LAMAI KOH SAMUI THAILAND
LAMAI
Lamai is one of our favourite destinations to stay and a spot we return to every year. Who knows it may even be a long term destination. Lamai is the second largest resort area on Koh Samui and we love it. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and vibrant nightlife, this charming town has something to offer every traveler. Lamai is extremely livable with a nightly market, great bars and restaurants, a large supermarket (Lotus), daily fresh food markets and a great french bakery. Best of all is the stunning beach. Lamai beach is a perfect spot to relax , enjoy a swim or have a nice meal at one of the many beach-side restaurants.
Discover the Beauty of Lamai Beach
Lamai Beach is a picturesque stretch of sand, lined with swaying palm trees and a variety of beachfront accommodations. While it might not be as bustling as Chaweng, it boasts a more serene ambiance. The beach is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying water sports.
Things to Do in Lamai
Lamai Beach is the perfect spot to unwind and soak up the sun. Rent a sunbed, sip on a refreshing cocktail, and let the world go by.
Indulge in Water Sports try your hand at paddle boarding, kayaking, or jet skiing for an adrenaline rush.
Visit the Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks, they've been a source of giggles for years since the rock formation look kinda like male and female private parts.
Experience Thai Culture, explore local temples, markets, or try your hand at Muay Thai boxing.
Where to Eat and Drink
Lamai offers a diverse culinary scene to satisfy every palate. From authentic Thai cuisine to international flavors, there’s something to tantalize your taste buds. Enjoy fresh seafood at beachfront restaurants, savor delicious street food at the night market, or indulge in international cuisine at various eateries.
Some of our Favourites Below
The Bamboo - Great beach front restaurant, sit with your feet in the sand and enjoy some delicious seafood and Thai food. We recommend Salt and Pepper Squid, Khao Soi and Panang Curry,
Cactus Thai Food and Restaurant - Beach front restaurant with sun lounges to enjoy a long day at the beach.
Recommended dishes Chicken Spicy and salad or Pad See Ew
Laankao Restaurant - A small local restaurant with amazing Thai food and at a great price, we ate at this restaurant and ordered via foodpanda so many times.
Recommended dishes Yellow, Green & Massaman Curries or Fried Rice, its hard to only choose a few.
Nanyuan Noodle - Chinese open air restaurant with amazing food.
Recommended dishes Steam rice with Roasted Duck and Crispy Pork, Noodle soup with Roasted Duck and Shrimp Wontons, Shrimp dumplings.
Gow Badger - If your missing a Sunday roast or some great western style food pop in and say hi to Timmy and enjoy a great meal. The food is delicious and the servings are generous. Bangers and chips are great. It's a place you can just drop in for a beer and have a chat. We enjoyed a great night for Timmy's birthday.
Lamai's Nightlife
Lamai’s nightlife is not to be missed, with a wide range of cool spots to enjoy a few drinks from cocktail bars, sports bars to the popular night market If you enjoy live music you will find some local entertainers to keep you happy. You will find your perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the evening.
Below are some of favourites
Cocktails By Pik - A lively bar on Haad Lamai Road is a perfect spot for people watching and enjoying a few drinks. Nightly happy hours for cocktails and beers. Great music, comfy chairs and free snacks great spot to spend a few hours.
Harrys Sportsbar & Grill - The best sports bar in Lamai. Air-conditioned but still open frontage. Good happy hour price drinks. Lot's of TV's to watch your favourite sport Great staff and friendly owners. Killer pool is fun. It's a great place to watch AFL and NRL including State of Origin. Harrys offers everything you want in a sports bar including cold beer.
Bar Complexes
Lamai has a number of bar complexes where you can find lots of small bars all in one area. Some of these bars are known as mushroom bars due to the shape of the roof. Saturday nights you can find free Muay Thai around 10pm behind the Sexy Sex bar on Haad Lamai Road. We sat at one of the bars and enjoyed a few drinks while watching the Muay Thai. Each bar sponsors a fighter so you can cheer on your fighter. You can also just sit in the seating area but you need to buy a drink. You can thank the fighters via a tip if you like.
Samui Moon Road - Another bar complex area locally known as "Dog Shite Alley" is a fun little street to play some pool and have a few drinks. Food carts will come along the street selling some delicious food or peanuts its ok to grab some food and eat any of the restaurants.
Lamai Night Market
A small night market popular for dinner and drinks. The market is open nightly with a bar and live music. If you sit towards the back of the market anywhere you will hear the music and drink prices are better at the stalls in the food area not the actual bar area 😉 Beer and pizza perfect night out.
Accommodation Options
Lamai offers a variety of accommodation choices to suit every budget and preference. From budget-friendly bungalows to luxurious resorts, you’ll find the perfect place to stay. We have stayed in both hotels booked via AGODA and AIRBNB properties in Lamai. Koh Samui accommodation can be a little more expensive than some other regions in Thailand so depending on your budget you may need to compromise on location or facilities or pay a little more than on main land Thailand
Getting to Lamai
From the Airport: Taxis, shared minibuses, and rental cars are available for transportation to Lamai.
From the Ferry: Taxis, shared minibuses, and rental cars can be arranged at the ferry pier.
Our last visit to Lamai we pre-arrange Klook to meet us at the airport and take us direct to our hotel via private car. The price was the cheapest we have had traveling from the Airport to Lamai, car was perfect and driver was friendly.
Best Time to Visit Lamai is from March until late August which offers the best weather conditions. Being a tropical island you still may get a cracking storm any time of the year but it usually passes very quickly and just cools the place down a little. December to March is still considered high season as many regular holiday makers from colder countries escape their winter months, some of these travelers come every year and stay anywhere from 1 month to 6 months. June and July the crowds start to leave and you can get some good deals on accommodation. Best way to obtain deals for a longer stay is to drop in ask about a room and negotiate a price. We prefer to pre-book our accommodation so we usually book via Agoda or Airbnb before arriving in Koh Samui.
Currency: Thai Baht (THB) is the local currency. WISE card is accepted at many restaurants, salons and supermarkets. We recommend setting up a WISE account before leaving your home country and ordering a physical card to bring with you to use in supermarkets, restaurants and withdraw cash from ATM's.
Transportation: Renting a scooter is a convenient way to explore the island. BUT beware the roads in Koh Samui can be very dangerous and unfortunately the island sees many accidents each year and a number of road deaths. You should have a motorbike license in you home country and obtain an international license before coming to Thailand. In Australia this can be done via RAC or similar depending on your state. Yes you can rent a scooter without an international license BUT you will not be insured.
Respectful Dress: Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples.
Lamai, Koh Samui offers an unforgettable tropical escape. With its stunning beaches, vibrant atmosphere, and warm hospitality, it’s no wonder this destination is a favorite among travelers and one that's cemented in our heart ♥️
Thanks travelingmoses
