Places To Visit

Fancy a break from the beach? Then pass a pleasant hour or two visiting some of the interesting places to go - very little effort required, especially if you book a tour!!


Sea Lions


A mix between places to go and action activities, depending upon your involvement! Currently resident at Orchid Resort, the International Sea Lion Search & Rescue Training Centre is a serious establishment engaged in the training of sea lions that can save lives and assist in anti-terrorism activities.

Part of that training in the earlier stages involves socialisation interacting with people. There are two possibilities to become involved, one being a session of just under an hour, starting at 10am, 12am and 3pm, where a maximum of eight persons interact with the sea lions under the guidance of a professional mammal trainer. Alternatively, for a maximum of four people in a session, you can be a trainer for a day, from 10am until 4pm.

Be warned, you will get wet, so bring along an extra T shirt and a towel! This is an excellent opportunity not to be missed. Telephone +66 077418987.
Ancient House

Located at Ban Thale, at 150 years reputedly the oldest house on the island. Fashioned in a Chinese style, with high ceilings to minimise the heat, the house is built with teak planks but without the use of any nails. The house features some excellent wood carvings and is maintained in a very good condition thanks to the owner, Mr. Sin, who has lived here since his birth.

Secret Buddha Garden/Tarnim Magic Garden

Set high in the hills of Samui, above Na Muang and reached by taking the next road South of the access to the falls, the Tarnim Magic Garden is a tranquil space containing mainly Buddhist inspired statues, the brain child of one man, built over a period of around 15 years. Nae Nim Tongsuk started to build the garden in 1976 when he was already 77 years of age. Tongsuk, a former inovative durian (fruit) farmer, is laid to rest in the garden, behind the main group of statues.
The only paved road access is a military road and this is not always available to the public, however it's worth a try. Failing that the only access is behind Lamai Temple and a difficult 2 hour ride through unfriendly terrain, best not attempted unless you are an experienced off roader with good directions! If the guard will not let you through, take our advice and book a tour with one of the several companies offering the service, but do not miss this enchanting Garden- and make sure to wear sensible shoes.

Butterfly Garden

Walking amongst a beautiful array of vividly coloured butterflies flying around you is one of the most pleasant ways to spend an hour or two on Samui. Prevented from disapearing by nets placed above the canopy of foliage, the specimens are raised on the farm, which means you can also see the cocoons and caterpillars! Located on a hillside in the South East corner of the island, the garden is open every day from 8.30am until 5.30pm and also boasts a bee house and a large collection of insects displayed in a museum.


Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo

Imagine you are under water in a cave but you are not wet! That is what it feels like at the aquarium with a large selection of Tropical Marine Life on show, including coral, underwater forests and the like as well as the inevitable sharks and turtles. Located in the south east corner at the Samui Orchid Resort, there is also a Bird and Bengal Tiger Show daily which should please the kids, especially participation with the birds. Open from 9 am to 6pm.



Samui Snake Farm

Located down in the south at Taling Ngam can be found some pretty scary poisonous snakes, not to mention various scorpions and centipedes. In addition to the exhibition rooms and snake houses there are shows presented twice daily involving Scorpions, humans and Cobras that should not be missed! You may also be able to see a demonstration of Thai cock fighting. Shows at 11am and 2pm.



Crocodile Farm

The 7000 sq. m. Samui Crocodile Farm is located behind the airport and is well marked. Here you will find a large selection of animals including Siam crocodiles, Saltwater crocodiles, Caimans, plus various lizards, snakes and monkeys. Twice daily shows at 2pm and 4.30pm.


Buffalo Show

By show we mean fight! A Southern Thai sport, there are several very well attended locations around the island, one just outside Nathon. Crowds gather and large sums of money can change hands, generating, as you may imagine, considerable excitement. Well worth a visit, providing a unique insight into a traditional local way of life.
Consisting of the two protagonists butting heads the fight ends when one animal turns and runs, usually before much damage is done. Watch out for notices around the island which appear a few days before a fight.


Samui Monkey Theatre

Coconut farming was until recently the main source of income on Samui. Harvesting the coconut is a time consuming task for man, but not so for a well trained monkey that can pick around 800 in a day! Watch these apparently cute mammals select, pick and despatch ripe coconuts to the handler waiting on the ground. If you are very lucky, watch the handler jump out of the way of an incoming coconut!
But it's not all work! Various amusing monkey tricks with audience participation are sure to delight the kids and a performing elephant session folows the antics. Lasting about 90 minutes, shows start every day at 10.30am, 2.00pm and 4pm at the theatre off the main road near Bophut.


Naga Pearl Farm

It takes about half an hour in a boat from Ban Thong Krut to reach Koh Matsum, where the cultured pearl farm was located. Unfortunately it is no more, but take a trip in a longtail boat anyway, snorkel, fish or even bbq on the beach at Koh Matsum or Koh Tan. Rumour has it that there are no dogs on Koh Tan owing to the high pitched shreiks of thousands of bats in the evening. Take an excellent Thai lunch with you and chill out on the sandy beach for a while (sunscreen obligatory!) before heading back on the boat to Samui Island. Contact JS Tours at Bang Kao Seafood to organise your trip, Telephone 09 8735326 and 01 5371026, or book a 5 hour two island tour HERE




Big Buddha Statue

Strictly speaking this should be listed under the Temples section, as it is located at Wat Phra Yai, but being probably the most well known and popular attraction on, and being internationally synonymous with, the Island of Samui it warrants a separate entry. Near to the airport and clearly visible from the air, being some 15 meters high, it was built in 1972 by locals to give vistors a place to pay their respects and has recently been further enhanced.




Rum Distillery

Located down south at Ban Thale is Magic Alambic, Thailand's only Rum Distillery, a family business opened in 2003. The rum is made on Samui from a selection of the finest fruits and sugar cane, brewed in the French tradition, producing Rhum Agricole by fermenting and distilling pure sugar cane juice. Visit the garden bar for some tasting! Telephone 06 282 6230.