This post is part of our Explorer Series. It explains why we created it and why you should take part. To visit the main page, follow the link below.
Most guests arrive on Koh Samet, find a beach they like, and stay there for the duration. Which is fine – the beaches are the reason people come. But the island has more to offer than most visitors ever see, and we wanted to create something that encourages people to actually look around.
That’s why we created the Koh Samet Explorer Series – a set of self-guided challenges that take guests from one end of the island to the other. The first challenge is the Island Treasure Hunt: ten landmarks spread across Koh Samet, from the northwest tip down to the far south. We chose them deliberately. Together they cover most of the island and take you through areas you’d never pass through otherwise.
Why these landmarks?
We didn’t want a list of the obvious tourist stops. We wanted landmarks that get overlooked – places with real history, real meaning, and a genuine reason to stop. The shrines, the temple, the statues at Sai Kaew – most guests walk past them without knowing what they’re looking at. The Explorer Series gives you a reason to stop and take them in properly.
The two statues at Sai Kaew beach are a good example. The mermaid and the giant demon figure both come from Phra Aphai Mani – a 30,000-line epic poem written by Sunthorn Phu in the early 19th century, partly set on this island. The poem tells the story of a prince who flees an ogress and is rescued by a mermaid who brings him to Koh Samet. The statues aren’t just decorative – they’re why this island has the cultural identity it does. If you want to understand the full story before you visit them, this article is worth reading.
Take your time getting there
Part of the point is the journey between landmarks. The road towards the Chinese shrine – Mae Sri Tubtim – passes through a quieter part of the island that most beach visitors never reach. There are some genuinely good coffee shops, bars, and restaurants along the way. We’d encourage you to slow down on that stretch rather than rushing to tick the box and head back.
The same goes for the harder landmarks. The nature trail summit and the hidden sunset viewpoint aren’t quick stops – they’re worth making a half-day of. Bring water, wear shoes, and go in the morning before it gets hot.
How to take part
The checklist lives on our website. Scan the QR code at reception or find it at the link below. Tick off landmarks as you go – your progress saves automatically in your browser. Once you’ve found all six easy landmarks, you can submit to the Explorer Hall of Fame. Find all ten and you earn Legend status.
To claim your status we need to see your photos. Post from each landmark on Instagram, tag @cocoonsamethostel and use #SametExplorer – individual posts or a gallery both work. Then fill in the form on the checklist page.
