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How to Get from Pattaya to Koh Samet

This is the shortest mainland run to Koh Samet — about ninety minutes down the coast from Pattaya to Ban Phe pier. It is close enough that people do it as a day trip, though the island rewards at least one night. The whole journey, hotel to beach, is comfortably under three hours.

Private taxi · Pattaya → Ban Phe PierFixed fare per car, tolls included. Pay the driver at the end. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup; after that 25–100% of the fare.

Sedan: ฿1,000
SUV: ฿1,300
Van: ฿1,700

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Koh Samet is an island. Road transport ends at Ban Phe pier; the crossing is by ferry or speedboat. Your booking confirmation will show "BanPhe Pier".

The journey at a glance

From	Pattaya
To	Koh Samet
Distance	≈ 110 km to Ban Phe pier
Journey time	1.5 hours by road, plus the ferry
Private taxi fare	Sedan ฿1,000 · SUV ฿1,300 · Van ฿1,700 — per car, tolls included
Payment	Cash in Thai baht to the driver at the end. Nothing is charged when you book.
Cancellation	Free up to 24 hours before pickup; after that 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the fare, and 100% for a no-show, also when you pay the driver in cash.

Every option compared

Option	Typical cost	Total time	Departures	Door to door	Booking
Private taxi + ferry	฿1,000 car + ≈฿70pp ferry	≈ 2.5 h total	Any time you choose	Hotel door to pier	Same day usually fine
Bus or minivan + ferry	≈฿150–250pp + ferry	3.5 – 4 h total	Limited, daytime	No	Buy at the terminal
Motorbike or self-drive + ferry	Fuel only + ferry	≈ 2.5 h total	When you like	Park at Ban Phe	Parking at the pier

Bus, minivan, train and ferry fares are approximate and were last checked in September 2026. They change without notice. Our own taxi fares are live from our booking system.

How the journey works, leg by leg

Leg 1 — Road to Ban Phe pier
Your driver takes you door-to-door to Ban Phe pier in Rayong. This is the mainland ferry terminal for Koh Samet, and it is where the taxi journey ends. Tolls are included and the driver waits while you unload.
Leg 2 — Ferry or speedboat to the island
Ferries cross from Ban Phe to Na Dan pier on Koh Samet in about 40 minutes for roughly ฿70 per person, running through the day until early evening. Speedboats do the same crossing in 15–20 minutes and cost considerably more, but they run on demand and can drop you at a beach closer to your hotel. Buy tickets at the pier — no advance booking needed.
Leg 3 — National park entry and last mile
Koh Samet is inside Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so there is an entry fee collected on the island: around ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors. From Na Dan pier, songthaews run to every beach for ฿20–100 depending on distance. Many hotels also arrange a pickup if you tell them your ferry time.

Practical tips

Day trips work on this route, but the last ferry back is the whole plan. Confirm the evening crossing times at Na Dan before you commit to returning the same day.
Public transport between Pattaya and Ban Phe is patchy — this is one of the routes where the gap between a taxi and the alternatives is largest in time, not just comfort.
The national park fee is separate from both the taxi and the ferry, and is collected in cash on the island. Keep some small notes.
Tell us your ferry plan in the booking notes and the driver will aim for a specific departure rather than just "the pier".
Bags are carried onto the ferry by hand or trolley. If you are travelling with large suitcases, a speedboat straight to your beach saves a lot of hauling.
Returning to the mainland, allow a full hour between the ferry landing at Ban Phe and your taxi pickup time — crossings are frequently a little late.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the journey from Pattaya to Koh Samet?

About two and a half hours in total: roughly ninety minutes by road to Ban Phe pier, then a 40-minute ferry crossing to the island.

Can I visit Koh Samet as a day trip from Pattaya?

Yes, and plenty of people do. Leave early, and check the last ferry back to Ban Phe before you go — that is what determines how long you actually get on the beach.

Do I need to book the ferry in advance?

No. Ferries to Koh Samet run frequently through the day and tickets are sold at Ban Phe pier when you arrive. Speedboats also operate on demand. Advance booking is only worth it for a private speedboat charter.

How much is the Koh Samet national park fee?

Roughly ฿200 per adult and ฿100 per child for foreign visitors, collected in cash on the island. It is a National Park charge, not something we or the ferry operators collect, and it is not included in any taxi or ferry ticket.

What is the last ferry from Ban Phe to Koh Samet?

Scheduled ferries generally finish in the early evening, though exact times shift with the season and demand. After that, a speedboat is the only crossing, at a much higher price. If you are arriving on a late flight, plan to stay on the mainland overnight.