If you’ve heard, just like me, that this island is one worth adding to your bucket list, well it is true. It is a nice island to add since there are many good activity options. What you will get is beautiful landscapes with the simple beauty of nature, blended with cultural experiences and adventure. This all sounds amazing, but you’re wondering more precisely what to do? Here is a list of 8 amazing things to do in Koh Samui.
- Enjoy the beaches: Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach
- Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks – Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks
- See the Big Buddha Temple
- Wat Plai Laem
- Go snorkeling
- Scuba diving
- Night markets
- See the famous Namuang Waterfalls
Enjoy the beaches: Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach
Chaweng Beach is the most popular one in Koh Samui and for good reasons. It is such a large stretch of beautiful white sand beach that it is divided into four parts: North, Central, South and Little. If you want to be in the center of action, this is the place you’ll want to be.
Directly on the beach, there are a lot of options for you to explore the waters:
- Renting some snorkeling equipment
- Renting a kayak
- Renting a paddleboard
When the sun goes down, the nightlife takes place at the many beach bars.
Lamai Beach is less busy and tends to draw a more laid-back crowd. Beach bars and restaurants are also present on this beach. The most popular thing at Lamai Beach is visiting the Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks.
Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks – Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks
While the white sand beaches are really famous in Koh Samui, the rocky beaches are still definitely something you should not miss. You are probably wondering: what is it, and why should I spend my time visiting rocks? Well, these male and female genitalia-shaped rocks are one of a kind. It won’t take you long to go see them, and this is definitely the most unique activity you can do in Koh Samui.
See the Big Buddha Temple
I think the picture definitely speaks for itself. Seeing such a big statue in real life is really impressive. It is located at Wat Phra Yai Temple and is 12 meters high. It was my first time seeing such a beautiful and cultural piece of art. I highly recommend it. To this day, this is one of my favorite travel pictures.
Reminder: Don’t forget to respect the culture by wearing appropriate clothes. Make sure that your shoulders are covered and that your shorts/pants are at least knee-length.
Wat Plai Laem
This is another beautiful temple you can visit. This is not my picture, since I decided not to go after evaluating the time I had in Koh Samui. I still thought it was a good option you should consider.
Go snorkeling
The water activities on Koh Samui are definitely a big part of the best things to do. Although you can simply go snorkeling at Chaweng Beach, if this is something you really love to do, taking a snorkeling trip might be more interesting for you. The thing about these boat tours is that they bring you to the best spots to see the coral reefs and sea life.
Scuba diving
I like to call scuba diving the pro version of snorkeling. This is definitely not something I was ready to do on my trip to Thailand, but it might be for you. If this is something you would like, you should know that it is really accessible on the island. There are many places offering courses at affordable prices. The warm and clear waters of the island make it a perfect place to become certified.
The truth is: the neighboring island called Koh Tao is a place known for scuba diving. If you want to reserve this activity for this island, that is really understandable. You can also practice or take your courses on Koh Samui planning on being much better in Koh Tao.
Night Markets
These night markets are always fun. Every place I visit, I try my best to visit theirs. I feel like this is where we immerse ourselves the most in the culture of the country. You can shop for little souvenirs, but what I like to do most is eat lol. I had a little fall for this rolled ice cream they make, right in front of you, with the makings of your choice.
See the famous Namuang Waterfalls
This is one of the best activities in Koh Samui’s center. There are two waterfalls and they both offer a different experience.
How to get there: Don’t just put “Namuang Waterfall” on your Google map, it won’t take you to the right place. Put “Na Mueang Samui Home” and go to the entrance of the elephant sanctuary where you will find parking on your right.
Namuang Waterfall 1: This one is way easier to get to, obviously more popular and crowded. Visiting the waterfall is free, but they will charge you a parking fee if you are bringing a car/motorbike. You will walk around two minutes from the parking lot to get to the fall.
Namuang Waterfall 2: Being the opposite, it is quite a hike to get to the top. The thing is, if your body allows you to do this 25–30 minute trek through the jungle, the view is definitely way more worth it up there. If you get there early, you might have the whole place to yourself. The more you go up, the better the view gets.
