Lamai Beach Attractions

If you are based in Lamai, it is worth hiring a jeep or motorbike to explore the surrounding environs, as a lot of the interesting attractions are located on the outskirts of Lamai itself. Some of the island's most popular tourist sites are located in this locality, such as Hinta HinYai and Wat Khunaram, so if you can drag yourself off the beach, you could easily fill a couple of days exploring the area. To the South of Lamai, it seems as though the rapid development of the majority of the east coast abruptly ceases, and after the Muslim Fishing village of Hua Thanon you can step back in time to the Samui before mass-tourism, with verdant jungle-clad hills, water buffaloes grazing by the roadside, and little shack-cafes selling soft-drinks and simple Thai food.

Just South of Hinta Hinyai, this fishing village is home to a large proportion of Samui's Muslim population, and still retains a quaint, old-Samui feel, with rickety teakwood houses lining the road, as well as some decent seafood restaraunts and ethnic clothing and jewellery boutiques. Whilst you may not see too many long-tail boats setting off to cast nets these days, its worth checking out the teak houses put to modern usage, with the play station arcades and cars parked in the front rooms.

It is a challenge to get up to these impressive balanced boulders, but the spectacular views on arrival make it worthwhile for the adventurous traveller. The steep, rough, dirt-track road leading to the viewpoint should only be attempted on a dirt bike or with a 4x4, and the last stretch may have to be walked, depending on conditions. Alternatively it is a hard 20-minute climb on foot, but there is a refreshment stall at the top and it is an exhilarating experience. Look for the signs on the right hand side of the ring road 1km south of Hinta Hinyai in Lamai Beach.

For the passing visitor there's also massages, including Thaiatsu, Aroma Oil and Healing Clay, facials and other treatments on offer. Their mostly vegetarian restaurant (same menu at both sites) was recently voted one of the fifty best restaurants in the world by an international magazine and serves a huge array of salads and health shakes unavailable elsewhere on the island. Accommodation is available at both locations although the hillside site is much newer and its bungalows are a higher quality than those on the beach. Lamai Beach and Route 4169, Tel. 077 230 976.

The Lamai temple is the social epicentre for the local Thai community. Alongside weddings, funerals and religious festivals, it plays host to some lively temple fairs throughout the year with concerts, fairground games, food and even an outdoor cinema.The temple fairs last for over a week and if you are in Lamai when one is being held it is certainly worth checking out. The musty, dusty Cultural Hall inside the temple complex houses a quaint and unique collection of artefacts from Samui's past, ranging from brass and earthenware vessels and cooking implements to wooden agricultural tools, Armadillo skins; dried pufferfish, swords, muskets, ancient bicycles, and an amazing 2000 year old metal ceremonial drum unearthed in Lamai village. The fact that there are no explanatory notes in English means that you have to use your imagination to compose mental images of Samui's bygone days. Route 4169, Lamai.

His remarkable longevity is ascribed to the simple diet he followed in life and his frequent marathon meditation sessions, which considerably slowed down his metabolism. A guide, giving the full details of Loung's remarkable life is on sale at the Wat alongside various Buddhist amulets depicting him.  Route 4169, South of Lamai Town.

A large board at the site tells their story in full dramatic detail. The street approaching the rocks is lined with stalls selling a nice range of coconut wood products and garamear - Samui's own glutinous coconut candy, which is rarely available elsewhere on the island. Route 4169, South of Lamai Town.