The best sunrise in Thailand

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Samet Nanshe Viewpoint in Thailand is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my travels.It is also quite easy to get there by car from the tourist island of Phuket.

This viewpoint overlooks the spectacular Phang Nga Bay, a national park in Thailand with dozens of small islands. Sunrise at Samet Nanshe is particularly pleasant as the sun rises directly over the bay.

You can visit the Samet Nangshe viewpoint on a day trip from Phuket and return the same day, or you can stay a night or two at the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel, which has a pool and rooms overlooking the same wonderful view.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint with or without a tour, where to stay, and everything you need to know before you go.

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. What to expect?

There are two different places in Phan Nga province where you can enjoy the stunning view of the bay. you can go to Samet Nanshe View or you can see almost the same view from Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel which has many attractions in different places on the hill.

Most of the pictures in this blog post were taken at the boutique hotel, but the view is essentially the same in both places. It’s a great view, with many small islands in the sea and one big karst island rising above the rest. It looks like a fantastic landscape :

Drones are allowed at the lookout and you can take some pretty amazing photos of the bay from above.They also allow drones in the hotel, but we were asked to do so in the parking lot so as not to disturb anyone in the hotel, which is fair and to be expected.

When you first arrive at Samet Nanshe and park your car, there is a bit of climbing to do.

The viewpoint is at the top of a steep 800 meter hill and they have a 4×4 truck shuttle that will take you there or you can hike there in about 15-20 minutes if you are fit and want to save some money.

It’s not possible to take your own car, so these are your two choices.I’d personally recommend the shuttle, especially if you’re coming in the dark for the sunrise.

The top of the hill has a cafe and some swings and bird nests for Instagram photos that will be fun for kids and families.

There are small primitive bungalows that you can rent for 700 baht ($20 USD) a night, or you can even camp in a tent for 200 baht.I’m sure the prices will go up as this place becomes more and more popular.

If you go to Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel, there is a similar setup to reach the viewpoint. a shuttle can take you there or you can walk yourself.

There are many attractions in the hotel, but the best in our experience was the Bay View Cafe, which is the highest point of the hotel.

After sunrise you can buy food or drink at the cafe while enjoying the view.It’s an amazing view and we felt like we could have stayed there for a week just relaxing and taking pictures.

Somewhere in the bay is Thailand’s famous James Bond Island, although you can’t quite see it.It’s easy to take a day trip there from Samet Nanshe, and if you’re staying at a boutique hotel, they can arrange it for you.

Entrance fee

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint has an entrance fee of 30 baht (~$1 USD) per person, plus a 90 baht traffic fee.

There is no entrance fee at the hotel. It has a 50 baht board fee and you can visit and eat at the restaurant and cafe even if you are not staying in one of the hotel rooms.

The best time to visit Samet Nangshe. Sunrise.

The best time to visit Samet Nangshe Viewpoint and take photos is at sunrise.

Depending on the day and month, sunrise in Phang Nga can be between 6:00 and 6:45 a.m. You can check it on your weather app. Remember to get there at least 30-45 minutes before sunrise you can see the first display of colors.

The sun actually rises directly over the Phang Nga Bay islands, creating a sight that is simply stunning. It’s probably the best sunrise I’ve seen anywhere in the world.

Besides sunrise, another great time to photograph the view is late afternoon or evening, when the cliffs are well lit and the sun is behind you.

The worst time for photos is late morning to midday when the bay is lit up and the sun is usually too harsh behind the islands.

Surprisingly, the viewpoint was never too busy with tourists when we were there, and most people left shortly after sunrise.

I’m sure the popularity will change over time as it’s such a magnificent site, but luckily the hilltop is quite large so it should be able to accommodate a lot of visitors without being too crowded.

How to get to Samet Nanshe from Phuket?

Samet Nangshe Observatory is located in Phang Nga Province, Thailand, about 45 kilometers northeast of Phuket International Airport (HKT).

You can get there from Phuket by driving or motorbike, hiring a taxi or taking a tour.Unfortunately there is no bus option yet.

• By car / motorcycle

If you are driving from Phuket, you can reach Samet Nangshe by following Route 4031, crossing the Sarasin Bridge, turning onto Highway 1004, then continuing until you see a simple road sign to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint.

You can use this Google Maps location to navigate directly to the viewpoint, which has plenty of parking, or this map location to navigate to Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel.

The journey takes about 1 hour from Phuket Airport, 1.5 hours from Patong Beach or Old Phuket Town, or a full 2 ​​hours from Karon or Kata Beach in southern Phuket.

• By taxi / Private driver

If you don’t have a lot of driving experience in Thailand, it’s safer and easier to hire a taxi or private driver to take you to the sight. You can ask your hotel in Phuket to arrange a driver for you.

We stayed at Samet Nangshe Boutique, so we booked a driver with them. He picked us up in a big, comfortable air-conditioned van, and when we checked out of the hotel, they also helped arrange another driver to bring us back to Phuket we paid by credit card, which was very convenient.

The transportation cost was 1800 baht (US$50) from Phuket Old Town, which is reasonable for two people going outside of Phuket Island, it was 1200 baht (US$33) from the airport.

If you are not staying overnight in Samet Nangshe, you can negotiate with your driver to wait for you while you take photos and then bring you back to Phuket.

• On tour

Another quick and easy way to get to Samet Nangshe is by tour. GetYourGuide has a Day Tour to Samet Nangshe View from Phuket and also includes a visit to Cheo Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park.

We’ve always had a good experience with this company and this can be pretty good value if you’re interested in visiting Khao Sok, which is also really worth seeing.

Where to stay: Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel

If you want to stay longer and get the best sunrise and sunset views, you should stay at Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel. We stayed there for 2 nights during the rainy season and absolutely loved it.

It’s definitely on the pricey side, but the entire hotel has views of Phang Nga Bay and the sunrise right at your doorstep.

We stayed in one of the main rooms (Deluxe Royal) which didn’t have a direct view of the bay and the sunrise, but you can walk right out your door and see it in the morning this is where most of the pictures in this blog post were taken.

The rooms are clean and comfortable and there is decent WiFi. But the main reason to come here is to soak up the view as much as possible. It is truly exceptional.

Book now: Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel

What to bring?

• Sun protection. During the day you will probably need a hat or sunscreen as the sun can be scorching in sight.
• Bug Spray. This is a good idea if you encounter mosquitoes on the way up to the viewpoint, although we didn’t see many ourselves.
• Flashlight. A small light or headlamp can be handy for walking to the sight in the dark.
• Waterproof bag. If you plan to stay longer and visit James Bond Island, a waterproof bag or phone bag is also a good idea to protect your electronics on board.
• Power bank. If you plan to camp in a tent within sight, a power bank is a good idea as there is no other way to charge your phones there.

Frequently Asked Questions (Samet Nangshe)

• How do you get to Samet Nangshe?
  You can get to Samet Nangshe by car or motorbike, taxi or tour.It is relatively easy to get there from either Phuket or Krabi.

• Is there a bus to Samet Nangshe?
  Unfortunately there is no way to get to Samet Nanshe by bus or public transport, but it is a big area, so you would still have to hire a taxi.

• Can you get there using the Grab app?
  Yes, it is possible to reach Samet Nangshe viewpoint with the ride-hailing app Grab, which is like the Southeast Asian version of Uber. is not economical to return without a passenger. Also, even if you get there, you will probably need to find an alternative way back to the city, as you will not be able to find a new Grab driver near the viewing area. I tested this myself.

• Is Samet Nangshe’s point of view worth it?
  Yes, it’s absolutely worth it. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Thailand, especially if you go at sunrise. It’s my favorite sunrise anywhere in the world.

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Thanks for looking. Hope you enjoyed this travel guide to visit Samet Nanshe Viewpoint from Phuket. This is one of our favorite sunrise spots in the world.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Thailand travel guide before you go.