Koh Samet Island, Rayong, Thailand

Koh Samet Sundhorn Phu, Thailand's Shakespeare, described Koh Kaew Pitsadan (the magical crystal island), which is believed to be the present Koh Samet, in his famous Thai literature Phra Aphaimanee as a beautiful island that shelters his main character from a lovelorn giant - she is broken-hearted and dies on the crystal sandy beach of the island. Even though you won't see her remains anywhere on Koh Samet, you're sure to see its crystal white sandy beaches, especially on the Had Sai Kaew or Sai Kaew Beach.

Koh Samet was named after the Samet Tree or the cajuput tree that grows everywhere on the island. It was declared Khao Lam Ya Samet Archipelago Maritime National Park in 1981. The park encompasses Had Mae Rumpueng-a beach on the coast of Rayong, Lam Ya Mountain and the Samet Archipelago that consists of Koh Samet, Koh Chan, Koh San Chalam, Koh Hin Khao, Koh Kang Kao, Koh Kudee, Koh Kruoy and Koh Plateen. An ecological tour can be conducted through three itineraries on Koh Samet, Koh Kudee and Lam Ya Mountain.

To reach the island, tourists must take a local fishing boat, from Ban Phea in Muang District of Rayong Province for about 30mins. Boats run back and forth around the clock with the minimum of seven passengers. There are direct routes to some beaches including Had Sai Kaew and Ao Wong Duan, from which one can walk to other beaches through a relatively primitive inland road network. Most of the beaches are located on the northern and eastern sides of this T-shaped island whereas only a few, that is, Ao Prao, Ao Kham and Ao Kiu Na Nai lie on the west. It is more convenient to reach Ao Prao by a direct ferry from Ban Phea.

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