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Ko Samui, Thailand
Photo: Ahoerstemeier, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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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.
The Wat Lamai Temple has played host to temple fairs along with weddings, funerals and various religious festivals. It features concerts, fairground games, food and an outdoor cinema, but is normally very quiet, other than the sounds of children playing at the temple school. The temple fairs are week-long celebration and are worth seeing if you happen to be in Lamai during one. The strip south of the corner where the temple is has a number of good tourist souvenir shops and also French bakeries and other eateries, as well as Thai service businesses as is also the case with the strip from the temple corner back towards Tesco and the gas station and beyond.
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 2,000-year-old metal ceremonial drum dug out of a Lamai village. Like other wats on Koh Samui, the temple has a mummified monk but fittingly doesn't make a big deal out of "him".
Wat Khunaram, which is past Hua Thanon towards Na Mueang, houses the body of one of Samui's most famous mummified monks, Loung Pordaeng. Loung Pordaeng died in 1973, and, at 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 few signs of decay.
Head down on a Sunday evening for a wide variety of stalls, live music and activities for children. Between the bridge and the local market, walking street is always busy with Thais and Westerners alike.
The 5-piece Filipino band play on M, Tu, W, and F. With a repertoire of over 800 songs in genres such as rock, pop, and reggae this is a great night out for everyone and anyone!
Well-stocked shop of dive equipment. They do trips to Ko Tao 3 times a week and offer courses from bubble maker to dive master. They have a boat of their own and while slightly more expensive than other shops on the island, it is worth the extra for the experience.
Courses from bubble maker to dive master and also first aid and EFR courses. Almost daily trips to Ko Tao on a speedboat, with 2 fun dives costing around 4,500 baht including lunch, equipment and an instructor.
Lovely tapas, and Mexican restaurant, Latin music, serving amazing cocktails. They also have an acoustic Spanish guitar player twice a week. Not to be missed.
Thai/international restaurant. Serving quality food, it is well-known by the expat community. Homemade spaetzle, goulash, schnitzel, and steaks and the best Thai dishes are available.
Thai restaurant. They serve rice and noodle dishes, soups and seafood for reasonable prices, starting at 25 baht.
A wide range of stalls including Thai food, pizza, fish, kebabs, fruit shakes. At cheap prices and locally run this is definitely a place to visit more than once.
Boomerang Pizza
The pizzas are the cheapest in town and any topping is possible. With a menu including pastas, breads and also Thai food, and a chef from Napoli, this is the best Italian in Lamai. Watch out for Mo, the Thai boss, as well. Hilarious if you talk to her while waiting for your food.
Good food and cheap price service. Free Internet.
The setting is very nice, 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 at reasonable prices.
Sri Nuan 2 is one of the most popular restaurants in Lamai. It serves a wide range of Thai food and some delicious Western dishes. Fresh fish (including snapper, lobster, crab, mussels and shark) is also served with your option of how it is cooked. With super cheap prices, super friendly staff, and a take away option this is definitely worth a visit.
English expat pub. Good for a bite as well.
This is possibly the only real wine bar in Lamai. With live sports, pool tables, a juke box and friendly staff, it is always a good night.
Live sports, good grub, lots of beer and barbecues this is a very popular places with locals and visitors alike.
Aussie expat pub. Also good for a bite.
A chilled out place where you can relax on the rocks or on the beach and watch the sunset. It is also possible to get bamboo tattoos here and on occasion the Thai Reggae band "Job 2 Do" play on the rocks.
Hotel for fun-loving, young-at-heart travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Prime position beach side and comprises a modern village of 77 villas and suites, many featuring personal plunge pools and views of the Gulf of Thailand.
Modern rooms right on the beach. Good location near restaurants and stores, relaxed, quieter area near town, not in downtown.
Resort with lush tropical gardens and friendly service.
Bungalows on the beach.
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 air-con. Decent restaurant and bar. Nice deck hangout area. Right on the beach. Lots of stuff a short distance away.
One of the cheaper deals with decent rooms, though not at the beach. Reception is at the T&T Supermarket.
A great hillside (not a beach) location that's pleasantly away from the drone of the commercial area, with views of the whole bay from their pool. Excellent kitchen and services like massages, motorbikes, taxis to airports, and endless tropical garden surprises around the bungalows.
south end of beach, near Grandma/Grandpa Rocks
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 since 1992. The restaurant (07:00-19:00) used to be better when the Thai owner (Nui) ran it. Still, hard to beat on price. Can be accessed from the main road and is on the sea side if coming from Chaweng and is on the same road as Green Villa. The sign is not lighted at night and is easy to miss.
A night market with numerous stalls selling all types of handicrafts, jewellery, art and presents. Most vendors enjoy bargaining with you and will accept a lower price than they first offer. Prices are not cheap compared to other places in Thailand but they are cheap compared to other places in Lamai.
There is a small mall before entering the supermarket with many shops selling clothes, beauty products and electronics and also some restaurants including KFC, Sydneys Fish and Chips and Black Canyon Coffee. Tesco Lotus itself has some clothes at cheap prices and food which is price marked, great if you are self catering.
Every Sunday, Lamai Beach Rd between the market and the bridge is host to walking street. The whole of the street is closed off to traffic and is full of stalls selling clothes, handicrafts and food. The area is full of Thai people when the market is on so prices are cheap and the food is fantastic.
Minibus transfers between Lamai and Samui Airport cost about 150 baht/person; a private taxi charter costs around 300-400 baht.
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Na Thon (Ko Samui Island) · International · USM
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