Located just 10 Km south of Chaweng beach on the east coast, Lamai is the second largest beach on Koh Samui. To get there, turn left on the main road coming from the airport (see map).

The wide sandy beach is not as powdery as that of Chaweng but the hundreds of coconut trees bending over the blue-green waters give Lamai a more peaceful and natural atmosphere. And for those who enjoy playing in the waves, there is no reef protecting this bay, so the sea is a little rougher.

Although it can get rather busy at night, the small town of Lamai is a good median between the too remote places and the crowds of Chaweng.

On the main beach road, places of interest include health and meditation centers, dive shops and a Thai boxing school. As the main street of Lamai is quite narrow and traffic can get hectic, we once again recommend driving very carefully.

Among Lamai's main attractions are its open-air market and the old monastery, which includes a local museum and picturesque village scenes. If you want to get back to nature, a good place to start is by exploring the paths behind the beach road. Here you'll find peaceful fruit and coconut plantations, as well as trails leading into the island's interior.

Down the road are the famous Grandfather and Grandmother rocks , favorites among both Thai and foreign tourists.

Further south on beach side of the main road, is Wat Silangu, one of two golden pagodas on the island. Providing excellent photo opportunities, its shimmering exterior stands out beautifully against the deep blue tropical sky.

On the way from Lamai to Chaweng, you will find some nice viewpoints overlooking the two bays of Chaweng Mon and Laem Nam. Parking is ample and there are a few small restaurants from which to to enjoy the ocean vistas. Early birds will be interested in catching a sunrise from one of these redoubts.

Several hotels south of Lamai are hidden in jungle settings overlooking secluded coves, making them perfect romantic hideaways. Also, for families there are some nice resorts with plenty of things for the kids to do (have a look at Jungle Park Resort ). Whatever your accommodation needs though, you're likely to find it in Lamai.