The main ring road area has many tourist attractions. To visit all or most of them in one go, you may go for one of the Island Tours offered by many travel agencies. Another option is to rent a jeep or a motorbike and visit the chosen locations.

In Koh Samui, the sun and the sea are persuasive enough to hold you at the beach itself. However, the island has so many other things to offer, which can be discovered only if you venture out of the beach.

Public Attractions

Temples

Buddhists form the majority of the population. While some of them are devout Buddhists, others follow the religious practices to a lesser extent. But whatever extent their devoutness is, the temples remain the cultural focus of each village.

The tourists visit these Wats for their beautiful architecture and to see the religious practices and the way of life of the monks. However, neither the devotees nor the monks are disturbed by the flow of inquisitive tourists to the Wats.

Samui is home to two Wats, where mummified bodies of monks are displayed. Some of the Wats are bigger and grander than others are. Grander the Wat, more tourist inflow.

The tourists should take care to dress appropriately while visiting a Wat. The footwear should be removed before entering the temple premises. While kneeling or sitting, care should be taken to point the foot away from the Buddha image and other worshippers.

The free tourist maps available have the major Wats of Samui marked out in them.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are aplenty in this beautiful tropical island. You can either watch them at a distance or take a plunge. If you are planning for the later, nonskid footwear is most essential. Those who have difficulty climbing mountain pathways are advised to be content by visiting Na Muang 1.

The volume of water in each waterfall varies vastly according to the season and amount of recent rainfall. October to December is the wettest, while March to September is the driest.

Na Muang 1:
This waterfall, located on the southwest tip of the island, is the easiest to visit. You can drive very close to the spot. There is a vast pool at the foot of the falls and it is quite safe to take a dip in this.

Na Muang 2:
This is the most picturesque waterfall of Samui. You can reach this by following the concrete road extending to the south of Na Muang 1 (Route 4169). The final lap of the road is a rocky climb, which takes about 10 minutes.

Hin Lad Waterfall:
This waterfall is located inside the forest and to reach the spot, you should walk 2 km through the forest. The bathing pools at the foot of the falls are very inviting. To reach here, travel to the eastern end of Route 4172. The falls lie two kilometers to the south of Nathon.

Hin Ta & Hin Yai

These are also known as the ‘Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks’. The artistic temperament of Mother Nature is displayed through these creations. The two rock formations resemble exactly the male and female genitalia. They are perched atop a rocky mount overlooking the sea.

Heaven’s Garden

This is an art gallery located high in the mountains amidst dense forests. Nim Thongsuk created this at the ripe old age of 77. He created this ‘Heaven’s Garden’ to lure tourists to visit the region and enjoy the mountains and forests.

Khun Nim was a pioneer in farming practices and he is credited with the development of Durian farming technique. Using this, the island’s farmers are able to produce the famous Durian fruit in abundance and export it to other countries.

The sculptures of ‘Heaven’s Garden’ were inspired by Buddhist scriptures. With the help of assistants, he sculpted the figures on the riverbed at the mountaintop. Until his death at the age of 91, he was engrossed in this activity.

Some of the figures are easy to identify, while others are too small or too intricate. Moreover, you have to concentrate on balancing yourself on the slippery slopes. Prepare to spend lots of time here. Also, take nonskid shoes.

Heaven’s Garden is included in many guided tours.

Mummified Monks

Monks are venerated in Thailand and the mummified remains of two monks are kept at Wat Kiri Wongkaram and Wat Khunaram. These monks had died 20-30 years back. Buddhist devotees visit these temples to pay their respects.

Buddha’s Footprints

Engravings of four footprints of Lord Buddha are kept in a hilltop temple. As there are no signboards to direct the tourists to this temple, getting there itself is an adventure. In Route 4170, 2km to the west of the turnoff leading to Butterfly Garden, you will see a concrete slope on the left-hand side. Climb the 160-odd steps to the temple. The panoramic views from the top make the climb worthwhile.

Secret Hall of Buddhas

This is located at Wat Sumret, an ancient temple with a white marble Buddha, believed to be at least hundred years old. The temple has a valuable collection of Buddha images. The room displaying the images is kept locked up. A monk will open it on request.

As with any Buddhist temple, take care to dress and behave appropriately. The temple is situated west of Hua Thanon, off Route 4169 Ring Road. Take the second concrete road on the left and go forward 200 m to reach the temple.

Private Attractions

Monkey Theatre

As the name suggests, this is a show put up by the monkeys of the local zoo. There are regular shows during the day, in which monkeys perform tricks on stage and demonstrate their skills at coconut harvesting. The local monkeys are famous for their talent at plucking coconuts.

Samui Snake Farm

The forested hills of Samui are home to a great many species of snakes. The King Cobra is the star attraction with its capability to kill human beings within half an hour of being bitten. At this snake farm, all the species are presented to the visitors during the two shows daily. The capable trainers present daring stunts to thrill the spectators. This place lies on the southwest of Ring Road 4170.

Butterfly Garden

This is a beautiful enclosed garden with many species of colorful butterflies. It is located on the southeast corner of the island, opposite to the Central Samui Village Resort.

Buffalo Fighting

This is a harmless tussle between two male water buffaloes. This show is staged in various parts of the island and banners proclaiming the imminent fight will be displayed all over the place.

The preparations of the fight are more important than the fight itself and are immensely enjoyed by the local crowd. The buffaloes are let loose in the field and they lock horns after some glowering and pawing the ground. The first buffalo to stop fighting and turn and run away is declared the loser. There are many wagerers among the spectators.

Samui Aquarium & Tiger Zoo

This is located close to the Butterfly Garden at Laem Set beach. The aquarium has a good collection of marine creatures. These are displayed in tanks in a darkened tunnel. The Zoo has a few Bengal tigers, cubs, and leopards.

Naga Pearl Farm

This pearl farm located in Koh Matsum, four kilometers to the south of Koh Samui, is worth visiting. Here you can see first-hand how the pearls are cultured. To reach this farm, you have to take a 20-minute boat ride from Ban Thong Krut. The world’s largest pearl, now displayed at the Mikimoto Pearl Museum in Japan was cultured in this farm in 1987.