No — Koh Samet is an island with no bridge or car ferry for visitors. Every road journey ends at Ban Phe pier on the mainland, and you cross the last stretch by ferry or speedboat. Our fare covers the road leg to Ban Phe pier, which is why your booking confirmation shows "BanPhe Pier" as the destination.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
No. Ferries to Koh Samet run frequently through the day and tickets are sold at Ban Phe pier when you arrive. Speedboats also operate on demand. Advance booking is only worth it for a private speedboat charter.
How much is the Koh Samet national park fee?
Roughly ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors, collected in cash on the island. It is a National Park charge, not something we or the ferry operators collect, and it is not included in any taxi or ferry ticket.
What is the last ferry from Ban Phe to Koh Samet?
Scheduled ferries generally finish in the early evening, though exact times shift with the season and demand. After that, a speedboat is the only crossing, at a much higher price. If you are arriving on a late flight, plan to stay on the mainland overnight.
Is a taxi from Bangkok to Koh Samet worth it over the bus?
For one or two people travelling light, the bus is genuinely cheaper. For a family or a group of three or more, the fixed car fare split between you is close to the per-person bus fare, and you leave from your hotel at a time you pick rather than crossing the city to Ekkamai first.
Book this transfer
Fixed fare from ฿2,000 per vehicle. See the full fare card on the Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier route page, or book directly below. Most bookings on this route are made the day before travel.