The small temple Wat Sila Ngu, also known as Wat Ratchathammaram, is located above Hua Thanon Beach in the south of Koh Samui. Accessible via a staircase from the beach or through a door from the road, it remains a hidden gem for tourists. This Buddhist temple is rarely mentioned in guidebooks. The stone snake pagoda, also called "Phrataht Hin Ngoo," houses a beautiful red ordination hall with intricate reliefs on its exterior and interior walls. Wat Sila Ngu is less than 2 kilometers from the famous Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks – an ideal base for a visit before or after your trip.

To get to Wat Ratchathammaram or Wat Sila Ngu temple, it's the same place. If you don't have your own transport, depending on your starting point, you can take songthaews (shared taxis) that cross the island and go at least as far as Hin Ta Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rock), which is just over a kilometer from the temple. Hin Ta Hin Yai is also a stop for the Koh Samui Smart Bus.

Wat Sila Ngu 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 Sila Ngu? Wat Ratchathammaram and Wat Sila Ngu temples – it's the same place – can be reached by songthaew (shared taxi) from your starting point. These taxis cross the island and go at least as far as Hin Ta Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rock), which is just over a kilometer from the temple. Hin Ta Hin Yai is also a stop for the Koh Samui Smart Bus.