Experience Koh Samui, Thailand

Located near the Big Buddha in the north of Koh Samui, Wat Plai Leam is a colourful new Buddhist Temple with ornate decor and art. The temple features an 18-arm image of Guanyin - the Goddess of Mercy - and a large white Chinese Buddha set on the lake. The temple is famous for its hundreds of live fish in the lake. If you donate money to the temple you'll be given a bag of food to throw to the fish.

Located on the northern coast of Koh Samui, the famous Big Buddha shrine is Samui's most famous landmark. Inside the tall Bubbha temple are shrines, ornate Buddhas and a small market with charms and souvenirs. Located on a small island, the tall golden statue overlooks Big Buddha Beach, a long sweeping beach edged with restaurants, bars, shops and markets. Big Buddha Beach is home to the weekly Secret Garden Festival featuring bands and musicians.

One of the world's most pristine beaches and sublime diving destinations, Ang Thong is a paradise. Enjoy sea canoe or sea kayaking trips from Koh Samui to the park's 42 jungle-covered islands inhabited by exotic wildlife. Explore spectacular rock formations, secret caves and hidden lagoons. Enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling on Koh Wao and Hin Yippon. Climb the hillside of Koh Mae, or Island Mother, to Emerald Lake, an unusual saltwater lake hidden inside the magnificent hilly landscape.

Located on Bophut Beach, Fisherman Village is the most charming and well-preserved place on the island. Lined by old wooden Chinese shopshouses and teakwood houses it retains a Mediterranean ambiance. Fisherman Village features shops and boutiques with fine jewelry and clothing, seafood restaurants, and dive shops with scuba lessons or day dives to the Ang Thong Marine Park, Sail Rock or Koh Tao Island. You'll also find tours to Koh Samui's attractions and treasured sights.

Koh Samui's harbor town and main port, Nathon is a jumping off point for boats to the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan and the mainland Surat Thani. The waterfront village is lined with souvenir and clothing shops, bakeries, bookshops, internet cafes, head shops, supermarkets, department stores, banks and post offices. Old wooden Chinese shophouses on the middle road sell gold and souvenirs. Waterfront seafood restaurants serve authentic and spicy local cuisine. Nathon has a long pier where boats arrive from the mainland.

Koh Samui's famous mummified monk, Lung Por Daeng, is on display in the Kunaram Temple. He died over 25 years ago sitting in a meditation position, and is preserved in exactly the same position. Wat Khunaram is located on the ring-road between Na Muang waterfalls and Hua Thanon. Born in 1894,Loung Por Daeng was ordained as a monk in his early twenties and devoted his life and passion to Buddhism.

The strange Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks (Grandpa and Grandma rocks) on Koh Samui are natural geological formations that look like male and female genitalia. Located between Lamai and Hua Thanon, these beachside rock formations are legendary and locals says the rocks represent two doomed lovers who drowned in the sea. Near the rocks is a small white beach with spectacular views of the islands.

Koh Samui's stunning Na Muang waterfalls are mesmerizing. Meaning purple in Thai, Na Muang refers to the massive purple rocks that create two waterfalls. Climb the rocks and tree roots that form a natural staircase to the base of Na Muang 1 and enjoy diving and swimming in the natural swimming pool under the waterfall. An easy 10-minute walk up the mountain leads you to Samui's most beautiful waterfall, Na Muang 2. Na Muang waterfalls are accessible on foot from the main road between Nathon and Lamai and by elephant.

Koh Samui's idyllic beaches are fringed by mountains with panoramic viewpoint s of the seascapes. Gaze down a mountain of coconut trees that dissolve into the bay and enjoy mesmerizing vistas. The most popular viewpoint is on the road between Lamai and Chaweng, carved out of a rock face that tumbles to the sea with sweeping views of Chaweng Beach. There are restaurants and resorts perched on this amazing viewpoint. The most breathtaking is Yaod Khao Viewpoint on the highest point of Samui, where you can see the National Marine Park and mainland. The road from Lamai over the island to Bang Po, Maenam and Nathon, passes other viewpoints, such as Woodland Park View, Samui Gallery Hill, View Top, Samui Everest and Best Mountain Viewpoint. Take a Jeep safari tour, elephant ride or 4-wheel drive to the north coast ascents where Samui is at your feet and you can watch the sun drop into the sea.

Visit is the oldest house on Koh Samui, reported to be 152 years old. Located at Ban Thale, Ancient House is fashioned in a traditional Chinese style, with teak planks and high ceilings. The old house features beautiful wood carvings and is very well maintained by the owner, Mr. Sin, who has lived here since birth.

Contoured out of the mountain landscape of Koh Samui,Samui Country Club features an 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course with unique character and challenges. Rolling throughout the mountainside, the 18-hole course at S amui Golf & Country Club offers breathtaking drops in elevation and spectacular views of Lamai, Cheweng and surrounding islands. The elevation changes on this beautiful course will test your club selection.

Koh Samui is heaven for watersports, including scuba diving, snorkeling, wave diving, water skiing, windsurfing, surfing, sailing, sea kayaking and canoeing. Koh Samui and Koh Tao are the top diving spots in Southeast Asia, and Chaweng Beach has great dive schools. Take a dive trip to Angthong National Marine Park and Sail Rock, where the water is rich in colorful corals, fish and whale sharks. Take a fishing trip around Koh Phangan. Try windsurfing lessons from Sa-ard Panyawan, Thailand's celebrated Olympic windsurfer and a 5-time Gold Medal Winner at the South East Asian Games.

Island of coconut trees,Koh Samui has coconut farms and plantations that operate with the help of playful monkeys that harvest the tropical fruit and entertain. One of the fun things to do on Koh Samui is to see these prized monkeys demonstrated their incredible dexterity at picking coconuts in the outdoor theatre. Watch how the monkeys are trained and how they work at the Monkey Theatre and training school. Kids delight at amusing monkey tricks and performing elephants. Monkey shows start daily at 10:30am.

Take a look at Thailand's crocodile and caymans at the Samui Crocodile Farm behind the airport. This farm is home to more than 100 animal species, including Siam and sea water crocodiles caymans, snakes, lizards, and monkeys. The farm puts on two dramatic crocodile shows daily. Venture into the island's deep jungle near Namuang Waterfall II to another crocodile farm show where a beautiful young lady puts her head into the mouth of the crocodile.

Visit the only rum distillery in Thailand and enjoy the nectar of the soil. Magic Alambic is a family-run business that distills rum from Samui fruit and sugar cane and bottles it. Visit the beautiful garden bar for rum tasting!