Lamai Ko Samui

Located in the south of the island, only a twenty-five minute drive from Samui's international airport, Lamai is an incredibly popular destination for holiday makers wishing to combine white sand,  beach side restaurants and plenty of holiday style shops and stalls. The third largest town on the island, Lamai has managed to  retain a slower pace of life than its sister town, Chaweng, and allows visitors to find that unmistakeable holiday feeling,  relaxing on a sun lounger, or sipping cocktails in a beach bar.  Lamai is within easy reach of Samui's major tourist attractions including elephant trekking,  the aquarium and the many waterfalls found in the south of the island.  Peaceful outings include visiting the nearby Muslim fishing viilage at Hua Thanon and also Buddhist temples, many of which can be found in Lamai and the surrounding villages.

Lamai beach offers a wide range of accommodation to suit every budget from the luxurious branded hotels in the central and southern areas to the more basic bungalow style rooms in the northern area.  Lamai has come along way since its humble beginners as Samui's early backpacker destination. The first travellers to hit Samui in the 1970's and 80's were welcomed by the locals to stay in rustic wooden bungalows in this  bohemian and off the beaten track beach destination. Nowadays, Lamai is home to some of Samui's most luxurious resorts including pool villa hotels like Zara Beach resort and five star hotels resplendent with all the modern amenities essential for the high end traveller. No matter what the level of accommodation,  guests are drawn to Lamai for it's laid-back atmosphere and stunning swimming beach.

Lamai is also home to some of Samui's most famous wellness centres, with tens of thousands of visitors coming to cleanse, detoxify and strengthen their body, mind and spirit.  Many guests return year after a year, finding respite from their busy lives in this idyllic tropical setting.  Organic vegetables,  health- foods and alternative medicines are all available in Lamai, alongside import supermarkets supplying delicacies shipped from around the globe.  There are plenty of more traditional Thai eateries and holiday style restaurants serving up delicious Thai and western fare.

Jewellery stores, clothes stalls and traditional style gifts can all be found in Lamai, and on Sunday evenings the streets  become even more alive when the main shopping area is closed off to traffic, creating  Walking street.  A teeming and thriving market, with local shop keepers and restauranteurs selling their wares in a lively, friendly atmosphere.  Visitors flock to Lamai to experience live music, traditional food and soak up the island vibe.