# Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Koh Samui > Hin Ta and Hin Yai ('Grandfather' and 'Grandmother') are granite boulders on the shore at the south end of Lamai Beach. Their shapes suggest male and female forms, and locals see them as an old couple from legend. Entry is free. A souvenir lane leads to the rocks, which are slippery. It's about 20 minutes from Chaweng, and the Red Temple is 1 km away. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/hin-ta-hin-yai - City: [Koh Samui](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui), Thailand - YesGo score: 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Opening hours: Daytime; best in the morning or late afternoon - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; a small donation is sometimes asked - Where: South end of Lamai Beach, off ring road 4169 - The way in: A souvenir lane with kalamae sweet stalls - Take care: The rocks are slippery, especially at high tide and after rain - From Chaweng: ≈ 12 km, about 20 minutes - Red Temple: ≈ 1 km, 2–3 minutes - Coordinates: 9.45200, 100.03970 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Hin Ta** — 'Grandfather's rock' — 'ta' means grandfather in Thai (source: travel guides) - **Hin Yai** — 'Grandmother's rock' — 'yai' means grandmother (source: travel guides) - **Granite** — boulders shaped by sea and wind (source: travel guides) - **Legend** — locals see the rocks as an elderly married couple (source: travel guides) - **Kalamae** — a coconut and rice sweet sold on the way to the rocks (source: travel guides) - **Lamai** — Samui's second-biggest resort beach — the rocks are at its south end (source: travel guides) - **≈ 1 km** — to the Red Temple (Wat Sila Ngu) (source: OSRM) - **0 baht** — to get in (source: travel guides) ## What are Hin Ta and Hin Yai? **Hin Ta and Hin Yai** — 'Grandfather's rock' and 'Grandmother's rock' — are granite boulders on the shore at the **south end of Lamai Beach**. Sea and wind have worn them into shapes that suggest **male and female forms**. Thais treat this with humour but also respect. In local legend the boulders are an **elderly married couple**, Grandfather Ta and Grandmother Yai, who stayed by the sea for ever. Today it's one of Samui's most visited spots: people take photos, watch the waves and buy sweets. > **Slippery rocks** To reach the boulders you cross granite slabs by the water. At high tide, after rain or in surf they're very slippery. Wear sandals with grip, don't climb wet boulders for a photo, and hold children's hands. Avoid coming after dark. ## How it works From the car park on the ring road, a **souvenir lane** leads down to the shore: stalls of clothes, magnets and the local sweet **kalamae**, made from coconut and sticky rice and often cooked in front of you. Beyond it are a small viewing area and the rocks by the water. Entry is **free**; a small donation is sometimes asked. Tour groups arrive by day, so it's quietest **in the morning** and late afternoon. The rocky shore isn't for swimming — swim on Lamai beach itself. ## What to see - **Hin Ta** — 'Grandfather'. - **Hin Yai** — 'Grandmother'. - **Waves** crashing on the granite boulders. - **Views of Lamai Beach** from the rocks. - **The souvenir lane** and its stalls. - **Kalamae** — a local sweet made on the spot. ## How to get to Hin Ta and Hin Yai 1. **From Chaweng** — ≈ 12 km south on ring road 4169, about 20 minutes by taxi or scooter. 2. **From Lamai** — 5 minutes by car, or walk along the south end of the beach. 3. **From the airport** — ≈ 17 km, about 25 minutes. 4. **By songthaew** — the blue shared trucks on the ring road; get off at the Hin Ta Hin Yai turn-off. 5. Parking may be free or paid — keep some change. ## Morning or midday | | Morning | Midday | | --- | --- | --- | | Crowds | Few | Many groups | | Stalls | Just opening | All open | | Light | Soft | Harsh and hot | | Rocks | Often damp | Dry at low tide | ## How long do you need? Allow **30 minutes** for the rocks, or about an hour with the souvenir lane and kalamae. It's an easy stop on a loop of the island's south with the **Red Temple** 1 km away, **Wat Khunaram** and the **Na Muang waterfalls**. Afterwards, swim at Lamai beach or have lunch at a café along its front. ## Are Hin Ta and Hin Yai worth visiting? Yes, if you're nearby: it's an amusing local landmark with fine waves and views of Lamai, and entry is free. The YesGo take: the spot is small and crowded by day, and the lane to it is all souvenirs. Stop by on the way south, in the morning, and try the kalamae — it's the most local thing here. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Sandals with grip - [ ] Change for parking and kalamae - [ ] Morning or evening — fewer people - [ ] The Red Temple next on the route - [ ] Swimwear for Lamai beach ## Koh Samui nature and beaches: compare and choose Natural sights and viewpoints on Koh Samui rated by YesGo. - [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/koh-samui-big-buddha) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Wat Plai Laem](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-plai-laem) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free - [Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/hin-ta-hin-yai) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Secret Buddha Garden](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/secret-buddha-garden) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 80 baht - [Ang Thong National Marine Park](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/ang-thong-marine-park) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra ## Southern Samui in half a day The Na Muang waterfalls in the morning, then Wat Khunaram, the Red Temple and the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Na Muang Waterfalls](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/na-muang-waterfalls) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Na Muang 1 free; Na Muang 2 ≈ 30–50 baht 2. [Wat Khunaram (Mummified Monk)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-khunaram) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · free 3. [Red Temple (Wat Sila Ngu)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-sila-ngu) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free 4. [Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/hin-ta-hin-yai) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free ## Good to know Samui's Hin Ta and Hin Yai are not the 'grandmother rocks' found in other countries. The name is also spelled Hin Ta Hin Yay. ## Tips - Sandals with grip are a must. - Try freshly made kalamae. - Don't climb on wet boulders. - It's quietest in the morning. - Nearby: [the Red Temple](https://yesgo.io/thailand/koh-samui/wat-sila-ngu), 1 km. ## Questions ### How much does it cost to see Hin Ta and Hin Yai? Entry is free; a small donation is sometimes asked. ### Where are the rocks? At the south end of Lamai Beach, next to the ring road. ### What do the names mean? 'Ta' is grandfather, 'Yai' is grandmother: the rocks are seen as an old couple from legend. ### Can you swim there? Not by the rocks — swim on Lamai beach. ### Is it safe? Yes, with care: the rocks are slippery at high tide and after rain. ### What should I try? Kalamae — a sweet made from coconut and sticky rice. ### How long do you need? 30 minutes, or about an hour with the lane. ### Is it good for children? Yes, but hold their hands on the rocks. ## How we checked There's no official website, Wikipedia article or Wikidata item. The description, entry and warnings are from guides. We give the legend only in outline. Sources disagree on hours (24 hours, 6:00–19:00, 8:30–18:30), so we give no fixed times. Distances are from OSRM: 11.9 km from Chaweng, 17 km from the airport, 1 km to the Red Temple. ## Sources - Travel guides (Love Thailand, Forever Vacation, Phuket Ferry, Banbanjara and others) — rocks, legend, entry, slippery rocks, kalamae (unofficial) - OSM — coordinates (natural=rock 'หินตาหินยาย'); OSRM — road distances - YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.