The Overlap Stone Koh Samui Guide: How to Get There & Pro Tips

How to reach Samui's famous balancing boulder, what it really costs, and why Overlap Stone 2 got shut down.

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By Ted

September 17, 2026

5 min read

Volume I · Issue 422

Overlap Stone on Koh Samui in all it's glory

Fig. 01

Lamai Bay from up high: the kind of view waiting at the Overlap Stone.

Ted’s Takeaways

Start at the Red Temple, Wat Sila Ngu, and head inland up the steep paved road.
Budget about 300 baht in cash for Overlap Stone 1, parking and a drink included.
Overlap Stone 2 is closed after the July 2026 forest raid, so don't plan around it.
Not confident on a Samui scooter? Take a Grab up and sort your ride back first.

Quick favor: when you're ready to book, please do it through the links here. They're affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you - the price is exactly the same (and it's how I keep the lights on around here). I'd recommend this stuff regardless. Full disclosure here. Thanks! - ted

There's a moment on the road above Lamai when you look up through the trees and spot a boulder the size of a small house. It's sitting on another rock like a giant set it down and forgot to come back for it. That's the Overlap Stone, and after eight years of island life, it still makes me grin.

It sits about 150 meters up in the jungle, and the payoff is a wide-open view over Lamai Bay and the whole east coast. It's easily one of my favorite things to do in Koh Samui: a short climb, a cold drink, and a photo your friends back home won't believe is real.

Here's exactly how to get to Overlap Stone, what to expect when you arrive, and the local scoop on what just happened to Overlap Stone 2.

What Is the Overlap Stone?

Locals call it Hin Son, which roughly means "stacked stone." That's exactly what it is: an 8-meter granite boulder balanced on a rock ledge in the hills of Maret, about 3 km from Lamai Beach.

Overlap Stone 1 - 2 boulders balanced one on top of the other with incredible Koh Samui views beyond — Get there early and this is your reward - empty, with views for days!

These days the entrance is signed as Overlap Stone Camp View, but most people call it Overlap Stone 1. That's because a second balancing rock higher up the same road became Overlap Stone 2 (the drama on that one is further down).

As a Koh Samui viewpoint, it's hard to beat. You're looking out over the long curve of Lamai, jungle hills rolling down to the water, and the Gulf of Thailand fading into the horizon.

How to Get to Overlap Stone

Everything starts at the Red Temple. Head south from Lamai on the ring road (Route 4169) and pass the turnoff for Hin Ta and Hin Yai. Then watch for the bright red Wat Sila Ngu, also called Wat Ratchathammaram. The road to the stone heads inland directly across from the temple, and there's a big free car park by the main road.

From the ring road, it's about 1.2 km and roughly 150 meters of climbing to the entrance. Walking up from the temple car park takes about 30 minutes, which makes it a short but honest hike in Koh Samui heat.

View of the greenery and foliage on the hike up to Overlap Stone — The last stretch up looks like this.

By Scooter

The road is paved the whole way, but the last stretch is seriously steep. A weak Samui scooter will whine its way up. The ride down is the real test, especially on a Koh Samui motorcycle rental with tired brakes.

Silver rental scooter parked on a coastal track at sunset, a popular Koh Samui motorcycle rental for exploring the island — A Samui scooter shines on the coast road; that hill is another story.

Take it slow and watch for sand and loose gravel on the corners. Wear your helmet too, since fines now reach about 2,000 baht. My scooter rental guide covers the rest.

Before you ride anywhere on the island, check out my guide to the best travel insurance for Thailand, including which policies actually cover scooters.

By Grab, Taxi or Songthaew

A Grab in Koh Samui or a regular taxi will drop you right at the Overlap Stone 1 entrance. Expect to pay a bit more than the usual 300 to 600 baht you'd pay between Chaweng and Lamai, since it's uphill and out of the way. The catch is getting back down: waiting 30 minutes or more for a ride is normal up here, so sort out your return before you go.

A Koh Samui songthaew is the budget move at around 150 baht on a shared ride, but it only drops you on the ring road by the Red Temple. For fares and apps, see my full guide on how to get around Koh Samui.

The entrance sign by Overlap Stone — The entrance sign to Overlap Stone.

Ted's Tip

If you aren't fully confident on two wheels, don't be a hero on this hill. Park at the free lot by the Red Temple and poke around the temple first, since it's free and beautiful. Then walk or grab a car up. I've watched more than one rental scooter end up in the bushes on the way down, and that's a souvenir nobody wants.

Visiting Overlap Stone 1: Tickets & What to Expect

Pay at the entrance and you're a short climb from the view.

Entry: About 300 baht per person, which covers parking and a cold drink. Bring cash.
The climb: Roughly 10 minutes up steep paved steps. It's short, sweaty, and totally worth it.
The bridge: A solid bridge leads out to the stone, but it has no side railings. If heights make your knees wobble, take it slow.
The rules: Standing right beside the stone is off-limits now. There are cameras, and the fine is 2,000 baht.
Facilities: Toilets, a small bar, and plenty of ledges to sit and soak it all in.

Parents, hold little hands at the top, because there's no fencing along the edges.

On the way up, you'll also pass a small enclosure with two baby elephants on chains (this is new, and yes, it's sad). They're part of an elephant feeding add-on that runs about 900 baht per person, with drinks and the walk to the stone included.

Asian elephant with a saddle eating a bundle of grass at an elephant camp on Koh Samui, banana palms behind — Elephant in Koh Samui (not the one by the Overlap Stone).

If spending time with elephants is on your list, my elephant sanctuaries guide covers the options around the island.

Ted's Tip

Aim to be at the top by 9 a.m. The morning light turns Lamai Bay silver-blue and the rock is still cool enough to sit on. You'll also be back down before the midday sun turns those steps into a StairMaster inside a sauna. Spray on mosquito repellent before you leave the car park, because the jungle bugs are always hungry up there.

Traveler spraying mosquito repellent onto their hand by the sea before a hike in Koh Samui — Repellent first, climb second. The Maret jungle bugs never take a day off.

What Happened to Overlap Stone 2? The Local Scoop

Here's the story most online guides haven't caught up with yet.

A couple of years ago, Overlap Stone 2 was my favorite little secret. You drove past the first entrance and followed handwritten signs up the hill. Then you parked in the dirt and picked a steep 200-meter path or a gentler 600-meter one. At the top, a man sold drinks and charged 20 baht. That was the whole operation.

Then it grew up fast. By 2025 it had become a venue called The Best Samui, with:

a café full of beanbags and a pricey restaurant
a giant woven hand you could pose on, plus new concrete viewing decks
a free jeep up from the Red Temple car park
a 200 baht ticket

On July 22, 2026, it all stopped. Forestry officials, Koh Samui district officers and Bo Phut police raided the site after satellite checks showed the buildings sat on protected forest land. They seized 33 structures covering nearly 5 rai (about two acres), and the case is headed for prosecution.

Aerial view of Koh Samui's forested jungle interior, a river winding between green hills and a dirt track — Samui's forested hills are protected land, and officials are enforcing it.

It wasn't a one-off, either. Two days later, officials seized more than 50 rai of encroached swamp forest in Bophut. It's part of a bigger push to take back state land on the island.

As of September 2026, Overlap Stone 2 is closed with no reopening date, even though some maps and tour listings still show it as open. The good news is that the original Overlap Stone 1 is open as usual.

If you're itching for a second scramble, nearby Cobra Stone charges about 50 baht with a bottle of water included. There's no balancing boulder, and the climb is a real workout.

Pro Tips for Your Overlap Stone Visit

Wear real shoes. Sneakers with grip beat flip-flops every time, and the steps get slippery after rain.
Pack water and sun protection. There's very little shade on the rocks.
Pick a clear day. December to May usually brings the bluest skies. My guide to the best time to visit Koh Samui breaks down every month.
Carry small bills. Everything up here runs on cash.

Koh Samui weather infographic showing the best time to visit, dry beach months and the rainiest season — Samui's seasons at a glance. Clear skies make the viewpoint climb sing.

Make a Morning of It

The stone slots neatly into any Koh Samui itinerary with these stops nearby:

Wat Sila Ngu: The Red Temple at the bottom of the hill, free to visit.
Hin Ta and Hin Yai: The famously cheeky Grandfather and Grandmother rocks, well signposted just up the road toward Lamai.
Breakfast in Lamai: Jahn Dim Sum is a local morning favorite for cheap dim sum plates. My Lamai Beach guide has plenty more ideas.

Hin Ta and Hin Yai Grandfather and Grandmother granite rocks above the sea near Lamai, Koh Samui — Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Samui's cheekiest rocks, just up the road.

Final Thoughts

The Overlap Stone proves Samui's best views don't always come with a beach chair. A steep little climb, a cold drink, and that impossible-looking boulder hanging over Lamai Bay make for one of the most memorable mornings on the island. Go early and ride carefully (or don't ride at all). Bring cash, and keep an ear out for news on Overlap Stone 2, because I certainly will.

Panoramic Koh Samui viewpoint from a forested hilltop over a coastal town, lagoon and bay after a short hike — Climb a little, see a lot. Samui's hilltops always deliver.

Still chasing views? My guides to The Jungle Club viewpoint and The Roof Samui should be next on your list.

Overlap Stone FAQ

How much does it cost to visit the Overlap Stone?

About 300 baht per person at Overlap Stone 1, including parking and a drink. It's cash only.

Is Overlap Stone 2 open?

No. It has been closed since the July 22, 2026 forest land raid, and no reopening date has been announced.

Can I ride a scooter up to the Overlap Stone?

Yes. The road is paved but very steep near the top, and coming down is the tricky part. If you're not an experienced rider, park by the Red Temple and walk or take a Grab.