The Secret Buddha Garden of Koh Samui goes by several names. Information panels often refer to it as the "Magic Garden" or "Tarnim Magic Garden." It's a small private garden that belonged to retired durian producer Khun Nim Thongsuk. He began creating it in 1976 at the age of 77 and worked on it until his death at 91. The garden contains numerous Buddha statues and other figures of Thai Buddhism, as well as two statues of the founder's parents and a statue depicting him holding his father's hand. The garden offers an idyllic setting with small waterfalls, but its small size often makes it very crowded, which somewhat detracts from the experience. On the way there or on your way back, I recommend visiting the Giant Summit Restaurant with its breathtaking views.

As far as I know, the songthaews that travel around the island and that you can hail don't go all the way to the Samui Secret Buddha Garden. They can drop you off at the junction after Wat Khunaram, but the path there is still long and uphill. So you have to hire a private songthaew or arrange for transport. Alternatively, the garden is also included in many tours offered by travel agencies on Koh Samui.

How to get there

How do you get to the Secret Buddha Garden (Tarnim Magic Garden)? As far as I know, the songthaews that travel around the island and that you can hail don't go all the way to the Secret Buddha Garden on Koh Samui. They can drop you off at the junction after Wat Khunaram, but the path there is still long and uphill. So you have to hire a private vehicle or arrange for transport. Alternatively, the garden is also included in many tours offered by travel agencies on Koh Samui.