Lamai Beach on Koh Samui: Pros, Cons and Features

Lamai Beach is Samui's second largest and most popular beach. It is located in the southeast of the island, south of Chaweng Noi, ending in the south with a picturesque pile of boulders, and in the north imperceptibly passing into the coast of Cape Nan. The beach is 40-60 meters wide and about 4.5 km long.

Of all the beaches of Samui, it is Lamai Beach is considered the best option for a beach holiday. On this beach there are no big waves, the tide is practically not observed. Yellowish sand is quite large, mixed with the sea honed with small shells and particles of white coral. If your hotel does not have its own beach, you can rent chairs under an umbrella for 100 baht ($2.7) for the day.

It can be divided into three zones:

• Northern part;
• Centerpiece;
• The southern part is the most picturesque.

The central area of Lamai is optimal for swimming, as it has the widest and cleanest beach, and the entrance to the sea is smooth and absolutely safe. The outskirts of the beach are not so ideal.

The northern part, on the side of Chaweng, is quiet enough, but the sea is quite shallow, and the effect of the tides is much stronger. On the beach and in the shallow water there are a lot of stones of bizarre shapes, forming picturesque bays.

Maximum caution and attention is required in the southern part of the Lamai Beach, ending near the favorite tourist rocks Grandma and Grandpa. Bottom in this part sharply enough and steeply descends, there are many large boulders, and not far from the shore - 15 m, the bottom in the corals, which cuts the legs. The depth is 60-70 cm. So you can only splash near the shore with small children.

Infrastructure and Entertainment

For lovers of outdoor activities on the beach there are jet skis, windsurfing, water skiing. You can always rent masks and flippers. There are quite a few diving schools in this part of the island, so it will be very easy to organize a diving adventure.

In Lamai Beach there are many cafes and restaurants, there is a well-organized food court. The Tesco Lotus Hypermarket is the place to go for all your shopping needs.

A one-way street runs parallel to the seashore - it is home to the most popular entertainment venues, many bars and restaurants. Among the popular 2 restaurants "Black Pearl" and "No Stress", where you can use showers and sunbeds for free, with an order of food or drinks. There are McDonald's and massage parlors. Every day from 18:00 to 24:00 tourists wait for the souvenir market, and nearby there are stalls of street macashnikas.

Every Monday and Friday there is a very entertaining fire show in the Swing Bar from 19 to 24. On Saturdays in the center of Lamai near the go-go bars you can watch Thai boxing for free (for a drink), by the way, sometimes you can watch women's sparring. In the evening every Sunday, the northern part of Samui beach is closed to car traffic - at this time open pedestrian street Walking Street.

Travel agencies, currency exchange, ATMs, car rentals and similar infrastructure on Lamai Beach are everywhere.

The most popular among young people is the Bauhaus nightclub, which is open every day from 18:00 until 2:00 in the morning. This club sometimes hosts foam parties, and on Wednesdays there is always a cocktail night, when those who drink 10 cocktails get a free house t-shirt.

This part of Samui is well known for spas that offer a variety of spa and wellness treatments, as well as yoga and meditation classes. On the territory of Lamai is one of the first spas in Thailand - Spa Samui Resorts, where for a reasonable fee you can undergo a variety of spa treatments, and the quality of service is at a very high level. However, this center is so popular that it is always quite crowded. If you're interested in reading about other beaches, read our review of all Samui beaches.

Hotels

Many inexpensive hotels with direct access to the beach: The Cottage @ Samui, Samui Beach Resort, Marina Beach Resort. The minimum cost of a room without air conditioning is 300 baht ($8.3), and a decent room in a mansion with air conditioning (for two) can be found for 500 baht ($14).

You can find a cheap enough accommodation and when you arrive, but if you do not know the exact location, it will be a long search - the fact that cheap hostels are not concentrated in one place, and scattered all over Lamai Beach. Although, most of them are located on the north side, therefore, it is better to search there.

Close to the sea coast (up to 1000 m), you can for 250 baht ($7), rent separate bungalows with a fan.

You can find very cheap options in small alleys off the road, but every year the new, expensive hotels are growing faster, crowding out their cheap competitors, and the search becomes more difficult.

How to get there

It all depends on where exactly you need to get to Lamai.

From Samui Airport to Lamai

Since there is no public transportation in this direction, the cheapest option is to take a minivan. It costs 170 baht ($4.5). You can order a cab in advance or pick one up at the airport. Journey time is 15-20 minutes.

From Nathon Marina to Lamai

Lamai Beach is located on the opposite side of the pier, and there are few travel options. If there are few things and the room is not booked in advance, you can go on the Nathon - Lamai, which are always available at the pier waiting for tourists disembarking from the ferry. The ticket price is 60 baht ($1.5). The car goes on the south side of Koh Samui, then goes to its eastern side. For the main part of the beach the songhteo goes on the highway, but it does not come to the hotels, and if the room is already booked, the hotel will still need to look for a hotel.

In this case, the more convenient option is to take a cab, which in 30 minutes will take you directly to the hotel. Such a trip will be more convenient and when there is a large luggage. In addition, the cabin of the car must have air conditioning, so the ride will be much more comfortable than in the sunteo. Such cabs, similar in appearance to the Bangkok taxis, are always available at the pier, but they do not use meters - the fare must be negotiated, the minimum price is 1200 baht ($33).

The most convenient option is to book a transfer in advance. In this case, the tourist is met personally, in addition, the driver knows exactly where the desired hotel is located, which can not be said about the cab drivers from the pier - they can not always understand which hotel to go to.

From Lipa Noi Pier to Lamai

Lipa Noi is a pier designed for transport to Samui from the mainland, that is, a cargo pier. Sailing here is not as cheap as it may seem to thrifty tourists.

There is no public transportation and you have to take a cab to Lamai, either in air-conditioned cars or tuk-tuks. And you have to drive about 30 minutes, which is longer than from Naton, because Lipa Noi is located farther away.

Bottom line: Lamai Beach on Koh Samui suits almost everyone. For young people the options to have fun here is enough, and if it's not enough, you can always go to a nearby bustling beach Chaweng. Here are great conditions for families with children, and for the elderly there are quiet spots.