Ko Samet Travel Forum

I am travelling to Thailand In Feb and cant decide whether to go to ko Chang or Ko Samet. I will be arriving from Cambodia (Poipet) and have to travel from there to one of the islands- has any one done this? Is it easy enough to reach? I really wanted to do both isalnds but will only have 5/7 days before I have to leave to Bangkok. Has anyone been to both islands and can tell me which is the nicest and cheapest?

Thanks

I've been to Ko Samet in 1999 and Ko Chang in 2001, so I cannot comment on any changes since then.

My opinion in one sentence: Ko Samet is cheaper, but Ko Chang is more beautiful.

You'll have to take the bus from the Ekamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok to either of these islands. Samet is about 3 hours away and Chang is about 6 hours from Bangkok. It's the same route, obvioulsly to Chang you see more. Once you're at Ban Phe you take the ferry to Samet. From Trang you take a minibus to the ferry port then a ferry across to the island. Once you're on Chang you need to take another minibus to the western side of the island to where the resorts are and to where the beach is best. On Samet you can find a place to stay very close to the ferry port or by walking along the road until you come across something you like (assuming you haven't found something on the internet before you arrive).

Clarification: To get to Koh Chang you take the bus to Trang.

If you do not want to go back to Bangkok, once you passed poipet border look for visa run minibusses.They leave from Pattaya and go back in a few hours as they take people that come to poipet only for a visarun.They will be happy to take you to pattaya as, that money goes straight to the driver and the hostess.
From Pattaya, you can go to Samet.

Corra

May I make a correction that going to Koh Chang have to get to Trat, not Trang.

Trat is on the Gulf of Thailand but Trang is go further to the south on Andaman side.

Thank you, I always get those two mixed up!!!

i love both islands but it took me 3 trips to like ko samet. i thought it was too quiet then again i didn't know the right place to go. while the first and only time so far i went to ko chang, i had fun.

it depends on what you're after. the beauty is about the same. i feel like it's busier in ko chang but more fun. it's a little more expensive in ko chang by the way.

anyway, for both islands, if you want a bit of nightlife, then stay at the center beach.

not sure if my reply helps you any but either should be nice :)

Both are located in the Gulf of thailand so Both are GREAT! but i guess people go more at samet. but anyways, take a look
http://thailand-travel-info.blogspot.com/2006/06/paradise-koh-samed.html (koh samed)
http://thailand-travel-info.blogspot.com/2006/06/koh-chang-island-on-gulf-of-thailand.html (koh chang)
have a good trip.
kani rynn :)