Lamai is Koh Samui's second-largest beach, stretching about 4 km along the island's southeast coast. It sits in the shadow of the island's main strip, Chaweng, but offers a similar mix of white sand, warm Gulf of Thailand water, and beachside services without quite the same level of development and noise. This makes Lamai the choice for travellers who want a beach resort experience with slightly more breathing room.
The beach divides naturally into sections. The northern third is quieter with fewer beachfront bars and more family-oriented accommodation. The central stretch has the main strip of bars, restaurants, and water sports operators. The southern end, around the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks (Hin Yai and Hin Ta) — curious rock formations that are a Samui institution — is popular with day visitors and quieter for swimming.
Water quality at Lamai is generally considered slightly better than Chaweng, which suffers from jetski pollution and boat traffic. The beach runs roughly north-south, making it a west-facing cove in functional terms — sunsets over the Gulf are beautiful from the central stretch.
Highlights
- 4 km of white sand beach with generally clean water
- Hin Yai and Hin Ta (Grandmother and Grandfather rocks) at the south end
- Livelier nightlife than quiet resort beaches, without the full Chaweng intensity
- Good variety of accommodation across all price ranges
- Beachside water sports: jet skis, kayaks, parasailing
- Better water quality than Chaweng during busy periods
How to Get There
Lamai is on the eastern coast of Koh Samui, about 10 km south of Chaweng. From Samui airport, take a taxi (400–500 THB). Songthaews run between Chaweng and Lamai for 50–80 THB per person during the day.
Visitor Tips
The Hin Yai / Hin Ta rock formations are free to visit and worth the 5-minute walk from the beach.
The central beachfront bars host live music nightly from about 9 pm — stay at the north end for a quieter sleep.
Renting a scooter is the best way to explore Lamai and the rest of Samui independently.
The Sunday walking street market in Lamai town (set back from the beach) has good cheap food from 5 pm.
Avoid the beach during Songkran (mid-April) if you dislike water fights — the main road becomes a festival.
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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