Ko Samui: a beautiful and cozy island for beach holidays and parties

Ko Samui is another island in the south of Thailand. But unlike Phuket and other popular islands in the Andaman Sea, this island is located on another part of the mainland, in the Gulf of Thailand.

By the way, regarding the pronunciation of the name. The word "Samui" (สมุย in Thai) has only two syllables and the last letter is "y". In this case, the stress falls on the second syllable, that is, the word is pronounced as “SaMUY”.

In addition to all its other advantages, Ko Samui (as well as the neighboring island of Ko Pha Ngan) are popular among lovers of parties and related entertainment (long before the legalization of marijuana). Ko Pha Ngan hosts a Full Moon Party every month – a music show and disco on the seashore from the evening until the next morning.

Therefore, in general, in addition to the beaches and beautiful views from mountain viewpoints, Ko Samui adds a special Rastafarian relaxation. But if you are not a fan of all this, then you can just enjoy the beach holiday and the beauty of the island.

Ko Samui is a medium sized island, approximately 20×15 kilometers. About half the island is occupied by mountains, which are grouped in the center of the island – few people live there. Most of the population is located on the plains along the outskirts of the island, where the main ring road passes. Beaches are located on all sides of the island, but some are better than others.

This photo of the island, namely the Baan Bang Ma Kham area:

Here you can see that people and buildings are concentrated at the foot of the mountain, at the edge of the island. There are also buildings on the mountains, but there are much fewer of them.

2. How to get to Ko Samui

You can get to Ko Samui by ferry, speedboat (from the mainland from Surat Thani or neighboring islands), or by plane, as there is an airport on the island.

Ferries and boats from Surat Thani to Ko Samui depart from the following locations:

Seatran Ferry
Raja Ferry Pier, Don Sak

On the ferry you can transfer vehicles.

Detailed information on how to get to Ko Samui from various places in Thailand and even the world is collected in the article “How to get to Ko Samui”.

Ferry departs from Surat Thani (Seatran Ferry) to Ko Samui:

By ferry to Ko Samui:

Rain in the sea:

Cloudy sea after rain:

Arriving at Ko Samui:

3. Map of tourist places in Ko Samui. Top attractions in Ko Samui

Map from the stand:

This is a photo of a paper map:

You can see the main ring road.

The map also shows areas of the island (“baan” literally means “village” in Thai).

Baan Bang Por
Baan Tai
Baan Mae Nam
Baan Bophut
Baan Bang Rak
Baan Plai Laem
Baan Chaweng Noi
Baan Harn
Baan Thurian
Baan Thale
Baan Pang Ka
Baan Laling Ngam
Baan Sa Ket
Baan Lipa Noi
Baan Lipa Yai
Baan Bang Ma Kham

On this map, hotels and resorts are marked with purple diamonds – by their concentration you can judge the popularity of certain parts of the island among tourists. As you can see, almost all the hotels and resorts are located around the edges of the island in several areas.

This is an interactive map where Ko Samui attractions are grouped into different categories.

These places will be discussed in more detail below.

4. Beaches of Ko Samui

The most interesting beaches are indicated in green on the map. Very small beaches and beaches with access through private land are indicated in yellow.

4.1 Nathon Beach / Coconut beach

Nathon Beach (also called Coconut beach). White very fine sand and palm trees, not deep and calm, pleasant shore. Very beautiful and secluded.

The beach is located relatively close to large piers (about a kilometer), but this does not seem to affect the beach in any way.

Overall the beach is very beautiful. Quite small, but even with a large number of tourists, quite roomy. There are plenty of trees for shade. There are rocks when entering the water, but they are easy to see and get around. You can easily park your car near the beach.

The sunsets are some of the most picturesque because it is on the west side of the island. There are restaurants located on the coast itself.

At low tide it becomes very shallow here and you won’t be able to swim. But you can enjoy the sunset.

4.2 Bang Makham Beach

When I was there, Bang Makham Beach was what you see in the photo:

Entrance to the beach, but a small amount of sand is visible, and everything else is under water. To the right and left there is only water.

During low tide, you will most likely not be able to swim.

This beach, like the previous one, is also located on the western side of the island, so you can admire the sunsets from here.

4.3 Laem Yai

This beach is similar to the previous one (they are located not far from each other). This was once a secluded beach, but is now difficult to get to because of the resort blocking the way.

These photographs do not show exactly the same beach, but the embankment not far from it, where I still managed to get.

Most likely, Laem Yai Beach is not suitable for swimming and is more suitable for watching the sunset. This area is quite sparsely populated. You can stroll among the palm trees and watch the horses.

Northwestern edge of Ko Samui. Laem Yai Beach area:

4.4 Bang Po Beach

A very pleasant and relaxing beach for walking and relaxing in the restaurant or on a sun lounger.

Neither the camera nor I with words can convey the shades of the sunset – it was very beautiful and unusual.

I visited here in the evening on the first day when I just arrived in Ko Samui and I decided to definitely come back here to spend time in the restaurant and on the shore. But I didn’t succeed, because in the following days I explored the island, and decided to set aside a whole day off to visit the beach. But these plans fell through: I was unable to extend my reservation at my hotel (everything turned out to be booked). It was also not possible to book another hotel for the money I could afford (it was the eve of the Full Moon Party). And I had to move on on my journey. I dream of returning to Ko Samui, including spending an evening or a whole day at Bang Po Beach.

In terms of swimming, in general it is possible here, but the sand at the bottom is muddy, after 5 meters the stones begin, quite shallow.

A short video of Bang Po Beach:

Bang Po Beach – the island of Ko Phangan is visible in the distance:

Sunset at Bang Po Beach:

4.5 Ban Tai Beach

Excellent beach, beautiful, pleasant sand and sea, parking available. In the evening there is high tide and the beach disappears under water – there is little space left.

4.6 Maenam Beach

The beach is quite long (4.7 km) and quite heterogeneous, so your experience of this beach may vary depending on where on the beach you visit.

I came to this beach in different places and at first I thought that these were completely different beaches.

This beach is generally more secluded. It is very beautiful here – snow-white sand and turquoise water.

In terms of swimming, everything is also quite good here, but there may be algae in the water and the water may be cloudy (perhaps this depends on the time of year).

Towards the end of this beach there is a pier for a large transport company.

At this end of the beach, in my opinion, the best areas are occupied by sunbeds belonging to hotels and resorts. The rest of the beach may not be very clean or comfortable for relaxation.

At the end of the beach there is the Black Rose Cafe (a very atmospheric Rastafarian place) and an excellent Mae Nam Viewpoint. This is the sea view from Black Rose Cafe. If you are not interested in Rastafarian stuff, then you can eat and drink there like in any other Thai restaurant.

A short video from Maenam Beach (filmed next to Lighthouse Maenam):

A short video from Maenam Beach (next to Black Rose Cafe):

Black Rose Cafe:

4.7 W Beach

Nice beach, but located on the territory of an expensive hotel.

4.8 Bo Phut Beach

The beach is pleasant for walking or hanging out – beautiful and with a lot of cafeterias and bars.

You can swim here, but the bottom is muddy. The sand is coarse. Quite a lot of boats.

The beach is relatively uncrowded. A company providing water entertainment services is located here.

4.9 Bang Rak Beach

The beach is quiet, clean, there are no people. There are several cafes nearby and parking.

4.10 Thongson Beach

A cramped, rather crowded and rocky beach. You have to walk quite a long time on the rocks to get to the normal depth; there is algae.

The road to this place is not very easy. There is a sign near the beach that this place is for clients only.

Unless you are a client of the resort, IMHO, it’s not worth going here on purpose.

4.11 Naturism Beach

A beach where visitors sunbathe without clothing (none at all). It’s not easy to get here – the most obvious way is over the rocks from Thongson Beach. To go this way, you need to get to the outermost house – the one that is as high as possible, and then along the rocks for several tens of meters. We find ourselves on an area closed on all sides. Coarse sand and shade from trees. Difficult to swim, too many sharp stones. This is the way through the private resort. If you want to walk along water and sea, the path will be several hundred meters and it is better not to do this.

4.12 Thongson Bay Beach

Beach on private property of the hotel. The beach is nice, but the waves are usually quite strong.

4.13 Chengmon beach

Excellent for families with children, because the shore is shallow, the sand is nice and fine. But a little further on, rocks and algae begin to appear, but it doesn’t get any deeper – swimming is not comfortable. With a mask it’s also not particularly interesting, it’s muddy.

There are very nice places where you can eat, drink beer, smoothies or coffee.

In high season there are a lot of people on the beach after 11 o'clock. It's empty in the evening.

There are a lot of people and sun loungers that belong to hotels.

The coast along this beach is very densely built up with hotels and resorts. You can get here (if you are not a client of one of the hotels) along the road next to the Sala hotel. On the map this place is indicated as “Government beach access”. There is a small parking area with a sign that I found unfriendly.

In general, many parts of this beach are treated by hotels and their guests as their own private beach.

Nearby there are two small islands (Ko Fan Yai and Ko Fan Noi), which are connected to the mainland by a sandy bridge.

There are interesting locations for photography.

There is a luxury hotel on Ko Fan Yai – if you wanted to feel like the owner of a private island with your servants, then this is one of those places that can give you this experience. But the cost of one night will cost you 14-50 thousand baht.

Moreover, if you literally want to become the only resident of a private island, then Ko Fan Noi has the only private villa. Its cost is from 63 thousand baht per day.

A short video from Chengmon beach:

4.14 Rock beach

It’s beautiful thanks to the stones in the water, but they make it impossible to swim. You can take a short walk and sit. There are no cafes or interesting places.

All entrances to the beach appear to be on private property.

4.15 Chaweng Beach

Long, spacious beach with a lively atmosphere, nearby resorts, restaurants and shops. Overall this is a pretty good beach.

Chaweng Beach boasts an extensive coastline, providing plenty of space for leisurely strolls. With a variety of restaurants and bars located along the beach, visitors can enjoy a wide range of culinary experiences. In addition, the availability of sun loungers ensures a comfortable and relaxed beach experience for those who want to soak up the sun.

The beach is not too crowded, the water is warm and clear, very clean, no garbage. The sand was very soft and white.

This may still be the best beach on Ko Samui for swimming and just relaxing on the beach. No rocks, a shallow sandy beach and plenty of trees for shadow. In particular, the southernmost end (with a small boat dock) is quieter and nice to relax under the trees. But be careful and watch out for jellyfish.

For all its length, getting to the beach if you are not a guest of one of the hotels or resorts on its shore is not so easy. I found only one public entrance, it is marked on the map as “Chaweng Beach Entrance”. On my first visit, I got to the beach through the Long Beach Lodge territory – there is a sign that this is a private area, but the road turned out to be open to traffic and there was parking next to the beach.

A short video from Chaweng Beach:

4.16 Coral Cove Beach

The beach is beautiful, there is enough space for everyone. There is an inexpensive cafe with tables and a canopy, beautifully decorated.

It's just beautiful to relax. The waves are big. Lots of rocks, which can be dangerous. We took coral slippers and climbed there. I recommend it for a beautiful view and a couple of hours to relax.

The entrance and small parking area are marked on the map with the “Entrance to Coral Cove Beach” dot.

4.17 Crystal Beach

Wonderful beach! The water is perfectly clear, the bottom is fine white sand, but there are rocks and corals, so be careful.

Overall a stunning beach, clean white sand, beautiful blue water and beach bars with good food. I recommend staying here for a relaxing day.

The only negative is that there are no sunbeds on the sand for rent and little shade, but soft sand, crystal clear water and landscapes like on a film set.

A very nice, cozy little beach for people who love lagoons and don't mind others lying very close to them. This beach can get very busy! The water is usually calm and clear, with little or no waves, making this beach ideal for swimming.

4.18 Lamai Beach

Beautiful picturesque beach. There is seasonality, in summer the water is crystal clear and calm, in winter and spring there are waves.

The beach is very long – 3 km. Some places are quite deserted, and some have cafeterias, hotels, and resorts.

Overall, a very beautiful and pleasant place to stay.

This is a coconut – it will grow into a coconut tree. The young coconut tree is fenced so that it is not accidentally pushed or deliberately taken. Coconut roots do not sprout immediately. I haven't tested this case specifically, but a coconut even with these already fairly large leaves may still not have roots. Coconut palms often grow along the coast and if a coconut falls into water, it does not sink because its density is lighter than water. In this way, the coconut can float to another shore or even an island and when the waves push it onto the shore, the coconut can grow into a new coconut tree.

Note that the coconut is not partially or completely buried – it is placed as if it had been pushed onto the shore by the waves – apparently this is the natural and correct way to grow coconut trees.

In fact, coconuts do not only grow along the coast – they can also be found deep inland, including in mountainous areas (although not too high).

A couple of short videos from Lamai Beach:

4.19 Bang Kao Beach

The beach would be very beautiful and cozy if it weren’t for its main problem – a lot of garbage.

Very long – stretches for almost 3 kilometers. The beach is quite deserted in some areas.

The beach is suitable if you want to relax in relative privacy.

This is the other end of the beach – it’s also very beautiful here.

But on the shore you can see quite a lot of garbage. As for the sea, there are a lot of stones and dead corals.

The beach is marked twice on the map – in these places it is possible to get to the beach.

In the center of Bang Kao Beach there is Ao Bang Kao Bay. In general, this place has the same advantages and disadvantages: it would be beautiful here if it weren’t for the garbage.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, it’s not people who bring garbage to the beaches, it’s the waves from the sea that carry the garbage onto the beaches. Therefore, if you want to throw something into the sea, think – maybe it would be better to throw it on the shore, in a trash can? Both human and natural garbage (algae, parts of trees) are constantly washed up on the beaches. There can be especially a lot of debris after large waves and storms. Therefore, beaches require constant cleaning. Without cleaning, the coastline over time is almost completely covered with garbage – I saw such beaches in Rayong province – a sight that is both creepy and disgusting.

4.20 Thong Krut Beach

This place is not suitable for swimming.

But here you can admire the sea views, including from the restaurant on the seashore.

4.21 Thongyang Beach

The beach is very beautiful, there are few people as there is almost nowhere to stay nearby, and the roads leading to the beach are “private roads” and private territory.

Clean beach, quiet place, gorgeous views.

4.22 Lipa Noi Beach

In the water, the bottom is not so much sandy as muddy, although people swim here, this does not bother them.

The beach is not wide and at high tide the sand disappears under the water.

In general, the beach is never overcrowded with people, there are a minimum of sun loungers and boats, and there are no bars or restaurants.

There is a public entrance to the beach, for example, next to Lipa Bay Resort.

Some short videos from Lipa Noi Beach:

5. Ko Samui Viewpoints

5.1 Laemyai Viewpoint and Viewpoint beach and ocean

Laemyai Viewpoint and Viewpoint beach and ocean are located nearby. To get here, you need to leave the main road and start climbing towards the hotels. The slope is very steep; if you are not confident in the serviceability of the brakes of your vehicle, then it is better not to come here. In general, the climb up the mountain is very short, but the height is also not great.

This is the view from Viewpoint beach and ocean.

Just don’t think that in this photo I crooked the horizon – no, it’s just that the island itself is located a little on a slope and my photo conveys this. ))))))

I got there during sunset (it happened by chance) and it was quite crowded for such a small place – apparently the place is quite popular during sunset.

And this is the view from Laemyai Viewpoint.

The views are quite interesting, admission is free.

5.2 Mae Nam Viewpoint

A very scenic and free viewpoint – don't miss it.

From here you have a wide view of Ko Phangan, Maenam Beach, the Ban Tai Beach area and, of course, the sea.

This place is free to visit, but its existence is not easy to guess.

The entrance here is located behind the Black Rose Cafe. If you are on Maenam Beach in this area, then just walk to the end of the beach until you see Black Rose Cafe. Go around this cafe and behind it there will be stairs up the mountain.

If you want to get here by car, there are two options:

Keep moving to Maenam Samui / Pralarn Pier. Park your vehicle there and walk along Maenam Beach to Black Rose Cafe.
Keep moving to the start of the route, which is marked on the map as “Way to Mae Nam Viewpoint”. Pinnacle Samui Resort has an unguarded car park here. You can park your motorbike here and walk along the indicated route. Or you can travel this route on a motorcycle – this is quite possible. In this way, you can ride a motorcycle all the way up to the stairs behind the Black Rose Cafe.

A short video from Mae Nam Viewpoint:

5.3 Lighthouse Maenam

Lighthouse with the opportunity to climb it. Beautiful view of Maenam Beach.

A short video from Lighthouse Maenam

5.4 Lad Koh View Point

This is one of the most beautiful free viewpoints. There is a small parking lot next to the road.

The viewpoint includes an area near the road, as well as stairs leading to other areas closer to the shore.

You can go down to the rocks – amazing views open up from here!

From here you can see almost the entire Chaweng Beach, and you can also see the island of Ko Mat Lang.

Notice how interesting the water has eroded the stones: as if someone was trying to carve the blocks of stone with some kind of heavy-duty tool. When I was there and looked at these stones with my own eyes, I was completely sure that these were natural traces of erosion, for example, frost wedging or something like that. These traces of erosion were so extensive and meaningless – no one would have thought of doing this work. Yes, and I have seen such straight lines on stones in many places – especially often at the junction of rock and water.

But now, looking at the photographs, I begin to doubt their natural origin – these lines are too straight and perpendicular to each other.

But sometimes stones break in straight lines, sometimes stones peel off in layers – this happens in nature for some reason.

This type of erosion differs from the erosion of softer and slightly water-soluble limestone. Limestone rocks in contact with water have, perhaps, even more bizarre than just straight lines on the stones. You can verify this by looking at the photographs in the following articles:

Some short videos from Lad Koh View Point:

5.5 Lamai Viewpoint & Valentine Stone

Viewpoint with restaurant. The name mentions “Valentine Stone” – there is a large stone on the territory, but it does not arouse any interest.

To go upstairs, there are three options, all of which are paid:

walking – 100 baht per person
by funicular (Cable Car) – 200 baht per person for a round trip
on zipline – 800 baht per person

Regarding the zipline, it’s more of an attraction than a way to get there. As you can understand, if you are attached to a rope, you can only move to the point below. But initially you need to rise from below to the viewpoint. That is, you will be taken to another place, which is located above the viewpoint, and from there you will travel on a zipline. The path is not long, about 100 meters.

It's beautiful at the top – the viewpoint is worth a visit.

In addition to the photography platform, there is also a restaurant where you can order food and drinks.

It was the middle of the day and we were a little tired and hungry so we decided to grab a bite to eat there. Loved the food and the shakers and smoothies were great!

When we were returning from the cable car, we met a huge snake on the way. This was not the last meeting with a large snake that day (another one crawled across the road when we were moving on a motorbike). When we told about this at the hotel, the hotel manager told us that Ko Samui is famous for its snakes, and even that the largest snake was found on Ko Samui. To say short, just be careful.

A short video from Lamai Viewpoint & Valentine Stone:

5.6 Overlap stone

Entrance here costs 200 baht and includes one free drink of your choice. Parking available.

The climb is very steep! If you are not confident in the brakes of your motorbike or your skills, then skip this place.

There are several photo spots at the top, including a large rock and views in the background.

You can climb the stairs to the stone.

There may be a line to take a photo at the stone.

If you're interested, but think 200 baht is a bit pricey (in my opinion it is), then the following place may help you.

5.7 Overlap Stone 2

If you haven't been intercepted by the Overlap stone staff (and they actually stand by the road and try to convince you that you're going the wrong way), then you can visit Overlap Stone 2 for just 20 baht.

The road up is quite steep, so be careful when riding your bike up and down. As you get closer, locals may try to stop you, saying this is the place – don't stop, just keep going, you're almost there. As you climb further, you will come to a not very good road. You can park your bike there and follow the signs to the rock.

To get there you have to overcome steep climbs, 600 meters of dirt road or 200 meters of a short cross-country route with steps carved into the mud, which will be slippery when wet.

5.8 Hua Thanon View Point

Observation point by the sea. The views are nice, you can see fish and other marine life in the water.

The view of the coast is also nice. But, to be completely honest, the views on almost any beach are comparable in beauty to this place. This place is easy to get to and entry is free, so if you're somewhere nearby, why not stop by.

5.9 SumDrink ViewPoint

The directional sign, as well as the sign, refer to the location as "SumDrink ViewPoint". But on the map this and neighboring places are indicated as “Sun Star ViewPoint” and “Mr. Mong Samui View Point”.

While there, I saw “Sun Star ViewPoint”, but no trace of “Mr. Mong Samui View Point” I did not find. To be fair, it should be noted that at the time of the visit, all these places were closed.

That is, you can go to SumDrink ViewPoint – there was no one there and no one was charging a fee or selling any drinks. I think it was possible to go to Sun Star ViewPoint as well, but I didn’t because I thought it was a private area or resort area – there were no signs that this place was an operating restaurant or viewpoint there.

There is a resort nearby and, perhaps, it is also closed… In general, some kind of sad story with this place.

From the point of view of the beauty of the views, this is a very good vantage point. It is unclear why everything suddenly turned out to be closed. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that this place is located at some distance from the main roads and the road leading here is quite steep. But at least you don't have to climb over rocks or through the jungle – the viewpoint is right next to the road. I don't know, maybe I was just there at the wrong time.

A short video from SumDrink ViewPoint:

Video from SumDrink ViewPoint (8K):

5.10 Giant Summit Samui

This is a restaurant with a viewing platform, located not far from the previous location (SumDrink ViewPoint).

The views are beautiful and the food and drinks are reasonably priced.

Overall, a very pleasant and atmospheric place, usually not too many people.

5.11 Peak Eye View Restaurant

Another restaurant with an observation deck not far from the previous two places.

5.12 Nathon Sunset Viewpoint

From here you can see the western side of the island, including Nathon Beach, and you can watch the sunset.

In the evening there is a strong low tide and along the seabed, from which the water has receded, you can move quite far from the shore.

The place marked as Nathon Sunset Viewpoint is elevation that allows you to walk deep into the sea without getting your feet wet. I don’t know if the views of the sunset are better there than from the benches on the shore.

You can also watch the sunset from one of the restaurants on the shore not far from Nathon Sunset Viewpoint.

5.13 Wat Khao Hua Chuk Pagoda

This is the same temple that is visible from the airport. As you might guess, the airport is also visible from this temple.

Also from here you can see the lake with the “peninsula” and the sea from different sides of the island.

A beautiful and interesting place, the golden Buddhist temple is incredibly attractive. The view is amazing. Entrance 20 baht. At the entrance, girls are given headscarves if you are wearing bare shoulders or short shorts.

5.14 Pra Buddha Dīpankara

The next three places, namely Pra Buddha Dīpankara, Samui View Point and Jungle Route 360, are located nearby. This is the top of the mountain, and Pra Buddha Dīpankara is the highest point of the island.

The roads that lead here are abandoned and have not been repaired for a long time. This, coupled with steep climbs, makes the path to these places unsafe. Therefore, if you are not confident in your driving skills or the technical condition of your motorbike, then it is better not to come here.

The following can be suggested as alternatives:

get here as part of a tour (they use off-road vehicles)
drive part of the way on a motorbike, then park it and walk the rest of the way

If you decide to get here by bike to the very top, then there are two roads leading from the areas of the following beaches:

Lamai Beach (this option is recommended as the road here is slightly better)
Chaweng Beach (this option is NOT recommended as the road is extremely dangerous)

Even though the road from Lamai Beach is better, be prepared for steep inclines, gravel, cracked concrete and large roots on the road! As you can guess, the path from Chaweng Beach is even worse.

So, Pra Buddha Dīpankara, a very beautiful semi-abandoned place with an incredible view of the entire island.

The complex is not completely abandoned, we saw monks, but the fact that there is devastation there is a fact, for the sake of interest, of course you need to go and see the surroundings, this is the highest point of the island, at the top there is one seller of coconuts and water, just below there is a cafe with a swimming pool

The highest point of the island. The temple is a little dilapidated, but the views here are wonderful. You can only get there by bike if you are a confident driver. It is better to leave at the bottom and walk up to the temple on foot.

It offers views of the Lamai Beach area. At the top is a complex of buildings and a Buddha. There is no trade. The entrance is free.

5.15 Jungle Route 360

Jungle Route 360 (next to Samui View Point, which has fallen into disrepair) is a restaurant with views from the mountain. This place is located just below Pra Buddha Dīpankara. And there is also a swimming pool here – very unusual.

5.16 Jo Garden And Viewpoint

Another place that's hard to get to.

5.17 Maenam Soi 7

A very steep climb. Instead of trying to get there on your own, you can buy an off-road tour.

The viewing angle is quite wide, you can see both the Maenam Beach area of Ko Samui and the neighboring island of Ko Phangan.

6. Attractions of Ko Samui

6.1 Giant Squid (Y) Ban Tai

Giant octopus. At the time of the visit, it was in a dilapidated state. However, this place is very picturesque.

6.2 Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) is a temple that is located on a separate island (Ko Fan), but Ko Fan is connected to Ko Samui by a dam and a road, so you may not even immediately understand that you are on an island and not on part Ko Samu.

The entrance is free. Many people like this place, but to be honest, the temple is just like a temple and Buddha is just like Buddha. I didn't see anything particularly interesting here.

There are beautiful views near this place.

A short video of the surroundings of the Big Buddha Temple and the landing plane:

6.3 Mermaid Statue

Several interesting sculptures in a small area. This place is very close to Big Buddha Temple.

6.4 Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai)

Very, very large stones. Among them there are a couple of stones that resemble male and female genitalia.

The one that protrudes is clearly visible – but to feel the similarity, you need to look at it from a certain angle.

The one with the hole needs to be looked for (just like in life).

In my opinion, tourists are brought here as part of a sightseeing tour or something similar. There are too many people for such a completely normal place for the island. Likewise with the Big Buddha Temple, where I saw large tourist buses. Therefore, these two places are quite crowded and have too many positive reviews for what are, in fact, far from the most impressive places.

The stones are quite large. You can walk along them and photograph unusual landscapes.

There is a very small beach where you can swim in the sea.

6.5 Wat Ratchathamaram (Wat Sila Ngu)

A terracotta-colored Buddhist temple richly decorated with sculptures of sea monsters and warriors.

The temple is located between the main street and the beach overlooking the sea and looks peaceful and calm with various buildings dotted around the area.

It is certainly worth a visit, because it is located in a fairly compact area, so you won’t spend much time walking around the area. It was a nice walk to the beach, easily accessible via a wide staircase, which is a great place to relax with or without food and drink.

You can park at the entrance or on the temple grounds.

Since this is a temple, you should be dressed appropriately – your clothes should cover your shoulders and knees.

6.6 Buddha's Footprint

Buddha's footprint. This does not seem to be a temple (there is only one small building here), but when entering the room with the imprint, take off your shoes.

A long staircase leads up, and there is a good view from above. The entrance is free.

This place seems abandoned, but clean.

6.7 Wat Phra Chedi Laem So

Interesting place. The coastline is littered, but the temple is worth visiting. You can sit in the shade under the conifers and relax, breathe in the fresh air, sweet from flowers.

6.8 Mangrove Forest

Mangrove forest. You can take a walk among the grove, but you don’t need to build strong expectations – there is no special attraction, it’s just nature.

It was in disrepair some time ago, but the trail has now been renovated.

6.9 The Elephant Gate

A monk decided to build a gate with pillars in the shape of life-size elephants, and the whole village came to his aid. The princess blessed the construction and the precious stones that were placed in the eyes of the elephants.

Many guests began to visit the village; it was believed that passing through the gates meant receiving the blessing of the princess.

Now the elephants' eyes are normal, the stones were taken out when the princess died, they will be installed again when someone from the royal family bless the stones again.

6.10 Wooden provisional bridge

This is a bridge with a very interesting arch. This place is also interesting because there is a convenient entrance to the wonderful Lamai Beach. This is generally a tourist spot – thereis a map of the island, hotels with restaurants, a gazebo, parking, and toilets nearby.

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7. Ko Samui Waterfalls

8. Islands near Ko Samui

9. Zoos on Ko Samui

Conclusion