The Samet Nangshe viewpoint in Thailand is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in my travels. It’s also fairly easy to get there by driving from the tourist island of Phuket.
This viewpoint overlooks the spectacular Phang Nga Bay, a Thai national park with dozens of small islands. The sunrise at Samet Nangshe is especially nice because the sun rises directly over the bay!
You can visit Samet Nangshe viewpoint on a day trip from Phuket and go back in the same day, or you can stay a night or two at the Samet Nangshe Boutique hotel, which has a pool and rooms that overlook the same wonderful scenery.
This travel guide will explain how to get to Samet Nangshe viewpoint with or without a tour, where to stay, and everything else you need to know before you go!
Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: What To Expect
There are two different places in Phang Nga province where you can enjoy the stunning view of the bay: you can go to Samet Nangshe viewpoint, or you can see a nearly identical view from the Samet Nangshe Boutique hotel, which has multiple vantage points at different levels 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 either place. It’s a marvelous view, with lots of small islands in the bay, and one big karst island that towers above the rest. It looks like a fairytale landscape.
Drones are allowed at the viewpoint, and you can take some pretty awesome photos of the bay from above. They also allow drones at the hotel, but they asked us to do it at the parking lot so we wouldn’t disturb anyone at the hotel, which is fair and to be expected.
When you first arrive at Samet Nangshe and park your vehicle, there’s a bit of climbing to do.
The viewpoint is on top of a steep 800 meter hill, and they have a 4×4 truck shuttle to take you up there, or you can hike up there yourself in about 15-20 minutes if you’re fit and you want to save a little bit of money.
It’s not possible to take your own vehicle to the top, so these are your two choices. Personally, I’d recommend the shuttle, especially if you’re coming in the dark for sunrise.
The hilltop has a cafe and some touristy swings and bird nests for taking Instagram photos, which will be fun for kids and families.
There are multiple vantage points at the hotel, but the very best one in our experience was the Bay View Cafe, which is the highest point at the hotel.
After the sunrise, you can buy food or drinks at the cafe while enjoying the scenery. It’s an awesome view, and we felt like we could’ve stayed there a week just relaxing and taking pictures.
Somewhere out there in the bay is Thailand’s famous James Bond Island, although you can’t quite see it from the viewpoint. It’s easy to go there on a day trip from Samet Nangshe, and if you stay at the boutique hotel they can arrange that for you.
Best Time To Visit Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: Sunrise!
The best time to visit Samet Nangshe viewpoint and take photos is at sunrise. It’s awesome!
Depending on the day and month, the sunrise time in Phang Nga province can be anywhere from 6:00 to 6:45 AM. You can check it on your weather app. Remember to get there at least 30-45 minutes before sunrise so you can see the first show of colors.
The sun actually rises directly over the islands of Phang Nga Bay, making a scene that is just stunning. It’s probably the best sunrise spot I’ve seen anywhere in the world.
