During monsoons on Koh Samui it is good to visit various waterfalls. On these days, you can see more powerful and beautiful streams of water than at normal times. And also you can generally see some waterfalls that dry up and are a miserable sight.
Of course, you should not expect the greatness of Niagara Falls from the waterfalls on Koh Samui, and you should not even compare them with those that I saw in the north. Kampheng Phet (100m) and on Doi inthanon (280m). But I was just going to walk to the Khin Lad waterfall for a long time. So I chose «window», when the sun came out after several days of torrential rains that threatened to turn into a global flood.
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Khin Lad waterfall
The Hin Lad waterfall is small, and here the essence is not so much in the waterfall as in a walk in the jungle. This is a great opportunity to be in silence, swim in cool water, enjoy nature. But it is worth considering that to go to the waterfall itself for 30-40 minutes through the forest and a little upward, which is not a rest for everyone. Let's not forget about the heat, which does not add lightness to this event. I got there in 20 minutes, and back even faster, but it was almost a run..
Thai temple
At the very beginning, near the road, there is a backwater with fish (you can feed) and a gazebo. If you go along the bridge across the river, you will see a Thai temple. It differs from others in a certain modernity and white color. But perhaps the feeling «modernity» appears only because of the novelty of the buildings and shiny metal handrails at the bridges-roads surrounding the buildings.
Hin Lad waterfall on Koh Samui
Buddha statue near the temple
Temple surrounded by bridges and shiny handrails
Temple territory
There is no need to go along the riverbed to the waterfall
If you need to go to the waterfall, then go to the right of the gazebo and climb the stairs (there will be a signpost). I was a little mistaken and first went along the riverbed, this is not a good idea, because I had to walk for several hours.
It's good to lie down like this after work
Who is the first, that and the slippers
Thai family chilling
Path to the waterfall
Realizing that I would not be able to follow the riverbed by the evening, I returned back to the very beginning to the first signpost. Looking around, I saw a staircase. After giving a symbolic 5 baht to the donation box and climbing the stairs, I got into a real jungle. The path forks several times, but it seemed to me that all the paths still converge and go in parallel. In any case, it is worth sticking to the river and walking along it. On the way, you will come across trees with huge roots, lianas, palms, dense tropical vegetation. Many more reports said about spiders, snakes and lizards, but I did not meet anyone! But I didn't really want this, and therefore, after reading horror stories, I walked intently looking at my feet and shying away from every branch, suddenly there is a poisonous spider.
The bridge leads to the temple, and the waterfall to the right along the stairs
We pay 2 baht for entry
A path through the real jungle
But in some places there is rubbish
The path goes along the river all the time
Tree with hair
We climb through roots and stones
A tree with very interesting roots
Khin Lad waterfall
A Thai man sits near the waterfall, sells water and some drinks. The price is adequate, although he transferred his box here by hand. You can also swim here. As far as I understand, in dry times it is easy to approach the waterfall, there are photographs where people are standing right next to them and this waterfall falls on them. But after the rains, it is very problematic to do this, the channel is very wide and deep.
Thai man sells water for tired travelers
Khin Lad waterfall can be seen in the distance
Hin Lad waterfall at long exposure and close-up
However, I wanted to get closer, so to the right, just where the Thai man was sitting, I went further along the stones and the path. There is such a small stone bag, through it. It may well be that not in the rainy season they walk along this path, I don’t know. Just a few more minutes and only a bowl of bubbling water separates from the waterfall. Now it cannot be passed, but again, in the dry season, it seems to be shallow. Here, it is a little difficult to photograph, because water dust instantly wets the lens glass.
Stone bag to the right of the riverbed
Khin Lad waterfall closer
lost World
But you want to get even closer, right? Therefore, without stopping and climb where people usually do not climb. Most likely, they do not climb, because they pass that very bowl into the ford, take pictures directly next to the waterfall and it seems like the job is done. In general, I again took it to the right and climbed up. There is a large stone that encircles a liana, so I moved along it, nothing complicated, just a couple of meters.
You have to climb the liana, pressing against the stone
And then a secret oasis opened to me! Khin Lad falls on the left, another small waterfall on the right, and a sandy beach between them. I am not almost exaggerating, it was the feeling of a lost world that arose in me then. I spent at least an hour there, wandering from stone to stone ... True, I still tried to crawl closer to Khin Lad, and almost succeeded. It is good to come here with friends with a tent for a couple of days and have a picnic.
Secret meadow with sandy beach and waterfall
Bonus - another little waterfall
Near Hin Lad, in a spacer between stones
Where is the Khin Lad waterfall and how to get there
The entrance to the waterfall is free.
The easiest way to get here is by bike or car. You can also take a minibus and get to the junction where Immigration Samui is located. From here, walk 1.4 km to the entrance to the territory of the temple and the path to the waterfall..
At the very entrance, where the platform and the gazebo are, you need to take to the right of the channel, make out the concrete ladder and follow it. Then just follow the path along the river, ignoring the forks. Walk 20-40 minutes depending on the speed. You cannot pass the waterfall, the path ends on it. If you saw some kind of waterfall, but the path went further, this is not Hin Lad, it is just a cascade.
If you are going to Koh Samui and want to find accommodation near this place, you can see our personally compiled directory of houses on Koh Samui, where more than 80 houses with a map and a photo. Accommodation for a short period can be booked through RoomGuru, it's just a mega-service, you can immediately see in which booking system (Booking, Agoda, Hotels, etc.) the hotel you need is cheaper. We also have our own detailed review. best hotels in Koh Samui.
Hin Lad Waterfall and Temple
Hin Lad Waterfall and Temple
From the point to the waterfall you still have to walk 20-40 minutes along the river bed. Sometimes they write Hit Lat Waterfall.
Read about the waterfall and how to walk
From the point to the waterfall you still have to walk 20-40 minutes along the river bed. Sometimes they write Hit Lat Waterfall. Read about the waterfall and how to go
