| Ko Samaesan | |
| Native Name: | เกาะแสมสาร |
| Coordinates: | 12.5667°N 157°W |
| Elevation M: | 153 |
| Pushpin Map: | Thailand |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chonburi Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Amphoe |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sattahip |
Samae San Island (Thai: เกาะแสมสาร,, in Thai pronounced as /kɔ̀ʔ sā.mɛ̌ː.sǎːn/) is a small island in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province of Thailand.
Samae San Island has a length of four kilometres and its maximum width is about one kilometre. The island is thickly wooded and uninhabited. Formerly there was a fishing village on Samae San Island, but it was vacated and the island now is under the control of the Royal Thai Navy. Some 1,240 families reside in the fishing village of Ban Samae San on the mainland. Administratively the islands belong to the Samae San Sub-district of Sattahip.
There are four main islands in the Samae San group. The northern cluster surrounds Samae San Island, while the southern subgroup is centered on Ko Chuang. Chuang Island has a small bay at its southern end. Hin Chalam (Shark Rock) is five kilometres to the south of the southern end of the group.[1]
| Name | Thai Name | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko Samaesan | เกาะแสมสาร | Main island of the group | 12.573°N 100.95°W |
| เกาะขาม | West of Ko Samaesan | 12.573°N 100.934°W | |
| เกาะแรด | NE of Ko Samaesan | 12.585°N 100.964°W | |
| เกาะฉางเกลือ | Rock east of the group | 12.55°N 100.971°W | |
| เกาะจวง | South of Ko Samaesan | 12.52°N 100.96°W | |
| เกาะจาน | East of Ko Chuang | 12.521°N 100.97°W | |
| เกาะโรงหนัง | NE of Ko Chuang | 12.5344°N 100.9587°W | |
| เกาะโรงโขน | NE of Ko Chuang | 12.5317°N 100.9597°W | |
The Ko Kham Undersea Park is part of a royal project of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn that preserves the plants and animals of the sea and island. It is home to many kinds of fish, including bluespotted stingrays, moray eels, fusilier fish, angel fish and lionfish.[2]
Visitors are restricted, although tourist attractions on the island include fishing, swimming, bicycle riding and hiking.[3] The islands are also well known for their diving areas.[4] [5] Since the island is within a military area, off-limits for casual tourists, booking has to be done through local travel agents.