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Rayong Beach Trip
Mae Ramphueng to Koh Samet, 3 Days 2 Nights

Rayong is a stretch of sea about 3 hours' drive from Bangkok, but you get both a long easy-swimming beach and a clear-water island in the same trip. This plan starts you at Mae Ramphueng Beach, then crosses over to Koh Samet from Ban Phe pier, and wraps up with the Khao Laem Ya viewpoint and seafood souvenirs by the water. It's laid out as 3 days and 2 nights so the travel never wears you out and you actually get time to lie on the sand.

🏖️ Long swimming beach⛴️ Ferry to Koh Samet🦐 Seafood by the sand
Rayong Beach Trip Mae Ramphueng to Koh Samet, 3 Days 2 Nights

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

A Rayong beach trip suits anyone who wants the sea without flying or driving far. Mae Ramphueng is a sandy beach running more than 12 kilometres, shallow and easy to swim, with seafood restaurants lined up along the sand. Koh Samet sits just a 20-minute boat ride off the coast, and the water is noticeably clearer than the mainland. The plan below puts the mainland beach on day one, crosses to the island for an overnight on day two, then circles back to catch the viewpoint and pick up souvenirs before you head home.

How to get there and where to start

  • From Bangkok — drive the motorway, around 200 kilometres, roughly 3 hours to Rayong town. If you take a minivan or coach, you can be dropped right at Ban Phe pier.
  • Mae Ramphueng Beach — about 11 kilometres from Rayong town and about 8 kilometres from Ban Phe market. There's a long beachfront road, so parking is easy.
  • Crossing to Koh Samet — board at Ban Phe pier. The ferry takes about 20 minutes, and there's overnight parking near the pier.

Book your island room first

Over long weekends, rooms on Koh Samet fill up fast and prices climb. If you're going Saturday-Sunday, book ahead before you get on the boat so you're not dragging your bags around looking for a room on arrival.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Rayong trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

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🎟️ See all Rayong tours & activities (Klook)

Day-by-day plan

Day 1

Mae Ramphueng Beach + Ban Phe

Midday
Arrive in Rayong, head to Mae Ramphueng Beach, find parking along the beachfront roadPick the middle stretch of the beach where the restaurants and toilets are. It's more convenient than the far ends.
13:00
Lunch on fresh seafood by the beachThere are plenty of beachfront places. Order it fresh — prawns, shellfish, squid, priced by weight. Ask the price per kilo before you order so there are no surprises.
Afternoon
Swim, lounge on the sand, rent a deck chairThe water is shallow with a gentle slope, good for taking kids in. The afternoon sun is still strong, so put on sunscreen.
Evening
Stop by Ban Phe market for seafood souvenirsDried squid, dried shrimp, shrimp paste and fish sauce are what Ban Phe is known for. Buy them before you cross to the island, or save it for the way back.
Night
Stay one night around Ban Phe or near Mae Ramphueng BeachStay on the mainland the first night so you can wake up and catch an early boat, giving you a full day on the island.
Day 2

Cross to Koh Samet, a full day of swimming

09:00
Board at Ban Phe pier and cross to Koh SametThe ferry costs about 70 THB each way. If you're in a hurry and travelling as a group, a speedboat round trip runs around 350 THB and is faster.
10:00
Check in, then head down to Sai Kaew BeachSai Kaew has fine white sand and runs about 800 metres — it's the most popular beach on the island. Entering the national park area costs about 40 THB per person.
Afternoon
Swim and snorkel over the shallow coralThe water is clearer than the mainland and you can see the sandy bottom — good for floating around. Umbrellas and chairs are available to rent along the beach.
16:30
Move to Ao Phrao on the west side for sunsetAo Phrao is quieter than Sai Kaew and faces west, so you get a clear view of the sunset.
Night
Dinner by the beach, one night on the islandMany places set tables right on the sand. Prices on the island run a bit higher than the mainland because supplies have to be ferried across.
Day 3

Khao Laem Ya + heading back

Morning
An early swim at the beach by your room before you leaveEarly on there are fewer people, the water is calm and the photos come out nice. Pack up and check out.
10:00
Take the boat back to Ban Phe pierCheck the return boat schedule ahead of time — boats leave in set runs through the late morning and afternoon.
11:30
Stop at the Khao Laem Ya viewpointKhao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park is open roughly 08:30-16:30. Entry is about 40 THB per person, plus around 30 THB for a car, and visitors aged 60 and over enter free. There are rock terraces and wide sea views.
Midday
A farewell seafood lunch around Laem Charoen / Saeng Chan beachSaeng Chan and Laem Charoen are one continuous beach with lots of seafood restaurants — a good last meal before the drive home.
Afternoon
Pick up a few more souvenirs and head backIf you still haven't bought souvenirs, you can stop again at Ban Phe market or one of the roadside shops.

Rough budget per person

  • Boat to the island — ferry about 70 THB each way, or a speedboat round trip around 350 THB.
  • National park fees (island beaches + Khao Laem Ya) — about 40 THB per person per spot.
  • Accommodation — the Ban Phe side starts in the low hundreds; on Koh Samet, normal-season rooms start around 800-1,500 THB per night depending on the beach and the day.
  • Seafood — a beachfront meal runs about 200-400 THB per head; prawns and crab add to that by weight.

Straight talk

The water on the Mae Ramphueng side isn't as clear as the island, and at times there's sediment carried down from the river. If clear water is what you're after, lean on Koh Samet for that. Mae Ramphueng wins on its long beach, easy swimming and the number of seafood restaurants right on the sand.

Short on time? Here's how to trim it

Condensed

Down to 2 days, 1 night

Cross to Koh Samet on day one, stay one night on the island, and on the way back stop at Khao Laem Ya and Ban Phe — cutting the Mae Ramphueng day.

Day trip

Day trip, no overnight

Skip the island stay: spend half a day at Mae Ramphueng, cross to Koh Samet for half a day swimming at Sai Kaew, then head home. Good if you only have one day.

Want a beachfront stay for this trip? See the options real guests have reviewed.

See Rayong hotels →

FAQ

How many days should a Rayong beach trip be?

If you want both Mae Ramphueng Beach and an unhurried overnight on Koh Samet, 3 days and 2 nights is about right. With less time, trim it to 2 days and 1 night by crossing straight to the island for the night — you'll still cover the main beaches.

How much is the boat to Koh Samet?

The ferry from Ban Phe pier is about 70 THB each way and the crossing takes around 20 minutes. If you want speed and you're in a group, a speedboat round trip runs around 350 THB. On top of that, the island beaches have a national park fee of about 40 THB per person.

Is the water at Mae Ramphueng clear?

Mae Ramphueng's water is less clear than Koh Samet's, and at times there's sediment from the river. Its strong points are the sandy beach running more than 12 kilometres, easy shallow swimming and plenty of seafood restaurants along the sand. For genuinely clear water, focus on Koh Samet.

What are Khao Laem Ya's hours and entry fee?

Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park is open roughly 08:30-16:30. Entry is about 40 THB per person, plus around 30 THB for a car, and visitors aged 60 and over enter free. It's a good stop for viewpoint photos before you head home.

When is the best time to visit the Rayong coast?

The dry season, roughly November through April, brings calm seas and clearer water — good for swimming and island crossings. The rainy season has stronger waves and lower underwater visibility. If you go over a long weekend, book your room and check the boat schedule ahead of time.

Related

🗺️ Rayong Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Rayong Hotels🏝️ Koh Samet Travel Guide

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