What to see on Koh Samui by scooter, area by area (2026)
This is the whole island on one page, split into five parts the way I think about it when I plan a day: east coast, south, west, north and the mountains in the middle. For each part you get what is there, what the road is like and which of my routes covers it, so you pick a day's ride rather than a list of thirty pins.
Colour — all the routes on this site (list under the Routes button on the map), faint — every road I have ridden. GPX works in Maps.me, Organic Maps, OsmAnd, Garmin.
Samui by area: what is where and which route covers it
The coast is one road, the 4169. The centre is hills with steep side roads. Pick an area, then the route that runs through it.
| Area | What is there | Road | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| East: Chaweng–Lamai | Hill viewpoints between the two beaches (Lad Koh, Overlap Stone, Lamai Viewpoint, Jungle Club), the Wat Khao Hua Jook chedi, small coves, Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks | The 4169 plus short, steep spurs up to the viewpoints | Viewpoints loop, ring road, one-day |
| South | Guan Yu shrine, the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram, Laem Sor Pagoda on the shore, Thong Tanote beach | The 4169 runs inland; lanes down to the coast are narrower | South-west, ring road |
| West | Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi for sunset, Nathon town and its piers, Hin Lad waterfall with the jungle temple | The 4169, with side roads to the beaches and waterfall | South-west, north, waterfalls |
| North | Fisherman's Village in Bophut, Maenam and Bang Por beaches, Laem Yai cape; on the north-east cape Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Choeng Mon | Flat coast road, busier around Bophut and the airport | North, temples, ring road |
| Centre and mountains | Secret Buddha Garden, Pom Mountain (about 635 m), Jungle 360, Heaven Gate, Na Muang 1 and 2, Khun Si and Wang Saotong waterfalls | Steep, narrow hill roads — in my experience the hardest riding on the island | Mountain, waterfalls, one-day |
When to go where
- Mountains and waterfalls — in the morning. It is cooler, the hill roads have had time to dry if it rained overnight, and you are back down before the midday heat. Waterfalls run fuller after rain, but expect slippery rocks on the trails.
- West coast — for sunset. Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam face west; the clifftop Air Bar above Taling Ngam is the obvious place to sit. Plan the ride back and allow enough daylight if you prefer to avoid riding after dark.
- Night markets — by day of the week. Choose a market evening when planning where to end your ride.
- Rain season, October to December. The coast road stays rideable between showers. Leave Secret Buddha Garden, Pom Mountain and Heaven Gate for a dry day: a wet steep slope is where scooters lose grip.
More on riding wet and after dark: rain and night riding.
Routes that string the places together
Almost every place in the table sits on one of my routes. Distances are from my own GPS tracks; each route page has the stops in order and a GPX.
- Ring road 4169 — 63.7 km, easy. The whole coast in one loop, a good first day.
- One-day classic — 54.5 km, medium. Big Buddha to Secret Buddha Garden if you only have one day.
- Viewpoints loop — 38.3 km, medium. The hills between Chaweng and Lamai.
- Temples of the east — 24.7 km, easy. A half day from Chaweng.
- North coast — 27.2 km, easy, ending at Nathon.
- South-west — 36.3 km, easy, Wat Khunaram to Lipa Noi pier.
- Waterfalls — 69.3 km, medium, the longest here.
- Mountain roads — 45.7 km, hard. Not for your first ride on Samui.
Off the routes: quiet places a few minutes away
If you are after Koh Samui's hidden gems, most of them are places none of my routes stops at, but which sit a short detour from one you are already riding:
- Ring road, Lamai to Hua Thanon: the Red Temple and Wat Samret.
- South-west route: Wat Khao Chedi, the white pagoda on the hill above Laem Sor, and Elephant Gate.
- Viewpoints loop: Coral Cove and Silver Beach, two small coves between Chaweng and Lamai, for a swim between climbs.
- Temples route: Tongsai and Samrong bays on the north-east tip.
- North route: Ban Tai beach west of Maenam. Waterfalls route: the Coconut Farm Museum.
Questions
What should I see on Koh Samui if I have only one day with a scooter?
Ride the one-day classic: 54.5 km through Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Lad Koh, Lamai, Hin Ta Hin Yai, Na Muang 1 and Secret Buddha Garden. If steep roads worry you, swap the last stop for the flat ring road.
Which places are hard to reach for a beginner?
Secret Buddha Garden, Pom Mountain and Heaven Gate have steep climbs; the mountain route is the only one I rate hard. The coastal routes are rated easy, but take care on hills and side roads. See renting as a beginner.
Can I see Samui on my own without a tour?
Yes, you can explore these places independently, combining scooter rides with walks to places such as the waterfalls. Some charge an entry fee — check on site.
Do I need a license to ride to these places?
Wear a helmet. For a tourist stay of up to about three months, carry your national motorcycle licence together with a 1949 IDP showing category A. A car-only licence does not cover a scooter; longer stays need a Thai licence.
Anton A.
I live on Koh Samui and have been riding the island for several years. Every road on these maps I rode myself — the track is a real GPS log. Spotted an error? Message me on Telegram: @abrameicev