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Koh Samet. Pop. N/a. Province - Koh Samet. Currency – Thai Baht. Language – Thai. Time Zone – GMT + 7 hours. Nearest Airport – Pattaya U-Tapao UTP. Average Temperatures – 20° (Dec), 33° (May). Best time to go – all year round due to relatively low rainfall. Koh Samet is a tranquil island located about 200km south-east of Bangkok and around 6 km off the coast of Rayong province. The Koh Samet beaches are attributed with having the the "whitest squeakiest sand” in Thailand. The island was incorporated as part of the Khao Laem Ya National Park in 1981, and has great natural beauty, secluded beaches and a lush interior - home to exotic wildlife such as monkeys, hornbills, gibbons and spectacular butterflies. Unlike other Thai islands Koh Samet has minimal night life, bars and discotheques, and consequently the beaches are very quiet. The most well-known beaches on Samet are Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Vong Duan, Ao Wai and Ao Kui Na Nok on the East coast and Ao Prao on the West coast. For new visitors why not try the local speciality, a SangSom bucket, which is a toxic mix of Thai whiskey, red bull and coke, served in a kids sandbucket with lots of straws. We have not discovered what the hang-over cure for this concoction is!