Ban Phe Pier Rayong: Complete 2026 Guide to Koh Samet & East Coast Islands

If you’re heading to Koh Samet or any of Thailand’s east-coast islands, there’s a very good chance you’ll be passing through Ban Phe Pier at some point. It’s the main mainland departure point for boats to Koh Samet, and it’s also a handy jumping-off spot for travelers connecting onward to Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak. The pier itself is small, sun-baked and busy in a friendly Thai way — it’s not glamorous, but once you know how it works, it’s actually one of the smoother pier experiences in the country. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about ban phe pier so your trip starts off right.

What Is Ban Phe Pier and Where Is It?

Ban Phe Pier — also known locally as Sribanphe Pier or Sri Ban Phe Pier — sits in the small coastal town of Ban Phe, in Rayong province on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast. It’s roughly 200 km southeast of Bangkok and about 80 km past Pattaya, which puts it in easy reach of both the capital and the country’s main tourist corridor.

The official pier address is 108 Soi Kon Ao 2/1, Tambon Phe, Mueang Rayong, Rayong 21160, but you’ll see it signed simply as “Sribanphe Pier” once you arrive. Confusingly, there are actually a few piers in Ban Phe — Sri Ban Phe (the main one), Nuanthip Pier, and a couple of smaller jetties used by specific operators. Most travelers heading to Koh Samet end up at the main Sri Ban Phe complex because that’s where the majority of ferries and speedboats run from.

The town of Ban Phe itself is a working fishing town with a decent seafood market, a long stretch of street-food stalls along the road to the pier, and a relaxed local atmosphere. It’s nothing like Pattaya — and that’s the whole point. Most people use it purely as a transit point, but if you find yourself with a few hours to kill, a wander through Ban Phe Market or a meal at one of the local seafood spots is a nice way to fill the time.

Why Ban Phe Pier Matters for East-Coast Island Travel

The east coast of Thailand has some genuinely beautiful islands, and this pier is the gateway to most of them:

• Koh Samet — the closest island, just 6.5 km offshore. This is the pier’s bread and butter.
• Koh Chang — Thailand’s second-largest island, reached via Laem Ngop / Centerpoint Pier in Trat. You can connect by van+ferry combos from Ban Phe.
• Koh Kood — a quieter, more upscale island further south. Direct ferry+van combos run from ban phe pier rayong.
• Koh Mak — a small, peaceful island between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, often reached via the same connecting services.

Without this pier, the east-coast islands would be significantly harder to reach from Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi airport is the closest major international gateway, and the most common itinerary is: airport → minivan or private car → pier → ferry → island. It’s a tried-and-true route that hundreds of thousands of travelers use every year.

Ferry Routes from Ban Phe Pier

Let’s break down what actually departs from here. The route map is more focused than huge multi-destination piers like Rassada in Phuket, but the connections are solid.

Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet

This is the headline route. The crossing to Koh Samet is short — only about 30–40 minutes by slow ferry, or 15–20 minutes by speedboat — which is why ban phe pier koh samet is the search most travelers actually have in mind when they look this place up.

There are three main arrival options on Koh Samet:

• Na Dan Pier — the main public pier on Koh Samet, served by the cheap, frequent passenger ferries.
• Ao Wong Deuan / Ao Phai / Ao Kiu — beach drop-offs reached by speedboat. Convenient if your resort is on the southern half of the island.
• Private resort transfers — some upscale resorts run their own boats from a dedicated jetty next to the main pier.

Connecting Routes to Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak

You can’t sail directly to Koh Chang or Koh Kood from ban phe ferry pier in a single boat — these islands are too far south. Instead, operators run combined services where a minivan picks you up from Ban Phe, drives you down to Laem Ngop or Laem Sok pier in Trat province, and you board a ferry from there. The total journey takes around 5–6 hours, but it saves you the hassle of organising the transfer yourself. If you’re trying to figure out the onward leg, our Koh Chang to Koh Kood ferry guide explains the inter-island options in detail.

How to Get to Ban Phe Pier

Reaching ban phe pier rayong isn’t difficult, but the right option depends a lot on where you’re coming from and how much you value comfort vs. cost.

From Bangkok

There are three sensible ways to get from Bangkok to Ban Phe:

1. Public minivan from Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal) — Cheapest option at around 200–250 THB per person. Departures roughly every hour from early morning to late afternoon. Journey time: 3 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic. Drops you right at the pier.
2. Tour operator van with hotel pickup — Around 500–700 THB per person. Picks you up from central Bangkok hotels and delivers you directly to the pier. Most people end up choosing this option.
3. Private taxi or transfer — 2,500–4,000 THB for the whole car. The fastest and most comfortable option, especially with luggage or kids.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

Suvarnabhumi is genuinely well placed for trips to Ban Phe. You’ve got:

• Direct airport minivans — Bell Travel and similar operators run scheduled services from level 1 of the airport directly to ban phe pier rayong. Around 350–500 THB and roughly 3 hours.
• Private transfer — A pre-booked car from Suvarnabhumi to Ban Phe runs about 2,500–3,500 THB.
• Taxi to Ekkamai then minivan — Possible but fiddly; only worth it if you’re on a tight budget.

From Pattaya

Pattaya to Ban Phe is short — only about 100 km and around 1 hour 15 minutes by road. Minivans run frequently from Pattaya’s North Pattaya Road minivan stand for around 250 THB. Private taxis run 1,200–1,800 THB.

From U-Tapao Airport (UTP)

If you fly into U-Tapao (the second airport serving Pattaya and Rayong), you’re in luck — it’s only about 30 km from the pier. A taxi costs 700–1,000 THB and takes 30–40 minutes. This is the fastest airport-to-pier option in the country if your flight times allow it.

Facilities at Ban Phe Pier

Let’s set expectations honestly: this is a small working pier, not a polished terminal. That said, the basics are all covered.

• Ticket booths — multiple competing operators have their own counters facing the road. Prices for the same route are usually similar.
• Parking — covered car parking near the pier costs around 100 THB per night, which is reasonable if you’re driving down from Bangkok and want to leave your car for a few days.
• Restrooms — basic but functional. There’s usually a 5 THB charge.
• Food and drink — small cafes, noodle stalls, 7-Eleven branches and Thai street-food vendors line the road approaching the pier. The seafood right next to the pier is surprisingly good.
• ATMs — within easy walking distance.
• Luggage handling — most operators will help load larger bags onto the boat; some charge a small fee for this.
• Wi-Fi — patchy. Better to use mobile data.

It’s not a place you’d want to spend half a day waiting around, but for a normal 30–45 minute pre-departure stop, it’s perfectly fine.

Ferry Operators That Use Ban Phe Pier

Several companies run boats out of Sri Ban Phe Pier, and the differences matter:

• Ban Phe Tours / Ban Phe Ferries — runs the main passenger ferries to Koh Samet’s Na Dan Pier. Cheap, reliable, multiple departures per day.
• Speedboat operators (various) — small companies running fast boats directly to specific Koh Samet beaches. Faster and more convenient for southern beaches.
• Seudamgo — relatively new operator with modern catamarans serving routes further south toward Koh Kood via Trat.
• Boonsiri High Speed Ferries — well-known for the Koh Chang / Koh Kood / Koh Mak corridor; sells van+ferry combos starting from Ban Phe.
• Resort-operated transfers — places like Paradee, Mooks Samed and others run their own boats from Ban Phe to a private jetty.

For Koh Samet specifically, the choice usually comes down to whether you want a cheap public ferry (around 100 THB to Na Dan) or a faster speedboat (around 200–400 THB) that drops you closer to your beach.

Ferry Schedule Overview

Schedules vary by season, but here’s the general pattern at the pier in 2026:

High season (November–April):

• Public ferries to Na Dan Pier run roughly every hour from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Speedboats run on demand and often leave as soon as they have enough passengers — usually every 30–60 minutes during daylight.
• Combined van+ferry services to Koh Chang and Koh Kood typically have 2–3 daily departures, with morning departures being the most popular.

Low / green season (May–October):

• Reduced public ferry frequency, often every 1–2 hours.
• Speedboats may consolidate departures.
• Weather can cause cancellations, particularly in September and October.
• Last departures may be earlier in the day.

The last reliable boat back from Koh Samet to the mainland is typically around 5:00–6:00 PM, so if you’re doing a day trip, plan your return carefully. Outside those hours you may end up on a longtail boat at a higher price.

Tickets and Prices

Here’s a general 2026 price guide for the main services from the pier:

Route	Boat type	Approx. price (one-way)	Duration
Ban Phe → Koh Samet (Na Dan)	Passenger ferry	100 THB	40 min
Ban Phe → Koh Samet (Na Dan), return	Passenger ferry	200 THB	40 min
Ban Phe → Koh Samet beaches	Speedboat	200–400 THB	15–25 min
Ban Phe → Koh Chang (via van+ferry)	Combo	600–900 THB	4–5 hrs
Ban Phe → Koh Kood (via van+ferry)	Combo	1,000–1,200 THB	5–6 hrs
Ban Phe → Koh Mak (via van+ferry)	Combo	900–1,100 THB	4–5 hrs

A few things to note:

• National park fee — Koh Samet is a national park, and there’s a separate fee (currently 200 THB for foreign adults, 100 THB for children) collected on arrival at Na Dan Pier. This is not included in the ferry ticket.
• Return tickets are slightly cheaper per leg than buying two singles.
• Children under a certain height usually travel for around half price; under 3s are often free.
• Cash is king at the pier counters, though some operators now accept QR PromptPay payments.

Tips for Travelers Using Ban Phe Pier

After years of helping travelers navigate Thailand’s piers, here’s what I’d genuinely suggest:

• Arrive 30 minutes early. Public ferries don’t usually sell out, but during weekends, Thai public holidays and Songkran, the pier can get genuinely packed. Speedboat passengers also need time to be allocated to specific boats.
• Avoid Friday afternoon and Sunday evening if you’re flexible. Those are the worst times — half of Bangkok seems to descend on Koh Samet for the weekend.
• Pack a small day bag. Once on the boat, your big luggage will be stacked at the back or on the roof. Keep valuables, water, sunscreen and your phone within reach.
• Bring cash in small notes. Useful for ticket counters, the national park fee, and tipping luggage handlers.
• Don’t trust touts in the car park. Buy your ferry ticket at the official operator booths inside the pier complex, not from random people in the street.
• Don’t book the very last ferry of the day. If it’s cancelled — and in low season this does happen — you’ll be stuck overnight in Ban Phe.
• Take seasickness medication 30 minutes before departure if you’re prone to it. The crossing is short, but speedboats can be bumpy in choppy weather.
• Allow buffer time on the way back. Traffic from Ban Phe to Bangkok or the airport can be brutal, especially on Sundays. If you have a flight, leave Koh Samet on a morning boat.

Combining Ban Phe with a Longer Thailand Trip

A lot of travelers treat Koh Samet as a quick 2–3 night escape from Bangkok, but this pier can also be the start of a longer east-coast island-hopping itinerary: Bangkok → Ban Phe → Koh Samet → Trat → Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood → back to Bangkok or onward to Cambodia.

If you’re planning a multi-island trip, our Thailand islands guide breaks down which islands suit which kind of traveler, and the Bangkok to Koh Samui ferry guide covers the southern alternative if you want to mix east and south coast islands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ban Phe Pier the same as Sribanphe Pier?

Yes. Ban Phe Pier, Sri Ban Phe Pier and Sribanphe Pier all refer to the same main passenger pier in Ban Phe town, Rayong province. You’ll see all three spellings in tickets, Google Maps and signage.

How long does the ferry from Ban Phe Pier to Koh Samet take?

The slow passenger ferry to Na Dan Pier takes around 30–40 minutes. Speedboats to the southern beaches of Koh Samet take 15–25 minutes depending on which beach you’re going to.

Do I need to book Ban Phe ferry tickets in advance?

For the basic passenger ferries to Koh Samet — no, you can simply turn up and buy a ticket at the pier. For speedboats, combo services to Koh Chang or Koh Kood, or any travel during Songkran or Christmas/New Year, it’s safer to book ahead.

Can I leave my car at Ban Phe Pier?

Yes. There’s a paid, covered parking area near the pier costing roughly 100 THB per night. It’s a popular option for Thai weekenders.

What’s the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier?

A public minivan from Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal is the cheapest at around 200–250 THB per person. The journey takes about 3 hours and drops you near the pier.

Are there ATMs at Ban Phe Pier?

Yes, there are ATMs and 7-Eleven branches within easy walking distance of the pier. Bring some cash in small notes — counters and food stalls don’t always accept cards.

Can I get from Ban Phe Pier directly to Koh Chang or Koh Kood?

There’s no direct boat. Instead, several operators sell combined van + ferry tickets from Ban Phe that include a transfer down to the proper piers in Trat (Laem Ngop for Koh Chang, Laem Sok for Koh Kood), and then the ferry to the island. Allow 5–6 hours in total.

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Ban Phe Pier might be small, but it’s the doorway to some of Thailand’s most enjoyable east-coast islands — and for Koh Samet specifically, it’s the only realistic way in. Once you understand how the ticketing, transfers and schedules work, the whole journey becomes refreshingly simple. Ready to lock in your seat? Thailand Boat Tickets makes it incredibly easy to book ferries from Ban Phe and across Thailand through WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook Messenger — just send a message and our AI-powered booking handles the rest while you focus on the fun part: picking which beach to land on first.