At the base of the structure, several shops and restaurants cater to the needs of devotees and tourists alike. Wat Phra Yai is in the Northeast of Samui on route 4171 near the airport.
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Formerly one of Samui's main attractions, this small, dilapidated
statue is now only visited by Buddhist devotees. Although it is in a
state of disrepair, the Coral Buddha is still revered and is a place
of worship for the monks from nearby Wat Sumret. The only direction
sign is a small tatty board parallel to the road which is easy to
miss when driving past. It is on the 4169 ring-road approximately
800 meters West of Hua Thanon.
There are actually four foot-prints here, superimposed one on
another. Each one is artistically en-graved. They are housed in a
modest shrine 150 steps up a steep hill, which also offers a great
view across the plains to the mountains opposite, and to the sea
over the tree tops. Buddha's Footprint is not signposted but can be
found by going up a concrete slope on the left, two kilometers West
of the turnoff for the Butterfly Garden on the 4170 road.
Also in? the Wat Laem Sor grounds, but a fair distance away lies the
Khao (mountain) Chedi. Until a few months ago, this ruined monument
had been forgotten about for many years. Now, the overgrown path
leading to the chedi has been cleared and there's easy access. About
300 meters West of the Laem Sor Chedi there is a hill. At the base
of the hill a small hut can be seen, and 100 meters to the right of
this dwelling, the path is visible. It leads to a stairway which
takes about 10 minutes to climb. At the top, the peaceful ruins of
the Khao Chedi greet the intrepid explorer. The panorama of Laem Sor
Bay and the nearby islands from here is breathtaking.
