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A part of Rayong
Province, Ko Samet is well established as a
popular destination for overseas visitors and
weekend excursionists from Bangkok. The island
was, however, famous long before the advent of
tourism, being immortalised by the classical
Thai poet, Sunthon Phu, who set part of his epic
'Phra Aphaimani' on the island, where the hero
of the tale defeats a giant by playing a magic
flute.
Lying 6.5 km
offshore and appearing as a thin sliver of land
shaped roughly like a nail with a sloping flat
head, Ko Samet is far less developed than its
popularity might suggest and remains a
picturesque island with many attractive coves,
bays and some excellent beaches, perhaps the
most stunning being Hat Sai Kaeo beach. Accommodation
is mostly bungalow style, concentrated mainly on
the northern and eastern sides, while the scene
becomes quieter and more remote towards the
southern tip.
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