Back to Koh Samed after 18 years — 48 hours escape as a Thai local 🇹🇭
Eighteen years ago I set foot on Koh Samed with a bunch of friends, half-broke, sunburned, and convinced life would stay that simple forever. I didn’t think much about the island back then. It was just a convenient escape from Bangkok.
Coming back now felt different. I only had 2–3 days to spare, which is pretty normal as a Thai who wants a quick break without blowing a full week, so I went for it. The road from Ekkamai to Ban Phe still takes around 3–4 hours. The ferry still does the crossing in roughly half an hour. The routine is the same, but the age you bring with you changes the whole trip.
The moment I stepped off the boat, it hit me that I wasn’t really visiting an island. I was visiting a past version of myself. The beaches were familiar but not quite the same. Some corners looked polished, others looked tired. It felt like catching up with someone you used to know well, then realising both of you had grown in different ways.
A short trip made the whole thing sharper. No dragging schedule. No endless checklists. Just enough time to compare memory against reality and figure out what still matters.
If you want suggestions on places to stay or which area fits your style, ask in the comments. The island may have changed, but swapping notes still makes the trip better for everyone.
Place we Stayed Hotel recommendation
Posted Dec 10, 2025, 2:59 AM UTC