Waterfalls on Koh Samui: Na Muang, Hin Lad & When to Visit

Anyone can do a beach — but Koh Samui also has a green, mountainous interior, and some lovely waterfalls run through the jungle there. The best known are Na Muang 1, Na Muang 2 and Hin Lad. Here's how they differ, how to reach them, and when a visit is really worth it.

Which Koh Samui waterfall is the most beautiful?

That depends on what you're after:

• Easiest to reach: Na Muang 1 — just a few steps from the car park, with a pool to cool off in.
• Most impressive: Na Muang 2 — taller and wilder, but reachable only via a path through the jungle.
• Quietest: Hin Lad — near the island capital, Nathon, with a small temple at the entrance and a path through the forest.

If you only have time for one stop, Na Muang 1 is the usual choice. If you enjoy a bit of a walk, don't skip Na Muang 2.

Na Muang Waterfall 1

Both Na Muang waterfalls lie in the south of the island, around ten kilometres south of Nathon. Na Muang 1 is the best known waterfall on Koh Samui and the easiest to reach: it's just a few minutes' walk from the car park. At the bottom, the water falls into a natural pool where you can swim.

Because it's so easy to reach, Na Muang 1 features on many island tours. It's often busy during the day as a result — arrive early in the morning and you'll have it more to yourself.

Na Muang Waterfall 2

Na Muang 2 sits a little further up the same stream and, at around 80 metres over several tiers, is the tallest waterfall on the island. The walk from the lower car park takes about 20 to 30 minutes through the jungle, steep in places, over roots and stones. There's also an upper car park that shortens the walk.

The effort pays off: it's noticeably quieter up here than at the first waterfall, and the setting is wilder. Allow one to two hours for Na Muang 1 and 2 together.

Hin Lad Waterfall

Hin Lad lies in the west of the island, near Nathon. At the entrance stands the small temple Wat Hin Lad, with a few simple restaurants alongside. From there, a path through the forest leads to several tiers of the waterfall. In the rainy season, when more water is flowing, it's worth climbing further up.

Hin Lad is less well known than Na Muang and so usually quieter. It fits nicely into a day when you're in Nathon anyway.

Zong Raue (Song Rua) Waterfall

In the north-west of the island, between Nathon and Bang Por, you'll find Zong Raue Waterfall — also written as Zong Ruae, and known by some as Song Rua, so don't be thrown if you see it under a different spelling. It's a small waterfall set among a fruit plantation and jungle, reachable by scooter or car off the ring road, with parking near an abandoned house and a short paved path to the falls. It only really flows during and just after the rainy season; in the dry months there's often little more than a trickle over the rocks. The site now shares its grounds with the Skyhawk Adventure zipline park, so you may hear, or book, a zipline overhead.

Location on Google Maps

Tan Rua Waterfall

Tan Rua, sometimes nicknamed the Secret Falls, is Koh Samui's third-largest waterfall and sits in the north of the island near Maenam, reached via the steep mountain road off Maenam Soi 5. From the car park it's only a five- to ten-minute walk to the falls and their natural pool, though reports on the small entrance or parking charge vary (roughly 20 to 50 baht). The site has grown into more of a mini attraction, with a treehouse café and a "tree bridge" walkway giving a view over the jungle canopy — a good stop if you fancy a short hike combined with a break rather than a long trek.

Location on Google Maps

When is the best time to visit?

Waterfalls live on rain. In the dry season, roughly March to May, they often carry only a trickle — pretty to look at, but not a roaring spectacle. They're at their most powerful after the rainy season, which usually peaks on Koh Samui in November and December.

Take care right after heavy rain: the rocks get slippery and water levels can rise quickly. For more on how the weather changes through the year, see Koh Samui weather and the truth about the rainy season.

How do you get to the waterfalls?

All three waterfalls are reachable by car or taxi and have car parks. The easiest option is an island tour, where someone else handles the logistics. These two tours on kohsamui.tours stop at Na Muang Waterfall 1 and combine it with other sights on the island:

from 1,350 THBIsland Tour Around Koh Samui Half Day Sightseeing Excursion★★★★★4.95 from 103 reviews from 1,450 THBJeep Tour Koh Samui Jungle Safari Full day Adventure★★★★★4.94 from 269 reviews

For other ways of getting around the island, see our overview of getting around Koh Samui.

What should you bring?

• Shoes with good grip — the rocks at all three waterfalls are slippery
• Insect repellent for the jungle paths
• Swimwear and a small towel
• Water and some cash for parking and drinks
• A waterproof pouch for your phone and camera

Frequently asked questions

Can you swim in the waterfalls?

Yes, Na Muang 1 and 2 both have natural pools where you can cool off. Don't climb onto the wet rocks at the waterfall itself, though — they're very slippery.

How long is the walk to Na Muang Waterfall?

Na Muang 1 is just a few minutes from the car park. For Na Muang 2, allow 20 to 30 minutes uphill from the lower car park.

Where is Lampi Waterfall?

Not on Koh Samui. Lampi Waterfall is on the mainland, in Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park, south of Khao Lak on the Andaman coast.

Is Song Rua the same waterfall as Zong Raue?

Yes — Song Rua and Zong Raue (also spelled Zong Ruae) are the same waterfall, in the north-west of the island. Tan Rua, despite the similar-sounding name, is a separate waterfall near Maenam in the north.

For more ideas away from the beach, see our Top 10 secret places on Koh Samui and Top 10 attractions.