Traveling Ted is a blog that takes readers along on my adventures hiking, canoeing, skiing, and international backpacking. Many blogs focus on one aspect of backpacking, but I tackle both the outdoor adventure side and international exploration as well.

Sharing is caring!

Koh Samui has a very varied and delightful repertoire of interesting things to do: from attractive waterfalls, tiger shows, ladyboy cabaret to the famous grandma and grandpa rocks or the mummified monks, this island will definitely offer you the most unique and amazing vacation ever. Below you have 10 of the best things you can do in Koh Samui.

Ten things to do in Koh Samui

Koh Samui

Beautiful sunset in Koh Samui – Wikipedia Creative Commons- Manfred Werner

Big Buddha

If you are interested in religious imagery then you will surely love to visit the famous Big Buddha shrine. This impressive tourist attraction can be seen from several kilometers away as it measures 12 meters high. Inside the surrounding temple you can see numerous different shrines or considerably smaller Buddha statues. No doubt about it, it is one of the most well-known landmarks.

Wikimedia Creative Commons

Koh Samui Big Buddha – Wikimedia Creative Commons – Maksim Sundukov

Hin Ta and Hin Yai

Nature never ceases to amaze us and the natural geological formations known as Hin Ta and Hin Yai are a clear proof of this. These rocks, translated as “the Grandpa and Grandma”, are unique because they imitate the look of male and female genitalia. This is surely something you don’t get to see every day.

Angthong National Marine Park

If you adore nature and you want to enjoy a one day trip away from everything that it modern, commercial and man-made then you can visit Ang Thong Marine National Park. It is a pristine archipelago that hosts 42 splendid tropical islands with white-sand beaches, limestone mountains, fertile mangroves, thick jungle, hidden coves, waterfalls and lakes.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui – Namuang Waterfall – Wikipedia Creative Commons – Maksim Sundukov

Namuang Waterfall

The two Na Muang waterfalls are some of the most beautiful ones on the island. Just imagine- tree roots and rocks form a staircase that goes right to the base of Na Muang 1, and a pool can be found under the waterfall. If you walk 10 minutes further up the mountain trail then you will arrive at Na Muang 2, another spectacular waterfall.

Mummy Monk at Wat Khunaram

There are several mummified monks in Koh Samui, but the most famous one is Luang Pordaeng, and his body is displayed at Wat Khunaram. Even though he died over 20 years ago, he shows few signs of decay.

Samui Aquarium with Tiger Show

Visiting the zoo and the aquarium is a really fascinating experience. Here you can see some of the most exotic creatures above and below the water- huge catfish, coral fish, sharks, tigers, hornbills, parrots, eagles or sea hawks.

LadyBoy Cabaret Shows

We got to admit that this isn’t for everyone, but if you are a fan then Chaweng Beach is the best place to be! Thailand is world famous for its “third sex” or katoeys that are amazingly feminine and attractive.

Secret Buddha Garden

Hidden away high in the hills of Koh Samui, there is the Secret Buddha Garden. Here, right in the heart of the island you can discover breath-taking views and admire a unique collection of statues surrounded by lush jungle.

Relax in an infinity pool overlooking the ocean

There is no better place than Koh Samui to indulge yourself with the luxurious feeling of swimming or simply relaxing in a modern infinity pool overlooking the ocean. This sensation is totally different than anything you have ever experienced. The island is famous for its gorgeous beach front villas equipped with their very own infinity pools. The beauty of it is that no matter how luxurious they may seem to be, these extravagant accommodations are designed to be accessible for every type of budget and if you simply fall in love with the idyllic life on Koh Samui, there are numerous Koh Samui condos for sale.

Wat Plai Laem

This is one of the newest and most colorful Buddhist temples on the island. The unique part about this temple is that it has a 18 arm image of the Goddess of Mercy(Guanyin), very ornate décor and art and a huge white Chinese Buddha set on the lake.

Adventure on!

The goal of Traveling Ted is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then enter your email in the box to get email notifications for each new entry. Daily travel photos are excluded from your email in order to not flood you with posts. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).

On the right sidebar is a donate button. If you would like to donate in order to support the site, it would be appreciated. All donations would cover travel expenses and improvements to make the site better.