Ko Samae San (Samae San Island)
A navy-protected island near Sattahip with clear water, coral and fish, offering easy snorkelling, kayaking and glass-bottom-boat trips around Luk Lom Beach.
- Category
- Diving & Snorkeling
- Entrance fee
- Free island; navy boat transfer + snorkel gear ~small fees (~50 THB snorkel activity, as of 2026, confirm locally)
- Hours
- Day-trip only, navy boats roughly ~09:00-14:00 departures; no overnight (confirm locally)
- Best time
- Cool, dry season Nov-Apr for the clearest water; weekdays are quietest.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Difficulty
- easy
About Ko Samae San (Samae San Island)
This is a genuinely good snorkelling day trip within reach of Pattaya, and it's a bit of a hidden gem. It's a navy-protected island near Sattahip with clear water, coral and fish, offering easy snorkelling, kayaking and glass-bottom-boat trips around Luk Lom Beach. The snorkelling is beginner-friendly, hence the easy rating.
The navy protection is the secret to why it's so good. Visitor numbers are capped, so it stays uncrowded and clean in a way the more accessible spots near Pattaya just aren't. That control is exactly what keeps the water clear and the coral healthy.
A couple of practical points: you can't stay overnight, so plan a full day trip, and the boats run on set navy departure times with tickets bought in person. Come in the cool, dry season for the clearest water and on a weekday for the quietest experience.
Highlights
- A genuinely good snorkelling day trip from Pattaya
- Clear water, coral and fish around Luk Lom Beach
- Kayaking and glass-bottom-boat trips
- Capped numbers keeping it clean and uncrowded
Tips
- It's day-trip only, no overnight, so plan a full day
- Buy the navy boat tickets in person and note the set departure times
- Come in the cool, dry season Nov-Apr for the clearest water
- Weekdays are the quietest
How to get there
From Pattaya: ~45-60 min drive south to Samae San pier near Sattahip, then the Royal Thai Navy boat (~20-30 min) from Khao Ma Cho pier; tickets in person.