Big Buddha & Wat Plai Laem
A 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island off Samui's north coast, next to the elaborate Wat Plai Laem.
The Samui Big Buddha is a 12-metre golden statue on Koh Fan, a small island joined to Samui's north-east coast by a causeway. It is free, takes 45 minutes, and Wat Plai Laem with its 18-armed Guanyin is five minutes away.
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A 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island off Samui's north coast, next to the elaborate Wat Plai Laem.
The statue was built in 1972 by a local monk and is set on a raised platform reached by a wide staircase flanked by naga balustrades. Koh Fan was a small uninhabited island until the causeway was built; the temple now owns most of it. Wat Plai Laem next door is newer, built over water, and mixes Thai, Chinese and Hindu iconography in a way that reflects Samui's Chinese-Malay trading history.
The setting — a causeway, a lake, a giant golden silhouette — is more photogenic than most temples in Thailand. It is free and takes an hour.
What you’ll actually see
- The golden Buddha and the view over Bangrak Bay from the platform
- Wat Plai Laem's 18-armed Guanyin statue, standing in a lotus pond
- The laughing Buddha and the Chinese-style pavilions at Plai Laem
- The fishing boats in Bangrak Bay, best at sunrise
How to visit it well
- Combine with the north-coast beaches in one afternoon.
- Feeding the fish in the lake is a hit with children.
- Cover up; this is an active temple.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Wearing beach clothes — both temples enforce the dress code
- Coming at midday; the platform is fully exposed
- Only seeing the Big Buddha and missing Plai Laem, which is more interesting
Is it worth it?
Worth 45 minutes, and the easiest cultural stop on Samui. The Big Buddha is impressive at scale; Plai Laem is genuinely beautiful. Combine both with Bangrak's fishermen's market for a good morning.
Common questions
Yes, free entry. Donations fund the temple and there is a small charge for the shrine bells.
Shoulders and knees covered for both the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem. Sarongs are lent at the entrance.
10 minutes north of Chaweng by car or songthaew, on the road to the airport. Most taxi drivers know it as 'Big Buddha'.
Yes — arguably more so than the Big Buddha. The 18-armed Guanyin over the lotus pond is the most photogenic thing on the island.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Nattapong Srisuwan