Kata and Karon’s Beaches - Phuket, Thailand

Kata has two beaches: Kata Yai (Big) and Kata Noi (Small). Kata Yai is about two kilometres long and is of outstanding beauty. Palms and rocket trees line the beachside road, providing shade and on the beach itself, lines of sun beds are for hire. There’s good swimming during high season, from November to April and the snorkeling is excellent at low tide off the southern reef and also off Poo Island towards the north. Further north, between Kata and Karon, the snorkeling is absolutely epic. Paragliding is possible, although not highly recommended, as there have been a number of accidents. Kata is swimmer friendly, in that one can splash around in the shallows for quite a way out before being in any danger. The middle section of the beach is the most prone to riptides in low season so should be approached with care.
Kata hosts a yearly surf competition in June/July. Even though the surfing on Phuket isn’t exactly Kelly Slater stuff, a lot of surfers of varying standards can be seen going at it almost daily during the rainy season, when storm-generated waves crash into the western coast. In the high season, windsurfing at Kata can be positively electrifying, although the ever-present fishing boats should be taken into consideration. At both ends of the beach you’ll find a plethora of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. Indian tailors abound too and with a bit of bargaining, you’ll land yourself some neat dress clothes at surprisingly cheap rates.

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Kata Noi

Just over the southern ridge at the end of Kata Yai is Kata Noi. Despite its name it’s not so much of a mini version of Kata Yai but an entity in itself. Sure, it’s smaller than Kata Yai but it’s escluded and there’s good swimming, body surfing and, at the south end, a beautiful reef to snorkel over. Also available on this beach is kayaking, at 200 baht an hour: Kids over 6 years old can try this activity. Generally, kayaking trips will head south to Nui beach. As this coastline is virgin, the reefs, snorkeling and whole experience is remarkable. Longtail boats can also be rented for 600 baht an hour.

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Karon Beach

Head north from Kata along the beach road and, two hundred metres on the left is the start of Karon Beach. This is a long three to four kilometre strand with undoubtedly the finest sand on Phuket. It positively squeaks beneath your feet on the walk from the road down to the water. Karon beach offers little in the way of shade except a few palms and rented parasols, so precaution against sunburn should be taken before spending extended time on it. There’s also quite a steep underwater cant dropping off into the ocean, so weaker swimmers are advised to either stay out of the water or head south to safer Kata Beach. The beach itself is a marvelous place for an invigorating morning or evening walk, and, with hundreds of small shops and eateries dotting the road between Karon and Kata, the beach road is also a well-frequented walking route. At the southern end of the beach you can snorkel around the rocks and gradually make your way around the headland. Further north, past the village of Karon, there is more good snorkeling. Karon Beach is the place to go if you desire an uninterrupted view of the ocean. It’s as though the world comes to an end and drops off into the azure waters of the Andaman. Then maybe it’s because, after years of development, there are still no fishing boats to obscure the view of the horizon.

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Things to Do: Kata

With a town centre totally independent of the beach, Kata still retains a village atmosphere yet can cater to most visitors quite easily. Shopping-wise, the town has everything you need. There are boutiques, tailors, delis, beach toy stores and supermarkets to shop in and, of course, the ubiquitous street stalls, making a nighttime stroll reminiscent of a walk through a bazaar. Dive shops abound, making trips out into the azure Andaman a daily possibility – even in the rainy season. One can also hike in the jungle above the beaches or rent a motorbike (usually from 150 to 250 baht a day) to explore Phuket. There is a bank, a post office and several exchange booths in the area, as well as a rather unusual but popular chemist. Kata also has a large selection of accommodation. From top end hotels down to simple guesthouses you will find whatever suits your wallet and tastes. There are two excellent and cheap second hand bookstores and numerous cyber caf?s. At night, Kata is exciting, fun, and possesses more of a family atmosphere than neighbouring Patong. Several bars have good live music acts, with no cover charge to enter and ethnic restaurants abound. You’ll soon find out that finding good food in Thailand is the least of your problems. Kata’s nightlife carries on as long as you can. Have fun.

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Things to Do: Karon

Different flavour from Kata. For a start, it’s more spread out. There’s a Buddhist temple overlooking the road leading down to the beach, several up market hotels only a few hundred metres from the sea, and a town centre that is friendly by day and downright cheeky by night. The beach road itself, following the curving banana-shaped coast is dotted with shops, eateries and a good selection of tailors. Karon is expanding, but with caution. Building projects are kept well away from the beach and the byword is ‘discretion’. Like Kata, there are many dive shops to choose from if you wish to explore the extraordinarily beautiful underwater world of the Andaman sea. By night, Karon’s bars compete for the visitor’s attention in various ways: Loud music, atmospheric beach bars, haute cuisine, expat haunts, they’re all there to draw you in if you feel like it. Some visitors opt for the stroll along the beach road to Kata and back. It’s certainly a fascinating vignette of Thai life. Like Kata, Karon nightlife lasts as long as you do.

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Getting There

Kata and Karon are, roughly speaking, forty-five kilometres away from the airport, depending on the route your driver chooses. This trip will take an hour and costs 500 baht by taxi. If you wish to take a taxi to Phuket Town, then clamber aboard a local bus at the fresh market. ( A Song Taeuw, so called because of the "two bench" arrangement used to seat passengers) The fare from Phuket will be 20 baht. Hiring a car from the airport is also possible and, once arrived, you may want to rent a motorcycle in Kata or Karon itself. There are many beautiful viewpoints above Kata and Karon that are only accessible to either the extremely fit or to people who have their own locomotion.

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