Private Koh Samui tour: Big Buddha Temple, waterfalls & lunch

Walk past the golden Buddha and swim in a jungle waterfall, all in one morning

A private 6-hour sightseeing tour of Koh Samui's top attractions with a certified English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch and all admission fees included. The tour moves through Buddhist temples, the island's most famous landmarks and natural sites (Big Buddha Temple, Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks, Na Muang Waterfall, Wat Khunaram and Lad Koh Viewpoint) stopping at a local market in Nathon Town before returning to your hotel. Available as a private tour or as a cruise ship excursion with timing arranged around your ship's departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Big Buddha Temple30m
2. Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks30m
3. Wat Khunaram30m
4. Na Muang Waterfall40m

Explore Koh Samui's top sights

• Visit Chinese Lady Monk Temple
• See Big Buddha Temple
• View longest beach on Koh Samui
• Visit Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks
• Explore Guan-Yu Shrine
• See mummified monk at Wat Khunaram
• Relax at Na Muang Waterfall
• Enjoy Thai lunch at beach restaurant
• Shop at local market in Nathon Town

The experience

The day starts at your hotel with pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle and a certified guide who speaks English. You'll head first to the Chinese Lady Monk Temple to see the large Buddha statue in a pond where visitors can feed the fish by donation, then move to Big Buddha Temple: Samui's most recognizable landmark. The golden Buddha sits 12 meters high on top of 73 steps placed on a small island. You walk up to pay respect and take in the view across the island. The guide explains Buddhist practice as you move through the temples, so the stops become more than photo moments.

From there the route takes you to Lad Koh Viewpoint overlooking the island's longest beach (7 kilometers of white sand and clear water), and then to Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks, the granite formations that have become one of Koh Samui's most visited sites. Next is Wat Khunaram, where the mummified monk Loung Pordaeng remains on display in meditation position. Na Muang Waterfall comes next: the falls sit in lush jungle and empty into a natural pool where you can swim and relax among the purple-tinted rock faces. The water is easily accessible and the setting is quieter than the temple stops earlier in the day.

Lunch is at a beach restaurant with a view, and you can request vegetarian, vegan or allergy-friendly options in advance. The tour wraps up with a stop at the local market in Nathon Town before the driver returns you to your hotel. Round-trip transport, the guide, all admission fees, bottled water and lunch are included. Souvenir photos are available to purchase if you want them. If you're arriving on a cruise ship, the timing is arranged so you're back at the port before departure.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• certified English-speaking guide.
• entry to all temples and attractions.
• Thai lunch at a beach restaurant.
• bottled water.
• all admission fees and local taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private 6-hour Best of Samui City Tour with lunch includedGuide in English or Thai · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Pickup is included

Designed for cruise ship excursionsGuide in English or Thai · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Private Samui City Tour, with pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Koh Samui Tour & Transportation

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docked at Koh Samui port and need to see inland temples, viewpoints, and waterfalls within your ship's return window: the guide coordinates the full route so you fit six major stops into a single morning.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What is the Big Buddha Temple and why do people visit it?

Big Buddha Temple is Samui's most famous landmark, featuring a 12-meter-high golden Buddha statue placed on a small island accessible by 73 steps. Visitors walk up the steps to pay respect and enjoy panoramic views of the island. The temple sits on a small island and is one of the most photographed sites on Koh Samui.

Can I swim at Na Muang Waterfall?

Yes, Na Muang Waterfall has a natural pool where you can swim and relax. The falls are set in lush jungle surrounds and are easily accessible, with purple-tinted rock faces framing the water.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Thai lunch at a beach restaurant with a view is included in the tour. You can request vegetarian, vegan or allergy-friendly options when you book.

What is Wat Khunaram and what will I see there?

Wat Khunaram is a temple where the mummified monk Loung Pordaeng is on display in the same meditation position. It's one of the stops on the tour and offers insight into Buddhist practice and reverence.

How does the cruise ship excursion option work?

If you book the cruise ship excursion option, the guide and driver coordinate the timing so you're returned to the port before your ship departs. The itinerary and inclusions are the same as the private tour.

What should I wear on this tour?

Dress code is smart casual. You'll be visiting temples and natural sites, so comfortable walking shoes and clothes that allow you to move freely are practical. Bring a swimsuit for Na Muang Waterfall.