Lamai Beach

Lamai Beach is quite different in character to Chaweng Beach although it shares some of the liveliness of its big sister!

Whereas Chaweng Beach is long and flat with rocky cliffs only at opposite extremes of the bay, Lamai's beach is broken at regular intervals by huge rocky outcrops that cascade downwards and onto the shore line. This creates several smaller areas and each of them have their own character.

The Ring Road (much like Chaweng) skirts widely past the town itself, where you'll discover a whole network of streets and side roads before you get to the beach.

The beach in this central part is flat and sandy and offers moderately good swimming.

There's a large number of small beach resorts in this area interspersed with the occasional larger one, and all of them have restaurants that are worth exploring. There are a lot of small, family owned resorts and bungalows and you’ll find correspondingly more beach bars and restaurants, many of them made of thatched wood and bamboo – much as Chaweng was 10 years ago!
And you'll see quite a few beach restaurants that have the cushions on the sand around the low tables and hold the occasional or weekly beach party. It's still very laid-back here, unlike the smoother atmosphere of some of the big Chaweng Beach resorts.

As you head further south along Lamai Bay so the 'rockiness' increases and you'll find there's a pleasant mix of sandy coves and rock pools to discover.

In the area around  "Hin Yai Hin Ta", or Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, there are two outstanding restaurants. The typically Thai beachside Sabienglae seafood restaurant is a must, as is the up-market fine-dining venue at "Rocky's".

And, like Chaweng, there's also a variety of beach activities. There's the usual thicket of dive schools and shops, plus jet skis, kayaks, windsurfing and water skiing.

This is an attractive beach but quieter and more laid-back than the bustling Chaweng.