In partnership with
Vol. 22 - Feb 2026
Yes, this is at only 3 hours from Bangkok!
The Year-End Moves No One’s Watching
Markets don’t wait — and year-end waits even less.
In the final stretch, money rotates, funds window-dress, tax-loss selling meets bottom-fishing, and “Santa Rally” chatter turns into real tape. Most people notice after the move.
Elite Trade Club is your morning shortcut: a curated selection of the setups that still matter this year — the headlines that move stocks, catalysts on deck, and where smart money is positioning before New Year’s. One read. Five minutes. Actionable clarity.
If you want to start 2026 from a stronger spot, finish 2025 prepared. Join 200K+ traders who open our premarket briefing, place their plan, and let the open come to them.
By joining, you’ll receive Elite Trade Club emails and select partner insights. See Privacy Policy.
🙋🏽♀️ Sawadee from Koh Samet,
Some islands feel remote before you even arrive. Koh Samet is different.
It is only about 3 hours from Bangkok (2.5 hr drive + 30 minutes by ferry). A drive to the pier, a short boat ride, and suddenly the water shifts to a clear, almost glowing blue.
Samet has that immediate travel feeling. Salt in the air. Motorbikes passing slowly. Sand that stays warm into the evening. It feels like you have left the city properly, even though you really haven’t gone far.
Let’s get on the road,
Happy travels, Ploy & Jochem
📍 Koh Samet at a Glance
Small island in the Gulf of Thailand
Around 2.5 hours from Bangkok including boat transfer
Best explored by motorbike
Known for bright blue water and easy beach access
A mix of relaxed beach bars and quiet corners
🗺️ The Journey
A travel story
The shift starts with the ferry.
From the mainland pier, we boarded a short boat ride across to Koh Samet. Wind in your hair, salt in the air, bags stacked at your feet. It’s only about 30 minutes, but it already feels like the beginning of a holiday.
As the island comes closer, the water turns clearer and brighter. When you step off the boat, you feel it straight away. Slower pace. Softer air. That immediate island vibe.
We stayed at Bari Lamai Resort on the quieter western side near Ao Prao. It’s small and relaxed, set directly on the sand with open views back toward the mainland. Sunsets here are wide and calm. The sea turns silver for a moment before settling back into deep blue.
Mornings were still and quiet. Hardly any waves. Breakfast looking out over the water. No rush to be anywhere.
Koh Samet is compact, which makes it ideal for exploring by motorbike. We rented one near the hotel and spent most of our time riding between beaches. The roads are short and manageable, weaving between trees with occasional flashes of blue sea through the leaves.
Prao Beach feels open and unhurried. Light sand, clear turquoise water, and space to breathe.
Sai Kaew Beach is livelier, more restaurants lining the shore, more swimmers in the water, more energy under the afternoon sun. On clear days, the sea turns a striking shade of blue. Moana and Ploy loved the swing beneath the palm tree, a moment to relax and unwind while having fun (who can swing the highest?!)
In between, smaller beaches appear down sandy paths or just beyond a bend in the road. Some nearly empty in the morning. Just the sound of wind through the trees and that wide blue horizon.
By late afternoon, the island shifts again. Beach bars begin to fill. At Sabaidee Bar, the mood stays relaxed with cold drinks and toes in the sand. Island Bar leans more upbeat, Ibiza-style music drifting across the beach as the sky darkens.
For something more local and slightly tucked away, Naga Bar has that easy, unpolished island character. Simple setting, strong drinks, good music, and a mix of travelers who somehow all decided to stay longer than planned.
By the second day, Bangkok feels much further away than 3 hours.
The interior at Bari Lamai has a minimal tropical vibe
Wake up and take a dip in the pool
Family time at Sai Kaew beach
✨ How we’d spend a day discovering Koh Samet
• 7:30 am : Morning swim at Prao Beach // The water is calm and clear early in the day. Start before the heat builds.
• 9:00 am : Breakfast at Bari Lamai Resort // After a nice swim at Prao Beach you deserve some Coffee and baked eggs overlooking the sea.
• 10:30 am : Motorbike ride to Sai Kaew Beach // Follow the coastal road. Stop at viewpoints along the way.
• 12:00 am : Swim and lunch at Sai Kaew // Fresh seafood or simple Thai dishes right on the sand.
• 2:30 pm : Explore hidden beaches // Take smaller roads and see where they lead. Some of the best spots are not clearly marked.
• 5:30 pm : Sunset back at Prao Beach // Quieter atmosphere, softer light, cooler air.
• 8:00 pm : Drinks by the beach // Head out for a relaxed island evening, we recommend the ‘Island Bar’ for Ibiza vibes!
Eat, See, Explore
🥘 Eat & Drink Like a Local
Koh Samet isn’t about fine dining. It is about simple food with your feet in the sand.
Fresh seafood along Sai Kaew Beach, grilled fish and prawns in the evening light.
Sabaidee Bar & Café for relaxed daytime drinks and a laid-back beach setting.
Island Bar for a slightly more energetic atmosphere, Ibiza-style music and sunset cocktails.
Naga Bar for an easy, unpolished beach night with good music and strong drinks.
Small beachfront restaurants across the island serving classic Thai dishes with the sound of the waves in the background.
Wander around and find your own favorite spot, there’s enough to choose from!
🛕 See
Ao Wong Duean bay
Spectacular fire show at Sai Kaew
Ao Wong Duean a curved bay with soft sand and a slightly more relaxed pace than Sai Kaew.
Ao Phai and Ao Tubtim smaller neighbouring beaches that feel more tucked away, especially in the early hours.
Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park viewpoints for elevated views across the Gulf and rocky southern coastline.
Sai Kaew Beach - home to the iconic Heart Tree, a romantic photo spot right on the sand, and the island’s liveliest stretch by day and night.
Fire shows on Sai Kaew in the evening, a long-standing island ritual once the sun goes down.
🐒 Explore
Ride the island loop by motorbike. The roads are manageable and distances short, with frequent sea views between trees.
Head south toward Ao Wai for a quieter, clearer stretch of water with fewer crowds.
Kayak along the coastline in the morning when the sea is calm and glassy.
Join a short snorkeling trip around the nearby islets where the water shifts from turquoise to deep blue.
Walk jungle paths 🌴 connecting beaches, especially between Ao Phai, Ao Tubtim, and Ao Nuan.
💎 Hidden Gems
Early morning on Sai Kaew before the day visitors arrive and the sand is still untouched (true paradise!)
Ao Nuan, a small beach between Ao Phai and Ao Tubtim that feels more local and less polished.
The far southern tip near Ao Karang, where rocky edges and open sea views replace soft sand.
Sunset from the quieter west side near Prao, where the horizon stays open and wide.
🗣️ Say it like a local
ไม่เป็นไรครับ/ค่ะ (mai pen rai khrap/kha) - it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.
Used as a warm, easy response to “thank you”, and a reminder not to overthink things.
📰 Thailand Now
🌊 Short island escapes on the rise
With improved roads and faster boat transfers, islands within three hours of Bangkok are seeing renewed interest from weekend travelers.🌤️ Dry season clarity
From December to April, the Gulf often shows its brightest blue tones, especially on clear, low-wind mornings.🏖️ National park limits remain in place
As part of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, parts of Koh Samet continue to operate under conservation guidelines, with controlled development and environmental fees supporting coastal preservation.
📻 The Thai Playlist
Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .
Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.
🙏 See you next week!
We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love 💕 by inviting your friends and family to join our little community.
Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer.
Don’t miss out on the journey.
Wishing you save travels,
The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand 🇹🇭
