Lamai Beach , Koh Samui Thailand
 Lamai beach
The second popular beach in Samui is Lamai Beach. It is a quieter, looser, and a little cheaper than Chaweng Beach. There is something distinctly boom-town about the main strip, which is generally referred to as Lamai Gulch, with its bars, diners and shops crammed together along the roadside and down the dusty side lanes. Ride or walk to the back of the beach road and you're in the heart of banana groves and coconut plantations, and you can take a mountain bike ride up the hill tracks and into the rugged interior... Or follow the road down past the headland where the infamous Grandfather and Grandmother's rocks attract picnic people.
Moreover, Lamai is home to a charming old temple with a tiny museum, and a number of local gyms where you can learn Thai boxing lesson. You will also find a choice of dive shops and even a couple of meditation centers.After the sun set this place become the center of the lively night and many shopping centers. Furthermore, there are some real home-style alfresco places with Thai and western food, pub/saloons featuring live bands, video movies on show and several discos which start swinging 'round about midnight. Central Lamai has a broad selection of bungalow type accommodation, ranging from budget lodgings to the magnificent, the latter with tended landscaped gardens, swimming pools and sweet seclusion.
 Where to stay:
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 (see below).
What to do:
A must-do in Thailand: the foot massage
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.
What to see:
Famous tourist attraction
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.
Viewpoint on the way to Lamai
On the way from Lamai to Chaweng, you will find some nice viewpoints overlooking the two bays of Chaweng Mon and Laem Nam. Parking is ample and there are a few small restaurants from which to to enjoy the ocean vistas. Early birds will be interested in catching a sunrise from one of these redoubts.
Several hotels south of Lamai are hidden in jungle settings overlooking secluded coves, making them perfect romantic hideaways. Also, for families there are some nice resorts with plenty of things for the kids to do (have a look at Jungle Park Resort). Whatever your accommodation needs though, you're likely to find it in Lamai.
Partner Sites
www.samuihoteltour.com
| www.samui-hotels-links.com
| www.hotel-samui.net
| www.1samui.com
| www.samui-hotels.info
| www.ko-samui-hotels.net
| www.samui-map.com
Provided
by Tourism Authority of Thailand
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