Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Half an hour is usually plenty here, and that's not meant as a criticism at all. The gilded Buddha, twelve meters high and built in 1972, stands on Koh Fan, a small island connected to the northeast coast of Samui by a short causeway about three kilometers north of the airport. It can be seen from much of the coast and even from the approaching plane. Nevertheless, climb the dragon-shaped staircase to the viewing platform. From up there, you have a magnificent view over the bay, a gentle breeze, and an unobstructed view of the runway and the approaching propeller planes.

This is an active temple, not a museum, and monks offer blessings throughout the day. Admission is free, and donation boxes are available. Stalls on the ground floor sell snacks and souvenirs at tourist prices, and the restrooms are basic. Arrive early. Tour buses start arriving around 9:30 a.m., and it's quieter and better for photography in the morning.

Cover your shoulders and knees and remove your shoes on the platform. Visitors in beachwear will be turned away, so wear light trousers or bring a sarong instead of renting one at the stairway.

Wat Plai Laem, with its 18-armed Guanyin statue on a lake, is about 1 km to the east, so you can visit both attractions in one morning. The car park at the bottom of the dam is often full, especially on weekend evenings when the access road resembles a small market. The temple is open daily from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, and the fishing village of Bo Phut is just a short drive west and makes a good spot for lunch.