The Best Things to do in Koh Samui, Thailand.
The ultimate guide to: what to do in Koh Samui, written by experts. We lived in the south of Thailand for 7 months and know everything there is to know about life in Thailand. Trust us you do not want to miss out on these top things to see and do in Koh Samui. Top tips and secret places you won’t find anywhere else!
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Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
Obviously, we had to mention it first as it’s one of Koh Samui’s top attractions.
Buddha is .. well, you guessed it a BIG buddha.
Specifically, big buddha is 12 metres high, that’s almost 40 ft! This huge monument is situated in Wat Phra Yai, if you didn’t already know ‘Wat’ means temple in Thai.
Undeniably Big Buddha is a must see on your Samui itinerary, you can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to hours looking at the site and taking in the culture. The best time to go is at sunset or early in the morning so that it isn’t too hot.
Another key point to mention is that Big Buddha is housed inside a Wat complex. Therefore, rules must be followed. Men and Women must cover up out of religious respect, covering ankles and shoulders, do not show up in your bikini!
Namuang Waterfall
Who doesn’t love a waterfall? Koh Samui’s Namuang Waterfall is a sight not to be missed.
We spent the whole day here relaxing and swimming in the waterfall and cooling off in the pools below.
Do not be confused as there are 2 waterfalls, Namuang waterfall 1 and Namuang Waterfall 2. We visited Namuang Waterfall 1, the more popular waterfall, we personally think the waterfall here is better. The walk to the waterfall from the car park is short only around 5 minutes, and can get busy with tourists.
We recommend visiting early in the day to avoid the crowds, but we have also been when it is busy and it was also fun.
Parking costs around 20 baht. Additionally, to parking the car park also offers Elephant rides. DO NOT do this. These Elephants are kept inhumanely and used solely for tourist use and financial gain.
If you do want to visit the elephants whilst you are in Thailand, please research elephant sanctuary’s that offer experiences to feed the elephants or bathe them NEVER ride them.
Jumping from rocks is popular here by tourist into the waterfall or attempting to climb it. We personally wouldn’t recommend this as there have been reported accidents of tourist falling to their death and getting seriously injured. The waterfall is natural and the pool below isn’t specified how deep or if rocks lie shallow beneath the surface.
The Overlap Stone
Koh Samui’s hidden gem!
Now this is a secret location not many people know about. The Overlap Stone is our favourite spot in Koh Samui. But what is it?
The Overlap Stone, is a large natural rock formation, a large rock overlapping another in a very interesting way. The view from the overlap stone is stunning, you can see the whole island and Koh Phangan in the distance.
One of the best parts about the overlap stone is that not many people know about it, meaning there will most likely be no one else there! The journey to the overlap stone is not for the fainthearted.
How to get to the overlap stone?
The stone is located just a 5-minute drive from Lamai Beach and is easy to find on maps. The scooter ride up to the stone is very steep and not recommended for newbie riders. It was even a bit hairy for us and we’re experienced riders!
Once you have driven up to the stone, leave your bike on the side of the road. There were signs saying keep out, no entry. This isn’t true, we walked down a small footpath and this is where you will find the overlap stone.
The overlap stone is situated on private land. An entrance fee of 100 baht is to be paid to the landowner who will come and collect her fee when you arrive at the bridge to the stone. As we said the stone is on private land so isn’t well maintained. When we were there the railings were broken and the bridge had missing slabs, but we have heard that this has since been fixed. The stone isn’t safe for younger children as there are sheer drops either side. Visit with caution, take the risk and you will be rewarded with the best viewpoint in Koh Samui. On the same road where you parked your bike opposite is another secret viewpoint, a Thai man selling beverages and another must see viewpoint and photo opportunity.
Wat Plai Laem
In addition to visiting the Big Buddha, add Wat Plai Laem to your Koh Samui itinerary.
Our day out at Wat Plai Laem was one of our most memorable in Thailand. Wat Plai Laem is situated on a vibrant park of figures, sculptures, and temples. We spent hours walking around the complex, taking in the sights, and admiring the stunning architecture and stunning beauty. In the centre of the complex the monuments are surrounded by water.
Our favourite part of Wat Plai Laem was feeding the catfish. For a small fee you can buy fish food in baskets, the money raised goes towards the temple grounds and monks. The catfish are very friendly and will let you stroke them and drop the food right into their mouths! Be careful of the snapping turtles though!
Fisherman's Village
Historically Fisherman’s Village, was well, exactly that. A thriving fishing village on the coast of Koh Samui.
Now a hub of tourist attraction. Fisherman’s Village a large walking street of vendors, shops, restaurants, and cafes. Everything from traditional Thai to Indian to sushi to everything in between.
A 30-minute drive from Chaweng the more popular area of Koh Samui. We would recommend visiting at night the famous market runs from 5pm until 11pm. You can buy anything from watches to artwork, food, and drink. A must see in your Koh Samui itinerary.
Koh Samui Chaweng Night Market
Chaweng night market is the best place in Koh Samui for street food.
To best explain it watch our viral video on our TikTok! We stumbled upon Chaweng night market whilst driving around looking for somewhere to eat for dinner.
The market had so many different options and was so affordable. Chicken skewers, fried eggs, pad Thai, ice cream and so much more. Obviously, you must add Chaweng night market to your itinerary now!
Need somewhere to stay on your trip in Koh Samui? Browse the best hotel deals here!
Day Trip to Koh Phangan
Okay, this one is misleading. We would personally recommend you visit Koh Phangan for much longer than a day trip. (We lived here for 4 months!)
Regrettably, not everyone’s itineraries can stretch to fitting Koh Phangan into their travels. Thailand is so big and there is so much to see we can’t always fit it all in.
What we would recommend if you can’t visit Koh Phangan separately, is taking a day trip to the island.
Read our full Koh Phangan ultimate guide, for the best things to see and do whilst you’re there. Alternatively, take a night trip to Koh Phangan for the famous Full Moon Party (again read more about this in our Koh Phangan Guide).
Koh Samui offers a range of speed boats, water taxis and ferries across to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Festivities.
In Conclusion...
Now you know everything there is to know about the best things to see and do in Koh Samui.
We would love to hear about your travels or any other recommendations below in the comments. Don’t forget to read our other guides to get the best out of your Thailand trip and itinerary. We would hate for you to miss out on seeing the best spots on the islands.
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If you liked our Thailand street food tour and tasting video above follow our TikTok for more videos just like this one and so much more.
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