Not far from the Great Buddha of Koh Samui, on the northeastern tip of the island, lies this Chinese Buddhist temple, particularly famous for its enormous statue of the goddess Guanyin. With her 18 arms, she is the goddess of mercy and compassion. Her many arms symbolize her ability to help anyone in need, anywhere in the world. She is also considered a fertility goddess, to whom people pray for children, and she protects sailors. Wat Plai Laem temple consists of several buildings around a pond and other, less interesting structures on land. Although it is a relatively new temple, the artistic techniques used are centuries old. The temple complex mainly includes the large white Guanyin statue, a traditional Buddhist ubosot with colorful murals and seated Buddha statues, and a plump, laughing Chinese Buddha. Wat Plai Laem is a colorful temple, quite unlike the temples typically seen in Thailand.

Free entry. Open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can buy food to feed the fish.

Wat Plai Laem is not easily accessible by public transport. You will need either your own vehicle (rental car or scooter) or a taxi/VTC (Vehicle Transport Carrier). Alternatively, some agencies offer tours that include several of Koh Samui's main attractions, including the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, two must-see temples on Koh Samui (see below).

Wat Plai Laem is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Plai Laem? There is no direct public transport to easily reach Wat Plai Laem. You will need either your own vehicle (rental car or scooter) or a taxi/VTC (Vehicle Transport Carrier). Alternatively, some agencies offer tours that include several of Koh Samui's main attractions, including the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, two must-see temples on Koh Samui (see below).