Across the road to Ban Phe, then by boat
There is no ferry service from Pattaya to Koh Samet. In either direction, you drive approximately 81 km along the coast to Ban Phe Pier in Rayong (about an hour's drive) and then take a boat to the island (40 minutes by wooden ferry or 10 to 15 minutes by catamaran or speedboat). The fastest way to get there is by Grab, Bolt, or taxi to the pier (approximately 700–1,100 baht), from where you will reach the island in about two hours.
Check the current travel times and seat availability for Pattaya → Koh Samet on 12Go.
The easiest way is to take a shared taxi from your hotel in Pattaya, including the boat trip (645–750 baht per person). The cheapest option is to take a local minibus to Rayong and then two songthaews to the pier (approx. 150 baht, travel time approx. 3 hours). Foreigners pay a national park fee of 200 baht in cash upon arrival. For two people, I would take a Grab to the pier; for one person, book a shared taxi.
Accommodation in Koh Samet
This route ends in Koh Samet. Search for hotels in Koh Samet for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My picks in every price category on Koh Samet
Key facts
Ban Phe Pier is located approximately 81 km from the center of Pattaya.
It takes about an hour by car, slightly longer from Jomtien (86 km). There is no boat connection from Pattaya itself, so all routes end in Ban Phe.
A ride to the pier by Grab or taxi costs about 700–1100 Baht.
Grab and Bolt charge around 700–1000 baht for a car, and a booked limousine including toll fees costs around 1100 baht. You then buy the boat at the pier.
The cost for a van shared with the boat is 645–750 Baht.
The 35 Group picks you up at 8:00 AM and takes you to Na Dan around 12:15 PM for 645 Baht. Andaman Shuttle vans and speedboats take about two hours in the morning and cost 750 Baht.
The ferry crossing to Na Dan takes about 40 minutes.
Wooden ferries run approximately hourly for about 50–70 baht each way. The Khokaew Phitsadan catamaran takes 10 minutes for 150 baht, and speedboats, used in groups, cost 200–500 baht depending on the beach.
Foreigners pay a parking fee of 200 Baht.
Koh Samet is located in the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park. Adults pay 200 baht and children 100 baht in cash at the checkpoint after landing.
The local route costs approximately 150 ฿
Take a van from the intersection of Sukhumvit and South Pattaya Road to Rayong, then take songthaews to Ban Phe, a journey of approximately three hours with two transfers.
All routes from Pattaya to Koh Samet compared
Vans and cars from 12Go's offers for a weekday in mid-November, including booking fees. Prices for Grab, Bolt, and taxis from Pattaya Unlimited and the published fares of a Pattaya taxi company. Local route from a travel report from February 2026. Boat fares and parking fees as in our guidebook "From Bangkok to Koh Samet". Road distance according to OSRM route planning via OpenStreetMap.
Check live vans and cars from Pattaya to Koh Samet
12Go sells shared taxis with boat service to Na Dan, hotel pick-up, and private cars with speedboat seats; prices vary depending on your visit.
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Take Grab, Bolt or taxi to Ban Phe
For two or more people, I would recommend this route. Ban Phe Pier is about 81 km from central Pattaya, roughly an hour's drive via Sukhumvit Road and the coast through Rayong. Grab and Bolt charge approximately 700–1,000 baht for a standard car, and a taxi from a Pattaya taxi company costs around 1,100 baht for a sedan or 1,300 baht for a seven-seater (tolls included). Enter Nuan Thip Pier as your destination; this is the main pier in Ban Phe, where the ferry counters are located.
At the pier, you book your own boat and can choose between a wooden ferry, a catamaran, or a speedboat to the beach. 12Go also offers the option of booking a private car, including a seat on the speedboat to Na Dan, starting at around 2,900 baht for a small sedan. While this saves you the trip to the pier counter, it's more expensive than Grab and the ferry.
Shared transport including boat
For one person, a shared taxi and boat trip on the same ticket is cheaper than a car. 35 Group picks you up from your Pattaya hotel around 8:00 AM and takes you from Nuan Thip Pier to the boat for Na Dan, arriving around 12:15 PM. The trip costs 645 baht (via 12Go). Tickets are also available at their office on Third Road for approximately 350 baht – by phone, via Line, or through their Facebook page. Andaman Shuttle picks you up from hotels in Pattaya and Jomtien in the morning and takes you to Na Dan by speedboat in about two hours. The trip costs from 750 baht.
These are shared taxis, so expect a pick-up window rather than a fixed time and several stops to pick up other passengers. Most Andaman Shuttle reviews on 12Go say the ride goes smoothly, but a few mention a delay. I would recommend booking the day before and leaving your phone switched on in the morning.
Taking the local van and songthaew via Rayong
The cheapest route requires two transfers. Vans to Rayong wait under the pedestrian bridge at the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and South Pattaya Road. From there, take a ride to Rayong's second bus station for about 100 baht. A red songthaew will take you to Rayong's main bus station for about 20 baht, and a blue one continues to Ban Phe and the ferry terminals for about 30 baht. Allow approximately three hours for the journey to the ferry terminal and then on to the ferry terminal.
It costs around 150 baht compared to 700 baht or more for a car, so it's well-suited for backpackers with plenty of time. I wouldn't recommend it for those with luggage or children.
The best-rated hotels in Koh Samet
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels on Koh Samet. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
The boat from Ban Phe to Koh Samet
Nuan Thip is the main pier for Ban Phe. Wooden ferries run approximately hourly to Na Dan, the island's main northern pier. The crossing takes about 40 minutes and costs 50 to 70 baht each way, or 100 to 120 baht for a round trip. The catamaran Khokaew Phitsadan crosses to Na Dan in about 10 minutes for 150 baht. Tickets are available at a counter opposite the police station near the Tarua Phe pier. A speedboat (shared taxi) takes about 15 minutes. Prices range from 200 baht per person to Sai Kaew to 500 baht to the beaches further south. A private charter costs between 1,800 and 3,000 baht.
The ferry is a good option for Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, and all locations near Na Dan. For Ao Wong Duean, Ao Prao, or further south, a speedboat directly to the beach is recommended, avoiding the bumpy songthaew ride. Information regarding the last ferry varies by one to two hours, so I would advise arriving in Ban Phe in the early afternoon.
Upon landing, foreigners pay the national park fee of 200 baht (100 baht for children) in cash at the checkpoint behind Na Dan Pier. Songthaews wait at the pier; a trip to Sai Kaew and Ao Phai costs approximately 20 to 60 baht per person (shared), and a trip to the southern beaches costs 200 to 600 baht.
Is it possible to visit Koh Samet as a day trip from Pattaya?
Yes, it's much easier by car than from Bangkok. Leave Pattaya around 7:00 AM, take the catamaran or speedboat from Ban Phe, and you'll reach Sai Kaew beach around 9:00 AM. Return by boat in the late afternoon and you'll be back in Pattaya in the early evening. You'll then have about six to seven hours on the island. Taxis don't wait in Ban Phe, so book your car for the return trip in advance or have it arranged by a travel agency on the island.
Day trips from Pattaya offer the same experience, but with organized logistics: hotel pickup, speedboat, and about five hours of free time, usually for groups of two or more. For two or more people, the trip with Grab (one way) and the boat costs less than two seats on a tour. Shared taxis are less suitable for day trips, as they don't arrive until around midday, and the first return trip is at 11:00 AM.
An overnight stay is still the better plan if possible, as the last boats don't return until the end of the day.
Koh Samet to Pattaya
For the return trip, take any boat from Na Dan to Ban Phe and then a car. The drive to Pattaya takes about an hour. There are no taxis readily available in Ban Phe, so I recommend pre-booking a car or arranging one through your hotel or a travel agency on the island.
The shared taxis also run in the opposite direction. PN Group departs from Na Dan at 1:00 PM and arrives at Bali Hai Pier around 3:40 PM and in Pattaya city center at 4:00 PM. The boat trip costs 595 baht. 35 Group also departs from Na Dan at 1:00 PM and will take you to your hotel in Pattaya around 4:30 PM. The trip costs 645 baht. Andaman Shuttle offers departures from 11:00 AM with hotel transfer. The journey takes about two and a quarter hours and costs from 750 baht. A private transfer with return by boat can be booked through 12Go from approximately 3,900 baht.
For a flight from U-Tapao Airport between Pattaya and Rayong, it is about 70 km to Ban Phe, which takes about an hour by car and is therefore closer than Pattaya.
Are you planning to continue your journey along the coast?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling from Pattaya to Koh Samet.
Drive to Ban Phe Pier in Rayong (approximately 81 km, about an hour's drive) and take a boat to the island. A ride to the pier by Grab, Bolt, or taxi costs approximately 700–1,100 baht. Shared taxis that pick you up from your hotel and include the boat trip cost 645–750 baht. The ferry crossing to Na Dan takes about 40 minutes.
No. Boats to Koh Samet depart from Ban Phe, about 81 km from Pattaya. Tickets sold as ferries from Pattaya to Koh Samet include the transfer by minibus or car to Ban Phe plus the boat trip.
Approximately two hours by car and speedboat, two to two and a half hours by van and speedboat from Andaman Shuttle, approximately four hours by van and ferry from the 35 Group, and approximately three to three and a half hours by local van and songthaew via Rayong.
A ride to Ban Phe Pier with Grab or Bolt costs approximately 700–1,000 baht, while a pre-booked car including tolls costs around 1,100 baht. The boat trip is extra: approximately 50–70 baht for the ferry or 200–500 baht for a shared speedboat. A private car with a speedboat space costs from approximately 2,900 baht.
There is no direct bus service to the pier. Minibuses to Rayong depart from the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and South Pattaya Road for approximately 100 baht. From there, two songthaews will take you to Ban Phe for about 50 baht. The easiest option is to take a shared taxi and then a boat ride (645–750 baht).
Yes, by car. Leave Pattaya around 7:00 AM, take a speedboat or catamaran from Ban Phe, and you'll have six to seven hours on the island before returning by boat in the late afternoon. Day trips with hotel pickup and speedboat offer the same experience, but with about five hours of free time.
Koh Larn is suitable for a day trip as it's only 45 minutes from Bali Hai Pier and there's no parking fee. Koh Samet is a good choice for one or two nights, as it has more beaches and quieter bays, although the journey to the pier takes an hour and foreigners pay 200 baht to land.
Yes. The island is located in a national park, and foreigners pay 200 baht per adult and 100 baht per child in cash at the checkpoint after the boat arrives in Na Dan.
Take a boat to Ban Phe and pre-book a car there – the drive to Pattaya takes about an hour. Shared taxis depart from Na Dan at 1:00 PM for Bali Hai Pier and into Pattaya city center (595 Baht) or to your hotel (645 Baht). Andaman Shuttle offers shuttle buses to your hotel from 11:00 AM for 750 Baht.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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