There are enough beaches to discover in Koh Samui island. We’ve tried to mention all of the them in our guide, that you can check. If you want to enjoy your time without anyone bothering you, go ahead to Lamai Beach, Koh Samui.
Here is the ultimate travel guide to Lamai beach in Koh Samui; keep reading to get more information on things to do, hotels nearby, how to get, is it safe for swimming and other details needed for first time visitors.
Lamai beach General Info
- 5 km long sandy beach with tropical landscape on the east side of the island
- Shore: white fine sand, with rare large stones.
- Entry into the water: gently sloping, shallow near the shore, suitable for children.
- Average water t: in winter – +28 degrees, in summer – +29 C degrees.
- Average air t: in winter – +28-32 degrees, in summer – +25-27 C degrees.
- Infrastructure: cafes, hotels, shops, water activities, near the market.
- You can book a transfer from Koh Samui Airport to Lamai Hotel here .
- Lamai beach on the map: link.
The bottom of the sea is sandy, stones are found only on the shore. The beach is safe even for night or evening swimming. Southern part of the Lamai beach is ideal for swimming.
If you’re interested in some water activities, go ahead to the central part. There, you can find snorkel mask rentals, banana rentals and other water sports. But, for better snorkeling experience join one of the day tours to the nearby islands Ko Pha-Ngan, Koh Tao or Ang Thong National Park.
How To Get To Lamai Beach & Fares
From other major beaches of Koh Samui, Lamai can be reached by bike, taxi or public transport. The last option is the cheapest and easiest.
- From Chaweng beach take red songthaew and you’ll be at the place in 15 minutes, trip price is 50 BHT.
- From Maenam you can use transfer. Take a minibus to Chaweng, and on the ring road, get off and wait for a minibus to Lamai. The fare will be 100 baht (with a transfer).
- Minibuses run from Nathon Pier to Lamai for 60 baht, the journey takes half an hour.
If you want to go to the beach right from the airport, then order a taxi or private transfer in advance.
Tip from experienced tourists : do not ask drivers for a fare. Thai drivers always quote the cost of at least 100 baht if they see that the person does not understand. It is better to check it with other passengers or people at the bus stop.
Best Time to Visit
If your plan is to visit Lamai beach when the weather is the most favorable, plan your trip in the period from December till April, with February being the driest month and March being the sunniest.
Best Hotels on Lamai Beach
There are plenty of accommodation options on Lamai Beach, Koh Samui. If you want to live with a luxurious sea view, then choose one of them. Here are 5 best hotels on Lamai Beach for every budget:
1. Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, Koh Samui
5 Star hotel with ocean view and outdoor swimming pool. Click here to get more details about Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, Koh Samui.
2. The Lamai Samui
5 Star hotel that is ideal for family vacation or couple trip. Click here to get more details about The Lamai Samui hotel.
3. Rocky’s Boutique Resort – Veranda Collection Samui
4 Star hotel with private beach and private balcony. Click here to get more info about Rocky’s Boutique Resort – Veranda Collection Samui.
4. Sandalwood Luxury Villas
4 Star hotel, great for families and romantic vacation, with wonderful ocean view and private balconies. Click here to get more info about Sandalwood Luxury Villas.
5. Am Samui Palace
3 Star Hotel. Click here to get more info about Am Samui Palace and hotel deals.
What to Expect from Lamai Beach
Being Koh Samui’s one of the longest beaches, there are no crowds of tourists on Lamai – there is enough space for everyone to sunbathe at this beautiful beach.
It is surrounded by tall palm trees, with almost no waves, and the emerald-colored water which is clear and warm. Most of Koh Samui attractions are located nearby. Compared to Chaweng beach, Lamai is more quiet but still has everything for cool vacation time.
If, for example, Maenam area is great place for calm family type of vacation, Chaweng area is really noisy, Lamai is somewhere in between. You can enjoy peaceful time at the beach, while nightlife has also something to offer.
There are many dogs on this beach. They prefer to spend time in the shade during hot daytime hours. Animals are friendly and mostly ignore people. Sometimes they come up to check if they can get something delicious or ask to scratch their belly.
Where to Eat
You will definitely not go hungry on Lamai Beach. Nearby there are small kiosks with local fast food, many restaurants and bars serving delicious dishes of both local and European cuisine. Just 350 meters from the beach there is The Oyster bar, which, judging by the positive reviews, is definitely worth a visit.
You can find places with different price range, starting from budget options to the luxury ones. Before dinner, many establishments set up tables right on the beach. So you can have dinner while listening to the sound of the surf.
Things to do at Lamai Beach, Koh Samui
In addition to swimming, tasting Thai food at nearby cafes and traditional Thai massage, there are many interesting places to visit near Lamai Beach.
Visit Hin Ta Hin Yai Rocks
So, in the southern part of the beach there are rocks Hin Ta Hin Yai (Rocks of Grandfather and Grandmother). Whole tours are organized here. What is special about these rocks? Their shape resembles the male genitalia. Visitors are fascinated by how nature was able to create something like this.
Visit Lamai Sunday Night Market
Arrive there on Sunday evening and have a great time while exploring the stalls with delicous Thai food and different delicacies. If you’re planning to buy souvenirs, you can easily do it there. Sunday night market takes places on Had Lamai road.
Admire Views From Overlap Stone
Visit Overlap Stone, Koh Samui which is on the hill behind the beach. Because of the huge oval stone, stunning views of the beach open up, this is one of the most popular photo spots in Koh Samui. You can also appreciate the beauty of Lamai Beach from the observation deck.
Watch Thai Boxing
Muay Thai boxing is national sport in Thailand. You can either attend classes to learn some basic skills or visit boxing itself. There are many boxing gyms nearby.
Explore Ancient Temples
Not far from Lamai beach there are several temples that are also worth visiting. For example, Wat Ratchathammaram. A beautiful temple, in the best traditions of Thai culture, is made in terracotta shades. Also not far from the beach there is a Chinese temple of Guan Yu, which was built with donations from people from Hainan in 2016.
Also, check our guide on best Koh Samui temples to visit.
Join Day Tour and Visit Lamai Beach Nearby Attractions
If you like when everything is organized for you, thought over, and you just have to enjoy the trip, then day tour fro GetYourGuide is the great option for you.
For 52 USD you’ll have a chance to visit the following places: Mummified Monk, Na Muang Waterfall, and Buddha’s Magic Garden, while traveling the island on the jeep. If that sounds interesting to you, click here to get more details and make booking.
Lamai Beach FAQ
For those who would like to enjoy snorkeling in Lamai, its better to choose the northern part of the beach. You can find a lot of rocks in this area, which make it ideal spot for snorkeling in Samui. You’ll have a chance to see parrotfish, clown fish and other marine creatures.
To enjoy swimming its better to go to the centre of the beach. This area if free from rocks or coral formations.
About 5 km.
If you’ve just arrived to Koh Samui and would like to spend time on Lamai beach, it will take about 30 minutes to go there from Samui airport by car.
It is located on the east coast of Koh Samui island in Thailand.
It is a sandy beach that streches for 5 km. It offers visitors everything necessary for great beach vacation: bars, shops, restaurants, water activities.
