Complete guide to bus travel from Pattaya to Rayong — schedules, prices, operators and booking tips.
Rayong Province is the gateway to Koh Samet, a stunning marine national park island with some of the whitest sand beaches in the Gulf of Thailand, just a few hours from Bangkok.
Rayong Province is best known as the departure point for Koh Samet, a compact island in the Gulf of Thailand that is popular with Bangkok residents seeking a quick beach escape. Despite being a national park, Koh Samet has well-developed tourist facilities and excellent beaches.
From Pattaya, minivans run to Rayong throughout the day. From Rayong Bus Terminal, take a songthaew to Ban Phe Pier (about 30 minutes), from where speedboats and regular ferries cross to Koh Samet (about 30 minutes).
Koh Samet's most popular beach is Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach) on the northeastern tip — it is busy but beautiful, with clear water and very fine white sand. Quieter beaches can be found on the eastern coast: Ao Hin Khok, Ao Phai and Ao Cho.
Note that Koh Samet is a national park and foreigners pay a 200 THB entrance fee on arrival. This is collected at the park checkpoint near the main pier.
The following operators run regular services on the Pattaya–Rayong route:
Compare prices across all operators before booking — fares can vary significantly by class and season.
Departures: 08:00–18:00, multiple daily
From: North Pattaya Road Bus Terminal
To: Rayong Bus Terminal
Schedules may vary by operator and season. Confirm departure times when booking, particularly during Thai public holidays.
✅ Continue to Koh Samet by ferry from Ban Phe pier — one of the best beaches near Bangkok.
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Book 1–2 days ahead on weekdays. During Songkran (April), New Year and long weekends, book at least one week in advance — buses sell out fast on popular routes.