Wat Sawang Arom
A quiet white temple where the appeal is the welcome and the calm, not polished upkeep.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Open 24 hours daily
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Details
Full opening hours
Tours that include Wat Sawang Arom
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Sawang Arom.
Why go, and how to do it well
Come here for the quiet, not for perfection. This is a working Buddhist temple in Bo Put, white enough that on a bright day it genuinely hurts to look at, with a cluster of pavilions and buildings that are lovely in shape even if the paint and the pathways could do with attention. Reviewers say as much, and they're right. Most tourists head to the bigger temples on the island instead, which is exactly why this one stays calm.
What sets it apart is the welcome. The head monk, Khun Pasit, has been leading blessings, ceremonies and funerals for local families and foreign residents for years, and foreigners who want to make an offering are genuinely included rather than tolerated. You can buy flowers, incense and sangkata on site for a small amount of cash, and equipment used in monk blessings can be borrowed. Makha Bucha Day, with its candlelit procession, is the time to come if your dates line up. Entrance is free.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026
Stay within reach of Wat Sawang Arom
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Tours that include Wat Sawang Arom
Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Wat Sawang Arom.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Wat Sawang Arom, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 4 minKoh Samui ExperiencesActivities & Tours · 280 m · 4.9★
- 4 minWhite MarketMarkets & Shopping · 330 m · 4.6★
- 5 minScuba Birds Dive Center Koh SamuiActivities & Tours · 390 m · 4.8★
- 6 minLotus's SamuiMarkets & Shopping · 480 m · 4.4★
- 6 minBanyan Market: 10 restaurants under the Magic TreeRestaurants & Food · 500 m · 4.7★
- 7 minHomePro SamuiMarkets & Shopping · 590 m · 4.3★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Wat Sawang Arom, round out your day in Koh Samui with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
We have known this temple since 2015, the head monk Khun Pasit is a very kind man. He has lead blessings where I have worked, for our own business, for loved ones lost, and lead the funeral of my father in law. This temple welcomes foreigners who wish to make a Bhuddist offering. You can get flowers, insence, sangkata all at the temple for an offering for some cash. This temple also has Koh Samui"s only Burmese Monk. Lovely pavillions and buildings. You can borrow equipment used in Monk blessings from them also if you need to arrange a blessing off site. A very special place 🙏
Because it is white, it is quite a strain on the eyes on a sunny day. A nice looking temple. So are the surrounding buildings.
It's a nice temple, but it requires some maintenance. Entrance is free. Very quiet territory and nice surroundings.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 214 reviews on Google.
109 ถ. ทวีราษฎร์ภักดี Tambon Bo Put, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84320, Thailand
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Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Go Early Morning
Big-name temples are dramatically less crowded in the first hour after opening. You'll also avoid the worst of the midday heat and get softer light for photos.
Wat Sawang Arom: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wat Sawang Arom worth visiting?
Wat Sawang Arom holds a 4.7★ rating from 214 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated temples & culture in Koh Samui.
What are the opening hours of Wat Sawang Arom?
Wat Sawang Arom is open 24 hours a day — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Wat Sawang Arom?
The best months to visit Koh Samui are January – September, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in July – August & December — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: October – December (Gulf Coast monsoon).
Where is Wat Sawang Arom located?
Wat Sawang Arom is at 109 ถ. ทวีราษฎร์ภักดี Tambon Bo Put, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84320, Thailand, in Koh Samui. Getting around Koh Samui: Songthaews (fixed routes around the ring road); Motorbike or scooter rental.
Also popular in Koh Samui
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Samui (Soi 1 Branch)
Fisherman's Village Night Market
Thai Spices Restaurant
Urban Thai Massage
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