Valentine Stone
A heart-shaped rock on the same hillside, put on the map by couples and kept there by the view behind it.
Open≈ 1.0 km
The island's second beach, four kilometres of sand with a slower pace than Chaweng and cheaper food. The southern end turns rocky, which is where the snorkelling is.
Lamai is Chaweng's slower cousin: four kilometres of sand on the same east coast, a third of the traffic and noticeably cheaper food. It suits people who want a real beach day without a beach club soundtrack.
The centre of the beach is the swimmable part, wide and gently shelving. The southern end turns into granite boulders — that is where the snorkelling is, and where Hin Ta & Hin Yai stand a little further on. Behind the sand, Lamai's single street holds the restaurants, and on Sunday evening it becomes the island's most local walking street.
Sunday evening is the Lamai walking street, two minutes inland.
In the December–January swell the shore break at Lamai can be strong; the red flags are worth reading.
On the map…
Open the full island map · Driving directions · Google Maps · © OpenStreetMap
The closest places on the map, straight-line distance.
A heart-shaped rock on the same hillside, put on the map by couples and kept there by the view behind it.
Open≈ 1.0 km
Sunday evening in Lamai: grills, noodle carts, fruit shakes and a stage, cheaper and more local than its Bophut equivalent.
Open≈ 1.1 km
The bend on the hill road where the whole of Lamai bay opens up below, coconut roofs and reef line included. No gate, no ticket.
Open≈ 1.1 km
The island guide · The beaches of Koh Samui · Koh Samui map
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Half of these places are easier with a driver who knows which hill road is paved. Tell us which ones you care about and we will build the day around them.