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A part of Rayong province, Ko Samet is well established as a popular
destination for overseas visitors and weekend excursionists from
Bangkok. The island was, however, famous long before the advent
of tourism, being immortalized by the classical Thai poet Sunthon
Phu, who set part of his epic Phra Aphaimani on the island, where
the hero of the tale defeats a giant by playing a magic fl ute.
Lying 6.5 km offshore and appearing as a thin sliver of land shaped
roughly like a nail with a sloping fl at head, Ko Samet is far less
developed than its popularity might suggest and remains a picturesque
island with many attractive coves, bays and some excellent beaches,
perhaps the most stunning being Hat Sai Kaeo. Accommodation is mostly
bungalow style, concentrated mainly on the northern and eastern
sides, while the scene becomes quieter and more remote towards the
southern tip.
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