Takeing the road north from Nathon you follow the coast , past a temple on
your right then various houses , shops etc a couple of seafood restaruants
then up and over the Laem Yai hill.
Down the other side you return to the coast past various houses for a couple of
km's before comeing to some houseing developments on the right hand side .
For the next 4 km's there are 3 - 4 developments on either side of the road ,
the largest being the Santi Thani project stretching from the beach up into the
hills , the ring road through the project is worth a drive for the views across
to Koh Phangan .
The beachs along this part are not very good for swimming haveing too much
rock and old coral but there are a lot of side tracks suitable for motorcycles
down to some nice picnic spots
Next you pass through the the small village of Barn Tai then a petrol station
off to the right.
The road leading inland from the station gos up into the
island highlands , there are many off tracks and sometimes it is poorly marked
, some tracks also go around the valley through the farms at the back of Mae
Nam village .
Be aware that all roads leading into Samui's inland and up on the highlands are
of poor quality , especially after rain .
On the main road after the petrol station there are a couple of Thai
nightclubs on the left then a road going through an archway leading to the
temple of Nah Phralan , this is well sign posted and from this road side
tracks go off to the bungalows along the west end of Mae Nam beach.
You can
get to the beach through the temple , there are also many houses to rent around
these side roads.
Past the temple to the last bungalow there is a walking track which leads from
the beach up onto a small bluff where there's a shelter with views along the
beach.
Often fishing boats shelter around here .
Back on the main road this is the start of the built up area around Mae Nam ,
many roads to the right lead to small villages , or off into farm land .
Roads to
the left lead to houses or bungalows , access to the beach is through the
bungalows .
Mae Nam town centre is 2 roads on the left leading to the beach and a boat
jetty with a regular connection to Koh Phangan.
There are a few shops ,
restaruants etc. The town stretchs to the right side of the main road where a
road leads to the town temple Phukhao Thong , to the west side of this road
lanes go to the local school and market .
The road also goes past the temple
into the farmland eventually to a small dam used for water supply , it has many
off tracks and is poorly marked .
Back on the main road the next road to the right leads to a small village
before heading off into farmland.
To the left of the main road are tracks going to bungalows untill a police
station about 2 km's east of Mae Nam.
Next along from the police station is a road to the right , this road leads up
the valley through farms to the water supply dam and continues over the hills
to Lamai , it's in poor condition ,use with care. It's been planned to upgrade
this track to a proper road for some years .
At the Mae Nam end travelling south the first road to the left leads past
houses up onto a hill with good views of Koh Phangan.
There are houses for rent around this area .
Back on the main road there are other tracks leading off to the left to
bungalows along the east end of Mae Nam beach.
The track to laem sai , rainbow and friendly bungalows is the end of access to
Mae Nam beach , this track goes past the high school and comes out on a small
cove on the peninsular that separates Mae Nam and Boput beachs.
Near laem sai bungalows there is a hill , walking to the top you can get good
views along both beachs and out to the island.
This end of the beach is also where many of the fishermen shelter their boats
. Fresh seafood if your there at the right time.
next tour.
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