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Lamai
From Wikitravel
Lamai is a beach on the east coast of Ko Samui, Thailand.
[edit] Orientation
The southern third of the beach has the widest strip of sand, is the best for swimming, and has the most nearby eating and drinking and shopping options. To the north, the water doesn't get deep enough for swimming until you're quite some distance out, and the further north you go, the narrower and quieter the beach becomes, eventually becoming rocky towards the headland.
There is a significant number of girlie bars along the main street as well as in some side streets. They are most prevalent in the southern part of town, while the northern part is virtually free of them.
[edit] Get in
Minibus transfers between Lamai and Samui Airport cost about 150 baht/person; a private taxi charter costs around 300-400 baht.
A minibus from the ferry terminal sets you back 100 baht.
[edit][add listing] See
Hire a jeep or motorbike and explore the surrounding area of Lamai as there are plenty of interesting attractions to see. Ko Samui's most popular tourist sites are in this locality so if you're getting bored swimming all day, try some exploring around the area instead.
The south of Lamai, once you get past the Muslim Fishing village Hua Thanon, is Samui before becoming the popular tourist destination it is now. It gives you a view of lush greenery, livestock grazing in the fields, and little roadside cafes selling drinks and Thai dishes.
Between Lamai and Hua Thanon lies two famous rock formations: Hin Ta and Hin Yai also known as Grandpa and Grandma rocks. These formations look like the male and female genitalia, respectively. What makes these rocks even more strange is that they are close to each other, giving way to a legend explaining how they came to be.
Near Hin Ta and Hin Yai is a small beach. It is not for swimming but it gives you time to cool your feet. Small souvenir shops sell clothes, postcards, drinks and snacks including the local sweet "galamae". Parking is convenient and viewing these popular formations are free.
The Wat Lamai Temple has played host to temple fairs along with weddings, funerals and various religious festivals. It features concerts, fariground games, food and an outdoor cinema. The temple fairs are week-long celebration and are worth seeing if you happen to be in Lamai during one.
The Cultural Hall within the temple contains a collection of artifacts from Samui's past. The collections range from brass and earthenware containers to a 2000 year old metal ceremonial drum dug out from a Lamai village.
Wat Khunaram houses the body of one of Samui's most famous mummified monk, Loung Pordaeng. Loung Pordaeng passed away 20 years ago and, by his request, his body was placed in a glass case. His body has remained in the specially-made glass case since his death and amazingly, shows only a few signs of decay.
[edit][add listing] Do
Take a swim in the Gulf of Thailand. The beach is wide and has nice sand.
[edit][add listing] Buy
- Bargaining is always possible when it comes to souvenir and souvenir-like products. Even when a price is indicated a discount up to 50% might be available. As many shops and the often cheaper market stalls sell mostly the similar products ask at several places to get an idea of what is a reasonable price before starting haggling for the product you really want.
- There are lots of souvenir shops lined up in the main street. It is not uncommon for the shopkeepers to ask 5 times the normal tourist price.
- The clothes sold here can often be found at Khao San Road in Bangkok for a lower price.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Kamalaya [1] has three eateries: Soma Restaurant, Amrita Cafe, and Alchemy Bar.
- Kokomiko - Thai / International restaurant on the ring road between Lamai and Hinta Hinyai opposite the DTAC tower. Serves quality food since 13 years and is well known by the expat community. Homemade Spaetzle, Gulash, Schnitzel & Steaks and the best Thai dishes are available.
- Krua Mapraw - Thai restaurant on the ring road across from the IT Complex on the way to Chaweng. They serve rice and noodle dishes, soups and seafood for reasonable prices, starting at 25 baht.
- The Spa - on the right side, on the Lamai to Chaweng road. The restaurant is hidden by the hotel building. Go there along a small path on the right side. The setting is very nice, located right at the beach. The food is among the best on the island. You get health and healthy food in all styles, e.g. Thai, pasta, salads, seafood, burgers, etc. at reasonable prices.
- RYDA cafe'shop Lamai beach. Good food and cheap price service. Free! internet. phone=""+66817333038 email=""ryda_thailand@hotmail.com
[edit][add listing] Drink
- Dublin Castle No hassle, care free pub. Good food and cheap drink. Live folk and popular mainstream music from local Thai band. Live sport on TV. Pool table. Ideal place to start a night.
- Bauhaus Foam Party (obviously, for foam fun)
- Eagle Pub (live rock music)
- Pocahontas Bar (to get a break from the hello sexy man rat race)
- Churchill's. The English ex-pat pub. Good for a bite as well. edit
- Queensland Pub. The Aussie ex-pat pub. Also good for a bite. edit
- Samui Shamrock, (Located on Lamai Beach Road.), [2]. Famous Irish Pub, Bar & Restaurant that shows all premier league football and International Rugby, as well as live music from top bands each and every night. edit
[edit][add listing] Sleep
- Langham Place Samui at Lamai Beach, 146/24 Moo 4, Lamai Beach, Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand (Lamai Beach), ☎ 077960888, [3]. Five-star hotel for fun-loving, young-at-heart travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Prime position beachside and comprises a modern village of 77 villas and suites many featuring personal plunge pools and views over the Gulf of Thailand. 10,000 Baht to 30,000 Baht. edit
- Baan Family Hotel [4]
- Kamalaya [5]
- Rocky's Boutique Resort, 438/1 Moo 1, Tambon Maret, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84310 (Southern end of Lamai), ☎ 077 233 020, [6]. Lovely Boutique Resort with lush tropical gardens and friendly service. 4,000 Baht to 14,000 Baht. edit
- MyQSamui*. [7] : Lamai's newest Boutique Resort is having An unspoiled beach-front setting, protected by the reef, overlooking luminous white sands, it pampers you with the ideal ambience of tranquility and romance. Samuibooking.org (it's sister company) is the resort's major online distribution channel to promote the resort.
- Samui Beach Resort [8] has bungalows on the beach.
- Sea Breeze Inn, (Southern end of Lamai). Not the cheapest but probably the best deal overall on Lamai, it's still in the budget category. Rooms vary from huts with fans to modern suites with AC. Decent restaurant and bar. Nice deck hangout area. Right on the beach. Lots of stuff short walking distance away. edit
- T&T House, 124/7 M.3 Hat Lami (Southern end of Lamai). One of the cheaper deals with decent rooms, though not at the beach. The reception is at the T&T supermarket. From 250 baht for a bungalow with private bathroom. edit
- Utopia [9]
- Varinda Garden Resort 82/3 M.3 Maret, has a great hillside (not on the beach) location that's pleasantly away from the drone of the commercial area, with views of the whole bay from their pool and tower seats, excellent kitchen and wrap-around supports - like massages, mopeds, taxi to airports, and endless tropical garden surprises around the bungalows.
- Buriraya Resort and Spa, 208/1 Mu 4, Tambon Maret, Surat Thani. 7,200-27,000 Baht. edit
- White Sands Bungalows (near Southern end of the beach, near Grandma/Grandpa Rocks), ☎ 077 424 289 (fax: 077 424556). checkin: 24h; checkout: 24h. One of the oldest beach hut places directly by the sea still with the original "Hippie feeling" about it. Managed by an Aussie/Kiwi couple who have been regulars at WS's since 1992. The restaurant (7AM-7PM) used to be better when the Thai owner (Nui) ran it. Still, hard to beat on price. 150-250 Baht per hut. edit
Hat Thong Takhian Beach is a beach in Lamai
- Coral Cove Chalet (คอรัลโคฟชาเล่) 210 Mu 4 Hat Thong Takhian, Ko Samui (Tel: 0 7742 2260-1 Fax: 0 7742 2173), 72 rooms: 1,500-2,000 baht
- Hi Coral Cove (ไฮคอรัลโคฟ) 210/3 Mu 4 Tunbon Maled (Tel: 0 7742 2495), 10 rooms: 200-600 baht
- Samui Yatch Club (สมุยยอร์ชคลับ) 209/1 Mu 4 Hat Lamai, Ko Samui (Tel: 0 7742 2225-6 Bangkok Tel: 0 2651 0016-7 Fax: 0 2651 0018 E-mail: sycsamui@samart.co.th), 40 rooms: 1,500-2,000 baht
Hat Na Thian(หาดนาเทียน)
- Central Samui Village (เซ็นทรัลสมุยวิลเลจ) 111 Mu 2 Tambon Maret, Hat Na Thian, Ko Samui (Tel: 0 7742 4020-2 Fax: 0 7742 4022 E-mail: csvsamui@samart..co.th), 99 rooms: 3,600-4,500 baht
[edit] Contact
Internet cafes are plentiful and typically also offer international calls, fax services and flight confirmation. The connection and speed is generally good. Expect to pay 60 baht/h for internet in the central locations.
[edit] Get out
- Your guesthouse and many other places in town can rent you a motorbike for between 150 to 200 baht a day. Bicycles are a bit harder to come buy but also available for about 100 baht per day. As the traffic is left-sided you should be very careful (and wear a helmet) while driving even if you are familiar with driving on the left, other road users might not. Accidents, sometimes with fatalities, are too common despite the light traffic.
- Travel Agencies can sell you bus tickets with pick-up from your hotel and including the ferry to many destinations in Thailand such as Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi. Booking the same tickets in Nathon or for trains at the Surat Thani station works out to be significantly cheaper sometimes as some agents will attempt to get double the regular price. Check train fares on the website of Thai Railways first. 2nd class sleeper to Bangkok should including hotel pickup and boat should not exceed 950 Bath. Bus to Bangkok 600-650.
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