Asia
Thailand
Surat Thani Province
Ko Samui
Bophut
Plai Laem
Places to visit in Plai Laem
Wat Plai Laem

Wat Plai Laem

See all things to do

Wat Plai Laem

See all things to do
See all things to do
Wat Plai Laem
4.5
1,493
#2 of 3 things to do in Plai Laem
Religious Sites
Read more
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
See all
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
486 within 5 kms
Stop at Sopa
401
0.2 km₹ • Asian • Thai • Soups
The Sunset Samui
426
0.6 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • French • Bar • International
Mama Dang Bar & Restaurant
76
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • Seafood • International
Salefino Koh Samui
558
0.7 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Seafood • Mediterranean
The Summer House Samui- Restaurant & Bar
35
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Bar • European
Shakespeare Pub
59
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • European • British
Supattra Thai Dining
674
0.9 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Seafood • Asian • Thai
First Class Danny Bar & Grill
39
0.5 km₹ • European • Asian • Thai
Baan Pu Bistro & Cafe
5
0.3 km₹ • Italian • Cafe • European
7 Taste Pizzeria & Restaurant
69
0.8 km₹ • Pizza • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
See all
Attractions
48 within 10 kms
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
6,754
0.7 kmReligious Sites
Choeng Mon Beach
533
1.7 kmBeaches
Bangrak Market
10
0.8 kmFarmers Markets
Samui Elephant Sanctuary
978
4 kmNature & Wildlife Areas
High Park Samui
189
4 kmWater Parks
Art-samui
153
1.9 kmArt Museums
Pagoda Khao Hua Jook
203
3.8 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Fisherman’s Village
7,923
4.1 kmNeighbourhoods
Maenam Beach
1,422
Beaches
Chaweng Beach
4,171
4.5 kmBeaches
See all
Reviews may contain information about traveller safety at this business.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,493 reviews
Excellent
873
Very good
509
Average
93
Poor
14
Terrible
4
Les R
PL10 contributions
Worth seeing place
Apr 2022
Close to the main road at Bangrak Beach. Temples well kept. Huge statues situated on a small pond. Combine a visit with a walk to the Big Buddha
Written 5 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stefanova(Sewqii Karacan)
Ko Samui, Thailand22 contributions
It's a wonderful place
Apr 2021 • Family
All the temple's great and amazing in Thailand. All have meanings, each of them have different beauty. If you visit Koh Samui you must go there. Amazing atmosphere. Word is not enough must to visit and feel it. If you have plan to visit Koh Samui, don't miss that wonderful place.
Written 22 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
David
Oxford, UK1,165 contributions
Worth seeing, for the following reasons:
Aug 2021
- Unlike the Big Buddha, the approach is not crowded by stalls and shops.
- Free to enter. There are donation boxes for those who so wish to contribute.
- Visually interesting.
- It was very quiet when I visited (Aug 21).
- The site is the resting place for a number of urns with ashes of the deceased. It's interesting to see and contemplate.
- Very peaceful.

Of note, some of the floor tiling is getting a little decrepit and broken. But overall, the site remains in pretty good condition.
Written 29 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jlamkk
singapore807 contributions
Must Visit in Ko Samui
Apr 2021
Awesome statue of 18 hands Guan Yin and Laughing Buddha.
The statues are beautiful and huge.
Go there in late afternoon when the sun will shine on the statue and project a very warm & golden colour.
Written 22 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CKF
CT2,111 contributions
The Pride of Koh Samui
Nov 2020
While researching before our trip to Koh Samui, photos of Wat Plai Laem always appeared, and we knew we had to see this. We booked a 1/2 day tour to see the island's highlights. Of course, this statue was our favorite stop!

First, you will be greeted by gorgeous red and gold Chinese temples. As you walk farther, you will discover that visiting this wat really gets you three for the price of one! Not only is there the famous 9-armed statue, but there is also the happy Buddha, which brings joy to every face, and a beautiful Ganesha. Each statue was more spectacular than the last.

We truly enjoyed strolling the grounds, which are covered with a multitude Insta-worthy moments. Enjoy the Pride of Koh Samui!
Written 27 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
roiethome
Bangkok, Thailand48 contributions
Worth a visit
Nov 2020
This is a very intricate statute that you can spend a long time looking at it. Plenty of opportunity for photography.
Written 1 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
redharry
southampton104 contributions
Better than Big Buddha
Jul 2020
A bit different from another Buddha site plus feeding the catfish is entertaining.
Several different sections to walk around plus food and market stalls
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MB1769
Toronto, Canada214 contributions
Something to see if tired of the beaches
Mar 2020 • Couples
The ‘statues’ are falling into disrepair. You can pay to feed fat catfish to pass the time. Not much to see. The Wat itself is quaint with a nice mural.
Written 22 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Roslyn138
Wrexham, UK488 contributions
Stunning temples - impressive
Mar 2020 • Couples
Very interesting temple area for various religions. The most impressive being the 18 armed goddess of mercy and compassion. There are decking area that allow you to take stunning photographs of the various buildings - and for 15baht you can buy pellets to feed the large fish in the lake.
As with all areas you need to be aware of what you need to wear and the paths around the area are uneven
We spent around 45 min and then moved on to Big Buddha which was only about 10 min away
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BobH764
Fareham, UK663 contributions
Interesting
Mar 2020 • Couples
Very impressive temples and the surrounding complex. It’s possible to go inside one of the Wats and interesting to see the paintings on the walls and ceiling. We spent about an hour here and could have spent longer looking at the amazingly detailed carvings. Lots of good photo opportunities.
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 688
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Frequently Asked Questions about Wat Plai Laem
We recommend booking Wat Plai Laem tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 17 Wat Plai Laem tours on Tripadvisor