Lamai Shopping

Lamai has a decent array of tourist goods for sale, with beachwear and reasonably priced fashions, good CD and DVD selections, some handicrafts, and the ubiquitous pharmacies and Mini Marts easily found along the beach road. There is also a Bookazine store with magazines, paperbacks and local interest books, located half way along the beach road. Lamai boasts a slightly smaller variety of goods than Chaweng, but the prices in Lamai tend to be cheaper, and while the stores catering for tourists also employ the barter system, it is a little more relaxed. There are also some more offbeat jewellery stores in Lamai where your own designs can be produced, as well as some funky boutiques in the nearby village of Hua Thanon.

This great clothes store has a large range of Indian-style hippie gear and some really funky, chunky jewellery. There is a menswear range too, as well as accessories such as bags and belts and cool Balinese bikinis. They have a decent range of sizes and attentive English-speaking staff. Located in Hua Thanon next to Zer Studio.

This funky boutique has a huge selection of unique, hand-made ethnic gemstone jewellery and leather accessories. The onsite jeweller can create designs to order. Open from 9am-9pm. Located in Hua Thanon, just look for the crazy painted VW Beatle outside!

This popular craft shop is a veritable Aladdin's cave with silver, gold, gemstones, ornaments and scarves on display throughout the restaurant/ internet-café/bar. There are some really lovely and original gift items on sale, and the Thai food is also highly recommended. Located at the Southern end of Lamai beach road. Open 9am until late every day.

For a bit of local colour, check out the hustle and bustle of the local market behind the PTT gas station. The front yard has many cooked food stalls selling local delicacies such as curries, fried fish, homemade sausages and papaya salad with sticky rice. Around the edges of the market you will find an array of clothes and shoe stalls with amazingly cheap products, while venturing inside, your senses will be bombarded with the sights sounds and smells of the vibrant fresh produce, meat and fish sections. Weird and wonderful displays of vegetables and fruit abound, as well as buckets of live eels and frogs: a truly 'Thai' experience.

Located on the ring road about 5 minutes south of Lamai temple, the Royal Project shop is reminiscent of European health-food stores. Whilst it is fairly sparsely stocked, the selection includes great organic and herbal cosmetics, and organic fruits and vegetables, not mention health drinks and dried nuts and fruit. The royal project aims to provide an alternative livelihood for farmers in the North of Thailand who used to rely on slash-and burn agriculture and opium production, and now grow high-value cash crops for domestic and international markets.

If you want a beautiful unique piece of jewellery, then head to Dreamcatcher near Hinta HinYai. The owner and jeweller Pin handcrafts every item himself. He can also create your own design or help you design something special. Dreamcatcher sells silver jewellery inlaid with with precious gems such as turquoise, amber and island shells. As well as jewellery they have a selection of gorgeous leather bags studded with turquoise stones. Great as a gift or for treating yourself. Open from 9am every day. Opposite HinTa HinYai, Route 4169. Telephone: 0862667572.

Owned and run by jewellery designer Sumetta Sangouthai, Exotica is well worth checking for top quality, unique souvenirs of your visit to Koh Samui. Located just up the road from one of the island's biggest tourist attractions, the phallic rocks Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Exotica specialises in jewellery which is handmade by Sumetta and which includes a range of eye-catching stones and settings. Bracelets, necklaces and earrings are all available for as little as 700 Baht. There's also a funky selection of colourful Chiang Rai bags on sale and stunning limited edition hand tinted photos from celebrated, Samui-based photographer, Claudio Cerquetti. Lamai Beach, on the way to Hin Ta Hin Yai, Tel. 01 538 3444

Ginger is a funky little boutique that opened in 2006. They have a beautiful selection of trinkets, clothes and jewellery. They also sell shoes and accessories and everything is reasonably priced. Ginger is a great place to go if you're looking for something pretty but different. Open 9am till 8pm every day. Hin Ta Hin Yai, Route 4169, Lamai. Telephone: 065869334

Island books is one of the best second hand book shops on the island. Paul the owner is fastidious about the quality of books he puts on his shelves so you are guaranteed that your book won't fall apart as soon as you open it. The bookshop is very well organised and easy to navigate and Paul is always on hand to give advice and answer questions. Island books has a large range of books in English, French and German and a small selection of other languages. You can choose to buy or rent your book and Paul will also buy your old books from you. All the books are priced very reasonably at around 150 to 180 baht per book. Open 9am till 8pm every day. Near Buddy Beer bar, Route 4169, Lamai.

This cave like shop is not much to look at from the outside but there are some wonderful finds to be had inside the gloom. The shop is packed to the gills with stunning teak furniture, ornate carvings and religious idols in metal and wood. Be prepared to barter hard in here though- the owner is stubborn! Open from 9am every day. Route 4169, opposite Wat Lamai.

Samui Hotclub also has a store in central Chaweng beach selling good quality cheap clothing. They have a great range of tourist favourites such as Thai fisherman's trousers, kaftans and printed sarongs. Hotclub also stocks some more expensive hand painted and embroidered sarongs and a good selection of accessories. Everything is fixed price so don't try bartering in here. Open 10am till late every day. Lamai Beach road and Chaweng Beach road. Telephone: 077232276

Next to the famous grandmother and grandfather rocks in southern Lamai are a group of stalls selling a range of goods. The atmosphere here is great fun with a one man band playing Thai tunes as you browse. These stalls are one of the best places to pick up traditional coconut wood carvings and shell ornaments. Try not to buy the coral or larger shells as this encourages reef damage and bringing coral into your home country can land you in hot water! Try the local Thai caramel and coconut sweet desserts as well they are absolutely delicious and a great gift for friends back home. Hin Ta Hin Yai, Route 4169.