Joanna James
Head to the best vantage points Koh Samui has to offer to immerse yourself in the unspoiled tropical scenery of the island. To get to some of the viewpoints, you may have to do a bit of hiking.
For some of the best scenery in Koh Samui, you should go to Jungle Club Viewpoint. Getting here requires a bit of effort and can be challenging, but it's all well worth it. This is a resort restaurant set at an elevated position of the island, offering you sweeping vistas of Koh Samui. There's a deck with seating where you can sit and view Koh Samui from a different angle. If you stay at SAii Koh Samui Choengmon during your vacation, you can get here within 30 minutes.
A stone's throw away from Lamai Beach is Lamai Viewpoint, a beautiful setup that welcomes visitors every day from 8.30 AM to 6.30 PM. The views are spectacular, and this is also an excellent place for photography. If you are willing to pay a small fee, you can see Siva Tara Waterfall and the Valentine Stone in addition to Lamai Viewpoint. You can also do a zip-line ride right across the valley, which will afford you gorgeous scenery.
To enjoy the scenery across the east coast of the island, visit Lat Ko Viewpoint. Wedged between Chaweng and Lamai, Lak Ko Viewpoint sits right beside Ring Road. You can get here by bike and then walk down the pathway leading to the coast. The clear skies, the blue waters, and the boulders create a delightful sight you wouldn't want to miss. This is also an excellent place to enjoy the sunset. To those who want to enjoy sunsets as well as beautiful vistas of Koh Samui, 5-star hotels might be the best accommodation choice; most of them are located close to Lat Ko Viewpoint.
Also called Big Buddha Temple, Wat Phra Yai Viewpoint is a combination of religious highlights and beautiful scenery. The massive Buddha statue is the main highlight here; the terrace that it sits on offers the most breathtaking views of Koh Samui. The views off the northern side cover the coastline of the island and Koh Phangan in the near vicinity. If you head over to the south, you'll see planes landing and taking off at Koh Samui International Airport.
If you've signed up for a tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park, you'll make a stop at Koh Mae Koh, a small island found along the way. The island offers two viewpoints. The first one is easy to get to as there's a stairwell that will get you to the spot within minutes. However, the second viewpoint is the best and requires you to spend 45 minutes getting there. When you book the tour, ask the tour operator if the stop at Koh Mae Koh is going to be long enough for you to get to the second viewpoint. Keep in mind that the path to the second viewpoint is quite challenging.
Located north of Chaweng, the temple sits at the top of a hill that's 90 metres tall. The hike up to the temple is no cakewalk, but it's rewarding. You can see the entire length of the airport's runaway from up here. If you like to see planes taking off and landing, this is the ideal place for you to sit for a while. You can also see a number of other highlights from atop the mountain.
Found at the summit of Taling Ngam is the Hillcrest Drive Viewpoint. You can get here by moped, but walking is the best option as getting down the steep path by moped is quite dangerous. This viewpoint is great for hikers who want adventure as well as beautiful scenery.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
