Lamai Beach: Beach and Cultural Heritage

Lamai Beach is the island’s second-largest beach after Chaweng Beach. Its size gives the area a clear point of reference. When choosing Lamai Beach for a holiday, you can take into account not only the beach but also nearby cultural points of interest and access via Highway 4169 when planning your trip. Nearby are the Wat Lamai Folk Museum, the old school building of Wat Lamai School, and the fishing village of Hua Thanon. This means you can get a sense of the area not only from the size of its beach: culture, local history, and fishing life can also play a role in shaping your stay.

Access and Getting Around

You can reach Lamai Beach via Highway 4169: the access road is either via Soi Hat Lamai 1 between kilometre markers 18 and 19, or via another access road near kilometre marker 21. The directions to the entrance to Hin Ta and Hin Yai vary depending on which way you are travelling. Coming from Chaweng Beach, the entrance is just past Lamai Beach; coming from Na Muang Waterfall or Ban Hua Thanon, it is before Lamai Beach. Check local access conditions before setting out.

Culture Around Wat Lamai

The Wat Lamai Folk Museum is near Lamai Beach, within Wat Lamai, and is housed in a two-storey wooden building. Its collection includes various antique lamps, pigeon cages, and a bronze drum. The drum is described as being over 300 years old and belonging to the Dong Son culture of northern Vietnam. It is described as an object used in rituals to ward off spirits and pray for rain.

The Phra Borommathat Chedi Si Lamai and the old school building of Wat Lamai School are considered important local works of art and cultural heritage at Wat Lamai. The exact year the chedi was built is unknown; it is said to have been constructed centuries ago. The old school building was built in 1932 as a two-storey wooden building with a shingle roof. It formerly served as the cultural centre of Ban Lamai, where household items belonging to Ko Samui residents and antiquities found in the community were displayed.

The Beach, Fishing Life, and Choosing Your Base

There are numerous souvenir shops along the shore of Lamai Beach near Hin Ta and Hin Yai. The fishing village of Hua Thanon is located between Na Thian Beach and Lamai Beach on Highway 4169. It is particularly worth visiting for those interested in the fishing way of life. Alongside the beach, both cultural topics and life in a fishing village can therefore provide points of interest when planning your trip.

When looking for a holiday rental in Lamai Beach, it may help to decide first what you want to focus on: should the beach be the main feature of your stay, are you interested in cultural heritage nearby, or would you also like to visit Hua Thanon? If you are travelling with family, you can weigh up these different interests together. This allows you to choose your destination based on the things that interest you most during your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lipa Noi, Takuk Nuea, Ko Samui, Taling Ngam, Mae Nam, Khao Phang, Surat Thani, Amphoe Phunphin.

Return to the main travel overview: Surat Thani.