Spot your stop

Unique things to do in Koh Samui beyond the beach

The quick take

Unique things to do in Koh Samui are waterfall swims, temples with a story, a tree-bridge zipline and a Muay Thai night.

Good to know

  • Na Muang is about 12 km from Nathon Bay2
  • The mummified monk has been on show since 19733
  • Cover shoulders and knees at temples22

Look at 30 stops

Koh Samui on the map: arrival, the island ring, the interior and its history

Tap a route first, then a pin or stop, for its note and Google Maps.

Map of Koh Samui with the village areas of Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut and Choeng Mon, Nathon Pier, the airport, the Big Buddha and Hua Thanon

  1. Chaweng is one of the bustling beach areas, in TAT's words, alongside Lamai.

    Google Maps

  2. Lamai is the other bustling beach area; the Grandpa and Grandma Rocks and the mummified monk lie just south and west of it.

    Google Maps

  3. Bophut is one of the more peaceful and laidback beach areas, with Mae Nam and Choeng Mon.

    Google Maps

  4. Choeng Mon, on the north-east tip, is counted by TAT among the peaceful beaches.

    Google Maps

  5. Nathon Pier is on the west coast; the Ang Thong archipelago is a one-hour speedboat trip from here.

    Google Maps

  6. Samui Airport is where Bangkok Airways flies in from Bangkok multiple times a day.

    Google Maps

  7. The Big Buddha, Wat Phra Yai, stands on Ko Fan and is reached by a causeway; the statue is 12 metres high.

    Google Maps

  8. Ban Hua Thanon is where the Samui Hainan Museum displays the story of the island's Chinese settlers.

    Google Maps

Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors

Unique things to do in Koh Samui sit inland: waterfall pools, odd temples, rocks with a legend, a tree-bridge zipline, festival nights and local sweets. Use the map to build a day.

Editorial team, kohsamuijeepsafari.quest · Updated November 12, 2026 · Quick read: 7 min

In brief

  • WaterfallsHin Lat is just over 3 km from Nathon, Na Muang about 12 km.1,2
  • Odd sightsA mummified monk and the Grandpa and Grandma rocks, which locals revere.3,4
  • ActiveA tree-bridge zipline with 8 cables from $54.
  • Night outMuay Thai matches on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
  • EatTry the Samui sweet Kalamare and Khanom Ko.5

Unique things to do in Koh Samui start inland

Ask what is unusual about Samui and most answers point away from the sand. TAT's own wording is that the island offers more than attractions and facilities: it has a rural side, and a good many hidden gems.6 Those gems lie inland, along narrow lanes that thread through coconut palms, durian and rubber estates, ridges and lookouts.7

Distances are short. From north to south the island runs only about 25 km, and across it is a little less, so the interior never sits far from the coast.8 A waterfall, a temple viewpoint and a lunch stop can share a single day, and you can still be on a beach for sunset. The map on this page shows the places in the order a jeep day would reach them.

A word on the roads. Beyond the top viewpoint, as far as the Overlap Stone, TAT says the lanes are rough and bumpy, suitable only for skilled scooter riders or a 4x4.9 So we assume you will go with a guide, on a jeep safari or a shorter tour, and the rest of this page shows what to look for once you are there.

Compared

Unusual things to do, side by side

ThingTimeFromGood to know
Tree bridge zipline2 hours$54Sneakers required.
Quad bike safari1 to 2 hours$54Not for beginners.
Jet ski safari2.5 hours$205Drivers must be 18 or older.
Muay Thai evening1.5 hours$45Tuesday, Friday, Sunday.
Cooking class4 hours$75Vegan options available.

Every price shown is a starting price, not an exact quote, so check the date you want; times and rules come from the listing records.

Waterfalls you can swim in

TAT singles out a pair of waterfalls. Hin Lat lies just over 3 km from Nathon Town beside a small forest monastery, which lends the pool a calm setting.1 Na Muang, about 12 km from Nathon Bay, is the one with two cascades, and the name refers to the purple tint of their rock faces.2

A short forest trail leads to a waterfall hidden in the jungle where visitors can jump in to freshen up, and that is how a jeep day usually breaks the heat.11 The jeep safari sold on this site stops at Na Muang for a swim of about 1 hour, so bring swimwear and a towel. After heavy rain the pool changes, so treat the swim as a bonus rather than a promise.

Take care in the water. Swim with caution. The British government cautions against swimming in rivers or near waterfalls when the rains are on, since currents can be extremely strong.17,18 Follow the guide's instructions, swim where he tells you and stay out when the water runs fast. Footwear with a grip matters too, because wet rock near a pool is slippery.

Time needed

How long each activity takes

  • Muay Thai evening1.5
  • Tree bridge zipline2
  • Jet ski safari2.5
  • Cooking class4
  • Half-day temples5
  • Jeep safari, longest7.5

Durations from the listing records: the Muay Thai evening 1.5 hours, the zipline 2, the jet ski safari 2.5, the cooking class 4, the temple half day 5 and the jeep safari up to 7.5 hours.

Temples and rocks with a story

The temple most people photograph is the Big Buddha, locally Wat Phra Yai, on Ko Fan, a small rocky islet at the north-eastern tip. A causeway leads to a golden statue 12 metres tall, seated in the posture of subduing Mara.19,20 For a quieter lookout, Wat Theepangkorn crowns the island's summit, and the platform of its standing Buddha overlooks Lamai and Chaweng.10,21

Some stops are properly strange. At Wat Khunaram, west of Lamai Beach, a monk named Luangpho Daeng, who died in 1973, is displayed behind glass with sunglasses over his eyes.3 His story, and the reason he sits there, has its own section on our history page. Here the rule is practical: go with respect, shoulders and knees covered.22

Hin-Ta and Hin-Yai, the Grandpa and Grandma Rocks, stand on the south-east coast a couple of kilometres below Lamai Beach.23 Visitors giggle at their shapes, yet local people honour the stones and hope for luck and fertility from them, so keep the jokes light.4 Round off the day at Wat Sila Ngu, the red temple, and at the Secret Buddha Garden, a hillside park crowded with figures of the Buddha and legendary characters.16,13

Your kind of day

Which unusual thing is for you?

Say what you like and see where to go first.

  • If I want a swim in the jungle

    Na Muang waterfall

    About 12 km from Nathon Bay, with two cascades.2

  • If I want a story

    The mummified monk

    Luangpho Daeng died in 1973 and is on display at Wat Khunaram.3

  • If I want adrenaline

    The tree-bridge zipline

    8 cables over 1,200 m, from $54.

  • If I want a night out

    Muay Thai

    Matches every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

  • If I want to eat well

    A cooking class

    4 hours with a local family, from $75.

Pick a mood

Kinds of unusual day

Culture

The legend trail

Rocks, monk, red temple

  • RocksSouth of Lamai Beach
  • MonkWest of Lamai Beach
  • EtiquetteCover shoulders and knees
Plan this day

Nature

The jungle day

Waterfall and garden

  • SwimNa Muang pool
  • GardenSecret Buddha Garden
  • WearClosed shoes and swimwear
Plan this day

Adrenaline

The thrill day

Zipline or quad

  • Zipline8 cables, 2 hours
  • Quad1 to 2 hours
  • CheckInsurance cover
Plan this day

Active and unusual ways to spend an afternoon

For adrenaline, the tree-bridge zipline course has 8 cables stretching over 1,200 m in the jungle beside the Tan Rua waterfall, with a suspension bridge to a cafe 20 m up a tree. The activity lasts 2 hours, starts from $54 and asks for sneakers, because sandals are not allowed. It is a good rainy-day plan, since the jungle canopy offers some cover.

The quad bike safari lasts 1 to 2 hours on dirt tracks with viewpoints, from $54, and its listing warns that beginners should look elsewhere. The waterfall visit is seasonal, from November to January, so do not count on it in other months. If you prefer the sea, a 2.5-hour jet ski safari to Pig Island, the Virgin Islands and Koh Tan starts from $205.

Check the safety side before you book anything with an engine. Adventure and water sports providers, the Australian government cautions, can fall below Australian standards for safety and maintenance, and travel insurance may not cover high-risk activities.36,34 The British government adds a rule of thumb for rentals: never leave your passport as a deposit with a jet-ski business.35

Price the unusual

What these activities cost

Add your party size and see what each activity would cost.

Choose from 4 options

What these activities cost

Add your party size and see what each activity would cost.

2 people
  1. Tree bridge ziplineJungle zipline · per visitor from $54

    ≈

    View
  2. Quad bike safariOff-road tracks · per visitor from $54

    ≈

    View
  3. Muay Thai ticketEvening show · per visitor from $45

    ≈

    View
  4. Cooking classWith a local family · per visitor from $75

    ≈

    View

Starting prices as on the booking platform, converted at the ECB reference rate. You see the exact price at booking.

A route for the interior

An inland day in the order TAT suggests

  1. Start

    Wat Theepangkorn

    The summit temple, with the widest view.10

  2. Mid-morning

    Forest trail and waterfall

    A trail leads to a hidden waterfall where you can swim.11

  3. Noon

    Secret Buddha Garden

    A private park of statues, also called the Tarnim Magic Garden.12,13

  4. Afternoon

    Overlap Stone

    Another viewpoint on the inland route.14

  5. On the way down

    Coconut and rubber producers

    You meet them working on the road to the coast.15

  6. Late afternoon

    Monk and red temple

    Wat Khunaram and Wat Sila Ngu.16,3

Koh Samui events and festivals

Koh Samui events change from year to year, so treat this section as a pattern and check the current dates. TAT announced the Samui Festival 2019 as its fourth edition, held from 13 to 18 September 2019.37 A festival of that kind brings parades, concerts, food streets and contests to several locations around the island.

The programme showed what local culture looks like. Shadow-puppet theatre in the Nang Talung style and Nora dance drama, both from Southern Thailand, featured among the performances.38 On the morning of 14 September every temple on the island held a merit-making ceremony, and visitors were invited to watch at Wat Sawang Arom and Wat Bo Phuttharam in Bophut.39 The marathon and trail run began and ended at Hin Lat Waterfall in Nathon.40

All year round, a fixed weekly event is on offer. The international stadium Muay Thai match ticket covers an evening of 1.5 hours, with matches every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 9:00 PM to 11:50 PM, and it starts from $45. Concerts and one-off shows are not covered by any official source we use, so check the venues directly.

Video

Uncovering the Secret Buddha Garden on Koh Samui

Zudu Travel on YouTube · The video stays unloaded until you press play.

Samui is not only about tourist attractions and facilities, it also has a rural life and a plethora of hidden gems
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)6

Before you go

A checklist for the interior

Respect3

  • Cover shoulders and knees at temples.22,31
  • Take off your shoes at the door.32
  • Keep your feet pointing away from Buddha images.33

Safety3

  • Take care in waterfall pools after rain.17
  • Check insurance for adventure activities.34
  • Never leave your passport as a deposit.35

Bring3

  • Swimwear and a towel for the pools.
  • Small cash for donations and snacks.
  • Water for the dusty road.

What to eat: must eat in Koh Samui

Must eat in Koh Samui? Start with seafood, since Surat Thani supplies the island table with big oysters, river prawns and salted duck eggs.41 The MICHELIN Guide Thailand announced coverage of Ko Samui and the Surat Thani mainland for its 2024 edition, a sign that the dining scene reached beyond hotel restaurants.42

For local sweets and snacks, TAT mentions the Samui sweet Kalamare, Samui-fried noodles and the dessert Khanom Ko.5 At the festival food street, TAT listed rice steamed in a bamboo tube with maret leaves, and Kalamae, a Thai sweet.43 A park called WeGreen, within a kilometre of the Grandpa and Grandma Rocks, lets visitors try traditional coconut peeling and grating.44,45

If you want to learn, a cooking class with a Samui local family lasts 4 hours, starts from $75, includes a visit to the Big Buddha market and accommodates vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal needs. It makes a good wet-day plan, and you finish with a meal you cooked yourself.

Putting it together into an inland day

A good inland day can follow the route TAT sketches: start at Wat Theepangkorn on the summit, take the forest trail to a waterfall, visit the Secret Buddha Garden, then lunch with a view and the Overlap Stone lookout.10,11,12,14 Heading down, you pass coconut and rubber growers at work, and then reach the mummified monk and the red temple.15,16

If you would rather not plan it, a jeep safari sold on this site covers the rocks, a waterfall swim, the monk, lunch and the hilltop temple in a single day of 6 to 7.5 hours, from $51. It is the easiest way to see these places without handling the lanes yourself.

Whichever route you pick, keep the evening free for the coast. A swim and a late dinner make a gentle finish after a day of dust, and the half-day temple tour, which takes 5 hours, suits you better if heat or rain has drained you. Carry a little cash for donations and snacks, and plenty of water.

FAQ

Questions answered quickly.

What are the most unusual things to do in Koh Samui?
The mummified monk, the legend rocks and the jungle waterfalls.

The monk at Wat Khunaram is on display in a glass case, and locals say the rocks bring luck.3,4

Are there waterfalls you can swim in on Samui?
Yes, Na Muang and Hin Lat are the best known.

Hin Lat is just over 3 km from Nathon Town and Na Muang about 12 km from Nathon Bay.1,2

Is there a Muay Thai show on the island?
Yes, on set nights each week.

Matches run every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 9:00 PM to 11:50 PM.

What festivals does Koh Samui have?
The Samui Festival is the main one.

TAT announced the 2019 edition for 13 to 18 September; check the current dates.37

What should I eat in Koh Samui?
Seafood, Kalamare and Khanom Ko.

Surat Thani is known for oysters and prawns, and for Kalamare and Khanom Ko sweets.41,5

Can I zipline on Koh Samui?
Yes, a tree-bridge course exists.

The course has 8 cables over 1,200 m, from $54.

What should I wear to the temples?
Covered shoulders and knees.

Cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off to go inside.22,31,32

Can I cook Thai food on Samui?
Yes, in a class with a local family.

The class lasts 4 hours and covers 4 dishes.

Sources

  1. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  2. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  3. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  4. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  5. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience ↩
  6. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  7. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  8. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  9. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  10. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  11. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  12. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  13. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  14. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  15. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  16. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  17. GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) · Thailand travel advice: safety and security ↩
  18. GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) · Thailand travel advice: safety and security ↩
  19. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  20. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  21. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems ↩
  22. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand ↩
  23. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await ↩
  24. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience
  25. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park & Ko Samui’s hidden gems
  26. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience
  27. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await
  28. Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourism Library (University of Otago thesis, 2011) · Tourism and History: Change and Adaptation of Locals in the Tourism Period, a study of Koh Samui
  29. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui’s fabulous beaches and tropical lifestyle await
  30. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience
  31. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand ↩
  32. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand ↩
  33. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Observing temple and sacred site etiquette while in Thailand ↩
  34. Smartraveller (Australian Government) · Thailand travel advice ↩
  35. GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) · Thailand travel advice: safety and security ↩
  36. Smartraveller (Australian Government) · Thailand travel advice ↩
  37. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui Festival 2019 set to amaze with sports, music, food and culture ↩
  38. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui Festival 2019 set to amaze with sports, music, food and culture ↩
  39. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui Festival 2019 set to amaze with sports, music, food and culture ↩
  40. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui Festival 2019 set to amaze with sports, music, food and culture ↩
  41. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui and Surat Thani to be featured in MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2024 ↩
  42. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ko Samui and Surat Thani to be featured in MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2024 ↩
  43. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui Festival 2019 set to amaze with sports, music, food and culture ↩
  44. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience ↩
  45. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samui offers ‘other-than-the-beach’ holiday experience ↩

Related reading

More to read before you go

GuideKoh Samui jeep safari pricesGuideJeep, ATV, jet ski or elephant safari on Koh Samui?GuideThe Samui jungle safari hour by hourGuideHow to get to Koh Samui

Before you go

Hold your jeep, pay later.

Reserve a place on the safari now and settle up later; if your plans on Samui shift, a day of notice gets your money back.

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