Koh Samui Waterfalls
Friday, January 22, 2016 Uncategorised by adminThailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations around the world. The country is known for its beautiful scenery. The diverse landscape will give you everything from mountains to rainforests to beaches, many of which are available to enjoy on your trip. Many visitors come to Thailand to experience this natural beauty. One of the biggest attractions of Thailand is its waterfalls.
Thailand waterfalls are very unique. There are a lot of waterfalls located around Thailand and offer different experiences when you visit. Some waterfalls are great for viewing purposes only while other waterfalls give you the opportunity to swim in them. You can discover both kinds and much more in Thailand. A destination with the some of the best Thailand waterfalls is Koh Samui.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand. This island is the second largest island in Thailand and has a lot of features that tourists enjoy. The island is a major tourist destination for Thailand, so many of the offerings and activities on Koh Samui are perfect for tourism. The island has many resorts, shopping, and entertainment. Koh Samui’s shores are amazing beaches with views looking out into the gulf with clear waters and white sand. Many people come to Koh Samui for the relaxing beach life. The middle of Koh Samui is a large jungle. This jungle is a great place to explore on Koh Samui to discover the unique nature of the island. The wildlife and plant life is very diverse here. One of the coolest features hidden in the jungles are the Koh Samui waterfalls.
Koh Samui Jungle
The Koh Samui jungle covers a significant portion of the island making it a great place to explore. The jungle is very mountainous, so visitors navigate their way throughout via several methods. Several tours are held for exploring the jungle, and these are often conducted with Jeeps or 4×4 that will wind throughout the jungle and mountains. Another recreational activity includes mountain biking. Hiking is also an option for getting around. Hiking is Koh Samui is one of the best options for getting an up-close experience with everything the jungle has to offer.
The jungle is home to many attractions of Koh Samui. Hiking the mountainous areas of the jungle will give you some of the best locations for amazing views overlooking Koh Samui. There are several known plateaus throughout the jungle for 360 viewpoints of the island and the Gulf of Thailand. The jungle also holds several religious functions. The Buddhist temple and garden are often visited during many Koh Samui hiking journeys.
The Koh Samui waterfalls are what attracts a lot of people to the jungle. The island has several popular waterfalls, and a lot of visitors enjoy the fact that you can swim in them. Some of the top waterfalls include the Namuang Waterfalls and the Secret Falls.
Namuang Waterfalls
The Namuang Waterfalls consists of two waterfalls, Namuang Waterfall 1 and Namuang Waterfall 2. The Namuang Waterfalls are close by the Nathon Bay of Koh Samui and a short walk inland from this beach. The trails used to reach these falls were developed by the locals before other paved roads were established throughout the jungle.
The Namuang Waterfalls translates in the “Purple Waterfalls.” The rocks that the waterfalls flow down give off a purple tint with the reflection of the water. This is how the falls got their name. The waterfall is considered to be two waterfalls since it has two individual streams that flow into their own respective natural pools. You will reach Namuang Waterfall 1 when you first approach the falls, and as you climb higher, you will run into Namuang Waterfall 2. These waterfalls are great photo opportunities to capture the most well-known waterfalls on Koh Samui.
The Namuang Waterfalls are often explored while taking a beach break because of its proximity. The water fun is continued at the falls, however. You will come across many travellers, families, and locals enjoying the warm water of the falls. Keep in mind the best times to visit the waterfalls here for the best experience. The wet season is ideal for visiting Namuang Waterfalls because the streams and natural pools will be more full.
There is a variety of things to see and do even while just at the waterfalls. There are several vendors located around the area. You will find many food vendors and can also buy souvenirs of the Namuang Waterfalls. There are also many guided tours for navigating around the waterfalls as well as a nearby Elephant walking tour. The Namuang Safari Park is located in between the two waterfalls which have plenty of family fun entertainment.
Hin Lad Waterfall
The Hin Lad Waterfall is another exciting waterfall that you must see while in Koh Samui. At the beginning of the trail leading up to the waterfall, you will come across the Hin Lad Waterfall Temple. This is an active Buddhist Temple that is open to the public to stop by before the hike up. This is usually crowded during the weekends by locals.
Part of the pleasure of the Hin Lad Waterfall is reaching it. The waterfall is located in the elevated jungle, so you will be required to hike a short distance. The benefit to the hike is the numerous viewpoints along the way. You will have views over Koh Samui as you walk up. There are also several stalls of food vendors and souvenirs that you will encounter on the way to the falls.
The Hin Lad Waterfall is the second largest waterfall of Koh Samui. This waterfall also flows into small freshwater pools. You’ll surely want to take a swim in these pools after the climb to the falls. The falls are seen best during the wet season when it will be more water flow from the waterfall and into the pools.
Secret Falls
The Koh Samui Secret Falls lives up to its name. The official name of the Secret Falls is the Tang Rua Waterfall, but this is not a familiar name, even to the locals. The Secret Falls got its name because of its location. Reaching these falls takes a bit more navigation and can often be confusing to newcomers to the waterfall. The Secret Falls are located deep in the jungle and within the mountains of Koh Samui. Many routes leading to the waterfall often require both foot and vehicle exploration. This waterfall will surely be worth the trip.
The Secret Falls is the 3rd largest waterfall in Koh Samui. The stream flows into a natural pool, so it’s a great location for swimming. There are several reasons that make the Secret Falls a good choice for a relaxing swim. The falls are a bit more challenging to reach as compared to the other Koh Samui waterfalls, so many tourists opt out of visiting the Secret Falls. This means fewer visitors that are likely to be at the falls, so you have more space to enjoy. The second reason is the surrounding environment of this waterfall. The Secret Falls are within the mountains, so it’s surrounded by cliffs and tall trees which form a canopy overhead, even shielding you from the sun.
Tartain Waterfall
Tartain Waterfall is a waterfall that might have some difficulty with accessibility too but definitely worth the journey once you arrive. This waterfall is located deep in the mountains so it may require some vehicle and hiking skills to navigate the route here. It’s one of the top waterfalls on the island, so there will be plenty of signs directing your way.
The Tartain Waterfall is named after the landowner who discovered the waterfall. The owner proceeded to establish a small park around the waterfall. Much of the area is developed with pavilions, swings, bed, etc. There are also food vendors available here. The park is good for relaxation and taking the time to enjoy the waterfall. The Tartain Waterfall is a large waterfall that flows into a natural pool. This waterfall is also created by a stream, so it’s seen best during the wet season. Many tourists and locals enjoy swimming in the heated water here.
Tar Nim Waterfall
Not all the famous waterfalls on Koh Samui are naturally developed. Tar Nim’s Magic Garden is a common stop for many Koh Samui tours. The magic garden was built as a Buddhist garden and retreat into nature for relaxation. At the entrance to this garden, you will see the Tar Nim Waterfall. This waterfall is man made and now flows into the jungle. Even so, it is recognised as one of the Koh Samui waterfalls. It is small in comparison to the other natural waterfalls found around the island. This waterfall is appreciated more for photos and its contribution to the serene garden atmosphere than for swimming like many others.
Lat Wanorn Waterfall
The Lat Wanorn waterfall is a good waterfall option if you’re looking for a truly unique waterfall to Koh Samui. The waterfall used to be a big attraction on a dedicated eco-tour around Koh Samui. Once the tour route eventually closed and familiarity with this waterfall declined as well. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a private waterfall experience. You have a better chance when you visit Lat Wanorn.
Lat Wanorn differs from the other Koh Samui waterfalls because of how the water flows. It has the same stream characteristics as the other falls, but the water here flows down a flat rock which creates the waterfall effect. There is also a natural pool here for swimming, so it’s the perfect opportunity to take a dip. This waterfall is nearby to a few other waterfalls and even observation decks as you continue along the trail that led here.
Other Koh Samui Waterfalls
Koh Samui has many other waterfalls that each have a different experience to them. This can include the hike to reach the waterfall, the size, or just the surrounding area. The combination of the jungle and mountains of the Koh Samui landscape make it ideal for waterfalls, so there is a range of options all around the island. Some other notable waterfalls include Khun Si, Yhow Yai, Siva Tara, and Wang Sao Thong. Many Koh Samui tours provide the best way to get a look at multiple waterfalls in one trip.
Koh Samui Waterfall Tours
The Koh Samui waterfalls are a must-see for anyone visiting the island, but not all of them are easy to reach. This is especially the case for newcomers to the island. Koh Samui provides many tours that can take you to any waterfall that you wish. You can find many half day tours and whole day tours for the excursion. They typically vary in transportation method, time spent at the waterfall, and how many waterfalls you have time to see.
Many roads have been developed running through the Koh Samui jungle. You can find several tours that will take you on a Jeep or other off-road vehicle through the jungle to reach the falls. These are guided tours that let you sit back to enjoy the ride while enjoying the trip through the brush. The mountains are also great for mountain biking, so these are used during tours as well.
Many tourists take part in elephant trekking tours to the waterfalls organised by elephant shelters throughout the jungle. But we don’t recommend taking one, as elephants are not treated well in these shelters. Moreover, this is a very hard physical exercise for such a big animal, to get up a waterfall through the jungle. If you would like to learn more about the unethical treatment of animals in Thailand and why you should encourage any of them, please read our blog post – https://activityfan.com/thai-elephant-trekking-not-3/.
Explore Koh Samui
Beaches aren’t the only attraction to Koh Samui. There is plenty more to explore about the island if you have time. The Koh Samui jungle is full of opportunities for an exciting experience while on Koh Samui. The Koh Samui waterfalls are one of the perks on the jungle. There are so many waterfalls here that you will surely find an ideal one to enjoy for your taste. Whether that’s large waterfalls, man-made waterfalls, and even secret falls. The Thailand waterfalls at Koh Samui are a gem to the country overall.