Ko Samet Travel Forum

I would like to go to Ko Samet for 3 or 4 days in July. My concern is that my flight does not arrive in Bangkok until 1:30pm so with the 4 hour bus ride, I will miss the last boat to the island. Are there private boats available after 5:00? Will I have to spend the night on the mainland?
Any advice on this would be great!
Thanks in advance!

When we were there in 1999 several private boat trips were offered, but I am not sure whether there are any after 5pm.

The problem for you is not only whether there are any boats after 5pm, it is whether there are any boats after 7pm, because when you take into consideration all the fuzz at the airport (customs, etc.), the taxi-trip to the bus station in Ekkemai (c. 45 to 60 minutes), waiting for the next bus to leave, etc. you will not make it to Ban Phe before that time.

Another problem might be whether the buses from BKK will actually go to Ban Pre after the closure of the official ferries, because the bus stop there is entirely for the ferry-passengers.

Unless you have a good reason to come to Ko Samet on your first day in Thailand you are probably better off to spend a night in BKK or Rayong first before going to the island. Why start your first day in Thailand with a lot of stress, especially after a long flight with jet-lag?

I believe that the last bus form BKK to Ban Pe pier would be at 6-6.30 pm. and if you take the last bus you'll definitely miss the boat, which happens to me offten. Anyway, you still can fine the way to the island.

You can hire the private boats from the pier. There are some out-off-schedule boats that are willing to take some people to the island, but it means that you have to negotiate with the them how much would it cause for each trip.

The best way to do so is that just look around if there are some people waiting to cross the island as well - there are many people like me- always miss the boats- and talk to them if they wanted to share the boat with you (usually they do)
In this way, the more people you get the less you pay for that trip because the boat's don't care how much people will go with you they just want what they should get to cover the engine to start.

I don't know how much would it cause for each trip now, but, back then, It was around 1500B-
We got the pier at 9.30 pm. so, we waited till the last bus of the day arrived ( around10.00))
and we got more people from that bus...then we were good to go. Some of my friends even reached the island at 1.00 am. in the morning..So, there's the way to go to the island just that you have to pay more for the out-off-schedule things and enjoy them.

Do as pepu says!
Forget the ferry anyway as its really slow!!!!...try to convince some other travellers to share a speedboat with you,it should cost around 1200 bhat.I know it sounds expensive but it costs 200 baht to get on the island.If you get a speedboat it will take you to the beach that you want directly meaning that you will not have to pay the fee to get on the island.The more people you get to go on the speedboat the cheaper it is for you!!

If you are going to arrive in the weekend make sure you have a reservation for a room. Otherwise you may end up without a room after all the trouble to get to ths island so fast. The Island is popular in the weekend for Thai people. But is really a nice place to go !

Regards, Roelof

Thanks for all your replies. I have decided to change my flight so now I will be flying to Bangkok on Saturday night and staying overnight in Bangkok. Then I can get the bus and boat on Sunday morning. Problem solved!

Thanks again!