Koh Samui, Thailand – 5 places worth seeing

Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand is one of those islands that we will surely remember for a long time. Beautiful waterfalls, wonderful atmospheric places, peaceful beaches, and well-developed infrastructure. See which places on Koh Samui we recommend for a few days with children.

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Koh Samui – What to See (with or without children)

1. Overlap Stone – an extraordinary viewpoint on Lamai Beach

Our adventure on Koh Samui began with this famous rock formation. Overlap Stone is a massive solitary rock on the southeastern side of the island, offering a stunning view of the Gulf of Thailand. It’s quite easy to reach – just enter „Overlap Stone” in Google Maps. However, be cautious during the uphill drive – it’s quite steep.

Scooters and cars are left in the parking lot just before the wooden steps leading directly to the rock. There’s a ticket booth (50 baht for adults, children free – includes a complimentary drink), a restroom, and a small snack shop. The ascent to the top will take you about 5-10 minutes.

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2. Na Muang Waterfalls

If you enjoy beautiful views, and abundant nature, and want to exert yourself a bit, then definitely embark on a small trek to the Na Muang waterfalls – it’s a bit challenging but truly enchanting!

How to plan a trip to the waterfalls? I deliberately write „waterfalls” because, in reality, there are two waterfalls located a 10-minute drive apart. What exactly is the route like, and can children manage to hike it?

You can read about it in our article:

Na Muang – trekking along the largest waterfalls on Koh Samui.

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Silver Beach – The Most Atmospheric Beach on Koh Samui

Koh Samui boasts numerous beautiful beaches. They are wide and sandy (such as Lamai Beach or the famous for its all-night Full Moon Party, Haad Rin Beach). However, they are often crowded and noisy. That’s why when we discovered Silver Beach, a small beach located in the south of the island, we were pleasantly surprised. It’s a rather small, intimate beach next to a hotel of the same name. There’s a single restaurant offering decent food, a tranquil cove, rocks perfect for climbing and playing hide and seek, and enjoyable massages.

How to get there? Enter „Silver Beach Resort” in Google Maps – you can park in a small parking area by the street and access the beach through the restaurant (inside, there’s a terrarium with an iguana – kids will be delighted!). The entrance to the beach is free, even though it appears to be connected to the hotel.

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Temples of Koh Samui

Koh Samui is home to numerous Buddhist temples. We particularly recommend three of them: Wat Plai Laem – an incredibly colourful temple complex, Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple) featuring a gigantic golden Buddha statue, and the terracotta Wat Ratchathammaram (Wat Sila Ngu).

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Colourful Temple – Wat Plai Laem

Wat Plai Laem is a charming and incredibly picturesque Buddhist temple located in north of Koh Samui. Its roofs are covered in colourful tiles, facades feature intricate decorations, and there are numerous sculptures and benches where you can sit. The temple’s most significant feature is the enormous statue of Kwan Yin, the deity of compassion and mercy.

Fun fact for the kids: In the pond next to the temple, you’ll find turtles and large catfish. You can buy special food for them – they’ll devour it in an instant!

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Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple) – A Giant Golden Buddha Statue

This is an iconic temple on Samui – absolutely everyone recognizes it. At the heart of the temple stands an enormous, 12-meter-tall gold-plated statue of Buddha Siddhartha, proudly perched atop a high pedestal overlooking the entire area. Interestingly, smaller Buddha statues are positioned around the Giant Buddha – each with different hand and finger placements known as mudras. Mudras hold symbolic meanings, conveying specific teachings, attributes, or mental states.

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Terracotta Wat Ratchathammaram (Wat Sila Ngu)

A Buddhist temple is entirely distinct from all the rest. Perhaps that’s why it stayed in our memory. The entire Wat Ratchathammaram, also known as Wat Sila Ngu, is made of fired bricks (terracotta), and it’s precisely this colour that immediately catches the eye. The name „Sila Ngu” literally translates to „Snake Stone,” referring to the enormous serpent carved into the rock, one of the distinctive features of this site.

Next to the temple is a small, incredibly colourful Buddhist cemetery right by the beach, accessible through intricately carved stairs. We had a fantastic time there.

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5. Fisherman’s Village – A Fishermen’s Haven

And the last thing on Koh Samui that we recommend in this brief overview is Fisherman’s Village. It’s essentially one long, narrow atmospheric lane by the sea, located in the northern part of the island. Although today it has a thoroughly touristy character and lacks much of the authentic fishing village charm (despite all the guides labelling it as such), it’s still worth a visit. The shops, restaurants, and various artistic concepts are absolutely delightful. Wood, stone, seashells, fishing nets, ropes – these natural elements beautifully blend with contemporary minimalism. I fell in love with them!

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How to Get to Koh Samui?

Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand (on the right side of Thailand’s coastline). There are several ways to reach Koh Samui. In our case, since we have our own car in Thailand, we drove from our residence on Koh Lanta to Surat Thani, from where we took a ferry to Samui. The ferry (operated by Raja Ferry) takes about 1.5 hours. The cost for one adult is 170 baht, and for a car with a driver, it’s 550 baht. Dogs travel for free.

However, there are various other modes of transportation available, such as aeroplanes, ferries, or combined options.

• Aeroplane: The most comfortable and fastest way to get to Koh Samui is by plane. The island has its own airport – Samui Airport (Koh Samui Airport, airport code: USM), which offers direct flights from many cities in Thailand. The nearest major airport that connects to Koh Samui is Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. Flights are also available from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand – a great option to combine mountain trekking with beach relaxation.
• Ferry: If you decide to rent a car, you can reach Samui by ferry. Ferries operate from Surat Thani or Don Sak (on the mainland) to Nathon Port on Koh Samui. That’s what we did.
• Bus and Ferry: Another option is to take a bus to Surat Thani and then continue your journey by ferry to Koh Samui. This might be a more budget-friendly option, but it will take a bit more time.

Of course, there are many more beautiful spots on the island, such as the COLTS Samui Horse Riding stable where Mania had a chance to go horseback riding, the delightful dining concept and shop Sweet Sisters, and intimate beaches in the south or north. Explore the island on your own and discover your own favourite places. Let our text serve as a general guideline. The rest is up to you!

And definitely let us know how your visit to Koh Samui goes.

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