Top activities and experiences in Koh Samui: Koh Samui is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. It is known for its soft beaches, calm sea, and peaceful vibes. Many Indian travellers visit this island to enjoy nature, relax at luxury resorts, and take part in fun water activities. Whether you are coming for a honeymoon, family trip or just to relax, Koh Samui has something for everyone. From temple visits to waterfall treks, from street food to beach clubs, the island offers many good experiences. In this guide, you will learn about the best things to do in Koh Samui to make your trip more enjoyable and memorable.
1. Visit Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

Since 1972, when it was under construction, this place turned out to be a popular tourist destination on the island. The famous Wat Phra Yai also termed as the Big Buddha Temple in English. This Buddhist temple is situated on a small island beyond the coast of the north eastern zone. This popular temple in Koh Samui houses a 12-metre or 39 ft tall gold-painted Buddha statue. This landmark is only 3 kilometres away from the Samui International Airport. This temple is open for visitors from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm.
2. Relax at Chaweng Beach

Chaweng Beach provides a mix of relaxation and magnificent beach life with its soft sand, clear and warm water, and different facilities including beach clubs, bars and restaurants. This place is not that crowded but it can be crowded during peak time. You can have fun by sunbathing, swimming, engaging in water activities or just experiencing the beach’s lively atmosphere. There are even chances for nightlife, shopping and dining at this destination. This beach is situated on the eastern coast of the island and is open for tourists all day long.
3. Explore Secret Buddha Garden

The Secret Buddha Garden, also popular as Magic Garden or Heaven’s Garden, is a stunning sanctuary situated in the hills of Koh Samui in Thailand. It’s famous for its extraordinary collection of statues, lush greenery and sculptures. This place is open for visitors from 9 am to 6 pm. The garden provides a calm escape and a gaze into Thai artistry, with statues depicting numerous animals and mythological creatures. This place was designed by a local durian farmer named Nim Thongsuk, beginning in the year 1976. This place is even a naturally rich landmark with natural rock formations, a stream and a waterfall.
4. Swim at Na Muang Waterfalls

The Na Muang Waterfalls on Koh Samui provides a relaxing swimming experience in natural pools at the bottom of the falls. These waterfalls are actually a two-tiered cascade, with Na Muang 1 that is 20 m tall and Na Muang 2 a 80 m tall cascade. Visitors can have fun swimming in the pools, exploring the nearby jungle trails or getting at the top for stunning views. This place is open for visitors from 9 am to 5 pm and is located just outside Lamai.
5. Party at Ark Bar Beach Club

The ARK Bar Beach Club situated in Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui is popular for its amazing environment and night beach parties. This landmark offers a combo of pool parties, international DJs and fire shows. This is a famous place for both partying and refreshing. This club is open for tourists from 10 am to 2 am. This club even has numerous swimming pools, a beach view and is equipped with other facilities and services.
6. Snorkel at Koh Taen
Koh Taen, also commonly known as Koh Tan is a tiny island around Koh Samui. This place provides magnificent snorkeling opportunities in its shallow and turquoise waters. The guides will share interesting information and will even help you spot some rare species. This experience is normally open by 9:30 am in the morning. The region is popular for its amazing coral reefs and a variety of marine creatures like giant clams and colorful fish.
7. Visit Wat Plai Laem
The Wat Plai Laem is an amazing Buddhist temple complex in Koh Samui, Thailand, popular for its mix of Thai and Chinese architectural styles and immersive statues. This place is located around the north eastern frontier of the island. It has a wonderful 18-armed Guanyin statue and a big white Laughing Buddha. The temple is famous for both tourists and worshippers providing a gaze into the island’s rich cultural tradition. These both are set inside a magnificent lake.
8. Enjoy sunset at Taling Ngam Beach
The Taling Ngam Beach is famous for its beautiful sunset sights that makes it a popular landmark for romantic evenings. The beach provides a clear view of the sunset above the 5 Islands and creates a superb scene with wonderful colors. This beach is situated on the southwestern coast of the island. This beach can be visited 24 by 7. Various beachfront resorts and restaurants stand here giving you numerous sunset dining choices.
9. Walk through Fisherman’s Village
The famous Fisherman’s Village situated in Bophut, Koh Samui, Thailand, is a stunning village famous for its historical importance. This place houses some magnificent wooden shophouses along with a stunning network of narrow roads. This place even has a vibrant weekly market. Every Friday evening, this landmark becomes an amazing market called Fisherman’s Village Walking Street. This makes it a shopping lovers’ heaven during this time. This destination was once upon a time a traditional fishing village but now preserves its distinct features.
10. Try Thai cooking classes

Thai cooking classes provide a fun and glorious way to know more regarding Thai cuisine and culture. This experience involves a market visit and provides experience with tasty delicacies. You can learn about dishes like Tom Yum soup, green curry and Pad Thai. Koh Samui gives you an amazing opportunity to learn in detail about these popular Thai dishes. There are some cool options for vegetarians and other diet lovers too. Jungle kitchen, Lamai Thai cooking school and Cookery Koh Samui are some popular cooking classes in Koh Samui.
11. Kayak at Ang Thong Marine Park

Kayaking at Ang Thong Marine Park is a superb way to explore the wonderful archipelago, popular for its clear waters, amazing lagoons and limestone cliffs. Visitors have fun with guided kayaking tours, especially involving several halts for sightseeing, relaxing and snorkeling over beaches. These tours mainly feature visits to Green Lagoon or Green Lagoon and chances to visit tunnels and caves as you kayak. This experience is open for tourists from 8 pm to 4 pm. Kayaking mainly happens at Koh Tai Plao and Koh Mae Koh.
12. Visit the Mummified Monk at Wat Khunaram
The temple itself is well known for its calm atmosphere and wonderful architecture. It offers you an extraordinary gaze into Buddhist spirituality and tradition. This place is within the Surat Thani province and can be visited from 8 am to 5 pm. Wat Khunaram, situated on Koh Samui, Thailand, is a nice Buddhist temple popular for keeping the mummified remains of a monk named Luang Pho Daeng. Tourists can see the well preserved body in a glass case and this is a prominent attraction in Koh Samui.
13. Explore Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks
Hin Ta and Hin Yai, also popular as the Grandfather and Grandmother rocks, are stunning unique rock formations situated on Lamai Beach in Koh Samui. These rock formations are popular for matching a male and female appearance. These naturally created granite formations have become a famous tourist attraction, providing iconic coastal sights and a sight into its cultural folklore. These rocks are situated in Hat Lamai Tambon Maret. You can get over here everyday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm excluding Saturdays, when the place is open from 8 am to 7 pm.
14. Shop at Lamai Night Market
Lamai Night Market situated in Koh Samui is a superb landmark for dining and shopping, particularly on Sunday evenings. You will receive a chance to find everything from jewelry and T-shirts to pirated goods and carved ornaments. This market is open for visitors from 5 pm till midnight. You can even find a lot of Thai dishes and global cuisine. This famous market offers a wonderful atmosphere with live music. If you love football then this place is perfect for you as there is a big projector presenting football matches. This place is located in Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani.
15. Take a Muay Thai class

Going for a Muay Thai class provides a flexible exercise mixing elements of clinching, striking and conditioning. You can learn more about kicks, punches, knees, and elbows along with defensive footwork and methods. AI is even adding a thrill in Muay Thai training, providing a study of methods and customised feedback. Jun Muay Thai, Punch it gym and Fas Muay Thai Boxing Gym are some cool options to select from.
16. Enjoy beach massage at Lamai
Lamai Beach in Koh Samui is popular for its wonderful and magnificent atmosphere and Thai massages. You can have fun with a lot of massage experiences, spa treatments and traditional Thai massages. There are numerous spas that are located around the beach offering you a great experience. You can even find some aromatherapy at the Lamai beach.
17. Visit Samui Elephant Sanctuary
The famous Samui Elephant Sanctuary is an ethical elephant sanctuary located in Koh Samui. This place is attributed to rehabilitating and rescuing elephants from abuse and torturing. Here you can take part in activities like feeding the elephants, watching them in their natural ecosystem and knowing more about the sanctuary’s conservation work. You will get an opportunity to see and know about elephants within a natural environment. Be careful at this destination because you are not allowed to exploit or trouble any elephant here.
18. Zipline through tropical rainforest
Ziplining through a tropical rainforest in Koh Samui is actually a thrilling adventure you can do here. Participants get a chance to soar via the canopy, witnessing the forest from a creative view. This activity normally includes traversing a network of ziplines. These ziplines often vary in lengths and pace, joined by platforms located within the trees. This is a stunning place to view the different flora and fauna species here.
19. Watch a ladyboy cabaret show
The Ladyboy cabarets are a wonderful part of entertainment for the locals and tourists. These experiences involve lip-synced interpretations of popular songs, well choreographed events, make-up and costumes. Here you can experience girls competing with each other for and handing out flyers. These ladyboy cabaret shows are situated around the Centara Grand Beach Resort.
20. Enjoy brunch at a beach café
Enjoying a brunch at a beach located cafe in Koh Samui is a mind boggling experience. You will find yourselves out of this world when on this unique beach experience. Star Beach Cafe, Lay Lagom Cafe Bar, Green Beach Cafe and Beach Coconuts Bowls are some amazing beach cafes where you can enjoy a superb brunch. You even have vegan options at these cafes.
21. Hike Khao Hua Jook Pagoda
Hiking the Khao Hua Jook Pagoda is superb and you must experience it when in Koh Samui. Situated on the hill, it is conveniently visible from a distance. This is an entirely gilded pagoda and is among the suggested sites on this island. Here you have a unique thing to view. You can view the planes taking off and land at the popular Koh Samui International Airport. This experience is open all day long.
22. Do yoga at Vikasa or similar retreat
The famous Vikasa Yoga Retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand, gives you a holistic yoga experience with different Yoga programs. There are yoga teacher training and customised retreats, within a wonderful natural environment. It’s popular for its aim at personal training and change. It is not that this experience is only available here but also at other places including Koh Samui Yoga, Orion Healing and Shahda Yoga.
23. Take a jet ski tour
An amazing jet ski tour in Koh Samui provides a wonderful way to explore Koh Samui coasts and the surrounding islands. You can even get options for visiting landmarks like Pig Island or Koh Madsum and snorkeling too. These tours normally include a guide, hotel transfers, snorkeling tools, insurance and even some soft drinks.
24. Visit Koh Phangan for a day trip
Koh Phangan or popularly known as Koh Pha Ngan is among Thailand’s most prominent and magnificent islands. This island is located in the Gulf of Thailand just to the south of Koh Tao and north of Koh Samui. This island being popular for its full moon parties it is also well known for its stunning natural beauty. Koh Phangan houses some magnificent waterfalls, mountainous rainforests and pristine beaches too.
25. Go scuba diving around Sail Rock
The magnificent Sail Rock is a truly recommended dive site, especially for its varied marine life and the opportunity to view whale sharks. There are no specific opening hours for this experience. It’s situated between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in Thailand. This destination is famous for its pinnacle structure, coral reefs and a chimney swim-through. The dry season is the best to visit this place for a wonderful diving experience. This is the time when the visibility is too ideal, normally about 10 to 40 m.
26. Watch fire shows at night on the beach
Watching fire shows at night on a beach in Koh Samui is a real treat to your eyes. The shows have performers spinning, juggling, and managing flames in different manners creating a picture perfect sight. This is a famous tourist activity to embark on Koh Samui. Some popular fire shows happening in Koh Samui are at ARK Bar Beach Club and Elephant Beach Club.
27. Visit Coconut Museum
Koh Samui is highly popular for coconuts and what adds to this charm is the family Coconut Museum here. This museum is situated in Laem Set. This museum is open from 7:30 to 4 pm from Monday to Saturday. This place is basically a tiny family operated museum displaying processing, cultivation and usage of coconuts in Koh Samui.
28. Try paddleboarding at Bophut
If you love to enjoy water sports on a tropical land then paddleboarding is something not to miss when in Koh Samui. You will learn to navigate an SUP under professional guidance here. Bangrak Beach or Choeng Mon Beach is popular for this activity. You will receive all the necessary tools and equipment here. Please get the necessary knowledge before selecting this thrill for fun. You can enjoy this activity along with 3 others. This is basically a two hour magical experience bringing fun and thrill to beginners and experts too.
29. Take a Thai herbal spa treatment
Koh Samui is a famous destination for Thai herbal spa treatments. This experience offers a variety of options from luxurious and natural spa treatment experiences. Most of the spas aim at using local and naturally available ingredients along with customized care to give a full fledged experience. You can choose your favourite treatment within your budget. Here even coconuts are used in natural herbal spa treatments.
30. Capture drone shots at Overlap Stone Viewpoint

Capturing stupendous drone shots at Overlap Stone Viewpoint is something commendable here in Koh Samui. Watching a blend of methods that display the extraordinary rock formation and the nearby sea and forest views is a fun filled experience. Using cinematic methods like leading lines, orbits and tracking can improve the visual effects too. You will enjoy the thrill of this place when you watch the terrain and nature from different angles. No wonder this is among the best experiences to take in Koh Samui.