Ko Samui offers a range of ways to spend your stay: temples and architecture, beaches and water sports, nature, and activities such as yoga or diving. When choosing a hotel, it’s worth first considering what you want your trip to focus on. Getting around the island and arriving by ferry or public island bus are also part of the planning.

Temples and Architecture

Wat Plai Laem (วัดปลายแหลม), also known as Wat Laem Suwannaram, is an old temple on Ko Samui, founded in 1880. A 20-meter-tall white statue of Guanyin stands in a pond. Visitors can reach it by crossing stepping stones and a marble bridge. The temple combines a historic site with a striking waterside setting.

In the south of Ko Samui, visitors come to Wat Laem Sor to pay their respects at the Laem Sor Chedi and watch the sunrise. North of Ko Samui, Wat Phra Yai, also known as the Big Buddha, is located on Koh Fan. A permanent stone causeway connects Koh Fan to Ko Samui. Bo Phut adds to the island’s cultural attractions with old Chinese shophouses that have been converted for other uses.

Beaches, Waterfalls and Wildlife

The long, sheltered Bo Phut Beach is in the north of Ko Samui, between Mae Nam Beach and Bang Rak Beach. Its calm conditions make it a place for water sports. There is also a pier at the beach where visitors can catch speedboats from Ko Samui to Koh Tao. As specific services may change, check the connection in advance if it is important to your plans.

In central Ko Samui, Na Muang Waterfall drops 30 to 40 meters. Its pool can be used for swimming, but take care because there are rocks in the pool. Samui Aquarium & Tiger Zoo features marine animals and fish from the Gulf of Thailand, including clownfish and sharks. The options range from a nature spot where you can take a swim to an introduction to the wildlife of the Gulf.

Activities and Getting Around the Island

Activities on and around Ko Samui include cooking classes, yoga lessons, Muay Thai training, scuba diving and golf. These offer different ways to spend time on the island; providers and specific availability may change. If you want to include one of these activities in your plans, check what is offered for your travel dates.

You can drive around Ko Samui by motorcycle or car in a few hours. However, the actual time required depends on traffic and stops. This is therefore a rough guide to the island loop, not a time estimate for individual journeys or sightseeing stops.

An airport notice dated March 10, 2026, lists Ko Samui’s public island bus, the Songthaew, as an option for arriving passengers to travel around the island. Check availability for your arrival date. A ferry service runs from Donsak International Ferry Port via Lipa Noi Ferry Port to Ko Samui; the journey takes about one hour and 30 minutes. Check the schedule and service status before traveling.

When planning, consider whether your itinerary includes individual excursions, an island loop or onward travel by speedboat or ferry.

Explore more destinations: Amphoe Ko Samui, Hua Toei, Amphoe Phunphin, Don Sak, Khao Wong, Bo Put, Takuk Nuea, Tha Khanon.

For the broader travel overview: Surat Thani.