Koh Samui: Island Tour with Temples, Elephants & Waterfall Lunch

Summary

Koh samui full day tour temples elephants lunch waterfall

You’ll feel Koh Samui’s rhythms up close: from incense curling through temple air to sharing lunch by the sea and laughing as an elephant snuffles your palm. With local guides leading every stop — temples, waterfalls, even a mummified monk — it’s a full day that lingers long after you’ve rinsed off the salt.

What’s the experience like?

“If you want to understand Samui, you have to listen to the wind at Wat Plai Laem,” our guide Somchai said, standing barefoot on the temple steps. I’m still not sure what he meant, but the way he watched the koi ripple under Guanyin’s statue made me quiet for a minute too. The smell of incense mixed with fried garlic from a food cart nearby — funny how temples here are never just about silence or prayer. There’s always life buzzing around them.

We crammed into the minivan (air conditioning on full blast, thank god) and wound up through coconut groves toward Lad Koh viewpoint. Somchai pointed out where locals leave flower garlands at sunrise — apparently for luck before heading to market. The view over Chaweng Beach looked painted on, but honestly, I was distracted by a kid trying to sell us chilled mango slices. I bought one out of guilt and it was so sweet my fingers stuck together after.

The mummified monk at Wat Khunaram caught me off guard. I’d read about him — Luong Pordaeng — but seeing his sunglasses propped on that glass case felt surreal. Somchai explained how people come to ask for guidance (and sometimes lottery numbers). It was strange and moving at the same time; there’s this hush in the air that doesn’t match anywhere else on Koh Samui.

Lunch came just when I was starting to wilt from the heat: big plates of fried chicken and sweet-and-sour vegetables right on Maenam Beach, toes in the sand, with waves close enough that you had to brush spray off your phone screen. Later we fed two elephants behind a little roadside shrine — their trunks were rougher than I expected, and one kept nudging my bag looking for more bananas. The whole island tour took maybe eight hours but felt like slipping in and out of someone else’s daily life for a while. Still think about that view from Baby Buddha Jaidee Hill sometimes… you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full-day Koh Samui sightseeing tour

• Visit Wat Bo Phuttharam temple
• Explore Wat Plai Laem temple complex
• Enjoy view at Lad Koh viewpoint
• See Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks
• Visit Guan Yu Shrine
• Have traditional Thai lunch on beach
• View mummified monk at Wat Khunaram
• Swim at Na Muang Waterfall 1
• Feed and photograph elephants
• Visit Baby Buddha Jaidee temple

Top questions

How long is the Koh Samui island tour?

The tour lasts around 8 hours as a full-day experience.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included for guests staying on Koh Samui.

What meals are provided during the tour?

A traditional Thai lunch is served at a beachfront restaurant along with bottled water and soft drinks.

Can cruise ship passengers join this day trip?

No, cruise ship passengers need to contact the provider directly for arrangements.

Are there any health restrictions?

The tour isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular issues.

Do we get to feed elephants during this trip?

Yes, there’s time set aside to prepare food and feed two elephants near a shrine.

Which temples are visited on this island tour?

You’ll visit Wat Bo Phuttharam, Wat Plai Laem, Wat Khunaram (mummified monk), and Baby Buddha Jaidee Hill.

Is swimming possible at Na Muang Waterfall?

Yes, there is a large natural pool suitable for swimming at Na Muang Waterfall 1.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Koh Samui, all entry fees to temples and attractions like Grandmother & Grandfather Rocks and Na Muang Waterfall, bottled water and soft drinks throughout the trip, plus a traditional Thai lunch served right on Maenam Beach before returning in the late afternoon.