Koh Samae San - Island in Chonburi

If you love white sandy beaches and you want to be away from crowded touristy islands like Phuket, Samui, or Koh Lan in Pattaya, Koh Samae San might be your paradise. The reason that makes it unique is that it is under the control of the Royal Thai Navy for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project.

This day trippers’ delightful island is located in Sattahip (or Sattaheep) district, Chonburi province. Unlike most well-known islands in Thailand, visitors are not allowed to stay overnight there. Only 500 visitors per day can enjoy learning and conservative traveling on the island. It opens every day and every season. Tickets are available for sale at 08:00 am at the Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum, Khao Mar Jor pier, but the queue card is given around 6 a.m. onwards. A ticket for a foreigner costs 600 THB. It is inclusive of the Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum admission fee, ferries, transportation on the island, toilets and showers.

Visitors are recommended to travel to Koh Samae San in the morning, and come back to explore the museum in the afternoon. Many people opt for staying at an accommodation near the pier so that they can queue up early. The first ferry departs to Koh Samae San around 9 am and the last one leaves the island at 16:00. Travel time is 10-15 minutes, and the capacity of the ferry is 100 passengers. When you reach the island, some officials will brief you about the island and recommend interesting activities.

What to see and do?

You can bring your own food or buy it on the island. Neither alcoholic drinks nor bikinis are allowed. Shorts are welcome. Although there are five beaches, visitors can swim at Hat Thien and Hat Luk Lom only for their own safety. Clear water and colorful coral reefs reflect the effective conservation. You can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, or riding on a glass-bottom boat. Biking around the island is also fun. Nets and balls are available for free if you want to play beach volleyball.

The Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum

It opens from 09:00am to 17:00. There are five air-conditioned buildings. Rest areas and scenic view points overlooking a fisherman village and a few islands are provided at buildings no. 2 and no. 5. The latter is at the hilltop with a lot of steps, but the breathtaking view there is worth climbing.