Koh Samet, the alternative for backpacker trail

The Quite Comfortables of Koh Samet

Just a few hours drive from central Bangkok lies the pictureque island of Koh Samet. Known for its blinding white beaches and turquoise waters, the island has undergone a great deal of development since it welcomed its first questhouses in just the last decade. The islans is officially a national park, but beause of its abundant natural beauty and proximity to Bangkok, it quickly became a prime destination for Bangkok residents seeking a convenient, idyllic weekend retreat. And even now, with its bungalow lined beaches and constant flow of motorbikes and pick-up trucks inching their way along the few dirt roads that interconnect the island, it has someow retained much of its charm. While many lament the effect that overdevelopment has had on islands like Phuket, Koh Samui, and more recently Koh Chang, Koh Samet, by virtue of being the smallest of these by quite a margin, has probably alredy hit its limit in terms of construction. What remains, despite the generally poor conditoin of its roads, is an island devided into beautiful little pockets, each with its own distinguishing characteristics.

The main pier to Koh Samet is on the northern end of the island and is closese to Hat Sai Kao, or White Sand Beach. True to its name, the san on this beach is dazzling, fine powdery white, and is reason this is also the most crowed beach on the island. Shops, bars and restaurants are crammed next to each other running southward down the beach as far as the eye can see. Accommodation on the northeast end of the island is primarily in the questhouse range in terms of comfort and amenities, but the sheer number of people staying here make it less attractive option for those seeking a vaction from the vacationers. This may be a great place to enjoy a few loud drinks in a few loud bars, but for a romantic gateway it is advisible to look elsewhere.

One attractive alternative is the scenic west coast beach of Ao Orao. Aside from the obvious benefit of suset views from your cottage or villa.

It is certainly true that Koh Samet is no longer the undiscovered paradise it may have been in years past, but it would be unfair to say that recent developments have ruined it. The island still boasts a lot of character, and most of the new properties are serving a more upscale clientele, providing alternatives for those no longer on the backpacker trail. And unlike Samui or Phuket, Koh Samet is a very small island - you could literally walk its entire circumference, taking breaks to dip in the ocean or enjoy a cool drink in well under a day. Like any small mainland city, the island has many options for socializing and dining.