Half Day Koh Samui Island Tour with Highlights
Highlights
- Samui's must-see sights in half a day
- Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem
- Grandfather and Grandmother rocks
- Namuang Waterfall and the Mummified Monk
Description
Are you visiting Koh Samui on a budget? Or do you simply not have enough time to do all the popular Koh Samui tours on and around the island? Then this budget Koh Samui Island tour by minivan is a good choice for you! This half day tour runs daily and you'll pay a visit to the most famous sights of Koh Samui. Think of Grandfather and Grandmother rock, the Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem and the viewpoint in Chaweng. We will also visit Nathon town, which is Koh Samui's 'capital', the Mummified Monk and Namuang Waterfall.
Pricing
Adult
Age 11+
THB 1,095per person
Child
Age 4-10
THB 995per person
Infant
Age 0-3
Free
per person
Highlighted reviews from travelers
See all reviews βPickup from your hotel or villa
Pickup window08:30β09:00Our driver will pick you up at your hotel or villa between 08:30 - 09:00 depending on your location.
Depending on the itinerary of the day, we visit Wat Plai Laem first. This is a beautiful temple complex with large statues. The lake around it is full of fish. You can visit the temples or feed the fish here. Fish food can be bought at one of the stalls for a small fee.
Our next stop is the Big Buddha on the northeast tip of Koh Samui. You can walk up to the viewpoint with beautiful views over the bay or buy some souvenirs downstairs.
On the way to the east, the Koh Samui Island tour continues past Chaweng. We stop here at the viewpoint, from where you can see all of Chaweng beach. Take photos, enjoy a nice coconut ice cream (not included but very tasty) and we are on our way to the south.
This beautiful rock formation is located close to Lamai beach and is one of the most famous sights of Koh Samui. Enjoy the beautiful scenery here.
Our next stop is Wat Khunaram, the location of the mummified monk. You can see him in the temple.
In the south we visit Namuang waterfall 1 or 2, depending on which one has more water. During and after the rainy season the waterfalls will be flowing rapidly. In dry season there is a lot less. If you want, you can take a swim here. Please bring a swimming suit and towel if you intend to.
- Drop-off window13:30β14:00
Our air-conditioned minivan brings you back to your hotel or villa on Koh Samui. The half day island tour comes to an end. A day full of sights to remember!
Included
- Pickup and drop off from/to your hotel (Included for: Maenam-Lamai area)
- Koh Samui island tour
- Entrance fees
- Friendly English & Thai-speaking guide
- Drinking water
- Accident insurance
Not included
- Hotel transfers from/to west and south Samui (+THB 100/person)
- Lunch or dinner
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic & soft drinks
- Closed shoes
- Swimming suit & towel (if you want to swim at Namuang Waterfall)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera
Free pickup Β· 15 areasSee all 15 areasHide areas
Your exact pickup time depends on your area and departure time. You'll see it at checkout and we confirm it with your booking.
Prefer to make your own way there? You can skip the pickup and meet us directly at the start point.
We'll share the exact meeting point and a map link in your booking confirmation.
Please self-arrive by 08:45 am.
An air-conditioned minivan will take you around the highlights of Koh Samui. Please note that this is a budget tour without any perks: please bring your own drinks. The trip takes around 5 hours and includes hotel transfers. Close to the planned stops you can find carts with street food and snacks, so don't worry about getting hungry on the way. The Koh Samui Island tour brings you to all the important sights on Koh Samui!
FAQs
The Koh Samui Island tour does not include breakfast or lunch. It is smart to have breakfast or lunch at your hotel before pickup. On the way you will find numerous food stalls where you can buy some amazing Thai street food, snacks or fruits. Please bring a water bottle per person as well.
Yes, we can pick you up from locations that are a bit further away, but please note there is an extra fee of THB 100/person for pickups outside of the Maenam-Lamai area. You can book the tour online, please leave a note on checkout that you want to be picked up from your hotel location. Another option is to come to the hotel pickup area before the tour starts. We can pick you up from a set location.
The best time to visit Namuang Waterfalls is between October - March. During the wet season the waterfalls have enough water to enjoy a refreshing waterfall shower and dive in the natural pool below. Outside of these months the waterfalls are flowing less rapidly, except after a couple of rainy days.
Yes, the viewpoint and Big Buddha can easily be reached on foot by anyone in reasonable condition. The viewpoint in Chaweng has just a few stairs down, while the stairs to Big Buddha are steep but not too far up. The view from the top is worth the climb up.
Thailand has a basic dress code for visiting religious sites. The basic rule is to cover your shoulders and knees (both sexes), but short pants are allowed when men visit the temple. At any religious site there will be pashminas or scarfs available to make yourself temple-worthy.
This tour runs daily, also during rainy season. If the situation on the roads permit, the tour will happen during rainy days. Please bring a raincoat (or poncho from 7/11) to enjoy this trip on a rainy day.
Yes. Cancelling or moving your booking to another date is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts, and anything you have paid is refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded. If we have to cancel, for example for weather or safety, you can move to another date or take a full refund.
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Reviews
Based on 33 reviews
- EdSeptember 8, 2026Β· Verified booking5.0
Great half day tour, from booking the night before for a next morning trip everything was well communicated and very promptly. The tour itself was made so much better by our guide and driver who took great care of us for the whole trip. Our guide was knowledgeable, courteous and interacted with us for the majority of the trip. Would recommend ππ»
- Julie scottOctober 19, 2024Β· Verified booking5.0
Mini bus was a little late picking us up but day was wonderful after this. Yai and driver of bus number two looked after us so well and gave us a lot of interesting information. Thankyou.
- Paul WarnerAugust 28, 20244.0
It's a nice trip to see the highlights of Koh Samui. You see the waterfall, temples, some nice views and the big buddha is nice. Make sure to bring sunscreen as it can get hot while walking the stais up to the buddha for example. We forgot and it kinda ruined the few days afterwards. Not their fault of course. I just hope to warn people about it. The trip is nice to do to get an idea about the island.
- Gerard VJuly 15, 20245.0
Good trip with our group to see the main attractions on the island. Our personal favorite was the waterfall; it feels like a fairytale there. Don't forget to bring a swimming suit as the water is cool and refreshing.
- Clara NavarroJune 5, 2024Β· Verified booking3.0
The tour was okay, but the schedule felt really rushed. I didnβt have enough time to enjoy the temples or the waterfall. The guide was nice, but it felt like we were always in a hurry.
