Lamai beach
Lamai beach is the second most popular beach after Chaweng, but it doesn’t have a crowded feel to it, even if it’s only half as long. Lamai sits in a sweeping bay with the sands stretching almost as far as the distant Hinta-Hinyai, or Mama and Papa rock formations, which are located behind a small headland. Just to the north of Lamai there’s Tong Takian Bay, with a high, rocky headland and plenty of lush jungle sweeping up into the mountains.
For the less adventurous, Lamai beach is still a wonderful place for relaxing during the day, most of all because there’s plenty of space. At Lamai’s northern end, which is one of the few places to have deep water swimming all year round, you’ll also find one of Thailand’s first ever spas, Spa Samui Resorts. This offers some of the cheapest treatments available on the island, but still has high standards although there is a bit of a cult feel to the place with lots of people on fasting treatments. Spa Samui Resorts offer a number of packages, including de-toxing and fasting programs as well as meditation.
Head along the beach and you come to a far more hedonistic place, Buddy’s, which is a cool bar and restaurant and a good place to wind down over a few drinks; there’s also a swimming pool and good food in chilled out surroundings. Accommodation in Lamai’s north end is a good deal quieter and often more moderately priced than elsewhere on the beach; places like Long Island and Rose Garden resort offer a good range of styles and prices, but as you approach the town proper, options get more expensive. One example of this trend is the up-market Pavilion Resort with its justifiably chic restaurant, a great place for romantic dining.
Lamai town, set back 100 metres from the beach itself, stretches along the beach road, and by day can resemble a sleepy village. However, it does have a good variety of shops and services, so just about everything can be found here, including supermarkets, banks, and travel agencies. It’s at night that Lamai comes truly alive, however, and has an entirely justified reputation for luridness, with plenty of bars and bar girls, little of which is hidden away.
Aside from more seedy pursuits, restaurants can be found in abundance, and there is something to suit most people’s pockets. On the beach road, Sala offers a fine selection of international and Thai dishes and The Shamrock, located nearby, does very good pub grub and more. For nightlife, The Bauhaus is perhaps the most well known club in this part of the island, and is popular with residents and holidaymakers alike; it’s conveniently located halfway down the strip. The beach itself is also well served by eateries that produce some very tasty food by day or night and there are plenty of street-stalls as well.
There have been reports of muggings in Lamai, mostly in the dark areas between the beach road and the sea. There have also been bungalow break-ins, as in Chaweng, and caution should be exercised. The recent death of holidaymaker Katherine Horton highlighted the need to take care. The beach can be very dark at night – like everywhere. Care should also be taken swimming in the sea, with big waves and rip currents causing problems at times.
- See a list of hotel and resort rooms on Lamai Beach and book
- Find this beach on the Samui map
