Wat Phra Yai
A wat on tiny Ko Phan, joined to Ko Samui by a short causeway, with a 12 metre gold-painted Buddha seated on top. Built in 1972, the statue has become the island's best known landmark.
- Where
- Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 9.5708, 100.0606
Get the Wat Phra Yai stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Wat Phra Yai. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Surat Thani volume with your photos and a note.
Near Wat Phra Yai
Bo Phut 2.7 km
A beach and old fishing village on the north coast of Ko Samui, looking across the water towards Ko Pha-ngan. Its Fisherman's Village is a lane of old wooden Chinese shophouses, many now turned into cafes and small hotels.
Chaweng Beach 5.3 km
The longest and busiest beach on Ko Samui, a broad curve of white sand along the east coast. Hotels and restaurants line the shore behind it, and the sea in front is calm and shallow for much of the year.
Ko Samui 10 km
Thailand's second largest island after Phuket, 228 square kilometres of beaches, coconut groves and forested hills in the Gulf of Thailand. Millions of visitors come every year, yet it still governs itself as a municipality of its own.
Ko Pha-ngan 19 km
The middle island of three in the Gulf of Thailand, with larger Ko Samui to the south and little Ko Tao to the north. Ferries arrive at the main town, Thong Sala, and from there roads and boats lead to coves on every side of the island.
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park 43 km
A marine park of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, west of Ko Samui, set aside in 1980. Steep limestone islands rise out of clear water, and the park's base is at Ao Phi Beach on Ko Wua Talap.
Ko Tao 63 km
A small island of about 21 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand, its name meaning turtle island. It is known above all for diving and snorkelling, and the ferries come in at the main settlement, Mae Haad.
Ko Nang Yuan 66 km
Three tiny islands just off the northwest coast of Ko Tao, joined to one another by a curving sandbar. The water around them is shallow and clear, and the viewpoint on the rocks above looks down on the white strip of sand between the islands.
Khao Luang 125 km
The highest mountain in southern Thailand, rising inland from Nakhon Si Thammarat. Its forested slopes form the heart of the national park that shares its name.
More hidden gems in Surat Thani
Questions
Where is Wat Phra Yai?
Wat Phra Yai is in Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Bo Phut (2.7 km), Chaweng Beach (5.3 km), Ko Samui (10 km).
How do I get the Wat Phra Yai stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Wat Phra Yai and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Surat Thani volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Wat Phra Yai before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Surat Thani volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.