Lamai Beach, Koh Samui
Lamai beach located 10 Km in the south of Chaweng beach on the east coast, Lamai is the second largest beach on Koh Samui. To get to Lamai beach, turn left on the main road coming from the airport. The wide sandy beach is not as powdery as that of Chaweng but the hundreds of coconut trees bending over the blue-green waters give Lamai a more peaceful and natural atmosphere. And for those who enjoy playing in the waves, there is no reef protecting this bay, so the sea is a little rougher.Although it can get rather busy at night, the small town of Lamai is a good median between the too remote places and the crowds of Chaweng.
The Beach
Lamai is a lovely, peaceful beacha stunning crescent of palm-fringed powdery white sand that's perfect for whiling away the day sunbathing and a deep central stretch of water great for swimming and watersports. If you are looking for a relaxing few days on the beach, the local amenities can cater adequately to all needs and you will not have to move too much at all.
The general atmosphere is laid back and Lamai has slightly older, and by extention cheaper tourist facilities than Chaweng, although there is some indication that the area is slowly being rejuvenated. Along with the rest of Samui, there is a steady trend away from the 'cheap and cheerful' toward smarter, high-end accommodation and dining facilities and new resorts in Lamai such as The Pavillion, The Renaissance and Lamai Wanta bear testament to this upgrade.
Attractions
If you are based in Lamai, it is worth hiring a jeep or motorbike to explore the surrounding environs, as a lot of the interesting attractions are located on the outskirts of Lamai itself. Some of the island's most popular tourist sites are located in this locality, such as Hinta HinYai and Wat Khunaram, so if you can drag yourself off the beach, you could easily fill a couple of days exploring the area.
Among Lamai's main attractions are its open-air market and the old monastery, which includes a local museum and picturesque village scenes. If you want to get back to nature, a good place to start is by exploring the paths behind the beach road. Here you'll find peaceful fruit and coconut plantations, as well as trails leading into the island's interior.
Down the road are the famous Grandfather and Grandmother rocks, favorites among both Thai and foreign tourists. Further south on beach side of the main road, is Wat Silangu, one of two golden pagodas on the island. Providing excellent photo opportunities, its shimmering exterior stands out beautifully against the deep blue tropical sky.
- Lamai Beach Dining & Restaurants
Lamai Beach has lots to offer whatever your budget or taste in food. From expensive 4 star restaurants to restaurants so small that they don't even have names, there are great dining experiences to be had at every corner. If you're too relaxed to leave the beach then don't worry, the beach vendors will come to you, offering fruit, ice creams and sweetcorn.
- Lamai Beach Nightlife and Bars
Smaller than Chaweng, the scene at Lamai is slightly older with everything from the ubiquitous bar beers, to discos, music venues with lots of foot stomping, classical Thai dancing, and Thai lady boxing.
Accomodations
Accommodation choices range from backpacker beach huts to more upbeat resorts such as Silvadee Pool Spa Resort and Rocky Resort, along with equally up-market Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort. The area has grown a lot in recent years but there's still a village atmosphere and, more than anything, a fun-loving vibe. The bungalow accommodation in Lamai is usually a bit cheaper but you can also find a number of nice, comfortable resorts that are good value for the money.
Though Lamai is smaller and not as crowded as Chaweng, it still has an active nightlife with many bars (some with live bands) and a large diversity of restaurants, mini-marts, shops and of course, massage places. For the sports-minded, kayaking and snorkeling equipment can be rented at the beach.
On the main beach road, places of interest include health and meditation centers, dive shops and a Thai boxing school. As the main street of Lamai is quite narrow and traffic can get hectic, we once again recommend driving very carefully.
