Koh Samui Private Island Tour: Customize Your Day with Driver

You pick the stops. The driver handles the route.

A private island tour of Koh Samui where you and your driver build the itinerary together, visiting temples like the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, rock formations, viewpoints and beaches at your own pace. The driver provides local knowledge of Thai culture and history, recommends restaurants, and keeps you comfortable with cold water, towels and air conditioning throughout the day. Duration runs from four to eight hours depending on how many stops you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Big Buddha Temple30m
2. Wat Khunaram20m
3. Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks30m
4. Secret Buddha Garden30m

Private island sightseeing tour

• Pickup from hotel or villa
• Visit Big Buddha Temple
• Explore Wat Plai Laem temple
• Stop at Lad Koh Viewpoint
• Visit Guan Yu Shrine
• See Mummified Monk at Wat Khunaram
• View Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks
• Visit Wat Khao Hua Jook temple
• Explore Secret Buddha Garden (4x4 only)
• Stop at Chaweng town and beach
• Relax at private beach with seafood
• Visit Laem Sor pagoda
• See Khao Chedi temple
• Visit Phra Buddha Teepangkorn statue (4x4 only)
• Optional lunch stop at local restaurant
• Return to hotel or villa

The experience

You set the itinerary before you leave your hotel. The driver picks you up in an air-conditioned vehicle (a standard car for groups of one to three, or a 4x4 truck if you want access to the Secret Buddha Garden in the hills), and you tell them which sites matter to you. The Big Buddha Temple sits on Samui's skyline and draws most visitors, but Wat Plai Laem on the northeast coast holds an 18-arm statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram offers a rare glimpse into Thai Buddhist practice. Hin Ta and Hin Yai, the famous Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks on the south coast, are the most visited formation on the island.

The driver knows where the quieter beaches are, which local restaurants serve the best seafood, and how to reach viewpoints like Lad Koh (a 15-minute drive from Chaweng) without the crowds. You can swim in white sand bays, explore hidden jungle waterfalls if the route allows, or spend time at Chaweng if you want nightlife and shops. The 4x4 option opens the Secret Buddha Garden and the mountain statue of Phra Buddha Teepangkorn above Lamai. Cold water, a refreshment towel and onboard WiFi come with every booking. Lunch stops are your choice and cost extra.

Four hours covers the main temples and a beach or two. Six to eight hours lets you add the southern sites: Laem Sor Pagoda, Khao Chedi temple, and the quieter coves near Koh Phangan. The tour works because you're not following a fixed route. The driver adapts to what interests you and how long you want to linger at each stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• an English-speaking driver.
• bottled water and cold towels throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and return.
• onboard WiFi.

Options for this experience

3 options

Island tour lasting 4 hours: 4 to 8 passengersUp to 8 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 4 hours. An extra hour costs THB 500, and an English-speaking tour guide is available for THB 2,000 for up to 6 hours. Van: no hillside destinations. Pickup is included.

Island tour lasting 6 hours: 1 to 3 passengersUp to 3 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 6 hours. An extra hour costs THB 500, and an English-speaking tour guide is available for THB 2,000 for up to 6 hours. Van: for hillside destinations in the area, there is an additional charge of THB 1,000 per car for an SUV or 4x4 truck. Pickup is included.

Island tour lasting 6 hours: 4x4 truckUp to 8 per booking · No fixed timeDuration: 6 hours. An extra hour costs THB 500, and an English-speaking tour guide is available for THB 2,000 for up to 6 hours. 4x4 truck: off-road car with outdoor seating for a group of 1-8 people. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mr Samui

Is this one for you?Choose the four-hour option if you want the main temples and a beach in a morning or afternoon. Book six to eight hours to add the quieter southern coast, viewpoints and hidden coves. The 4x4 truck is the only way to reach the Secret Buddha Garden and the mountain statue above Lamai, so pick it if those sites are on your list.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Big Buddha Temple like when you arrive?

The Big Buddha Temple sits on a hilltop and is one of Samui's most recognizable landmarks. It's a working Buddhist temple and one of the island's top sights, so most visitors include it on their day.

Can you visit the Secret Buddha Garden on this tour?

The Secret Buddha Garden is accessible only with the 4x4 truck option, which can handle the hillside terrain. If you book the standard car for a smaller group, you can visit other temples and viewpoints instead.

How long does it take to reach Lad Koh Viewpoint from Chaweng Beach?

Lad Koh Viewpoint, also called Zenith Viewpoint, is about a 15-minute drive from Chaweng Beach and sits between Chaweng and Lamai on Highway 4169, so it's one of the easier viewpoints to fit into your day.

What do you see at Wat Plai Laem?

Wat Plai Laem is a Buddhist temple on Samui's northeast coast with a striking white 18-arm statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, as its centerpiece.

Can you stop for lunch during the tour?

Yes, you can arrange a lunch stop at any restaurant you prefer (beachfront, local cuisine, street food), and the driver will recommend spots. The cost of lunch is separate from the tour price.