The Big Buddha
The Big Buddha 'Wat Phra Yai' on the northern coast of Koh Samui is one of Thailand's famous shrines and probably Samui's best-known landmark. The 12-metre-tall golden Buddha statue can be seen from several kilometres away. The Buddha figure sits in the Mara posture, depicting a time during Buddha’s journey to enlightenment where he successfully subdued temptations and dangers thrust at him. The pose is a symbol of steadfastness, purity and enlightenment.
Inside the surrounding temple are many different shrines and other smaller Buddhas. There's also a small market selling a wide range of lucky charms and other souvenirs, alongside numerous food stalls.
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Samui Temples
Hin Ta Hin Yai
The Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks are some fascinating rock formations at the southern end of Lamai Beach on Koh Samui. They've been a source of giggles and wonder on the island since they were discovered by the locals many years ago. Known as Grandfather (Ta) and Grandmother (Yai), the rocks look, respectively, like male and female genitalia.
The views from the rocks and the area around them are spectacular, stretching across the sea to nearby islands. The pristine waters here are so clear that colourful marine life can often be seen from the surface.
Hin Ta and Hin Yai are found near the traditional Muslim fishing village of Hua Thanon. In the surrounding area, there’s a lush landscape of plantations and buffalo fields, offering a glimpse of how life might have been on Samui before the rise of tourism.
Wat Plai Laem
Wat Plai Laem is a colourful and interesting Buddhist temple near the Big Buddha in the north of Koh Samui. The temple features very ornate decor and art, an 18-armed image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and a large, white, Chinese Buddha set on a lake.
Wat Plai Laem is a living and active temple. It's where devotees come daily to pay homage to Guanyin and the Buddha, who is also depicted in a number of statues and murals around the temple. The art techniques used in its creation are centuries old and based on ancient beliefs. Adding to its feel of tranquillity, the temple is surrounded by a lake, which is teeming with fish. Visitors who make a donation to the temple are given a bag of food to feed the fish.
Other standout features at Wat Plai Laem include a large, white laughing Buddha statue, beautifully carved teak entry doors, and an elaborate ubosot (ceremonial hall) set on an island in the lake.
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Samui Temples
The Na Muang Waterfalls
The Na Muang Waterfalls are among Samui's most picturesque waterfalls, though it's technically 2 consecutive falls. Its name refers to the massive purple rocks at the waterfalls. Rocks and tree roots form a natural staircase that leads to the base of Na Muang 1. A large natural pool sits under the waterfall. A short walk further up the mountain leads to Samui's most spectacular waterfall, Na Muang 2.
The best time to visit is in the wetter months of September through November, when the waterfalls are fully-flowing. Na Muang is a popular place for families to relax and swim. Many Samui tours include a refreshing stop at the Na Muang Waterfalls on their itinerary.
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Waterfals and Secret Gardens
Lat Ko Viewpoint
Lat Ko Viewpoint is one of the best and most straightforward places in Samui to get a great panoramic view of the sea and the beautiful east coast of the island. Located right by the side of the Ring Road between Lamai and Chaweng, you can park your bike and walk along the paved path overlooking the coastline, going down to the coast.
The greyish beige of the boulders, the turquoise water, and the clear blue skies above Chaweng offer a really pleasant sight. The location of Lat Ko Viewpoint also allows you to catch the stunning sunrise here.
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Samui Viewpoints
Secret Buddha Garden
Secret Buddha Garden is a tranquil, sculpture-filled garden hidden high up in the hills in Koh Samui's interior. Thanks to its altitude, the unique site offers majestic views and an unusual collection of statues amid lush jungle surrounds. The gardens are a creation of an old Samui fruit farmer, Nim Thongsuk, who began erecting several statues and temples around his family's verdant land in 1976.
The statues depict several animals, deities and humans in various poses, including one of Khun Nim himself, sitting on a rock in a relaxed position. The garden has a waterfall and stream flowing through, all shaded by thick foliage.
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Waterfalls and Secret Gardens
The Mummified Monk
Wat Khunaram is a temple in Samui that's best known as the home to the island's most famous mummified monk. The monk is Luang Pordaeng, who died decades ago. As per his instructions, his body was placed in a specially designed glass case for posterity. It has remained there ever since and has shown few signs of decay.
Aside from the so-called 'Mummy Monk', Wat Khunaram is a fairly typical Buddhist temple, where local people come daily to make merit and pray. Amulets and other Buddhist artefacts can be bought here, and visitors are welcome to join or observe the daily rituals and have a look around.
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Samui Temples
Overlap Stone
The Overlap Stone near Lamai is a set of impressively balanced megalithic boulders that are a challenge to get up to but offer spectacular views. The sights alone are worthwhile for the adventurous traveller. The steep, rough, dirt-track road leading to the viewpoint should only be attempted on a dirt bike or with a 4x4, and the last stretch may have to be walked, depending on conditions.
Alternatively, getting to the unique site is a hard 20-minute climb on foot, but there is a refreshment stall at the top and it's an exhilarating experience. Look for the signs on the right-hand side of the ring road 1 km south of Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks in Lamai Beach.
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Samui Viewpoints
Jungle Club Viewpoint
Jungle Club Viewpoint is one of the best spots to take in the beautiful vistas of Koh Samui. The drive up to this hillside resort restaurant may be hair-raising, but it's worth it for some of the best views on the island. Jungle Club has bungalows, as well as a multilevel restaurant.
The best way to get to The Jungle Club is by the resort's 4X4 or on a dirt bike – it's not recommended in a saloon car and certainly not when it's raining. Those in good shape can attempt to walk through the coconut plantation to reach the restaurant. The northernerly views from The Jungle Club are of Lamai, Chaweng, Bang Rak and Koh Samui Airport.
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Samui Viewpoints
Fisherman's Village Bophut
Fisherman's Village in Samui just a few minutes drive from Baan Tropicana is a historical part of Bophut, with rustic-style buildings housing boutique stores, trendy restaurants and a small selection of hotels lining the narrow Beach Road. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the whole area becomes the site of the Fisherman's Village Walking Street market, attracting huge numbers of shoppers from across the island for the impressive variety of wares and the lively atmosphere.
This old part of Bophut Beach takes its name from the fact that it was once home to a thriving fishing community. The fishermen have moved on and the main pier has collapsed, but the old wooden shophouses remain, with a warren of narrow alleys running between many of them, giving the village a charming old look and feel.
Santiburi Golf Club
Santiburi Samui Country Club is the most renowned golf course and the only championship course in Koh Samui. Offering 18 holes through the magnificent lush hills, coconut plantations, rock-filled valleys, streams and waterfalls above Samui's northern coast, Santiburi has spectacular views over to the Gulf of Thailand and is indeed a world-class golf course.
The golf course features sumptuous facilities – a clubhouse with a top-notch restaurant, comfortable changing rooms, and a well-stocked pro-shop. All these top features have made Santiburi a top pick among the best golf courses in Thailand.
Island Hopping
The best islands near Koh Samui are the top choices for island-hopping adventures in the Gulf of Thailand. It's a popular activity in Samui as this tourist hot spot features a good range of other islands lying a reasonable distance off its shore. Situated one hour by speedboat northwest of Koh Samui is the simply stunning Ang Thong National Marine Park an archipelago that comprises of 42 pristine islands. Koh Samui's sister islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, respectively located 12 km and 60 km north of Samui, also offer an extremely pleasant getaway for the day or longer stays.
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Islands near Koh Samui
Koh Samui Beaches
Koh Samui beaches have some of the finest white sands in Thailand. Add to that the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the endless palm-fringed shorelines, you have the recipe for tropical heaven. While some of Koh Samui's beaches are louder and busier with a younger crowd, many others offer plenty of quiet calm. Whether you're looking for sports activities, a relaxing corner to sunbathe, or the perfect spot for a massage right on the sand, Koh Samui won't disappoint.
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Koh Samui Beaches
Ang Thong Marine Park
The Ang Thong National Marine Park is a pristine archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. It features towering limestone mountains, thick jungle, white-sand beaches, waterfalls and hidden coves and lakes to explore. Both Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are part of this breathtaking archipelago of 42 islands. If you take only one tour while you're on vacation in this area, make it a sightseeing tour around Ang Thong, most include a boat tour through the islands with stops for snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking to viewpoints, where you can admire this amazing island chain.
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Ang Thong National Marine Park
The Full Moon Party
Koh Phangan Full Moon Party is world-famous and its ancestral home is the crescent cove of Haad Rin Beach on the southernmost tip of Phangan Island in Thailand. More than 12 powerful sound systems turn the 800-metre beach into a most lively open-air nightclub once a month, with a festival-like atmosphere, great music and plenty of booze. This one-of-a-kind event is routinely listed on bucket lists as one of the essential Thailand experiences that you have to see and experience once in a lifetime.
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The Full Moon Party
Nightlife in Koh Samui
Most of the nightlife action in Koh Samui is concentrated around Chaweng Beach. Among the great choice of nightlife entertainment options, you'll find a myriad of lounge clubs, bars, pool parties, and discos, the most notable venues are soi Green Mango, soi Solo and soi Regae. Chewang is definitely the place to have a fun night out in Koh Samui.
Lamai is the second most popular resort town on Samui Island – behind Chaweng – and offers impressive after-dark entertainment despite its relatively small size. The nightlife here is not as busy as Chaweng’s but a few long-established venues do their best to prove otherwise.
Each of the other main resort towns in Koh Samui – Bophut, Bangrak, and Maenam – also have interesting nightspots to be discovered.
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is Thailand's beloved national sport, and is taken very seriously throughout the country. Koh Samui is no exception. Although Thai boxing is regarded as the world's most dangerous martial art, it's surprisingly graceful to watch.
Chaweng has 2 Thai boxing stadiums, which hold regular Muay Thai bouts, some of which feature foreign as well as Thai fighters. Chaweng stadium is the biggest on Samui and hosts all the major fights on the island. Fights are usually held twice a week on Monday and Friday nights but, during peak season, an additional Sunday night fight is often held. Fights start at 9 pm and the evening normally lasts around 3 hours, with as many as 10 smaller bouts before the main fight. If you only want to catch the main event, then drop in for an hour around 10-10.30 pm.
Dinning in Koh Samui
The sheer quantity and variety of Koh Samui restaurants ensure that you need never go hungry anywhere on the island. From delicious local snacks to international 5-star cuisine, every taste is catered to. No matter where you're from or what food you like, you'll find it somewhere on Samui for you. The range of restaurants, cafés, street stalls, beach vendors, bakeries and local places to eat is huge.
Spas and Massage
Spas in Koh Samui are excellent for those seeking a place to relax and recharge. Thailand is, of course, famous for its signature massage, which is a must-try while you're here. Fortunately, the variety in the range of spas available is extraordinary, with anything from little family-run shops to exotic and exclusive resorts. As you might expect, the cost for treatments also varies, from a few hundred baht to a few thousand.
Shopping in Koh Samui
Shopping in Koh Samui is diverse, with hundreds of bargains to be found around the island. While almost every corner of the island has a store worth visiting, the main shopping sites are Chaweng, Lamai and Nathon.
The shopping scene in Thailand is famous for the wide variety of products to be found at markets and local, independent stores. Koh Samui is no exception. Such products can generally be found in the smaller local markets. Most department stores offer international, brand name products and have fixed prices, but generally you can bargain almost everywhere else.
Night Markets in Koh Samui
The best night markets in Samui offer a huge selection of shopping and dining opportunities, with the added advantage that you can shop for longer in the cool evening air than you could during the heat of the day. Plus, you also don't need to sacrifice a potential beach day in order to pick up some great discounts on clothing, souvenirs, and much more besides. Be sure to check out as many markets as you can while you're on Koh Samui in order to enjoy great local eats and unbeatable bargains.
Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is Thailand's 5th largest island that's located just 12 km north of Koh Samui and is still barely developed. Ferries from the mainland and Samui are at hand to get there, leaving frequently throughout the morning and early afternoon. It features a hilly, lush tropical jungle interior, many idyllic, long white-sand beaches and over 20 nearby dive sites.
Featuring a good choice of accommodation options for all budget types for a stop-over or longer stays, Koh Phangan's main claim to fame is largely due to its many full-moon, black moon and half-moon parties held on the beach of Haad Rin. The rugged, mountainous interior is also more dramatic than many other islands in Thailand.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao (“Turtle Island” in Thai) lives up to its name, being one of the greatest scuba diving destinations in southern Thailand. The perfect white-sand beaches which ring the hilly 21-sq-km island are surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
The compact island is about 1 hour north of Samui by speedboat and was only really discovered in the early 1980s, but now supports a varied selection of hotels, from budget guesthouses and beach bungalows up to 5-star luxury resorts. So far from civilization and while still being relatively easily reached, it is the idyllic tropical island paradise.
Island Tours & Excursions
One of the best ways to see the attractions on Koh Samui and much more, is to book a half-day or full-day island safari or city tour that takes you around Samui, making sure you see the most interesting and unforgettable sights of the island. For trips more further afield, full day trips and sea excursions are also available.
Visitors to Koh Samui can enjoy the benefits of booking tours in advance through our tour partner Viator - Reserve now and pay later with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour starts. To browse all tours available on Koh Samui click the insert below:
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