Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and is located in the Gulf of Thailand. The island has always been a popular tourist destination for a variety of reasons but in particular for the island’s amazing beaches, nightlife, and more. What are the things to do on Koh Samui?
In Koh Samui, you can start by relaxing on the amazing beaches around the island even watching the sunset. You can join a temple tour, see a mummified monk, go scuba diving, and there is more. You can enjoy the nightlife in Chaweng which is one of the best places to party in Thailand.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Koh Samui Thailand. Let’s get started!
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The Best Time To Visit Koh Samui
Koh Samui has an average temperature of between 27°C to 31°C all year round. The coolest months are between December to March. Whereas the rainy season is from May to September.
The best time to visit Koh Samui is from December to March as the weather is cooler with little to no rain.
Fun Things To Do On Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand. It was been a popular tourist destination for a long time. So there is a good range of accommodation and things to do on Koh Samui that will keep you busy for a few days.
Here is our list of things to do in Koh Samui Thailand.
Go Scuba Diving Or Snorkelling
Koh Samui offers the chance to go scuba diving with good dive spots such as the Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle in the area. You have the chance to see white-eyed moray eels, stingrays, and possible whale sharks. A lot of the dive sites are around Koh Tao.
You can do your open water certification which might be better to do in Koh Tao as it is cheaper or go on fun dives, there is plenty of diving operators around the island.
If diving is not your thing then snorkeling is also a great option where you can see all types of fish, eels, and other marine life.
Go On The Temple Tour
Going on the temple tour is a great way to see most of the Buddhist temples and shrines around Koh Samui. There are plenty of old Buddhist temples and Chinese shrines such as.
- Wat Plai Laem.
- Wat Khao Chedi.
- Samui Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai).
- Wat Ratchathammaram.
The companies that provide the tour use nice and clean cars and vans with good air conditioning plus are very comfortable to travel around the island.
Before booking just check what temples they will show you and tell them the ones you want to see.
See The Big Buddha
If you arrive in Koh Samui via the airport, you will see the majestic sight of the Big Buddha Temple also known as Wat Phra Yai. The gold-painted Big Buddha is 12 meters high and sits atop a hill off the northeastern coast of Koh Samui.
You will spend less than 1 hour here. There is a dress code as you are visiting a temple, so dress modestly. No, no tank tops, bare feet, or short shirts and shorts.
Relax At Maenam Beach
Maenam beach is a long beach that is roughly about 6 km long. This beach is a quiet beach and is very clean with restaurants and bars along the beach. Maenam is perfect to hang out, swim, and sunbathe.
There are no loud beach bars or restaurants and a lot quieter than Chaweng beach. Definitely worth a look.
Party In Chaweng
The nightlife on Koh Samui mainly happens in Chaweng, particularly at ARKbar, and ends around the Green Mango.
At the ARKbar you can party on the beach and watch the fire show. The whole place has a great vibe. And then onto other bars in the area.
See The Hin Ta And Hin Yai
If you are interested in the cultural aspects of the island this could be definitely worth a visit. The rocks have been named grandpa and grandma rocks and tell the story of an old couple whose ship was wrecked in the bay.
Just do the tour and you will know the whole story.
Meet The Mummified Monk
Wat Khunaram is famous for being home to the mummified body of Koh Samui’s most famous monk known as Loung Pordaeng. Which is kept on display in an upright glass casket.
Loung Pordang died at the age of 79. The sign at the temple says he wanted his body to inspire future generations to follow Buddhist teachings, to be saved the week before his death.
He instructed his followers that if his body decayed, he wanted to be cremated. Definitely worth a visit especially if you are interested in the history of the Buddhist culture.
Visit The Secret Buddha Garden
It is far away from the crowded beaches, in the middle of the island. The garden holds a rich history and was established in 1976 by Nim Thongsuk. Nim Thongsuk began bringing various intricately designed sculptures to the land he owned.
The secret garden is much bigger than you think and has a very comfy atmosphere with a little waterfall and nice wind blowing. The entrance fee of 80 baht and there is a coffee shop close to the entrance.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, you can start by relaxing on the amazing beaches around Koh Samui and even watch the sunset. You can join a temple tour, see a mummified monk, go scuba diving, and there is more. You can enjoy the nightlife in Chaweng which is one of the best places to party in Thailand.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the things to do in Koh Samui Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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