Koh Samui’s 228 square kilometres pack in waterfalls, temples, marine park day trips, Muay Thai stadiums, and one of Thailand’s quirkiest art installations in a mountain garden. While the beaches are the main event, a rainy afternoon or a break from the sun opens up the things to do in Koh Samui that most visitors miss. This guide covers the top activities organised by category with opening hours, entry prices, and practical notes.
Things to Do in Koh Samui: Temples and Landmarks
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
A 12-metre golden Buddha seated in the Mara posture atop a small island connected to Samui’s northeast tip by a causeway. The temple complex at the Buddha’s base has fortune-teller stalls, a meditation hall, and a row of shops selling amulets from 100 THB. Climb the dragon-flanked staircase (60 steps) for views across Bophut Bay and Koh Phangan on the horizon. Open daily 6:00 to 18:00, free entry, donations accepted. The temple market at the base sells coconut ice cream at 50 THB and fresh mango sticky rice at 80 THB. Parking for 50 cars and 100 motorbikes at the causeway entrance. Visit before 9:00 to avoid tour bus crowds.
Wat Plai Laem
A colourful Chinese-Thai Buddhist temple 2 kilometres from the Big Buddha, distinguished by an 18-armed Guanyin statue rising from an artificial lake filled with thousands of catfish. Visitors feed the fish (food pellets sold at 20 THB from the temple shop) which is considered a merit-making act. The temple architecture blends Thai, Chinese, and Hindu elements in a riot of red, gold, and turquoise that photographs brilliantly in morning light. Free entry, open daily 7:00 to 17:30. The temple is surrounded by water on three sides; the main hall requires removing shoes.
Things to Do in Koh Samui: Nature and Waterfalls
Na Muang Waterfalls
Two waterfalls in Samui’s interior, 12 kilometres south of Nathon. Na Muang 1 is a 18-metre cascade into a large natural swimming pool with purple-tinged rocks (from mineral deposits), reachable by a flat 200-metre path from the parking area. Na Muang 2 requires a 30-minute steep jungle hike from the first fall to reach a 60-metre drop with an even larger pool. Entry is free. The parking area has food stalls, elephant trekking (avoid this , the elephants are chained and poorly treated), and a small market. The falls are most impressive August through November after sustained rain; in March and April they reduce to a trickle. Wear shoes with grip for the Na Muang 2 trail; the rocks stay slippery year round.
Secret Buddha Garden (Tarnim Magic Garden)
A hillside sculpture garden hidden in Samui’s interior at 400 metres elevation, created by Nim Thongsuk, a durian farmer who began building statues of deities, musicians, and animals in 1976 and continued until his death at 91. The garden contains dozens of concrete figures covered in moss and lichen in a jungle setting with a stream running through it. Entry is 80 THB. The access road is a steep, rutted 3-kilometre track off Route 4169 near the Na Muang turn-off; a 4WD or high-clearance motorbike is recommended. Open daily 9:00 to 17:00. Combine with Na Muang Waterfalls which are 10 minutes away for a half-day interior excursion.
Things to Do in Koh Samui: Water Activities
Ang Thong National Marine Park
A 102-square-kilometre archipelago of 42 limestone islands 35 kilometres west of Samui, featuring the same karst geology as Phang Nga Bay but with fewer visitors. The standard day trip (2,200-3,000 THB) includes hotel transfer, speedboat (45 minutes each way), snorkelling at Koh Wao, kayaking through sea caves and lagoons, and the steep climb to the Emerald Lake (Thale Nai) viewpoint on Koh Mae Ko , a saltwater lagoon enclosed by limestone walls. The viewpoint climb is 400 metres of steep stairs and takes 20 to 30 minutes; bring water. Tours depart from Nathon Pier at 8:00 and return at 17:00. The park closes annually from approximately November 1 to December 15 for monsoon season. Speedboat crossings outside the closure period are typically smooth. Book with Blue Stars Kayaking or 100 Degrees East for smaller groups (15-20 people versus the standard 40-50).
Muay Thai at Chaweng Stadium
Chaweng Stadium holds fight nights every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 21:00 to midnight with 6 to 8 bouts ranging from junior fighters (8 to 12 years old) to adult main events. Ringside seats cost 2,000 THB, standard seats 1,500 THB, available at the gate or through any tour desk. The stadium seats 500 and rarely sells out. For those who want to train rather than watch, Lamai Muay Thai Camp and Superpro Samui offer drop-in group sessions at 400 to 600 THB for 90 minutes, with morning and afternoon slots daily. Superpro Samui, founded by Dutch kickboxing champion Rene Lasprilla, is one of Thailand’s top three Muay Thai gyms and draws international professional fighters for training camps.
