Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa — hillside cottages above Ao Prao, the quietest corner of Koh Samet
Most of Koh Samet buzzes around Sai Kaew beach, with seafront restaurants open late into the night. But cross to the western side at Ao Prao beach and the mood changes entirely — a short, peaceful cove with water so clear you can snorkel straight off the sand, and Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa is the resort many call the most luxurious on this bay. Thirty-one wooden cottages and villas climb the hillside with sea views, part of Samed Resorts. From approx. THB 4,500/night.
Ao Prao sits on the opposite side of the island from Sai Kaew, where most day-trippers land. It is a small cove with only a handful of resorts, which keeps the whole beach quieter and more private. Le Vimarn builds its cottages and villas up the slope of the hill rather than in a straight row along the sand, so many of them look down on the sea from above. Returning guests agree the first thing you notice is the quiet — no loud bar music, no crowds filing past your door all day.
Rooms range from the Deluxe Cottage Hillside tucked into tropical gardens, up to the roughly 55 sqm Premier Ocean Hillside with a direct sea view, and the Duplex Villa Suite, a two-storey villa with a jacuzzi on the balcony. Several rooms have an outdoor soaking tub on a private balcony overlooking Ao Prao bay — the shot guests post most. The woodwork and the way the buildings sit into the hillside are what international reviews praise most often as genuine craftsmanship.
"Opened the balcony door to blue sea and soft waves, walked down and snorkelled off the beach into shoals of bright fish — didn't expect Koh Samet to have a corner like this."
What sets Le Vimarn apart from the typical Koh Samet resort is the clear water in front of the beach, with coral you can snorkel over straight from the shore. Many reviews mention wading in a few steps to find shoals of colourful fish. The resort lends snorkel gear and kayaks, though some guests note the equipment-rental fees and drinks (bottled mineral water has been seen at 280 THB) feel pricey compared with the mainland.
On food, O Restaurant is a beachfront pavilion serving Thai and international dishes, while the Buzz Coco Club is a relaxed beach bar and eatery. The breakfast buffet draws praise for quality, though some reviews note the Asian selection is limited and dinner pasta portions run small. The staff are what guests praise most — warm, remembering your name, looking after you in the way only a small 31-cottage resort can.
Getting there needs a little planning. From Bangkok it is roughly a 3-hour drive to Ban Phe pier, then the resort's own speedboat across to Ao Prao for another 15–20 minutes — you do not land at Sai Kaew like most visitors. The resort runs scheduled boat transfers, so check the times before you set off. It scores 9.3 from 106 Trip.com reviews, and on TripAdvisor it ranks #2 of 24 Koh Samet hotels at 4.6 of 5 — numbers that say guests really do come back to leave good reviews.
Honestly, Le Vimarn is not for anyone who wants nightlife or a strip of beach restaurants to wander between. Ao Prao is quiet, with almost nothing outside the resort; reaching Sai Kaew means a boat or a cross-island ride. But if you came to genuinely switch off — a private beach, clear water, snorkelling at your door, a couples/honeymoon mood — this is one of the few places on Koh Samet that delivers all of it in one spot.
A tip from following this resort's reviews: pick an Ocean Hillside room or a villa with a balcony tub, because the elevated sea view is the highlight here. If you come over a long weekend or in high season (November–April), book ahead and confirm your speedboat slot in advance — the good rooms and the boat times fill fast.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Ao Prao beach is quiet and private; clear water for snorkelling off the sand
- ✓ Hillside cottages with sea views, many with a balcony soaking tub
- ✓ Excellent, warm and attentive staff service
- ✓ Good-quality breakfast buffet in a lovely beachfront setting
- ! Access requires the resort's speedboat to Ao Prao — allow extra time
- ! Drinks/water and equipment-rental prices run high
- ! Quiet bay with almost no restaurants outside the resort
- ✓ Beautiful sea views from the hillside rooms, especially the Ocean Hillside category
- ✓ Snorkelling over coral and fish straight from the resort's beach
- ✓ Great for couples and honeymoons; calm and private atmosphere
- ✓ Woodwork and design blend into the hillside, feels carefully made
- ! Pool is fairly small and shallow; some reviews note its cleanliness
- ! Limited Asian options at breakfast
- ! At times plastic washes onto the beach, despite daily clean-ups
- 💡If you want nightlife, the Sai Kaew strip and many restaurants — Ao Prao is quiet and means crossing the island → a Sai Kaew-side stay will be more convenient.
- 💡If you're on a tight budget and not chasing sea views or snorkelling — Le Vimarn costs several times more than a typical island stay → there are cheaper resorts on Ao Prao and other beaches.
- 💡If you travel over a long weekend or in high season (Nov–Apr) — sea-view rooms and speedboat slots fill fast → book ahead and confirm the boat time with the resort before you travel.