Day Trip to Koh Kham: Roundtrip for 700 Baht

The phone rang again at 6:13 AM. Oh no!! I had an appointment with my brother to go to Koh Samet Island at 6:00 AM. I was late! My brother called to ask if I was awake. I was about to say no because I was late, but he said it was okay and that he would wait for me. So, I quickly took a shower, got dressed, and ran out the door.

[ Day Trip ] March 19, 2017

The journey begins... Since my internship supervisor mentioned a trip to "Samaesarn Island," my ears perked up immediately. I exclaimed, "I want to go!" and my supervisor kindly invited me along. Being the easygoing person I am, I couldn't refuse. However, on the day of the trip, I ended up running late. Thankfully, my supervisors were understanding and didn't hold it against me, considering I was the youngest and the most innocent and naive among them. So, I happily followed the group throughout the trip.

Our starting point was the Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal, where we bought a ticket from Bangkok to Sattahip to get off at Km.10 or told the driver to drop us off at Koh Samet Sar. When we arrived, we asked the van driver to park for us at 7:30 AM. The van left and we slept for almost 2-3 hours before arriving. Then we waited for the blue Songthaew (shared taxi) from Sattahip to Chongsamesan to go to the Koh Samet Sar pier. The Songthaew uncle dropped us off right at the ticket booth for Koh Samet Sar, but what we found was that it was full!! I almost cried. Why did I travel so far?

Despite the initial misfortune, a stroke of luck presented itself when I learned that tickets for Koh Kham were about to go on sale for the next round. I immediately jumped at the opportunity, figuring that since I was already there, I might as well visit at least one island. To my delight, I secured tickets at a discounted price, saving some money in the process. I then waited for a shared taxi to pick me up and take me to the pier.

11:30 AM. The boat has arrived. Let's go to Koh Kham!

Ko Kham: An Underwater Paradise

Ko Kham, located in Sattahip district, Chonburi province, is under the care of the Coastal Defense Command. This island boasts a rich abundance of shallow-water coral reefs, making it a popular destination for divers to admire the beauty of the coral and diverse marine life. While we later discovered that Ko Samet is open to tourism year-round, Ko Kham closes during the monsoon season to allow for the restoration of its coral reefs and surrounding environment. Fortunately, we were able to visit Ko Kham before the closure.

12:00 PM. And then we arrived at "Koh Kham".

The seawater is crystal clear, and the view is breathtaking. However, the sun's intensity is undeniable. The heat is scorching, causing beads of sweat to form. Despite the discomfort, the allure of the ocean prevails. As the saying goes, "When at the beach, embrace the sun."

Upon reaching the command center, the older group rented mats and diving equipment, while the younger group waited for them. Let's capture the atmosphere of Koh Kham. Why do people come to the sea in such hot weather?

"In the past, we could only look at pictures of the sea on the internet. Why is it so beautiful? It was a small happiness that we experienced through our eyes. Today, many of the pictures we took ourselves, we came to experience it for ourselves. It's a small joy in our hearts as well." ^^

After a long dive, the group emerged from the water, changed their clothes, and took some photos. It was time to return. We walked to the waiting area for the 3:00 PM boat. However, due to the large number of people, the boat was full. We had to wait for the next one at 3:30 PM. It was no problem, as we were in no hurry. It was better to be safe than to try to squeeze onto a crowded boat.

This one-day trip was tiring due to the scorching heat, but the island's ambiance made it worthwhile. It's a stunning beach close to Bangkok, but plan your trip carefully because you might not be as fortunate as we were.

"Nature has bestowed its beauty upon the ocean, and we should reciprocate by preserving it through responsible tourism. By refraining from littering and protecting coral reefs, we can cultivate a sense of environmental consciousness that will ensure the enduring beauty of nature for generations to come."

The boat has arrived, let's return to the shore. Hooray!

Farewell, Koh Kham.

Upon reaching the shore, we boarded a local shuttle that transported passengers to and from the pier. We disembarked at the entrance and then took another shuttle to the city center, where we boarded a van to return to Bangkok.

One-day trip to Koh Kham completed.

🌊
#Sea, sand, and sun

Estimated Expenses
- Roundtrip Van Bangkok-Sattahip ~ 330 Baht
- Roundtrip Songthaew Sattahip-Chonburi ~ 40 Baht
- Koh Kham Entrance Fee 200 Baht
- Food and Miscellaneous Expenses ~ 100 Baht

Total: 670 Baht