Ko Samet

Ko Samet (Cajeput Island; Thai: เกาะเสม็ด, Thai pronunciation: [kɔ̀ʔ samèt]) is an island in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Rayong Province on the eastern seaboard of Thailand, approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi) southeast of Bangkok. It is part of the Phe (Thai: เพ) Subdistrict of Mueang Rayong District, the capital district of Rayong Province. Ko Samet is the largest and westernmost of a cluster of islands lying not far from the coast. The island measures 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) from north to south and, at its closest point, lies 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) south of the mainland; the actual travelling distance from the main commercial tourist pier in the town of Ban Phe to the island's nearest beach is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). The island takes its name from the cajeput tree (Thai: เสม็ด, romanized: samet), which grows abundantly on its forested hills. Most of the island, excluding the port settlement of Na Dan, has formed part of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park since 1981, when the Royal Forest Department declared the Samet archipelago, nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) Mae Ramphueng Beach a national park. The island is popular with foreign tourists and as a weekend getaway for residents of Bangkok, and tourism dominates its economy.