Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

Where it is & how to get there

• By car: About 5 minutes from Samui airport, in the northeast of the island.
• From Chaweng: About 15 minutes by taxi.
• Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes on the upper platform.

The story of the Big Buddha Temple

Wat Phra Yai stands on Koh Faan, a tiny island linked to Samui by a causeway. Its golden seated Buddha, about 12 metres high, was built in 1972 and has become a symbol of the island.

Steep steps flanked by dragons lead up to the statue, which looks out over the sea and is visible from planes landing at Samui airport. Shops and food stalls line the base.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Cover shoulders and knees.
• Combine with Wat Plai Laem, a colourful temple nearby with an 18-armed Guanyin statue.
• Visit in the evening when it is cooler.

What's around the Big Buddha Temple

• Wat Plai LaemTemple with a giant Guanyin statue.
• Fisherman's Village10 minutes away.
• Bangrak BeachBeach next to the temple.
• Chaweng15 minutes south.

Questions travellers ask